Water purification or filtration removes undesirable chemicals, physical contaminants, and suspended solids from the raw water to make water safe for drinking. In short, water purification ensures that the water you drink is free of contaminants and fit for consumption. The water supplied to our homes come from various sources and is not fit for consumption. Without proper purification, you may be susceptible to harmful waterborne diseases. Purification processes such as filtration, sedimentation and distillation help in purifying raw water to make it fit for consumption.
Biological processes like using of slow sand filters or active carbon filters also help in removing impurities from water. Chemical processes of filtration like using of flocculation and chlorination are also utilized for effective removal of impurities. In addition to these, use of electromagnetic radiation like ultraviolet light are also utilized to disinfect the micro-organisms and make the water completely pure for drinking. In all these processes, the ultimate aim is to reduce the bacteria, virus, fungi and other suspended particles and make the water free from impurities. However, most of these processes can’t be used at home, which more or less doesn’t serve the purpose. As a result, there is a need for a purification process that can help you get purified water at home without any hassles. The blog discusses some of the common purification processes that have been used over the years and their benefits.
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Water Purification Techniques Practiced Traditionally
Similar to eating healthy food, drinking safe and clean water is important to stay healthy and avoid diseases. From the early days, people used the conventional methods of water treatment/purification. Rural communities used rudimentary means of water purification techniques to serve the individual and household needs. The methodologies remove impurities, pathogens and large particles from water to make it safe for drinking. The traditional methodologies are very simple and these can remove the invisible impurities, thereby making water safe for drinking.
The traditional methodologies are very simple and these can remove the invisible impurities thereby making the water safe for drinking.
Also Read: How Pure Is Your Boiling Water
Traditional Methods Used for Water Filtration
- Filtration done in clay vessel: The technique consists of pouring water into clay vessel having a suitable pore size. The water settles down in the clay vessel and passes through the pores of the clay. The purified water collects in a jar placed at the bottom of the clay vessel.
- Filtration done through cloth: This is another common filtration method used in the early years. The filtration process removes impurities such as debris, insects, dust particles and other suspended elements. Water passes through a thin white cloth, which removes impurities present in water.
- Filtration done through Winnowing Sieve: The filtration process removes coarse particles and other physical impurities present in water. Raw water passes through a winnowing sieve, which filters all the impurities, thereby collecting fresh water, which is safe for drinking.
These are some of the traditional procedures that remove water pollutants and make water safe to consume. In addition to these traditional water purification methods, there are other processes as well, which includes gravel filters, coconut fibre filters, two-stage filter, up-flow/down-flow water filter, jumping stone filter method and etc. However, over the years, there has been a lot of improvement in the water purification methods, which remove all the impurities present in water. Let’s discuss the advanced water purification methods that are used today.
Find Here: Path Breaking Developments In Water Treatment
Technologically Advanced Water Purification Methods:
According to a report by World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Out of the 4 million annual cases of diarrheal diseases, 88% is the result of contaminated water. This is one of the reasons 1.8 million people die from diarrheal diseases every year. World Health Organization estimates that approximately 94% of these problems can be prevented by drinking clean water. Besides, the latest report also states that 91% of the world’s population are now receiving the improved drinking-water source and they are now free from waterborne diseases. Considering this factor, it is important to use advanced water filtration technologies to remove impurities and make water safe for consumption.
With the advancement of the technology, a number of innovative ways have been introduced to purify water and make it safe for drinking. People use high-end water purifiers in their homes and offices to ensure that water that they drink is 100% pure and safe. The traditional method of boiling water is unsafe as it doesn’t remove bacteria, cysts, virus, which lead to water-borne diseases. This is where RO or UV or UF based water purifiers can be of great help as they remove all types of impurities present in water.
This is possible by practicing proper water treatment process and this is by using advanced purification methods. Some of the most used purification techniques are mentioned below:
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filtration Process:
Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most advanced water purification methods. RO water purifiers use semipermeable membrane that removes ions, molecules, and physical particles from water, thereby making it safe for drinking. RO purification process easily removes different types of dissolved as well as suspended impurities. RO purification process collects the physical impurities in one side and does not allow it to pass to the other side. To be more precise, the RO membrane does not allow the large molecules to pass through the pores.
In short, RO water purification forces water through a semi-permeable membrane that gets filtered out easily. To make it easy for you to select the best RO water purifier in India, we have listed the two best RO water purifiers you can choose from to stay healthy and safe.
KENT ACE
KENT ACE is a compact water purifier that uses double purification technology. The water purifier uses a combination of RO+UV/UF in different stages to remove impurities to provide you with 100% safe water. The purifier comes with a TDS controller, which helps in retaining the essential minerals present in the purified water. Thanks to its excellent design, the water purifier is ideal for Indian kitchens. Some of the unique features of the water purifier are:
- Wall-mounted and counter top design
- Double purification process with TDS controller
- 7 Litres of water storing capacity
- Purifies water from all sources
- 11 Watt UV lamp to deactivate the micro-organisms
- Computer controlled operation (UV fail and Filter change alarm)
- Built-in SMPS to support the wide range of input voltage
- Body constructed with ABS plastic
Livpure Pep Star
The next on the list is Livpure Pep Start with a sleek design. The purifier uses several stages of purification process to remove impurities. The purification system works on RO+UV+UF and taste enhancer to deliver pure and healthy water. The model removes all the contaminants and other impurities from the water, thereby brining up safe water from consumption. Some of the technical attributes of this model are listed below:
- 7 litres storage capacity
- Purifies inlet water coming from all the sources
- ABS plastic body material
- Operates at the voltage of 24 V DC
- Removes bacteria and virus
Know more about: What Is RO Purification
Ultrafiltration (UF) Purifying Process:
Ultrafiltration is one of those water purification techniques that separates impurities/substances from the water to make it safe. The filtration process removes bacteria and other micro-organisms so that you get safe drinking water. UF water purifiers come with hollow fibre membrane material that feeds the water flow. The water enters either inside the shell, or it passes through the membrane (depending on the construction). The membrane retains suspended solid particulates and impurities of high molecular weight gets. The pure water which is free of contaminants passes through the membrane.
