It is crucial for maintaining good health to consume clean water. However, due to the prevalent pollution of water bodies and the aging distribution pipelines in most cities, tap water cannot be relied upon as a trustworthy source of water. This unreliability may lead to contaminated water supplies, which in turn can cause waterborne illnesses like typhoid, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and cholera.
Due to technological advancements, water purification has become a more straightforward and convenient process compared to the traditional method of boiling water, which is not only expensive but also poses safety concerns. Consequently, water purifiers have become a crucial requirement in every household. However, with various water purifiers available in the market that use different water purification technologies, each claiming to provide the best water quality, choosing the right one can be a daunting task.
Choosing the best water purifier for your home can be a perplexing task. Selecting the right purifier depends on several factors, the primary one being the source of your drinking water. The type of impurities present in the water will guide you in selecting the appropriate purification technology. Is the main concern microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and cysts? Or does the water contain a significant level of dissolved impurities like iron, fluoride, calcium, and magnesium? Once you have answers to these questions, you can typically decide which technology to opt for.
Check Water Source
To determine which impurities are prevalent, a crucial aspect is to identify the water source. Is the water supplied by the municipal corporation, distributed by private tankers, or obtained from borewells? Typically, the water treated by the municipal corporation in your town or city is derived from surface sources such as lakes, rivers, and dams. Such water is generally considered ‘soft’ and does not contain dissolved minerals. Conversely, water from borewells supplied by tankers is usually abundant in dissolved impurities as the source of water is from underground, and it may be ‘hard’ in nature.
The primary water purification technologies available nowadays include UV (Ultraviolet light) and RO (Reverse Osmosis membrane). Many individuals mistakenly believe that RO-based water purifiers are generally a superior option compared to UV water purifiers. However, this is a significant misconception. Before we explore which water purifier is suitable for you, let’s first comprehend the fundamentals of water purification technology.
Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier
RO purifiers utilize a semi-permeable membrane to filter out or separate up to 90% of dissolved pollutants. However, reverse osmosis membranes also remove essential minerals if present in the water. For instance, if the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) levels in the water are 900 ppm (parts per million – a measure of TDS), post RO purification, it will reduce to around 90 ppm. On the other hand, if the TDS is 300, then post RO purification, the TDS levels will decrease to 30 ppm, which is below the ideal level.
It is reasonable to assume that TDS levels exceeding 500 ppm justify the use of an RO system. However, using an RO purifier for water with low TDS levels may result in the removal of essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, leading to water with extremely low TDS levels that may not be ideal for taste or health reasons. Additionally, it is worth noting that RO purifiers are not very efficient and waste up to 80% of the water being treated, resulting in a very low water reuse rate. This puts an additional burden on our already limited water resources.
Ultraviolet Water Purifier
UV purification or disinfection is the ideal choice for water with low TDS levels to eliminate microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and cysts while preserving essential minerals present in the water. The use of UV water purifiers is the most environment-friendly method of water purification because it does not introduce any chemicals into the water and does not waste water. For “soft” water, which has been treated by authorities but may have become contaminated during distribution, UV treatment is highly effective in purifying water at the point of use.
RO vs. UV: Which One to Choose?
Has your water been sourced from surface water, such as rivers and lakes, supplied by the municipality? Alternatively, is it groundwater obtained from borewells, supplied by tankers, or a combination of both?
In conclusion, if your water source is surface water supplied by the municipal corporation, the TDS level is likely to be low, and your primary concern should be protecting yourself against microbiological impurities such as bacteria and viruses. However, if your water comes from groundwater supplied by tankers, it may have a higher level of dissolved impurities, affecting its taste, and a TDS level over 500 ppm may have long-term health implications.
To simplify the decision-making process, you can use a TDS meter to check the TDS of your groundwater. If it is over 500 ppm, an RO water purifier would be suitable. For TDS levels under 500 ppm, a well-designed UV water purifier is a good choice. If you receive a combination of both types of water sources, an “intelligent” purifier with sensing technology can automatically select the necessary technology, either UV or RO, based on the user-defined TDS setting.
Pros and Cons
Household RO (Reverse Osmosis) water purification systems typically reject or waste a significant portion of the water that passes through them. In fact, more than 80% of the water may be wasted, leaving only 20% or less available for consumption.
In the case of low TDS input water, i.e., less than 200 ppm, using an RO water purifier can potentially harm your health in the long run since the water will be devoid of vital minerals and salts.
A UV water purifier can effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses, but it is not capable of eliminating dissolved impurities like arsenic, fluoride, pesticides, rust, and others. Additionally, it cannot transform hard water into soft water with a pleasant taste.
Many water purifier companies offer complex technologies like RO + UV, RO + UV + UF, TDS meters, etc., which can be confusing for consumers. It’s important to understand the meaning and implications of these technologies before making a purchase decision. Some of these features may not be necessary and can increase the overall cost and maintenance of the equipment without providing any real benefits.
For example, a TDS meter/controller is simply a flow meter used to regulate the mix between RO water (which is stripped of minerals) and regular tap water (which contains minerals) to ensure that the water is not overly low in TDS. This raises the question: was an RO purifier really necessary in the first place?
We trust that this blog has provided you with a better understanding of the basics of RO and UV water purification technology, which you should consider before selecting a water purifier that meets your requirements.
Take a look at the UV water purifiers offered by Puritor.
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