How home water filtration systems work

Water-filter systems can improve the taste, smell and appearance of the water in your home. The type of water filter you choose should suit the water conditions in your home. In other words, you need to know what you want to remove from the water you use in order to choose the best filter system for your home.

Here are some tips on why you may want to install a water-filter system in your home, and the most common types available. [Photo Credit: istock.com/ronstik]

There are a number of reasons why you might want to install some sort of water filtration system in your home:

• Chlorine removal: Chlorine is often added to water at the municipal drinking water treatment plant to kill harmful microorganisms and adhere to health regulations. However, many people find the chlorine in tap water distasteful.
• Other chemical removal: Other chemicals that may find their way into your water system include lead, mercury, nickel, copper and chromium.
• Removing organisms:  This may include viruses, bacteria, algae and other small living organisms.

Good to know!

Water that is "chemically pure" or totally free from other materials or contaminants does not exist in nature. The nearest equivalent is distilled water, which is usually flat and tasteless. The aim of a water-filter system is to filter out materials that affect the look, smell and taste of the water, as well as some harmful chemicals.

A POE water filtration system is also known as a whole-house water-filter system.

• The whole-house water-filter system treats all or most of the water entering your home.
• You'd have the filter installed after the municipal water meter or the pressurized tank if you have a private or communal well.
• POE water filters treat all of the water entering your home, as opposed to just the drinking water.

There are usually four steps to the POE water filter system:

1.     Pre-filter: Removes the larger particulates, impurities and contaminants. This step generally traps anything that is about five microns in size.

2.     Chlorine removal: Water then goes through a process to remove chlorine from municipal water.

3.     Activated charcoal: Passing water through a charcoal filter removes any smaller impurities that are still in the water and also helps to improve the taste of your tap water.

4.     Waste removal: Every water-filter system needs a wastewater discharge process to flush away the contaminants removed in the previous three steps.

POU filtration systems focus on where the water is used, rather than where it enters the home. Here are some examples of the more popular POU water-filter systems:

• Faucet mount filters: These water filters attach to the end of a standard kitchen sink faucet. House water is sent to the drinking water tap via a diverter that filters the water. These cannot usually be used with specialty faucets, such as those with a pull-out sprayer.
• Countertop water filters: As their name implies, these water filters sit on top of the counter next to the kitchen sink and are connected through a small-diameter hose to the end of an existing kitchen sink faucet. The filtered water is then dispensed from a spout.
• Plumbed-in systems: Located under the kitchen sink, the plumbed-in system filters all water passing through the pipe to the faucet. The water filter is generally intended to be used on cold water pipes only.
• Plumbed-in to separate faucet: Also installed under the sink, the plumbed-in to a separate faucet water filter diverts water to a smaller faucet rather than the regular kitchen tap.

Shower water filters are a POU system often installed by apartment dwellers, where they have no control over the water-filter system installed (or not) by the building owner or developer. These easily installed water filters can:

• Remove chlorine
• Remove synthetic chemicals
• Enhance the pH balance
• Eliminate the absorption of harsh chemicals

The results are often softer skin and hair, increased skin moisture, and the removal of any chlorine smell.

• A water-softening filter system typically removes calcium and magnesium ions from hard water and replaces them with sodium ions.
• Calcium and magnesium ions can interfere with the action of household soaps and detergents, but sodium ions do not.
• This helps detergents to more effectively remove dirt and oils from your clothing and dishes, and gives soap a "slippery" feel on your skin when you wash.
• Most manufacturers recommend using less soap or detergent if you have a water-softening filter installed.

A by-product of installing a water-filter system in your home is no longer having to use bottled water – particularly single-serving bottles. There's no evidence to show that bottled water is any better than filtered tap water. Filling up our reusable water bottles with our own filtered water is a great way to encourage a healthier lifestyle, and a healthier planet.