Water purifiers are an important household appliance. Gone are the days when people drank water directly from the tap or at most boiled it. In today’s world, impurities in water have increased exponentially, requiring the use of higher technologies to purify water before it is fit for human health. Water purification not only removes all impurities, but also all pollutants responsible for disease. Drinking contaminated water can cause diseases such as jaundice.
Some of the best water purifiers also add some elements to the water that are beneficial to our health. Water purifiers also remove nitrates, pesticides and heavy metals and make the water drinkable. Especially in this day and age when everyone is taking care of their health, a water purifier that takes care of water intake is of utmost importance. Drinking healthy water helps to strengthen the immune system, which in turn helps to fight viruses and bacteria.
Water Purification Capacity
Once you have decided on a water purifier, the next thing you need to check is the water purification capacity that meets the requirements of your home. Most reverse osmosis water purifiers filter about 6-9 liters of water per hour and have a daily flow rate of 20-25 liters. They have a water tank with a capacity of 7-10 liters.
This is usually enough for a family of 4-6 people. UF+UV water purifiers have a much higher capacity and purify 10-15 liters of water per hour. They are powered by electricity. There are models with and without a water tank. If you have frequent power outages, you should choose a model with a water tank.
Different Water Filtration Technologies
There are different water treatment technologies on the market. It is very important to understand the different water treatment technologies to make the right decision. Depending on your water quality and budget, you can choose between reverse osmosis, UV and UF (gravity-based) water treatment systems. The different Filtration Technologies are:
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Technology
Water purifiers with RO technology are effective at removing invisible impurities. It also helps in reducing the hardness of water by removing harmful chemicals and the presence of lead, arsenic, mercury and chlorine in it. RO filtration technology is used for underground water sources or water that is supplied by water tankers. This method also works for distilling seawater and making it drinkable. Choosing a RO water purifier helps if the TDS (Total Dissolved Salt) is low in water test. Having an UV feature on your RO water purifier is also recommended for most locations.
Ultraviolet (UV) Technology
UV water filtration technology is suitable for soft water sources such as river water or rainwater supplied by municipalities. This type of technology helps destroy microorganisms in the water, but is not effective in removing dissolved water chemicals. If there is a high level of bacteria and microorganisms in the water, a UV water purifier is the best choice. If the water contains a mixture of solid contaminants and pollutants, you should purchase a water purifier that has both RO and UV filter technology. This is ideal for most of us.
Ultra-filtration (UF) Technology
Most non-electric storage tank water purifiers are equipped with UF filter technology. This type of water purifier is good at removing solids and impure particles in water, but poor at removing dissolved impurities. It is good to choose a water purifier with UF and UV filtration if the water supply is known to have very low TDS levels, which means the water is safe to drink.
Activated carbon Technology
This type of water purifier has two or more rod-shaped sticks that are made of charcoal granules. These rods help absorb pesticides or chemicals present in the water and improve the taste of the water. Water purifiers with activated carbon technology work without electricity. This type of water purifier can be used in rural areas where there are mainly freshwater reservoirs.
Contamination
Bacteria, nitrate, dissolved pesticides and lead are some of the most common contaminants in water. The number of contaminants present in water can be tested in any laboratory. If the water in your home has a high level of microbes and contaminants, installing a RO+UV+UF filtration system is a smart decision.
The UV effect irradiates the water and penetrates the cells of bacteria and viruses, destroying their ability to reproduce. These organisms can no longer reproduce and eventually die. The RO membrane helps remove these dead germs and impurities from the water, making it fit for consumption.
Key aspects to look out for
Water Quality and TDS
Before you find the water purifier that is right for you, you must first evaluate and analyze the quality of the water in your home. The quality of water is different in different areas of the same city. You should consider the TDS (total dissolved solids) level in the water supply. A particular supply may be hard and contain many chemical contaminants such as sulfates, nitrates, and magnesium that are not visible to the naked eye.
In another location, the water may even be visibly contaminated, full of dirt and odor. Depending on the intensity of the contamination, a different cleaning device and technology is needed to remove these contaminants.
Electric or Non-Electric
If you live in an area where there is a constant power supply, you can without a doubt buy an RO or UV based system. All RO, UV and RO + UV water purifiers require a power supply to purify the water. Otherwise, UF filters are a good choice for areas with power outages.
Daily Consumption
Another major aspect to consider is the water requirement of your household on a daily basis. If the requirement is higher, then you would require a purifier with a higher capacity that has more output. Buying a purifier that has lesser capacity than the requirement can keep the people waiting. Generally, non electric purifiers have lesser capacity.
Maintenance
A water purifier is used extensively throughout the year, so it is quite obvious that it needs to be properly maintained. A water purifier needs to be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis as the water output directly affects the health of the consumer. Ideally, maintenance every 4 months is sufficient for a high-tech water purifier.
