Ever wondered how to decide which water purifiers and filters on the market is going to do the best job for your family? By the time you finish reading this you will know what types of water systems are available and what each one can (and can’t) do.

Water distillers are not as common now as they used to be. In these systems the water is boiled and the steam produced is condensed back into pure water at the other end of the apparatus. Distillation removes all trace minerals, including the essential ones for good health. In addition pure water distillers change the pH of water and some researchers are sure this causes health problems.

Reverse osmosis is the process used in many large-scale desalination plants that purify seawater. The process takes water on one side of a special membrane barrier and uses a difference in pressure to force that water through the extremely fine pores in the barrier. The membrane filters out all minerals but can let some trace organic chemicals pass through.

There are drinking water purification systems that use Ultra Violet (UV) radiation. In these systems the water is passed under high intensity UV light and all living organisms such as bacteria are killed. This process leaves minerals and metals (including toxic ones such as lead) and some organic chemicals in the water.

Filtration systems use charcoal or ceramic filters to purify water. Charcoal filters use a solid block of treated activated charcoal, which removes metals while leaving the essential trace minerals in the water. Bacteria and most organic chemicals are also removed. Ceramic water filters use an element called diatomaceous earth, which is a fossil material composed of tiny silicon shells.

The most effective (and cost effective) solution for the average homeowner is a carbon filter system. Water is forced through the pores of a densely compacted carbon block, where a combination of mechanical filtration and physical/chemical adsorption takes place to reduce a wide range of contaminants.

Carbon filter systems reduce chlorine, taste and odour problems, particulate matter, and a wide range of contaminants of health concern – cysts (cryptosporidium and giardia), volatile organic carbons (VOCs such as pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals) and heavy metals (lead, mercury). Solid carbon block filters do not remove the healthy, naturally occurring trace minerals, require no electricity and do not add salt or silver to the water.