When it comes to purifying drinking water at home or in the office, there are several options to choose from. Two popular choices are carbon filters and reverse osmosis ('RO') systems. While both methods can effectively remove impurities from water, there are several reasons why carbon filters are often the better choice for home water purification systems.
RO is normally used when you have very poor water quality. Because Mauritius CWA supplies us with potable water, carbon filters are considered the better choice as they remove all tastes and odours that might still be in the water. The actual term for what we do is we 'polish' the water.
Below are some of the things to consider when choosing between using a carbon filter purification system and an RO system:
1. Cost
Carbon filters are generally less expensive than RO systems. The initial cost of a carbon filter is typically lower and the replacement filters are also less expensive. RO systems, on the other hand, can be quite costly to purchase and maintain. They require regular filter changes, membrane replacements and generally require professional maintenance by trained technicians.
2. Energy Efficiency
RO systems require a significant amount of energy to operate. They use a pump to force water through a semi-permeable membrane, which requires a lot of energy. Carbon filters, on the other hand, don't require any energy to operate. They work simply by allowing water to flow through a porous material, which removes impurities through absorption.
3. Waste Reduction
RO systems produce a lot of waste water. For every gallon of purified water, an RO system can produce between 2-3 gallons of waste water. This is a significant amount of waste, especially in areas where water is scarce and when people consider why they want to purifiy their own water in the first place. Carbon filters, on the other hand, don't produce any waste water. All the water that goes into the filter comes out purified.
4. Mineral Retention
RO systems remove minerals from water. Whilst removing some minerals from water can be a good thing, it does mean that water has to be remineralised as it’s not healthy to drink water completely stripped of the minerals that are beneficial for human health. Carbon filters, on the other hand, don't remove minerals from water.
5. Maintenance
Carbon filters are generally easier to maintain than RO systems. The replacement filters are typically less expensive and can be easily replaced by the homeowner. RO systems require more maintenance, including membrane replacements and professional installation.
In conclusion, while both carbon filters and RO systems can effectively purify water, carbon filters are often the better choice for small volume home or office water purification systems due to their lower cost, energy efficiency, waste reduction, mineral retention and ease of maintenance.
If you'd like to know more about our range our water purification systems for home, office or use in hospitality outlets, please get in touch. We'd be happy to run you through our range to find the best solution for your needs.
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