Water Filters - Accessing Clean Water

Water is life and we cannot survive without water in our bodies. Having clean water to drink is vital since water that is contaminated can cause infection. Water usually has minerals which are dissolved and may cause the taste of the water to change slightly. These minerals are found in small amounts and are normally harmless.

However, water can also contain bacteria, parasites and protozoa especially water that is found in water sources like rivers. This kind of contaminated water will definitely make you sick if you drink it. Water filters are therefore used to ensure that your water is free from any contaminants and that is safe for drinking and for use in other activities.

How Filters Work

Water filters are made to trap all elements which are harmful and allow only clean water to pass through. Water filters are made from a material that has very tiny holes which can even be smaller than a thousandth of a millimeter in diameter. These holes are big enough to allow water molecules to pass through but too small for viruses and bacteria to squeeze through. The type of material that is used to filter the water will depend on where the filtering is taking place.

Treatment Plants

Normally, when water is to be filtered in a water treatment plant, the water will first pass through large screens which have a mesh. The mesh is able to trap large debris for instance leaves and stones. The water then passes through other filters such as biological filters to get rid of protozoa and bacteria which is harmful to health.

After the water has passed through the filters, it is disinfected using chlorine in liquid or powder form. The water can also be passed through ultraviolet light to kill contaminants or it can be passed through ozone gas. The water can then be directed to residential homes and other commercial and industrial buildings for use.

Transporting Water

When water is in transit from a treatment plant to the targeted buildings, it passes through pipes. These pipes ran down over time which means that pollutants can easily get their way back into the water. The water can get contaminated by leaked sewage or from metals from the aged pipes. Therefore, important to have water filters in your premises to ensure that only clean water gets into the building.

Activated Carbon

Many water filters used in homes are made from activated carbon. The carbon filters are a popular choice because a small amount of carbon has a huge surface area. This means that the material has very tiny pores which can effectively capture contaminants, only allowing water molecules to pass through.

There are also filters which have carbon activated material made from coconut shells which have holes that are even smaller than the normal carbon activated material. These filters will get rid of chemicals including chlorine, leaving only mineral ions which ensure that your water tastes good.

Domestic Filters

Water filters come in a variety of ways which will give you convenience in the home. There are filters which are fixed to the faucet so that you get clean water straight from the tap, or you can have the filter fixed in a pitcher.


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James Hasapis forms a part of a great team of plumbers from Pipe Masters who are skilled in all types of plumbing jobs including the installation of water filters. Log on to http://www.pipemasters.com.au/water-filters-sydney/ to get more detailed information.