Water purification is essential in countries like India where the quality of water we receive in our taps and the underground water cannot be totally deemed pure or even safe in many cases. Our tap water needs further purification to eliminate: dissolved impurities like salts and minerals if the water is from high TDS(Total Dissolve Solids) areas, and microbes if the water source is polluted. Various methods of water purification can be used to make it safe for drinking. These range from simple solutions like boiling to advanced filtration processes like Reverse Osmosis (RO). Let’s go through each of them so you can decide what suits you the best.
1. Boiling
Boiling is the easiest and simplest and most affordable way to purify your water. It has been used over centuries and continues to be used as a way to purify water. This involves boiling the water till it reaches 100 degree celsius or simply till it bubbles and starts releasing steam. Boiling water eliminates the disease-causing pathogens.
The drawback of boiling is that it cannot remove the dissolved salts and heavy metals like mercury, lead, etc., and is energy-intensive.
Use this method when there is no other better way of purification available.
2. Filtration
Filtration uses physical and chemical mechanisms to eliminate unwanted impurities. Filtration can involve reverse osmosis membranes, activated carbon filters, or sand/ceramic which trap the contaminants. This is one of the most widely used methods.
While activated carbon filters remove chlorine and its associated smell along with some common pollutants, ceramic filters remove bacteria, and RO membrane, the most efficient of them all removes all kinds of metallic and salt impurities.
These filters can also be combined with UV/UF filters to kill the microbes. A combination of filters is commonly used in a typical hybrid smart water purifier which is the way to go.
The only drawback to using a combination of filters is the cost of use and maintenance.
3. Distillation
Distillation uses heat to separate pure water from the impurities. This makes use of the fact that water has a lower boiling point than the impure substances, which allows it to evaporate leaving behind the heavy metals, bacteria, and dissolves salts.
In this process, the steam released from boiling water is captured and condensed to its liquid form which can then be consumed.
This is good at removing most of the impurities but is a time-taking process and is energy-intensive, like the boiling method. Further, this is not a suitable solution for large volumes of water.
This is ideal for scenarios like laboratory experiments.
4. Chlorination
Chlorination, as the name suggests, uses chlorine to kill the microbes in water. The municipal water supply is often treated with chlorine as it is the easiest way of disinfecting and purifying large amounts of water in one go.
Chlorine has the ability to break the cell membranes of the membranes disrupting their DNA, leading to an eventual death.
Chlorination is a quick solution but has its own drawbacks. Chlorinated water smells of chlorine and has a strong taste.Chlorination also doesn’t eliminate heavy metals and salts and the chlorine in water is harmful for those suffering from thyroid issues.
Chlorination is ideal for when the primary concern is microbial contamination. This needs to be combined with other methods like using activated carbon filters which can future remove the chlorine.
5.Desalination
Desalination is used to treat saltwater or brackish water to turn it into freshwater. This method is particularly valuable in regions with limited access to freshwater sources, as it helps meet water demand by converting ocean and brackish water into potable water.
This method not only removes salt but also other contaminants. Desalination technique also involves reverse osmosis, and distillation techniques making the water all round pure.
Although effective, desalination requires significant energy and infrastructure, which can make it a more costly option compared to traditional purification methods. It is mostly used in industrial applications.
Choosing the Right Method for You
To choose the most suitable water purification method, consider:
- Water Source: Your water’s origin (tap, well, seawater) affects which method is best. For example, desalination is ideal for seawater, while filtration or RO works well for tap water.
- Budget: Some methods, like boiling and chlorination, are budget-friendly, while reverse osmosis and distillation may require a larger investment.
- Level of Contamination: The impurities present—like pathogens, chemicals, or heavy metals—impact which purification method is most effective.
|
Purification Method |
Pros |
Cons |
Effectiveness |
|
Filtration |
Affordable, retains minerals |
May not remove all viruses or heavy metals |
Effective for basic needs |
|
Distillation |
Removes most contaminants |
Energy-intensive, slow process |
Very effective |
|
Chlorination |
Kills bacteria and parasites |
Chemical use, may alter taste |
Effective for pathogens |
|
Desalination |
Ideal for seawater |
High cost, energy-intensive |
Effective for seawater |
|
Reverse Osmosis |
Removes diverse contaminants |
Wastes some water, costly |
Highly effective |
|
Boiling |
Simple, effective for pathogens |
Doesn’t remove chemicals or metals |
Effective for basic safety |
Of the above mentioned methods, boiling, chlorination, and filtration are the methods you can use on your own at home. You could also install a hybrid water purifier which is the best and safest way to ensure you are drinking pure water.
In a nutshell, choosing the right water purification method depends on factors like water source, the types of contaminants, and budget considerations. Each method brings unique benefits, from the energy efficiency of filtration to the broad-spectrum purification power of reverse osmosis. Ensuring access to clean water is essential for health and appliance longevity, and it’s important to select the purification method that best meets your needs.
Take a moment to assess the quality of water in your home.A quality water purification system, like those from Lustral Water, can offer a tailored solution to improve water quality for your household.