UF is ideal for removing impurities such as colloids, bacteria, and macro molecules that are larger than the pore size of the membrane. The best part is the filtration process doesn’t use chemicals or electricity to purify water. Besides, it can remove 90-100% of pathogens from water and make it safe for drinking. There are two best and preferred Gravity Water Purifier models in this genre and these are mentioned below:
KENT Gold Plus:
KENT Gold Plus is one of the prominent gravity based UF water purifier that has elegant table-top design. This fits the need of Indian homes to a great extent. It has tank-in-tank configuration and this will ensure that no water overflows the tank when raw water is poured in. It uses proper water purification techniques and is defined with superior state-of-the-art technology. The model removes all the harmful micro-organisms and other impurities easily. Some of the specifications of the models are:
- Gravity based UF water purifier
- Non-electric and chemical free purification water purification techniques
- Tank-in-tank configuration
- The model best works where the TDS level is low
- Water storage capacity of 20 litres (10 litres for raw water and 10 litres for purified water)
- Spin Welded UF membrane
- Food grade plastic construction
- Removes micro-organisms like dust, sand, bacteria and cysts
KENT Gold Optima:
The next model under this purification technology is KENT Gold Optima, which is widely preferred by the customers for its excellent design and innovative technology. The model best fits the need of the Indian homes, thanks to its compact design. No electricity is needed for its operation. It uses the ultrafiltration water purification techniques that removes all the harmful micro-organisms. This will make water safe for consumption. In addition, the water purifier doesn’t use any chemicals to purify the inlet water. Some of the specifications of this model are mentioned below:
- Gravity based ultrafiltration water purifier
- Removes impurities such as bacteria, cysts and other substances
- Non electric, chemical-free purifier
- Storage capacity of 10 litres (5 litres for raw water and 5 litres for purified water)
- Hydrophilic UF membrane
- Spin welded UF membrane
- Food grade non-breakable plastic construction
Find Here: Top 10 Best Water Purifiers For Home in India
Ultraviolet (UV) Purifying Process:
Ultraviolet water purification technique is another effective method of purifying the water. The process disinfects bacteria from water and makes it perfect for drinking. The water purifiers come with a high power UV lamp that kill harmful pathogens from the water. In addition, UV rays also eliminate the ability of the micro-organisms to reproduce. As a result, you are completely safe from illnesses and water-borne diseases caused by micro-organisms. The process is very much effective and environmentally safe. It destroys 99.99% of harmful microorganisms from water and makes it 100% pure and safe for consumption. During the purification process no chemicals are added and this is other added advantage of UV water purification techniques. Some advantages of UV Purifier:
- Effectively removes bacteria and viruses
- Environment friendly and chemical-free operation
- Retains the odour and taste of the water
- Automatic operation
- Disinfects the micro-organisms easily
Under this range of UV water purifiers, some of the top and most preferred models are KENT Maxx and Aquaguard Reviva. The technical specifications of these models are mentioned below:
KENT Maxx:
KENT Maxx UV water purifier is suitable for wall mounting and table-top installation. The water purifier has a transparent and detachable storage tank, which can be easily removed for cleaning without any help of technician. The water purifier works on best water purification techniques that is double purification process (UV and UF). This ensures that no impurities are left behind and the water you drink is safe and free of all kinds of impurities. It is a model that can also remove the dead bacteria, viruses and cysts and not allowing them to pass the fine pores of Hollow Fibre UF Membrane. This ensures that the water you drink is 100% safe and free from contaminants.
Some of the technical specifications are:
- Storage capacity of 7 litres
- Detachable storage tank
- Easy on-site cleaning
- UV and UF technology of purification
- Both wall mounting and table-top
- Suitable for low TDS water
- Computer controlled operation
- 11 watt of UV lamp
- Spin-welded UF membrane
- Food grade non-breakable plastic
Eureka Forbes Aquaguard Reviva:
Eureka Forbes Aquaguard Reviva s another UV based water purifier that purifies raw water to make it 100% safe for consumption. The model uses best water purification techniques and is perfect for areas that receive water with low TDS level. The water purifier has unique e-boiling+ technology that eliminates the bacteria, virus and protozoa and helps you to stay safe from water-borne diseases. The model can remove the micro-organisms and this ensures that every drop of water you drink is pure and safe. Some of the technical specifications of the model is:
- Storage tank of 8 litres
- Table top and wall mounting installation
- 4 stages of purification process
- Removes the impurities and make the water safe
- Work in the power capacity of 16 watts
Conclusion:
Those were some of the traditional and modern water purification methods. The water purification techniques remove different kinds of impurities to make water safe for consumption and keep you healthy. However, as compared to the traditional means of water purification techniques, the modern methods are very effective. Modern methods of purification can remove all the impurities from water and can make the water completely safe for drinking. The best thing in this concern is that you would completely remain safe from waterborne disease. So, if you want to drink safe and 100% pure water, install a water purifier today and keep yourself healthy.