Water purification technology has advanced tremendously in the past few years, particularly in the area of home filtration systems. Here's a brief look at some of the different methods of water purification available today.

Distillation is very old water purification technology, but it is still commonly used. It was first developed, not as one of the methods of water purification, but to create alcohol. In archaeological excavations from Pakistan to South Asia, alcohol distillers have been found. A simple explanation of the process follows.

Liquid is brought to a boil and it vaporizes. The vapor travels through a tube, where it enters another chamber, cools down and once again becomes a liquid. Anything that has a higher boiling point than the liquid or cannot be vaporized in the steam remains in the first pot.

This is one of the methods of water purification that leaves the minerals behind and causes an acid pH. It has been learned that for drinking purposes, de-mineralization and acid pH levels are not healthy.

Advancements in water purification technology have aimed at removing chemical and biological contaminants, without destroying the natural mineral content and pH level.

Reverse osmosis is often touted as the latest in water purification technology, when in fact it has been around for at least 50 years. It was developed for use in industries and large scale treatment facilities. In the 1970s, it became popularized as one of the healthiest methods of water purification for the home.

It was truly a boon to water purification technology, since it can be used to remove salt. In coastal areas and island communities, this is an important and desirable feature. Basically, it works by pressurizing and forcing liquids through a porous membrane. The size of the pores determines what is removed and what travels through.

RO is another of the methods of water purification that de-mineralizes, so not the healthiest for drinking. There are several other disadvantages to the system. It creates wastewater that cannot be used for drinking or other purposes. It operates slowly and requires electrical energy.

Chemical contaminants, such as we face today are not removed. And, additional steps are required to remove bacteria and bacterial cysts. For home purifiers, water purification technology has advanced beyond this method.

In most of our homes, the liquid that flows from our kitchen taps has been through a number of methods of water purification. Treatment facilities vary, but depending on where you live, the methods of water purification used by major facilities include RO, membrane and ultra-filtration, flocculation, UV radiation and, of course, chemical disinfection.

The use of chemicals to kill bacteria and disinfect was, at the turn of the century, a major leap forward in water purification technology.

Before its introduction, there were numerous outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and other diseases relating to bacterial contamination. It appears that what was good for our society in general was bad for the health of the individual.

One of the chemicals most commonly used for disinfection is chlorine. When it is used at the treatment facility, other chemical by-products (THMs) are released. Both, THMs and chlorine, as well as their gases and vapors, have been linked to cancer and a variety of other health problems.

New advancements in water purification technology for the home are aimed at removing those threats. One of the best methods of water purification for this purpose is carbon filtration.

Chemicals and other contaminants stick to the filter, making the output safer to drink. This method also removes odor and improves taste. Most of the newest home purifiers make use of this technology.

This was a brief overview of water purification technology. It would be impossible in an article of this length to cover the subject in its entirety, but hopefully, you are now a little more informed.