Managing Business Expectations

Posted on: 26 June 2020

These days, it seems like everyone is talking up the benefits of installing a UV water purifier. Although there are many advantages to these systems—they're environmentally friendly, fast, and chemical-free—here are two reasons you'll still need to install a water filtration device in your home if you want truly clean water.

UV Purifiers Only Kill Microorganisms

Ultraviolet light is great at killing bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that can make people sick. It's so good, in fact, that medical facilities have been using UV machines to sanitize equipment for years, and research is showing that ultraviolet light can help kill the coronavirus.

Unfortunately, that's all ultraviolet light does. While it's great at purging your water supply of bacteria, viruses, and parasites, it does nothing to get rid of other types of contaminants, such as heavy metals, pharmaceutical drugs, and salts. To eliminate these equally harmful elements, you need a water filtering system that basically acts as a sieve that captures those contaminants and only lets pure, clean water through.

There are several types of water filtration methods that can accomplish this, including reverse osmosis and the use of activated carbon. Additionally, there are point-of-use options for filtering water in specific areas (e.g. , the kitchen or bathroom) as well as point-of-entry systems that clean water for your entire house. It's best to consult with a water filtration expert to select the method that best fits your needs.

UV Purifiers Require Electricity

Another issue you may run into with UV purifiers is they require electricity to use. The water passes under what is basically an ultraviolet lamp, and that lamp must be connected to the home's electrical system to function. Thus, if the power goes out in your home, your UV water purifier will stop working. Since many UV purification systems don't use holding tanks, you may be stuck without water until the lights come back on.

This means UV purifiers may not be the best option for people in areas where electricity isn't reliable or where there are frequent blackouts and brownouts. If you live in these areas or if you are off-grid and produce your own electricity, it's probably a good idea to install a water filtration system as a backup. In addition to filtering out physical contaminants, some water filtering methods (such as reverse osmosis) will also eliminate microorganisms, so you'll always have safe water to use even when suffering a power outage.

To learn more about the different types of water filtering methods available, contact a local water filtration company.