People often confuse water filtration with water treatment, but they serve two different purposes. Water filtration involves removing contaminants from water, such as chemical impurities, debris, or sediment. Water treatment involves treating water to remove dissolved impurities, bacteria, and viruses. While filtration falls under the umbrella of water treatment, treating water is a much broader term. Here is a more in-depth look at how both work.
What Is Water Treatment?
Water treatment means altering water chemically or biologically to ensure it’s safe to drink, making it a far more involved process than water filtration. There are a series of steps when treating water:
- Sedimentation: Allowing larger particles to settle out of the water
- Filtration: Passing water through a filter to remove debris
- Disinfection: Killing germs and pathogens with UV purification and chlorine
- Adjusting the pH: Balancing acidity
What Is Water Filtration?
Water filtration physically removes contaminants, such as sand, debris, and microorganisms to improve its quality, taste, and safety. Common filtration methods include using carbon filters, reverse osmosis, and sediment filters. Water filters are usually used at the point of entry (where water enters your home) or points of use (specific faucets).
The Differences Between Water Filtration and Water Treatment
Water filtration physically traps contaminants with screens, carbons, or filters, while water treatment uses biological agents or chemicals to disinfect water.
Filtration targets suspended solids, chlorine, sediment, and some heavy metals. Water treatment targets viruses, parasites, and bacteria.
When to Choose Water Filtration
If your water has a swimming pool scent from too much chlorine, a metallic taste from minerals, or a rotten egg smell from sulfur, water filtration methods, such as activated carbon, can improve the taste and odor. Water filtration techniques can also remove sand, grit, debris, or sediment.
When to Choose Water Treatment
Water treatment is typically the better option if you need to remove microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses. Untreated water sources, such as water from a stream or well, should always be treated before you drink it. Lastly, water is also treated to ensure it meets national health and safety standards.
Can Filtration and Treatment Work Together?
While water filtration and water treatment are two separate processes, they are most effective when used together. Pairing the two removes contaminants and ensures your water is safe to drink. Some providers offer multistage systems, like the three-stage whole-house system, which treats your water and filters it as well.
The Right Solution for Your Home
Choosing the right solution for your home depends on several factors. First, you should know where your water is coming from. Then, test your water to identify the contaminants. Write down your specific concerns (hard water, taste, odor, and so on.) Finally, evaluate your household size, your budget, and how much water you use daily.
To choose the right solution for your home, chat with an expert. If you need professional water filtration services in Muncie, IN, contact our team at Aqua Gold Water Treatment.