How can a Person Decide on The Type of Water Purifier Needed?

The one important question we need to ask is: Why do we need a water purifier in our homes? Water, which is an essential resource for our survival, must be pure and clean to maintain good health and well-being. Although the water supplied to our homes is not always polluted, it is important to find out the quality of water and then decide on the technology required for your use. For a long time, water scarcity has been a problem. Furthermore, as the problem worsens, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find safe drinking water that is devoid of pollutants, chemicals, and other hazardous compounds. That is why a majority of households have turned to water filtration and have water purifier systems installed.

Surprisingly, most of them hardly get their water tested or feel the need to check the quality of water they are consuming.Since the quality of water is not tested, they tend to choose a water purifier that is not suitable for their use. That’s why you need to look into several factors before deciding to buy a water purifier for your home.

You may get tap water or groundwater (which has high levels of TDS). You may get a mix of municipal water and borewell water.Hence, it is important to determine the quality of water before consuming it. Remember that consuming unfiltered and unsafe water can cause several waterborne diseases as well as health hazards in the long run. So, it is better to take necessary precautions and invest in a good water purifier for your home.

Due to this misunderstanding, the purifier may not be of much help and instead waste a lot of water. Yes! You read that correctly. Some water purifiers discard a lot of water, resulting in waste. As a result, it's critical that you select the best water filter for your home.

In this article, let us discuss the factors which you need to consider while choosing a water purifier.

Factors that will help you choose the right water purifier for your home

• Level of contamination in the water

Water quality is one of the most important factors which will help you determine the type of water purifier you need. Depending on the source of water, you must get it tested for TDS and hardness. Among various parameters, checking the TDS levels is most important because if it is more than the permissible percentage then the water is not potable for consumption.

Different water purifier technologies aim to remove various amounts of contaminants from water. As a result, it's critical to double-check this and choose a purifier that will treat the water appropriately.

There aren't many impurities in soft water and the TDS level is low. Low TDS means you don't need an RO water purifier. Higher TDS means, more salinity and hence a semi-permeable membrane (RO) is required).

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) consists of organic and inorganic matter, including heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic, minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, and nitrates. It also contains micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, cysts, and parasites. Although some minerals such as calcium and magnesium are good for health, they can cause harm when consumed in larger quantities. Hence, water which contains high levels of TDS is not safe for consumption and it needs to be filtered.

TDS is measured in ppm (parts per million). TDS which is 200 or below is considered potable and 200 to 500 ppm is considered safe. The TDS levels which are more than 500 to 2000 ppm are not at all acceptable and are unhealthy.

However, usually, all sources of water don’t contain high levels of TDS. Water from different sources will vary in the percentage of TDS, such as:

• Municipal (tap) water where the TDS ranges is marginally acceptable

• Groundwater where the TDS is generally high

• Borewell water contains TDS which is also on the higher side

Generally, tap water or municipal water (the water from rivers and other freshwater sources) contains low levels of TDS and is usually safe for drinking even without the need for an RO water filter. But, there are chances that when the tap water is supplied to homes, it passes through water pipes and storage tanks which are not really maintained or cleaned properly. Due to this, the water may get polluted again and the TDS levels may increase. Hence, it is always advisable to test the water quality irrespective of the source of water.

TDS is measured in ppm (parts per million). Some of the dissolved minerals in water are useful for human health and therefore very low or zero TDS is also not desirable. When the TDS is reduced severely it also affects the Ph of the water, which BIS specifies should be in the range 6.5-8.5. Water with very low TDS will taste insipid and while there is no official lower limit, TDS of at least 80 ppm is the accepted minimum level.

• Supply of water and its type:

The sort of water delivered to various locations varies greatly depending on where it comes from. It could be hard water, full of contaminants and a high level of total dissolved solids, whether it came from subterranean water systems, tankers, or wells.

There are numerous water purifier systems available, each with its own set of technologies and methods for water purification. But not all purifiers are suitable for every type of water. As a result, you must first determine the water type in order to determine the level of contamination in the water, and then select an appropriate purifier.

