Water is only pure when it is free from all three types of contaminants, physical, biological and chemical. There is a common misconception that filtering water purifies it from all impurities. However, filtration and purification are fairly different terms. This article will help you to understand the difference between water purifiers and water filters.
Filtration
It is a specific term which means separation of impurities from water with the use of physical barriers or filters. On the basis of size, the pores of the filter retain the contaminants by allowing water to go through it. In a way, filtration can improve the texture of drinking water.
Water filters are efficient in removing physical and biological contamination as their porous nature can retain dust and bacterial cells. However, they are not effective against chemical impurities. As filter separate impurities based on size, chemicals can easily pass through them due to their smaller size. Also, certain bacterial toxins and viruses can pass through filters due to their smaller size.
Purification
Purification is a broader phenomenon that involves various process like distillation, deionisation, UV treatment and Reverse Osmosis. Unlike filtration, purification actually involves killing biological contaminating agents of water with the help of chemicals like chlorine.
Purification removes most of the impurities based on different characters like size, electric charge and their affinities. The processes like UV treatment and distillation are very powerful to remove literally all impurities from water. It enhances the texture, consistency as well as taste of water. In a way, purification is a full-proof way to assure the safety of the water.
Just like their names, water filters and purifiers are based on the phenomena of filtration and purification respectively. It is true that most of the times, water filters remove all the hazardous bacteria from water. However, removing bacteria does not assure the safety of water for consumption.
These days, drinking water sources are heavily contaminated with chemicals like fertilisers, pesticides and disinfectants. Such chemicals are extremely dangerous for human health as most of them are potential carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). Water purifiers take use of many methods to remove such harmful substances from water, such as,
- Distillation: Converting water into a steam by evaporation and then again condensing it into liquid in another container. This method helps to separate many chemicals from water and also kills bacteria and viruses.
- UV Treatment: With the help of ultraviolet radiations, all the living forms like cells, viruses and spores are killed from the water.
- Deionisation: A multi-stage water purification method that removes all types of solid based on their ionic charge.
Although the option of water filter online shopping seems easy, water purifiers are always better than filters as they remove all possible impurities. There are many efficient water purifiers are available in the market. However, one can save his/her time by doing online water purifier comparison to choose the latest water purifier with the best technology.
