RO purifiers vs UV purifiers: Differences between these popular water purifiers

In 2010, the United Nations recognised access to clean and safe water as a human right. However, not everyone has access to clean and safe drinking water and with widespread pollution of water bodies, tap water is no longer reliable and safe to drink.  

Drinking contaminated or unclean water can make you sick. Hence, it is imperative to have access to quality drinking water at home and work. At home one of the ways to purify drinking water is by using a water purifier. 

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The process of purifying water isn’t simple; and there are different water purification systems available today. If you are planning to buy a home water purifier then choosing the right one can seem a bit daunting. Worry not, we are here to help you make the right decision. Here’s a comparison between two of the most popular water purification systems – RO water purifier and UV water purifier. 

RO water purifier: what is it and how does it work

RO stands for reverse osmosis water purification, among the most used filtration systems today. This system essentially uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove any contaminants from the water. The RO water purification system works by pushing water through the membrane under pressure, allowing only water molecules to pass through while dissolved salts and other contaminants are blocked by the membrane. 

The water is then passed through the sediment filter, carbon filter, and RO membrane to retain the natural minerals and nutrients while eliminating harmful contaminants. This type of water purification is ideal for places where the water is hard, brackish, and salty. 

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With an RO water purifier, you can convert hard water into soft water while also getting rid of any dissolved solids and hazardous microorganisms. 

UV water purifier: what is it and how does it work

A UV water purifier, as the name implies, uses ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect and sterilise water by killing harmful microorganisms. It is becoming a popular method of disinfecting water right now and since UV rays don’t require any chemicals, the flavour and odour of the water are preserved. 

It works by forcing the water through a tube where it is then exposed to UV radiation to remove all pathogens in the water. The UV water purifier is effective in treating water containing microbes, but they are not effective in removing total dissolved solids (TDS), which is a mixture of pollutants including industrial waste and pesticides. 

RO purifier vs UV purifier: Which is best for your home

It is important to understand that both RO and UV water purifiers can remove or kill harmful bacteria present in the water. However, in the case of a UV water purifier, the dead bacteria remains suspended in the water. A RO water purifier, on the other hand, not only kills the bacteria but also filters them out. 

This makes RO-purified water more hygienic than UV-purified water. There are other advantages to RO water purifier including its ability to remove dissolved salts and chemicals from the water. A UV water purifier cannot separate dissolved solids from the water. 

One of the crucial aspects of a water purifier is not only removing pollutants but also minimising TDS, which is only possible with an RO water purifier. A RO water purifier is suitable for water with a TDS level above 300ppm while a UV water purifier works for water with a TDS level below 300ppm. In simple terms, your water is not only contaminated with bacteria but can also have heavy metals and other harmful chemicals present and a RO water purifier is the most effective in removing them. 

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A UV water purifier does have its own benefits and the most significant one is it works with normal tap water and does not require electricity, like a RO water purifier, to boost the speed of tap water. This could be a crucial factor in choosing a water purifier for your home if you live in an area where power cuts are more frequent. 

Another major factor to consider while choosing between these water purification systems is price. A UV water purifier is more affordable than an RO water purifier, but the advantages offered by the latter mostly justifies its price. The best water purifier for your home is undoubtedly an RO water purifier but if you can get inbuilt UV and UF technologies then you are bringing home the best of both worlds.