WATER for home needs

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or state. Water is considered as the ELIXIR OF LIFE as no life on earth can exist and survive without water. Water is derived from the old English word water and also from the German word “wasser”. It is a tasteless, odorless and nearly colorless substance in its pure form that is essential to all known forms of life and is known also as the world’s most universal solvent. Fresh water is essential to our health and comfort. Not only do we rely on it to stay hydrated, we use it in many other ways including bathing, cleaning and cooking food, and laundering our clothes. Fresh water has long been a concern of both public communities and private individuals, and several different water purification systems and treatment technologies have been developed to help ensure that tap water is safe for human consumption. But how do these different technologies compare?

Whether the water is from a well or a city system, water sources can become contaminated by bacteria, runoff, and improper treatment. Even if water isn’t contaminated, it may contain iron and other hard minerals that cause discoloration and can build up in the body, or chlorine that leaves an unpleasant odor and taste. Consequently, many people choose to treat or filter their water to improve flavor and protect against contaminants.

Chlorine is commonly used by municipal water treatment plants and is effective in killing many different bacteria. However, it is not effective against some organisms such as Cryposporidium and Giardia. Both of these organisms can be found in lakes, rivers, and ground water and can cause serious intestinal illness.

As mentioned, many people feel that chlorine leaves an unpleasant taste and smell. In addition, there have been numerous cases where the city water supply became contaminated despite the fact that it was treated. People with city water supplies often use other water purifiers and home water filters to ensure that their water is pure and tastes good. The three most common options are carbon filters, reverse osmosis water filters, and ultraviolet light water purification.

Each of these technologies uses a different approach to treat water, and they each have different levels of effectiveness against various contaminants. One may work well to remove chemicals but be completely ineffective against bacteria, and vice versa.

In reality, there is no single filter or treatment that will eliminate every contaminant from your water. The best approach is to have your water tested for contaminants and then purchase a home water purifier that guards against the particular contaminants that cause you concern.

Another option is to combine treatment technologies. Most higher-end systems use a combination of carbon filters and one of the other treatment technologies to achieve the best results.
Let’s look at the different technologies to see where each is effective.

Carbon Filters

Carbon is one of the most powerful absorbents available and it has been used for many years as a means of removing impurities. The absorbing powers of carbon can be further enhanced by adding a slightly positive electrical charge. This is known as activated carbon, and it is used in many standard home water filters. As the water passes over the positively charged carbon, the negative ions of the contaminants are drawn to the surface of the carbon granules and removed from the water.

Activated carbon filters typically use granular activated carbon (GAC) or powdered block carbon. Both work well for filtering and purifying but carbon block filters have been shown to remove more contaminants. Either type of activated carbon filters help reduce or remove a wide variety of contaminants, including:
• Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)
• pesticides and herbicides
• chlorine, radon, and other chemicals often found in tap water.

However, unless they are densely compacted, most carbon block filters are not effective at removing heavy metals or bacteria. For this reason, many people consider combining carbon filters with one of the other types of water purification systems.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Reverse osmosis, also known as hyper filtration or ultra-filtration, was developed with U.S. government funding as a means of desalinating ocean water. A reverse osmosis water purifier uses a semi-permeable membrane that allows pure water to pass through it, while contaminants are trapped by the tiny pores in the membrane.
The process requires that the water be pressurized to help force it through the membrane. Most standard residential water systems have sufficient pressure. Like activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis also uses charged particles to help filter out impurities.

The effectiveness of a reverse osmosis water purifier depends on the density of the membrane. A membrane with larger pores will obviously let larger impurities pass through. It is also important that the membrane be cleaned regularly for proper functioning.

Higher quality reverse osmosis water filters use a process known as crossflow to allow the membrane to continually clean itself. Crossflow directs some of the water downstream from the membrane, sweeping the rejected contaminants away so they do not build up and block the membrane.

There are two types of membranes commonly used in reverse osmosis water filters –Thin Film Composite (TFC) and Cellulose Triacetate (CTA). TFC membranes are noticeably more effective the CTA membranes but they tend to be less resistant to the deteriorating effects of chlorine. This problem can be avoided by using an activated carbon pre-filter to remove the chlorine first.

