Whole home water filtration system options continue to grow and expand, with new products coming to market all the time. It’s a good thing, too, as emerging contaminants like PFAS and microplastics, as well as a steadily growing number of synthetic substances are now being found inside human blood and body tissue.

Innovations in Whole Home Water Filtration Systems

Innovations in Whole Home Water Filtration Systems

There’s no avoiding the fallout of the modern world, but with a good Whole-Home Water Filtration System, you can minimize your waterborne exposure to dangerous contaminants.

Why Water Filtration Is Crucial for Modern Households

Water is a problematic substance, standing as the “universal solvent,” with the ability to dissolve just about anything and everything over the course of time. Water can contain trace amounts of just about anything, from lead and copper, to parasites and bacteria, to volatile organic compounds and PFAS. If you live in a densely populated metropolitan area, then chances are your water has high TDS (total dissolved solids), as the more people in one place, the more waste is produced. Living in the country or off-grid may not be much better, however, as you can face parasites, cysts, protozoa, E. Coli, and all manner of microbial contamination, as well as volatile organic compounds and heavy metals in water drawn from private wells, springs, and aquifers. All in all, no matter where your water is coming from, it likely contains trace amounts of at least some contaminants. Gaining peace of mind up front with an adequate water filtration system is a good investment for any modern homeowner.

Smart Water Filtration Systems

Some modern filtration units, in particular water softeners or other larges, whole-house systems, offer live data on your water quality, with some even sending reports to an app on your smartphone with up-to-date information on what is happening in your system and the ongoing quality of your water. This may be more than is strictly necessary for the average homeowner, but if you are a business owner, or have a large property with many residents, then a system like this can be a game-changer. Also, if you live in an area with fluctuating water quality due to seasonal changes, local output from industrial manufacturing centers or waste treatment plants, or whatever else, then having live information on your water quality may be a big plus.

Countertop Reverse Osmosis System

One of the most exciting recent innovations in home water filtration technology, a countertop reverse osmosis system removes the hassles traditionally associated with RO units, namely a messy under sink installation, with the requirement of drilling into your drain line to route the system’s wastewater. A countertop unit simply routes wastewater back into the holding tank, which is periodically dumped and refilled. Without any need to plumb directly into a water line, or be near a drain for wastewater, a countertop RO system can be used in any room of the house, or even in an office or dorm room. Traditional RO systems are often impossible for renters to enjoy, given the plumbing requirements, so a countertop unit is a great choice for them.

UV-C Light Filtration Technology

For individuals on well water or water taken from a source not treated by your local municipal plant, a germicidal UV-C light filter can be a great option. These filters are a bit tricky, as they require electricity, and thus must be able to be plugged in. They are highly effective, however, at killing bacteria, viruses, and various protozoa and parasites, making them great choices for people at risk for such contaminants. Folks on city water would not need a UV light filter, as their water has been disinfected by means of chlorine and/or chloramines.

Hybrid Carbon and Ceramic Filters

Hybrid filters that combine activated carbon and ceramic media can be effective at removing a wide range of contaminants. Activated carbon is made by crushing charcoal from burned wood, bamboo, or coconut husks, and subjecting it to superheated steam. The steam “activates” the charcoal, which is nothing more than a matrix of carbon, the basic chemical element that all life forms on this planet are built out of, whose activation process opens many channels, chasms, byways, and mazes within the carbon. The resulting huge surface area of the activated carbon acts like a chemical magnet, pulling dissolved chemicals out of solution, and adhering them to itself in a process called adsorption. Activated carbon has been in constant use since the time of the ancient Sumerians, as it has been long hailed for its ability to improve the taste and odor of problematic water.

Ceramic media is prized for its ability to reach sub-micron pore sizes, which makes it a viable media for use in camping filters, where the goal is bacterial and viral reduction. Ceramic is simply clay that is baked into a kiln, so ceramic filters may be made out of a variety of underlying types of clay, with various mineral content, and distinct micron ratings. When paired with carbon, ceramic filtration can bring a lot to the table, and together, these media can tackle a wide range of threats, from chemical to microbial.

Multi-Stage Under-Sink Filtration Systems

For robust coverage for your kitchen sink, and reduction of a huge number of common water contaminants, consider a multi-stage under sink reverse osmosis system. You can find these units in all sorts of configurations, but the basic models begin with a sediment filter, followed by one or two cartridges of activated carbon, before moving on to the reverse osmosis membrane. Such systems typically end with a remineralizing alkaline media, to restore some of the beneficial minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, that were stripped from the water by the RO membrane. Reverse osmosis is such an aggressive form of filtration that it effectively removes up to 99% of total dissolved solids from water, which is great for contaminant reduction, but can also leave water tasting a bit flat. Another downside to a unit like this is the waste-water produced, which will necessitate you drilling a hole into your drain pipe to accommodate.

Conclusion – Whole Home Water Filtration Systems

With so many threats and contaminants out there, it pays to get ahead of the curve, and protect yourself in advance. Even if your city water report indicates that your water is relatively safe, conditions can change, sometimes overnight, as water is always moving, and bringing new threats along with it. Safe water yesterday is no necessary guarantee of safe water tomorrow, and even if nothing goes wrong, tap water can still be freshened up by today’s modern filtration devices, to improve taste and odor, and offer additional guarantee and protection against contaminants.

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