Type of water purifier:

You may get overwhelmed by the varieties of water purifiers available in the market.But, do not fear. We shall talk about each technology and its benefits to help you make a better choice. Although there are different types of technologies, water purifiers are broadly classified into 3 categories: RO water purifiers, UV water purifiers, and gravity-based water purifiers.

Now, you might be wonder what RO + UV or RO + UV + UF + MF water purifiers - are all about? Well, the main purification technology will be RO or UV whereas the UF (Ultrafiltration) and MF (Microfiltration) These are added layers of purification. They sometime act as water polishers and taste enhancers. Depending on the impurities present in the water you use,, you can opt for a purifier with or without UF and MF filters.

Water purifiers with RO as the main purification system are used for (tap) water with a high level of TDS while UV purifiers and gravity-based purifiers, both, are used for (tap) water with a lower level of TDS. RO (Reverse Osmosis) water purifiers are one of the most advanced water purification systems. If the level of TDS in the water you consume is high, then your choice should be an RO water purifier. You can also opt for a UV water purifier or gravity-based purifier, but it will only be effective in removing some impurities like particulate matter and micro-organisms. RO is specially designed toremove TDS present in the water. In today’s scenario where most water resources have high levels of contaminants, it is strongly recommended to often go for RO purifiers at home.

UV water purifiers are mostly effective in inactivating the bacteria, viruses, and parasites present in the water. UV can’t remove the TDS levels or soften the hardness in the water. And gravity-based water purifiers can remove particulate matter and other minor contaminants from the water but are ineffective in removing TDS.

Storage

Examine the storage capacity of the purifier before selecting the best one for your household, taking into account aspects such as the number of family members, water consumption, location, and so on. Pureit Water provides purifiers that has different storage capacities. You can select the best range from 8 to 10 litres depending on the number of members in your family. In Pureit water purifiers, the process of filling the storage tank is fully automatic. When you take water out of the tank the purification process automatically refills the storage tank.

Another significant factor to consider when choosing a water purifier is the size of the filter. If your neighbourhood experiences regular power outages, a water filter with storage is the best option. These non-electric storage water purifiers rely on gravity rather than energy, making them a viable option if your neighbourhood's power supply is unreliable.

Examine Certifications

Whether you're buying a RO Water Purifier or any other water purifier, make sure the purifier you're buying is certified. A certified water filter signifies that the brand is genuine and offers only the best service.

Budget

It's critical to have a budget in mind while looking for water purifiers online. This will assist you in choosing a water purifier that takes into account all of the variables, such as water type, TDS levels, and so on. The budget of water purifiers range from 7k to 30k based on its storage capacity and features. The usual price range of a UV device versus an RO device also differs based on its functionality such as copper-enrich technology or water saving features.

Service and maintenance

Simply looking at the pricing of a RO Water Purifier before purchasing one isn't enough. A water purifier, like any other machine, is subject to wear and tear, and you will be responsible for maintenance charges. Hence, you must select water purifiers that offer automatic filter change alerts based on your usage rather than time period. Pureit water offers purifiers that are equipped with Smartsense Indicators that alerts 15 days before the expiry of your filters. This wat, you need not change your filters compulsorily every year but only when the device alerts you.

Additionally, you can also check on the annual maintenance, budget, and additional features which you prefer in your water purifier. Depending on all these factors, you can easily choose the right water purifier for your home.

Bottom line

Water is a basic necessity, and it's critical that you consume clean, hygienic water that's free of toxins and has low to minimum TDS levels for your health's sake. Only water filtration makes this possible. However, not every water purifier is capable of removing pollutants and TDS from all types of water. As a result, it's critical that you select the best water filter for your home.

The selection and purchase of a water purifier become much easier with the help of a good water purifier buying guide. So, consult our service experts to determine your water type and quality, and then select the water purifier that is best for your home after careful thought.

Happy safe drinking water!