Reverse osmosis water purifiers come in different sizes and styles including countertop and whole house water purification systems. They are capable of filtering out a long list of contaminants including:
• Chlorine and other treatment related products
• bacteria
• salts, sugars, proteins
• dyes
• heavy metals

One drawback of reverse osmosis water filters is that they are more expensive than carbon filter treatment systems, with the average home system costing around Rs35000/-. Also, the purification process is usually somewhat slow due to the use of pressurized water. It can take an entire day to produce 1500 litres of purified water. And a typical reverse osmosis water purifier may need up to 8 00 litres of untreated water to generate a single gallon of purified water.
UV Water Purification

As the name implies, ultraviolet light water purification systems use ultraviolet (UV) light to treat water and render microorganisms harmless. The UV light comes from a high intensity lamp that is usually enclosed in a protective quartz sleeve. When water passes through the water treatment system, the UV light damages the structure of any organisms and makes them sterile.

Although a UV water purifier requires electricity to operate, it draws about the same amount of energy as a light bulb. However, the lamp bulb itself needs to be replaced every year to ensure adequate intensity.
While whole house UV water purification systems are effective on most bacteria, viruses, molds, algae and other organisms, they do not remove chlorine, heavy metals, VOCs, or other chemicals. And countertop UV systems, which expose the water to UV lighting for less time, do not always remove all organisms.
UV water purifiers average around Rs35,000/- for a whole house system, making them more expensive initially than other types of treatments. In addition, without a pre-filter system, contaminants can build up and reduce the intensity of the UV lamp. For these reasons, many people combine UV water purification systems with carbon filters, which also increase the costs.
As we see, each of the three common water treatment technologies has its advantages and drawbacks. Deciding which is best depends on your budget and the type of water contaminants you want to remove or prevent. A test of your tap water will help you determine the appropriate water filtration system for your needs. Water fit for human intake is called portable water. Drinking water is the water which is intended to be drunk by humans. Although most fresh water sources are drinkable by humans, they can cause long term health problems if they do not meet certain water quality guidelines.  BIS has set a guideline parameter in India.

This can be achieved with the help of range of cartridges, sediment filters, carbon filters, omni pure filters ,filter housings, faucets, water softeners and water distillers Since water is made up of many different substances, it can taste and smell very differently.

Around 72% of the fat free mass of the human body is made up of water. To function properly the body requires between one to eight liters of water per day to avoid dehydration, the ideal will depend upon amount depending on the level of activity, temperature, humidity and other factors.

The National Research Council recommends 2.7 litres of water for women and 3.7 litres for men.Humans require water that does not contain too much of salt or other impurities. Some of the common impurities include chemicals and harmful bacteria. Some of them are acceptable while others may prove fatal to human health.
These bacteria and forms of chemical substances can be removed with the help purifiers and softeners .There are several purification and enhancing method done. But the most recent and common method is the alkaline ionization method which is done with the help of a water ionizer.

A water ionizer is an appliance that ionizes the water through a method of electrolysis. Many water ionizer manufacturers (claim that drinking alkaline water with a lower ORP (organic perspective) and high oxygen content improves health.
The ionizer is made up of several compartments of distillers and filters and the ionizing chamber. These filters and distillers can be placed even in our houses with the help of filter housings

Common claims about the health benefits of ionized water include the claim that ionized water is more readily absorbed by the body than ordinary water, and that minerals in ionized water are more readily available to the body.
There are several benefits by drinking ionized water .
• Excellent natural anti-oxidant that will scavenge free radicals before they oxidize cell tissue .
• Provides more available oxygen to your body than ordinary tap water
• Neutralizes and flushes toxins and acidic waste from your body. Your body can focus on achieving optimal health
• Natural astringent for improving complexions. It removes skin oil and greasy dirt without harsh chemicals.
• Natural hair conditioner.
• Highly antiseptic for cuts, abrasions, and wounds.
• Natural texture and color retained in vegetables cooked in alkaline ionized water. Rice will be fluffier after being boiled in ionized water
• Helps with weight control and curbs your hunger when dieting.
• Soaking in warm acidic ionized water improves healing from athletes’ foot, rashes; nail fungus infections and insect bites.
• Contains structurally smaller molecules which helps the body assimilate more water and hydrate quickly

