Water filters. Pretty simple concept, right? Turn on your tap, let the dirty water run through the filter and into your glass goes some nice clean contaminant free water. And in theory it is a simple process. Unfortunately picking a water filter is not so simple as their are many different ways to filter your water and many different types of filters to filter your water with. So which ones are best? The answer to that question is probably eternally elusive but at least in this article we're going to review some of the different types of filters that there are so you can make an informed decision.
Probably the most common water filters are charcoal. The charcoal is actually gotten from coconut husk. The charcoal absorbs the impurities out of the water. Charcoal water filters make up about 95% of all the water filters in use. The reason is because they are simple to install, relatively cheap and remove most of the toxins found in the water. An average charcoal filter will last between 6 and 9 months before it has to be replaced. Some charcoal filters are enhanced by the use of silver which gives you extra antibacterial protection. Charcoal filters are probably the best buy for the money.
Not quite as common are what are called reverse osmosis water filters. These filters use a fine membrane to filter the water through an osmotic process. These filters, unlike charcoal filters, take everything out of the water, leaving them totally pure. These filters are installed under your sink and require a serviceman to come out every few months to install a new membrane. There is some debate as to how beneficial these filters really are since they also take all the good minerals out of the water as well.
Another type of water filter is the distiller water filter. These filters use electricity to heat the water to its boiling point. The impurities are left in the boiling container and then the purified condensed water drains back into a clean container. These filters require an enormous amount of power and don't give an immediate supply because the boiling process must be completed first. There are reports that claim that distilled water is not good to drink long term because it actually takes nutrients from your body because of the unnaturalness of the water.
Then there are ionized water filters. Ionized water is water that has been electronically altered by being run over by positive and negative electrodes. The water then becomes ionized by separating the water and the minerals in it into alkaline and acidic water. You end up with 70% alkaline water and 30% acidic water. Both waters have excellent properties. The alkaline ionized water is used for drinking and is a great antitoxin for the body. Acidic ionized water is used primarily for bathing and is supposed to be very good for killing bacteria.
In our next article we'll go over some additional types of water filter and treatment systems.
As well as those mentioned in my previous article, another type is what is known as an ultraviolet water filter. These filters use an ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria in the water. They are seldom used in the home because of the problem of keeping the ultraviolet light clean. They are mostly used in business and hospital settings where trained professionals are on the staff to service the unit. Businesses usually have extended service contracts to keep these units serviced. Some water ionizers have had ultraviolet lights attached but they have been shown to have very little effect.
Then we have what are called back flush water filters. When this filter first came on the market it claimed to be long life and needing few filter changes. To this date none of the claims of these back flush water filters have lived up to the facts. Usually these filters are anywhere from two to four times the cost of a typical charcoal based water filter unit. The companies justify their prices by the longevity of the units. The truth is, these filters are no better than a typical charcoal one but many people buy into the hype that more expensive is better, thus the popularity of these monsters.
Another popular water filter is the magnetic water filter. Technically, what these do is pass the water through a magnetic field. Effectively, this rearranges the ions. Unfortunately, without actually splitting the ions in the water, lasting change is not really possible and thus there is very little effect. Of course the manufacturers make all kinds of claims that they really can't back up. The truth is, magnetic filters do not filter or change the pH. Units that use magnetism show a wide range of effectiveness. Again, this is another case where people simply buy into the hype.
Then we have what are called energetic water filter systems. These are attached at the point where the water enters the home itself. These units align the water using methods based on the works of Viktor Shauberger, a pioneering water researcher. Although these units do soften the water to some degree they do not change the pH or the positive or negative charge of the water. They also do not filter the water in any way in spite of the claims.
Another type of water filter is the Vortex water filter system. These units use vortex flow of water just before it comes out of your sink. These filters do appear to soften the water as the energetic water filters do but again they do not appear to filter, ionize or change the pH of the water in any way whatsoever.
Finally, we have what is called Pi water filter systems. These systems use a combination of sand bed and charcoal filtering along with magnetism, mineral addition and FIR energetics. They act like a typical countertop water filter systems but also add healthy minerals to the water while also changing the molecular structure, magnetizing and energizing the water. It does this using a very unique form of ceramics. The Pi water filter can be used for up to 3 years without having to replace the unit.
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