Water Purification Equipment - What Are the Essentials and Why Excellent Purifiers Don't Cost Much

Water purification equipment is everywhere in the magazines we buy, the stores we shop in, and the TV ads we are subjected to. There are several different types of purification equipment that have been developed over the years, which is easy to get a handle on. The problem is, there are hundreds - maybe even thousands - of different manufacturers who all put up claims and counter claims about their own versions of these basic filters.

So, how do you choose? And how do you know you are getting the best value for your money? And where do you get moderately priced water purification equipment that will work?

The secret is to know something about the main types of purification equipment. When you know that, you can then price the versions of them sold by the manufacturers.

One of the most common piece of water purification equipment is the carbon block and granular carbon filters. They are common on sink tops and under sinks in our kitchens. It removes a good number of contaminants as they bond chemically or physically to the surface of the filter medium. Activated carbon is recognized by the EPA.

Another common form of water purification equipment is the portable, pitcher style filter unit. They are better than nothing. But as water passes through the nodules of the filter they are pushed aside and eventually water can stream through channels among the nodules and not touch any of the purification elements built in to the unit. In time, most of the water coming out of them is as bad as the untreated water going in at the other end.

Reverse osmosis is a large scale piece of water purification equipment that was developed 40 years ago for the printing industry that requires mineral-free water. It became useful for desert farming, as it could be installed in desalination plants on the edge of Middle Eastern countries. And many US cities use them in their water treatment centers. They are inefficient, wasting two or three times as much water as they clean. But worse, they strip out from the water passing through them the healthy, essential minerals (like calcium and magnesium) that our bodies must have to be healthy and function normally. And they do not catch molecules that are smaller than water - such as those found in herbicides and pesticides.

What you need is a combination of several of them. Find a water purification specialist who can put several different types of filters in a line that will take out the contaminants and leave in the essential trace minerals you need. My own advice is to not let anyone talk you in to including reserve osmosis equipment in the line up. (I think you can see why from what I've just told you.) You will find that a set of filters is not too expensive.

Now that you know this, I suggest you have a look on the Internet for suppliers. My own web site would be a good place to start. But what you are looking for is a manufacturer who understands that water purification equipment needs to comprise several inexpensive units working together.

Autor: Len McGrane

Len McGrane writes about home water purifiers and pure drinking water from his web site, http://www.pure-drinkingwater.com where he gives advice and helps visitors with water purification equipment.

Added: January 14, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/