1. Your water is supposed to deliver essential nutrients and minerals needed to live. For example, calcium,
magnesium, potassium and trace elements — which doctors recommend we take in — can be found in some drinking waters, but not all. Are you spending an arm and a leg on supplements to ensure you’re getting these minerals when
instead you can get them simply and cheaply by drinking the right kind of water?
2. Your water should help balance out the acidic state of your body. Simply put, our bodies’ tissues produce waste
that is acid in nature. When these acid wastes accumulate — because of pollutants, modern diet and stress — our tissues
slowly deteriorate. Chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis are associated with
this acid condition. Water should help balance out our acidic state by being alkaline.
3. Like a natural stream, your water should have antioxidant properties. Oxidization hastens cell breakdown,
while foods with antioxidant properties prevent it. You don’t need anyone to tell you that you want a body that generates cells, not destroys them!
4. Your water should be free of contaminants. Many people are shocked to learn that there can be over 2000
contaminants in an ordinary glass of tap water. So aside from quenching your thirst, water should also be
full of minerals, be alkaline, and be antioxidant. But did you know that most water is exactly the opposite? And did
you know that waters from many water purifier systems fail these basic requirements? Protect the health of your family. Before believing the advertising claims of any system, and before spending a
fortune on bottled water, really compare the choices in home purification systems. Find out:
1. How do the health benefits of each system compare? (Contamination, acidity, antioxidant, minerals)
2. What’s the taste like? If you don’t love the taste, you won’t drink enough water.
3. How much will it cost me?

Water purifier is a necessity in most homes in these parts of the world.
Good quality water purifier will give water that is pure in all respects like physically, microbiologically and organically without any chances of being contaminated again. Installing a water purifier ensures that we get pure water right from the tap. Water purifiers are available in many sizes to cater to different needs. Portable water purifiers have the lowest price. Other varieties are point of use purifier, purifiers for large buildings/houses or commercial organizations and cooler systems. The advanced purification technique of these systems tackles most of the harmful and toxic chemicals, metals and minerals, microbes and bacteria or virus. Purifiers also use the reverse osmosis process. This is a very common method of water purification and can be used in small portable or camp purifiers as well as big systems in big houses or other places. The reverse osmosis membranes remove most of the harmful elements. They can also put up with extreme pH pressure without leaking or bursting. But for this durability, the system has to be manufactured with an eye on the quality.
Installing a water purifier is totally hassle free. Large manufacturers give the option of buying online and display their products with complete details. This is a boon for very busy persons who are unable to visit the store within stipulated hours. After choosing the water purifier brand, all that remains is buying the system be it online or going over to the store physically and having it installed in the designated place. Most manufacturers give warranties. In case of part replacement or breakdown, the service in most cases is prompt and up to the mark. Maintenance is equally easy without any headaches. Affordability is always a big issue, but most of the systems are very cost effective.
Water purification systems are a necessity not only for domestic purposes, but they are widely used in nursing homes, hospitals, and in research laboratories. All these places require pure clean water and only the very best systems are installed as there is no compromise when it comes to quality.

