In ideal circumstances, you'd never need to worry about whether or not the water coming out of the kitchen tap is clean.
But this concern often becomes top of mind after significant errors or changes hit the headlines, such as banning the addition of fluoride to public water, contamination of food and water products, or inadequate treatment and testing of public water (like what happened in Flint, Michigan).
All this really makes you wonder what might be in your water!
Now, when it comes to making and keeping your water clean, the terms “filtration” and “purification” are frequently used interchangeably.
The question is, should they be? Or do these terms describe separate processes? Keep reading along to find out!
What is Water Filtration?
Water filtration is the process of passing water through a physical object or barrier, most commonly a filter, to eliminate undesirable elements.
These undesirable elements can include:
- Dirt, sediment, and debris
- Certain chemicals and metals
- Some parasites and amoebas, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium
- Some bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella
- Some viruses, such as norovirus and Hepatitis A
- Unpleasant tastes and odors
Think of a filter like a colander. When water runs through it, particles that are too large to pass are trapped, then separated from the water. What passes through is filtered water.
Now, not all filters are created equal! While all water filters principally function in the same way, the specific filtration targets and capabilities of a water filter primarily depend on two factors: product materials and pore size.
Product Materials
Water filters can be constructed from a range of different materials depending on their purpose.
Activated carbon filters, for example, which target chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are made from heated organic material, like coal or coconut shells.
Activated alumina filters, on the other hand, which target fluoride and arsenic, are made from heated aluminum hydroxide.
Other options are available as well, such as ion-exchange filters and reverse-osmosis filters. Each filter is designed to target certain contaminants, which determines the type of materials to use.
Pore Size
Remember the comparison of a filter to a colander? Well, the pores of a filter are equivalent to the holes of that colander. So, pore size refers to the measurement of those holes.
The long and short of it? The smaller the pore size, the more impurities are eliminated through the filter. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- An absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller can remove parasites and amoebas.
- An absolute pore size of 0.3 micron or smaller can remove bacteria.
The pore size of a filter depends on the materials used to make it.
Since pore size can change from filter to filter, filtered water is not necessarily safe to drink. It all comes down to the kind of danger lurking in your water, and whether or not the filter is designed to attack it.
This is why it's of utmost importance to test your water and discover what's in it. Then, you can use that information to find a filter that's up to the task!
What is Water Purification?
Water purification is the broader process of treating water to reduce, even eliminate, harmful contaminants like pathogens, pollutants, and other impurities.
Through the purification process, water is made safer for drinking, cooking, and other uses!
Water can be purified through multiple methods, or a combination of multiple methods:
- Chemical treatment
- Boiling
- Reverse osmosis
- Ultraviolet light disinfection
- Distillation
- Crystallization
- Filtration
- And more!
Did you catch “filtration” on that list? Filtration is just one of many water purification methods!
Some water treatment products can do both, but not every filter can purify.
Filtration vs. Purification: The Verdict
So, should the terms “filtration” and “purification” be used interchangeably? Not quite!
Purification refers to the larger, more general treatment of water in order to make it safer for consumption. Filtration refers to a more specific method of purification, describing the physical elimination of contaminants.
While some options can tackle both tasks, there are filters that do not purify — and no single approach can eradicate every single threat to water safety.
Before cleaning up water of questionable quality, learn more about what might be lurking in it, then pick the purification method most equipped to solve the problem!
If you're on the lookout for water filtration products, we've got plenty: a filter pitcher, a portable system, a bottle, a straw, and more! We've also got a few water purification products, including chemical treatments and disinfecting tablets.
Check in with The Essentials Blog each week for expert education, tips, and resources to make your shift to self-reliance as smooth as possible!
