What Are the Best Ways to Remove Impurities from Water?

Without question, water is the most used commodity of any household. We drink it every day. We bathe in it, put it on our plants, wash our laundry in it, and cook with it. Some people get water from the city and pay a utility bill because the city supplies their water, while others have well water delivered through a pump from an aquifer, sometimes a thousand feet below the home.

The problem here is that neither of these processes removes impurities from water. Whether your tap water comes from the city or underground, you are not safe from harmful contaminants or organic matter. These contaminants include:

• Corroded lead from aged plumbing
• Runoff pesticides from farms
• Chemical byproducts
• Harmful bacteria and other microscopic organisms
• Human or animal waste

In the event of contamination of your primary water source, whether it is city water or well water, purifying that water will keep your home safe from these pollutants. To discuss your needs for water purification, call Gladiator Services, one of Emerson’s top-rated plumbers.

Water purification is either a difficult or easy task, depending on the method you use. While some practices are very labor-intensive, others are so passive you barely know they are there. Below are some of the best ways to remove impurities from water in your home.

Boiling

Boiling is the most common method of removing contaminants from water. By filling up a pot and allowing it to come to a rolling boil for three minutes, the high temperature of the water burns all of the bacteria away. While no chemicals are involved in this process, there are several issues with this method for home use.

First off, it is not very useful for large volumes of water. If you want to purify the water for your shower or bath, it will take a while. Also, it doesn’t remove harmful contaminants. It only kills bacteria, so you may still have heavy metals in your water.

Distilling

Distilling your water is a highly technical process involving heating the water for long enough to vaporize, then collecting that water vapor in a condenser, gathering it, and cooling it into liquid water again. Anything that would take higher temperatures to boil stays in the original container.

Distillation has several advantages. It removes minerals, metals, or sediments from the water and eliminates bacteria and harmful contaminants. However, distillation is a costly process that requires a near-constant heat source. It is best for smaller amounts of water when drinking or cooking.

Chlorine Treatment

Chlorine is a cheap, effective way to produce clean water when you don’t have to worry about heavy sediments or metals but are concerned about bacteria. Chlorine treatment is relatively simple. Mild chlorine is dissolved into hot water, killing off any microscopic organisms within the water. 

One drawback of chlorination is that it can heavily affect people with severe thyroid problems. Long-term exposure to chlorinated water can damage several glands throughout the body.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a highly effective way to provide clean water to your entire home. It uses water pressure to filter water on a molecular level. High pressure forces water through a semipermeable membrane, removing every contaminant present in the water.

The water quality in these systems is very high, and the water may taste like bottled water. Reverse osmosis systems, however, are very specialized and require a lot of maintenance. If something isn’t operating correctly, it can severely affect your home’s water pressure, leading to a dangerous—and costly—malfunction.

Iodine Treatment

Iodine can treat water with bacteria and other microorganisms. While it does nothing to filter out sediment or heavy metals, it effectively deals with microscopic agents. It is relatively cheap and is in most stores like chlorine.

Iodine does present several problems. It severely affects the taste of water, giving it a sharp chemical taste. Iodine is also fatal in large doses, leading to significant heart issues in both pets and people. You should only use iodine in a last-resort case or when camping.

Solar/UV Purification

Solar water purifiers are a relatively new concept in water purification. They warm up water with heat generated by solar heat collectors, electricity from solar panels, and thorough insulation. This process is very effective at removing microscopic organisms, though the water will need filtration to get rid of sediment and heavy metals.

Solar purification can effectively remove impurities from water, and it is beneficial in places where the availability of electricity is an issue. Solar systems, however, are a highly specialized form of purification that requires significant technical knowledge of solar power generation and water purification, a combination of skills that rarely overlap.

Water Filtration

Water filtration combines chemical treatment and water filters to remove impurities from water. The chemical treatments remove the unwanted microorganisms, while filtration removes sediment and heavy metals. Water filtration also keeps the beneficial minerals in the water, making it a healthier option than the other methods mentioned here.

Water filtration systems are very effective for large volumes of water and do all of the purification work passively throughout your home. They are easy to set up, though you should still have a professional install the system since they know the product. Water filters are also very cost-effective and easy to maintain, requiring only a regular change of filters and servicing. 

What Is the Best System for You?

A water filtration system is the best and cheapest way to remove impurities from water in your home. While other methods work, they are too labor-intensive, cost too much to install, or require specialized maintenance and repairs. Some ways can be outright dangerous if not done correctly.

Instead of gambling with a dangerous or costly water purification method, let a qualified professional install and set up your system. Please contact us today to receive all of your  water treatment and filtration services from Gladiator Services. Your next glass of pristine water is just a phone call away.