The Different Types of Water Filtration Systems
Although a water filtration system has a high initial investment, you can get a lifetime of savings and great health. Even if you live in an area with potable water, your tap likely spits out unwanted particles and sediment. Let’s look at the different types of water filtration systems you can implement into your home for better water.
Reverse Osmosis Filtration
By using the power of pressure, water pushes through a membrane, separating the usable water from unwanted particles and debris. The clean water goes out one way for use, and the unusable contaminants are sent to another side, no longer affecting the water. Reverse osmosis is a great water filtration system, often getting rid of up to 99 percent of contaminants in water!
Ion Exchange Filtration
All water contains some type of ions: anions or cations. Ingesting anions in large quantities can create health problems. Cations cause hard water buildup, or the mineral deposits you may see around faucets. Hard water is bad for your skin, hair, and the plumbing in your home. The following is a list of possible ions in your water.
Anions (negatively charged ions):
- Nitrate
- Sulfate
- Fluoride
- Chloride
Cations (positively charged ions):
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
By using an ion exchange filtration system, polymers in the form of beads attract the ions, pulling them from the water and leaving your home with clean water that is safe to drink and use in every way.
Mechanical Filtration
Mechanical filtration utilizes cartridges or mesh filters to trap particles such as clay and other organic matter. They are best at removing large particles; however, when used in tandem with other filtration systems, the mechanical filter can also remove small particles. The most common types of mechanical filters and their ideal locations include the following:
- Single media filters (point of entry into the home)
- Multi-media filters (point of entry into the home)
- Cartridge sediment filters (kitchen sink)
Mechanical filtration is flexible and offers choices for small and large homes.
Absorption Filtration
Carbon filtration is one of the most common types of water filtration and is known as the absorption filtration method.
Carbon filters are full of nooks and crannies that trap particles and impurities in water. Carbon can even pull chemicals like chlorine out of your water! These filters are very common for simple household use, such as the water dispenser in a refrigerator.
You can choose from several types of water filtration systems for your home, so it can be overwhelming to find the best one. At Alamo Water Softeners, we offer water softener filtration for San Antonio, Texas and the surrounding areas. Contact us with all your water filtration questions and needs. We look forward to serving you and bringing you the best water possible!
