The Difference Between Water Filtration and Purification

Water Treatment: Filtration, Purification and Conditioning

Water treatment enhances the quality of your water by processes such as water purification and filtration. The difference between the two relates to both the process and what is left in the water afterwards.

Filtration
Water filtration removes the larger particles, impurities, and contaminants through a physical barrier, chemicals, or a biological process. These filters act as strainers and allow the clean water to flow through, blocking the unwanted particles. The process of filtration is most commonly achieved by means of sedi-ment filters and carbon filters, such as the Green Treat Water System.

Purification
Water purification not only filters water but focuses on ridding it of biological contaminants, viruses, chem-icals, and minerals. Purification is achieved by means of chemicals such as iodine and chlorine. Although these chemicals are safe if used in the right quantities, it is a common misconception that purification can only be achieved by means of such chemicals. In fact several of our products use these chemical-free methods. The Green Treat Water System uses catalytic coconut shell carbon while the Pure Light UV Sys-tem uses UV rays to purify water.

UV water purification has been held to destroy 99.9% of harmful microorganisms without the introduction of chemicals into the water. Neither the water’s odor nor taste is therefore affected – in fact, water that has a foul odor or taste is actually improved. This method has no significant drawbacks and is conveniently easy to maintain. The process is quick and cost-effective, while doing absolutely no harm to the environ-ment.

Activated carbon is another chemical-free method of purifying your water. Carbon is activated by adding a light electropositive charge to it. This in turn makes carbon even more effective in attracting chemicals and impurities to it, which it then absorbs. Activated carbon can be made from coal, wood or coconut shell, the last of which being the most effective.

Water softening
As purification removes unwanted chemicals it also softens hard water. Hard water is water with an excess of calcium and magnesium. This causes two main problems: it causes scale to build up on the inside of your pipes, water heaters, kettles etc. and it reduces the ability of soap to lather.

Water softening refers to a process by which calcium and magnesium is removed from the water. This happens in the water purification process by means of distillation or reverse osmosis. The resultant soft water is more compatible with soaps and detergents and prolongs the lifespan of your plumbing. Water softeners and conditioners may also be used on their own if all you are having trouble with is the hardness of your water.

Water treatment can take place without the use of chemicals – water filtration focuses on large impurities while purification removes the bacteria and chemicals from the water, including calcium and magnesium, leaving you with softened and conditioned water that is much easier to work with.