The changing time and technology have resulted in the vast improvements in the water filters as now they have added features. Water filters have significantly risen from the scratch and have marked their own individuality and popularity Thus, if you have a huge house or mansion that too situated at a place where you frequently get the sandy and muddy water then simply go for this as they not only provide you clean and drinking water but also avoid all the water borne diseases.
Let’s face it if you are in business needing de-ionized water or reverse osmosis water you are always concerned about the quality of your water. An R.O. machine works best when it‘s running clean water through it. Otherwise, the membranes let nature take over. Then you have not reverse osmosis but osmosis. It’s better to have a small machine running twenty-four hours a day than a big machine running two hours and then shutting off. R.O. membranes should have a constant positive flow through them. Some industry leaders believe twelve to thirteen hours is the maximum you should run an R.O. unit a day. They think the machine will last longer.important and you should change your prefilters often. Water softeners every month, carbon filters quarterly. Be sure to check the pressures weekly and membranes will need changing every so often too. Think on this.
Do You Need a Home Water Purifier?
The first question to ask when considering a residential water purifier is whether you even need one. If you have a municipal water source then your water is already treated. But many people don’t want to drink the chlorine or other additives that city’s use to treat water supplies. And there have been many instances when city water supplies have become contaminated despite treatment procedures.
If you feel secure about your city water supply and enjoy the taste of chlorinated water, then you may not need a purifier. If you’re not sure what’s in your water, you can ask to see a water quality report that all cities are required to provide.
Although well water isn’t treated, it comes from an underground source that can often be cleaner than municipal water. But if you live in areas with farming, manufacturing, and other industries that may inadvertently or purposely dump chemicals into the water table, your water is at risk.
Additionally, well water may contain sediments, such as iron, that can cause discoloration and odor. These sediments can also build up in dishwashers and other appliances and cause malfunctions. Many home water filters and purifiers can help improve the taste and quality of well water. To find out what type of impurities is in your well water, purchase a home testing kit or for more reliable results, have your water professionally tested.
What Contaminants Do You Want To Target?
If you’ve decided you need a home water purifier, the next step is to decide what type of contaminants you want to filter out or protect against. Are you concerned about bacteria and other microorganisms? Do you want to remove chemicals and compounds such as chlorine? Maybe you know your water contains sediments and high mineral content. Or perhaps like many people, you’re concerned about all of these things and you want a comprehensive home water purifier/filtration system.
Bacteria and microorganisms
If bacteria and other organisms are your targets, then you want to consider home water purifiers that use UV technology. Of the three most common water purification technologies, UV is the only one that effectively immobilizes bacteria. However, it does not remove sediments, chemicals and other contaminants.
Chemicals and sediments
Home water purifiers that use either carbon filters or reverse osmosis technology will remove suspended solids such as sediments, dissolved chemicals, and many other contaminants. Of the two, reverse osmosis is effective on a wider range of contaminants. However, neither of these technologies is effective at removing bacteria.
For a comprehensive home water purification system, it is important to combine UV technology with one of the other options. A carbon pre-filer is the most common choice. It’s also critical that you change your home water filters regularly and follow manufacturers’ maintenance schedules. If you don’t routinely change the filters on your home water filters and water purifiers, you could wind up creating an even bigger problem with bacteria than the one you may be trying to avoid in the first place.
Where Will You Put Your Home Water Purifier?
Where you want to locate the filter/purification system can also influence your decision. Faucet mount and countertop water filters typically only come in carbon filter technology. You can usually find both carbon filters and reverse osmosis water filters in under sink systems. And both reverse osmosis and UV technologies come in whole house systems. Each of these can also be fitted with a carbon pre-filter for comprehensive treatment.
If your only concern is your drinking water, then you may prefer one of the many countertops or under sink water filters. They are less expensive than whole house systems, ranging from about Rs5000/- to Rs35, 000 for a sink model.
Installation and Maintenance
One final aspect to consider when choosing between different home water filters and purification systems is whether or not you want to install and maintain it yourself. Faucet mounts and countertop models basically require no or minimal installation. And the only maintenance is changing the filters, which is a simple process.
Depending on your mechanical aptitude, under sink models and whole house water purifiers may require professional installation and maintenance. Some companies require that their technicians perform all the work. The companies say this is to avoid mistakes and improper setup. Others say it is simply another means of charging more money.
But for those who don’t want to deal with the fuss and possible mess, a service plan may be well worth the extra money. (Eureka Forbes- Provides AMC) In addition, a service plan often covers the equipment if it malfunctions or breaks down.