Budget
Finding a product that is within your budget is obviously a priority. It is not wise to go for a cleaner that does not fit your budget. If cleaning is done by a lower technology cleaner fine enough for the water supply in your area, then going for a high-tech cleaner is not beneficial. Depending on your requirements, set your budget and go for a brand that offers best quality at reasonable prices. When setting your budget, also consider the customer service you will need throughout the life of your water purifier in addition to the price of the water purifier.
Durability
The plastic body and silicone tubes reduce the risk of rust. Since plastic and silicone are lightweight compared to iron and baked clay, these water conditioners are easy to carry from one place to another. You may wonder why it is necessary to carry a water conditioner from one place to another? Well, not all of us have a permanent residence. Some of us change our rented apartment from time to time. In this case, it is difficult to transport and replace a good water conditioner.
With modern water purifiers, you can take them with you wherever you go without any extra effort. In addition, the maintenance of a water purifier made of iron was not easy. All parts were reliably welded, and you could not disassemble them. If something was wrong with the water purifier, you had to replace it.
Other Features To Look For When Buying A Water Purifier
The most important thing to look for when buying a water purifier is the type of filters it has. This has already been described in detail in the sections above. Other features that are good for a user-friendly experience are
Indicators
Opt for water purifiers that have indicators that show when the water is purified, when it’s ready, and when to change the filters. That takes the guesswork out of it!
Water Tank Capacity
Opt for water purifiers with a capacity of at least 7 liters so that you always have enough water for all your needs.
Hot Water
AO Smith water purifiers have a built-in heater that provides water at 45 and 80 degrees Celsius. The water is not boiled. But it is useful for soaking legumes and having a quick sip of warm water. One drawback, however, is that they only work when the power is on. Also, the tank must be full to provide hot water.
Water Recovery System
HUL and AO Smith RO water purifiers are equipped with water recovery technology that helps reduce water waste. Kent has a system that allows wastewater to be returned to the elevated tank.
Which purifier to choose for hard water?
The biggest myth about hard water is that it is not safe to drink, endangers health, and has effects on a person’s internal organs. The NRC (National Research Council, United States) states that hard water can serve as a dietary supplement for calcium and magnesium. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), there is no evidence that hard water is harmful to health. Now the question arises, do we need a water purifier to treat hard water? Not at all, although a RO water conditioner can improve the taste, smell, color and atheistics of the water, nothing more.
When to choose RO based water purifiers?
Opt for an RO water purifier if and only if the water contains dissolved solids such as fluoride, arsenic and lead that cause serious health problems. How can you tell if your water contains these dissolved solids or not? The best way to test your water at home is through laboratories. Search Google for the nearest labs by typing “water testing labs in + name of your city.” For example, Whaters.com is a well-known water testing lab in Mumbai. If the water contains more than the recommended levels of fluoride, arsenic, and lead, you may need to purchase an RO water conditioner depending on the results of the water test.
When to choose gravity based water purifiers?
In case of following scenarios
- If you don’t have installation feasibility for RO, UV water purifiers like running water, optimum water pressure, electricity.
- If you frequently move from apartment to apartment and do not have time to have the water purifier installed by a technician.
- The most important thing is that your budget is limited.
If you come under above situation and you have hard water at home, better to buy a soft water from outside and purify with UF or activated carbon etc gravity based water purifier.
When to choose UV based water purifiers?
If the water contains waterborne disease-causing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, opt for the UV water purifier. If the water contains dissolved solids such as arsenic, fluoride, lead together with the impurities bacteria and viruses, etc., opt for the RO + UV water purifier.
Importance of safe drinking water
Water is not only for drinking to quench our thirst, but it is also responsible for the functioning of other vital processes in our body that have a direct impact on a healthy life.
Characteristics of drinking water
- Optimum pH
Your drinking water should have a neutral pH of 7, which is neither acidic nor alkaline. If it turns out that your water is acidic, it is harmful to your health. Our bodies produce waste that is naturally acidic, and water helps to balance the accumulated acids in our bodies.
Serious diseases like cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, etc. are due to these acid accumulations. That is why you may have the habit of drinking a lot of water in the morning right after you wake up. Quite simply, the water helps to flush the acids that have accumulated overnight out of the body.
- Antioxidants
Water with antioxidants, among other things, is very helpful in preventing possible metabolic syndrome. Oxidation has adverse effects on our cells. Antioxidants in the diet help prevent further damage to the tissues.
- Minerals
Our drinking water should contain many valuable minerals and nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and so on. And also other trace elements. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are absorbed into our bodies through water rather than food. All these minerals are mainly found in underground water reservoirs.
Conclusion
You should buy a Water Purifier after knowing your requirement properly. We can assure you that if you follow this water purifier buying guide you will end up buying a suitable purifier. So, make a note, compare water purifiers and go to the store now!
