What are some common impurities found in water?

Life as we know it wouldn’t exist without water, and that’s largely because water has so many properties conducive to life. It’s a great medium for microorganisms to thrive in, for suspended food particles to float in, for minerals to dissolve in, and so much more. This very affinity to all things alive, floaty, and soluble is also what makes water so dangerous to drink unpurified.

ALSO READ: How to pick the right water purifier for your home: RO, UV, UF purifiers explained

For water to be potable i.e. something we can consume, it needs to be filtered and
treated. We do not, under any circumstances, want to ingest dissolved chemicals and poisons, assorted bacteria and viruses, and other flotsam that are the sources of any number of diseases and infections. Cities have their own purification system for the water supply of course, but a good water purifier is also recommended at home to mitigate any issues with last-mile delivery of water.

Here’s a closer look at the types of impurities you’d commonly find in water, and the type of filter that can deal with them.

Microorganisms

Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, plankton, and any number of microscopic creatures thrive in water, especially if that water happens to be in a warm place with plenty of nutrients. Some of the harmful bacteria and viruses in untreated water include E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, and more. UV filters (ultraviolet) are very effective at killing microbes, which they do by blasting the water with ultraviolet light. This type of filtration is relatively simple and inexpensive to implement, and most good home filters have such filters built in. This does lead to another problem though, which is waste organic matter.

Organic matter

Untreated water usually contains a high quantity of organic matter. In addition, when water is blasted with UV light to kill microbes, these dead microbes are suspended in the water and need to be filtered. And yes, that’s exactly as disgusting as it sounds.

As the proteins and chemical compounds in these microbes break down, they turn into food for additional microbes. These compounds also help in the formation of plankton and moss, not to mention acids and bases and other dissolved chemicals.

ALSO READ: 5 common water purifier issues and how to tackle them

Removing organic matter and microbes is, again, quite simple, thankfully. Once blasted with UV light to kill anything that’s alive, a filter that’s fine enough to catch suspended organic matter will get the job done. UF (ultra-filtration) and RO (reverse osmosis) filters are particularly effective, and they’re almost always paired with a UV filter.

Heavy metals

Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are incredibly toxic and harmful even in small doses. These must be avoided at all costs, and cannot be easily removed without proper water filtration systems. Heavy metal toxicity affects internal organs like the liver and kidneys, and can affect the development of children. Good RO filters will be able to catch such elements.

Dissolved chemicals and elements

Water has the capacity to absorb and hold a lot of chemicals including chlorine and industrial effluents. Hydrocarbons, phenols, detergents, oils, and more can be found in open water, and must be properly treated and removed if there’s any chance of the water being safely consumed. This also includes agricultural runoff such as nitrates and fluorides, which can be both harmful and beneficial depending on which is present, and in what quantity. Carbon filters are used to remove such impurities, and such filters usually form the core of most home water purification systems.

Why water purifiers are important?

It’s imperative that water be purified before consumption. There are simply too many impurities in water for it to be consumed as is, and even for activities like bathing and washing. Investing in a good RO filter, or at the very least, a UF system, is the way to go. Boiling water can generally kill anything that’s alive, but that water will still need to be thoroughly filtered before it’s safe to consume.

ALSO READ: Telltale signs your water purifier filters need to be changed 

Lastly, one thing to bear in mind is that some amount of dissolved salts and minerals is necessary. Look for a home water purifier that adds these back after purification.