There are several factors to consider when choosing between the various types and styles of home water filters and water purifiers. The best place to start is with an analysis of your water. Different water purifier technologies target different types of contaminants, and a water test will help you determine which technology will meet your needs. Considering how much we depend on clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing and other daily activities, a home water purifier can be an inexpensive way to provide safe and healthy tap water for you and your family.
1. What is distilled water?
Distilled water is quite simply water that has been heated up to boiling point so that it evaporates. It then rises in the distiller unit and condenses – turning back into water but minus all of the toxin and impurities behind. Using a distiller rids the water of any bacteria, viruses, cysts, heavy metals, radionuclides, organics, inorganics, and particulates.
It is no different from the process seen in the hydrologic cycle when the water on the earth is heated by the sun, turning it into a vapour which rises and forms clouds (leaving the toxins and impurities behind). As the vapours cool, the clouds turn back into droplets of water and fall as rain back to the earth. This process borrowed from nature is what the distiller uses to make pure water!
2. Doesn’t Distilled Water Leech Minerals from the Body?
This is a claim that has been made and propagated for some fifteen years without any substantial evidence or logic.
It is assumed that this myth was created by a manufacturer of a competing water purification system as a way of trying to create consumer distrust. It is unbelievable that it still survives today, regardless of it being as scientifically based as me saying that smoking can cure cancer.
However, do not just take my word for it, just have a search on the Internet – you will see that distilled water is backed by renowned health experts such as Dr Weil, Harvey and Marylyn Diamond, the American Medical Journal and Dr Schroeder.
3. Isn’t distilled water void of minerals that my body needs?
This is another popular myth that is based on no scientific fact!
Put most simply, there are two types of mineral – organic and inorganic. The body is only able to absorb organic minerals and it gets these from foods. As the body does not have a need to get minerals from water the best thing we can do is make our drinking water as pure from toxins and chemicals as possible.
While it is true that the process of distillation removes certain minerals from the water it the majority of these is inorganic and is therefore useless to the body. In any case, research has highlighted that you would have to drink over 650 eight-ounce glasses of tap water to reach the Recommended Daily Allowance for calcium. The fact that distillation makes water
Distilled water is the best and most economical way to turn your tap water into fresh, pure and pH neutral drinking water. Home water distillers are not vastly expensive and as you can see, they pay for themselves in as little as three months!
If you had to take a sample of the water that we drink ever day then you would probably be absolutely horrified at the contaminants that we put into our bodies every day. This is over and above the unhealthy food and drinks that we consume at every opportunity. Water is supposed to be the way in which we flush those contaminants out of our bodies, but all the water we are drinking now is doing is adding to the pollutants in our bodies.
There is a remedy for this situation though; there are a variety of water filtration devices available these days. These devices perform a variety of different functions and there is enough of a variety for all needs and budgets to be catered for. You will need to do a little research in order to determine the optimal unit for you and your home. There are certain questions that you will need to answer in order to ensure that you obtain the best water filtration unit for your needs.
Some of these questions include: What type of water am I currently being supplied with? Where am I planning to use the water filtration unit? What sort of budget do I have for this unit? How much water do I and/or the household currently use? What types of contaminants are most prevalent in my water? What does the filtration unit do? These are only some queries that you may need to consider when evaluating water filtrations units.
These units are investments in your health and the health of your family so you will need to determine which factors have priority for you. Filtered water will provide with the water that will do the multiple jobs that water is supposed to do. The filtered water will hydrate you and help to regulate your internal functions. The filtered water will also help to flush out impurities that accumulate within the body.
Some units are designed to go outside the house, for instance Garden Water Filters that are intended to be used in the garden to help eliminate chlorine and the harmful effects that it has on your garden. The Ultraviolet sterilizer is also for use outside, in your pond. The sterilizer is intended to kill harmful bacteria that can harm the fish in your pond.
The majority of units are intended for use indoors, they are utilized to provide clean, healthy water for drinking and cooking with. There are different units that provide different levels of filtration, but all of them provide you with water that is far more beneficial and healthy than the water that you would normally get from a tap.
There is a countertop water filter that can be moved around from room to room depending on where you need it; it uses carbon to filter out the contaminants. The whole house filter provides filtered water throughout the house for cooking, drinking and cleaning. Water distillers eliminate biological contaminants and vastly diminish chemical contaminants from the water that you receive.
Water ionization units not only filter the water through carbon, they also put the water through an ionization process to produce healthy, alkaline water. Reverse Osmosis systems filter the water through a membrane that only allows water molecules through and no large compounds. The water magnets are used on the exterior of pipes and appliances to eliminate the scale buildup on the inside of the pipe or appliance and to prolong the life of the appliance.
Eureka Forbes, Philips & Voltas provide water purifiers at affordable range in India. Water filters (top end) is a must for every house hold at Bangalore.