Tap water can get contaminated for several reasons. Impurities in tap water come from many sources – both natural and artificial. While some are harmless, only affecting the way water looks, tastes or smells, there are more dangerous contaminants that can spread disease and infection, or slowly damage the health of end users over time.
One way you can avoid contaminated tap water is by using the right kind of filters to remove these impurities.
Different types of water filters
Water filters are differentiated on the basis of ‘micron rating’, which refers to the distance between pieces of filter media – the lower the micron rating, the finer the filtration.
- A 5 micron water filter removes particles visible to the naked eye.
- A 1 micron water filter removes particles that are not visible, but is less likely to reduce lead and heavy metals, or parasitic cysts.
- A 0.2 micron water filter removes particles, chlorine and organic chemicals, parasitic cysts Giardia and Cryptosporidium, lead and heavy metals.
Evaluating and selecting water filtration systems
What type of filter do I need?
- Determine what types of contaminants you are trying to remove through filtration and choose the appropriate filter medium.
- Practical considerations include budget, space, access to electricity and water, customer support, and maintenance costs.
Is it accredited and certified?
- Independently tested and certified by IAPMO to international standards and Australian Watermark. Performance testing conducted in accordance with international standards NSF, WRAS, and Watermark.
How long will it last?
- How long a filter will last before it needs to be replaced depends on the quality of the filter, how often it is used and other environmental factors.
- Some high quality filtration systems have indicators that will provide a warning when the filter needs to be replaced.
View infographic on specifying water filtration systems for health and wellbeing
