Water is a natural resource that can accidentally become contaminated, whether chemical, biological or even industrial. Tap water, even if it has already undergone several treatments, does not escape these risks. Yet statistics show that 65% of the population of France consumes tap water. This means that, in accordance with the statement made by a professor at the University of Paris-Sud, citizens cannot completely avoid these risks. Hence the need to use tap water filters.
Various responses are offered by a multitude of companies, and berkey filters are among the safe products in this area. Here are some practical solutions that can help you purify your tap water.
General information on tap water purification filters
The choice of filter for your tap water purifier should depend on the type of contaminants you want to remove, such as chemical contaminants, bacteria or viruses. You should also consider the purifier that is most suitable and convenient for you, while taking into account such features as price, weight, filtration capacity, installation structure, maintenance cost and flow rate.
There are several possible combinations for filtering tap water. For example, there is the under-sink filtration system, the system based on reverse osmosis (osmosis unit) and the under-tap water filter. A multitude of professional suppliers can provide you with these, and various product lines are available on the market.
The tap water filter
The tap water filter is a suitable option for purifying tap water. In fact, it admits an activated carbon cartridge that allows for good filtration. This cartridge is mainly used to extract particles and chemical contaminants such as pesticides, chlorine, broken medication or metals (lead, copper, iron, nickel, aluminum, etc.). Almost all harmful substances and elements can be removed in this way in an easier way. Some filters, such as the berkey water filter, can even prevent and then remove much finer particles. In addition, they do not need plumbing to be modified. This makes them easier to install and maintain.
However, the capacity of the tap water filter is smaller, only 1,200 to 1,500 litres. Therefore, it is essential to replace it regularly every three to six months. Similarly, its flow rate remains low, however, with an average of one litre per minute.
The under-sink water filter
The efficiency of an under-sink water filter is almost similar to that of a tap water filter. However, with its capacity of 6,000 to 10,000 litres of filtered water, the volume that can be purified by this filter is much higher. The capacity of a berkey water purifier is even 7% higher compared to a tap water filter. In addition, its flow rate is higher because it is about two to three litres per minute, which is twice as fast as a tap water filter. Even so, the under-sink water purifier requires the installation of an additional three-way faucet or tap. This reflects the fact that it also requires more regular and more delicate maintenance (every three to six months on average).
It should be noted that this type of purifier accepts two types, the direct-dispensing purifier and the delayed-dispensing purifier. The latter has an additional tap point for filtered and purified water.
The osmosis unit
The reverse osmosis unit is an instrument that allows the production of pure water following the phenomenon of reverse osmosis. The latter is, according to an assertion revealed in "Science of The Total Environment", a purification system with materials that allow only "oxygen dihydroxides (water molecules)" to pass through. Thus, following this principle and natural phenomenon, the osmosis unit removes the solutes that are in the tap water, such as phosphates, nitrates or sulphates. Indeed, with this system, 98% of the impurities in the tap water are eliminated. The purified water is then stored in a pressurized tank. The osmosis unit can be described and selected as the "purifier par excellence". However, due to its more complex and sophisticated structure, the osmosis unit is much more expensive and requires professional maintenance.
Be aware that, given its quality and efficiency, the osmosis unit can also help you in the production of table water and cleaning water. It can also be used as a cleaner in the removal of harmful pollutants such as nitrates and metals (lead, copper, aluminum, etc.).
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