Types of Water Filtration Systems

There are a lot of places where the water isn’t clean enough to drink. We need water to survive, but we can’t risk drinking pure gunk and filth. Thankfully, we have different water filtration systems to save the day.

Water filters are indeed a lifesaver. If it weren’t for water filtration and purification systems, we wouldn’t be able to drink healthy and clean water. When you get a house or an apartment, one of the first things you do is install a water filtration system.

There are many different types of water purification systems, and if you don’t know which is which, you may install the wrong one. Many people also confuse the different types of water filtration systems with that of purification systems, so it’s best to know about each.

Here is a detailed guide for the types of water filtration systems and their functions so you know exactly what you need:

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Key Takeaways

If you’re in a hurry, here is a quick overview:

There are a lot of different types of filtration systems
Not all water filtration systems are purification systems, but most water purification systems are also filtration systems
You can attach a purification system to most water filtration types
Different types of water filtration and purification system give different types of filtered water
You can attach a water filter anywhere; inside your house to any faucet or main pipeline, and even in the main tank or supply system
Mechanical filtration systems work by separating bigger sediments and sand and dust from the water; they cannot remove viruses
Absorption systems are one of the most effective water filtration systems; carbon block and activated alumina filters attract contaminants toward them
Sequestration filters use chemicals to enhance the flavor and quality of water by separating essential minerals
Iron filtration systems work by various mechanisms (air injection, chemical injection, and greensand filtration) to remove toxic metals and iron from the water
Reverse Osmosis is one of the most common and effective types of water purification systems
Distillation is the oldest and simplest method of purifying water
UV light can target bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms and removes them from the water without using chemicals
Ultrafiltration removes up to 90-100% of pathogens and microorganisms from water
Ionization softens your water and turns it alkaline

Difference between Water Filtration and Water Purification Systems

Before we talk about the types of water filtration systems, let’s discuss water filters and purifiers.

What is a water filtration system? What does a water purification system do? Are water filtration and purification systems the same?

Let’s answer all your questions now.

What is the Difference Between Purification and Filtration?

Not many know that there is a difference between filtration and purification.

Filtration is a process in which large particles and substances separate from the smaller particles through a barrier. In standard terms, filtration is when you separate bigger pieces from the smaller ones.

Filtration isn’t only a process to clean water; you can use filtration for many things. For example, when you make tea and use the sieve to separate the tea leaves, you are filtering the tea.

After removing the tea leaves, the water remains black because you mixed the tea and water. Filtration does not separate the tea and the water; filtration simply separates the tea leaves, which are big enough to stay in the sieve.

Similarly, when you drain rice or lentils after washing them through a sieved bowl, you filter the rice water by keeping the bigger particles (rice and lentils) in the bowl.

So you see, filtration is simply a process where the bigger and smaller particles separate. Filtration does not directly remove germs or bacteria.

On the other hand, purification is a process where you remove the bigger particles and eliminate germs and small particles that pass through a sieve.

For example, after filtering out the tea leaves, if you were to pour some chemical that removed the dissolved tea from the water completely, then you’re purifying the tea.

Water Filtration Systems: What Is It?

A Person holding Water Filtration System

Many people think a water filtration system thoroughly cleans their water. While a part of it is true, a water filtration system doesn’t exactly cleanse your water as you think.

Imagine a water body with dirt, debris, stones, mold, and fungus. Gross right? When you use a water filtration system, the same dirty and moldy water goes through a sieve that collects the fungi, stones, mold, and mud particles.

The water that goes through a filtration system is still dirty because there might be smaller dirt particles dissolved or mixed directly with the water, even if the water appears clear.

If you run the same water through another sieve with smaller holes, you might collect finer and smaller particles of dirt and debris.

In this case, your sieve is a filter, and you’re filtering your water through a water filtration system to remove visible and larger dirt particles.

A water filtration system works by forcing water through a sizeable sieve-like container, or a filter, which collects big dirt particles to clean the water. The water is cleaner but isn’t purer because it may still have germs and bacteria from the dirt and debris.

What is a Water Purification System?

A water purification system uses a combination of sieve-like filters, semipermeable membranes, and, sometimes, chemical treatments to remove contaminants from the water.

When you use a water purification system, you remove larger particles like dirt and debris and invisible particles like microorganisms, chemicals, and salts from the water.

If you run filtered dirty water through a water purification system, you can purify the water further and eliminate all kinds of harmful contaminants.

Are Water Filtration and Water Purification Systems the Same?

The biggest question is, are water filtration and water purification systems the same thing? If yes, how, and if no, what makes the two different? A water filtration system is different from a water purification system.

A filtration system only separates bigger particles from the water and cannot eliminate viruses, bacteria, and mixed contaminants like chemicals and harmful salts. A water purification system removes viruses, microorganisms, and toxic chemicals from the water.

Water Filtration Systems	Water Purification Systems
Removes big particles like dirt, debris, dust, and larger bacteria attached to the dirt.	Removes big and small particles, including bacteria and viruses.
Does not remove viruses and harmful chemicals	Removes viruses and toxic chemicals
Uses a filter	Uses a filter and unique treatment processes
Leaves smaller bacteria and impurities in the water	Completely eliminates all impurities

Can A Water Filtration System Pair with A Purification System?

Yes, a water purification system pairs with a water filtration system. Typically, you use a water filtration system to separate the contaminants and a water purification system to purify the water.

You may also use a water filtration system on its own, although it won’t be as effective as a water purification system.

Kinds of Water Filters

Now that you know a little about filtration and purification let’s talk about the types of water filters. Based on where you can install your water filtration/purification systems, there are different kinds of water filters:

● Whole House Filters

A whole-house water filter is one that you attach or install on the main water line of your house. Connecting the whole house water filter to the main inlet/line ensures that you get clean water in every room of your house, including the kitchen, the bathroom, and any hoses outside.

A whole house water filter may use a singular, large filter to clean the water off the whole pipeline or a grouping of different filters to clean the water.

You can get a whole-house water purification system or a whole-house water filtration system.

● Under-sink Water Filters

A Man Fiiting an Under Sink Water Filter

As the name suggests, an under-sink water filter is a filtration system that goes directly under the water source. You can place an under-sink water filter under your kitchen or bathroom sink.

This water filter only cleans the water directly connected to it.

● Countertop Water Filters

Countertop water filters are similar to under-sink water filters, except you can place them directly above your kitchen top. Countertop water filters may or may not be portable.

Using a countertop water filter is more manageable than an under-sink water filter because you can directly attach and detach the filter from the water. Countertop water filters are among the few types of water filters for homes that are accessible.

● Water Bottle Filters

Types of Water Filtration Systems - (All Kinds & Types)

You can fit a small filter inside your water bottle. These water bottle filters keep your water clean and make getting water from public sources safer.

● Showerhead filters

Isn’t it annoying when you’re taking a shower, but the water turns orange? Rust in water pipes can contaminate the water, even when using a whole-house water filtration system.

Luckily for you, different types of water filters directly clean the water from the source. You can directly attach a showerhead filter onto your showerhead to filter rusty water as it pours out.

● Faucet Filters

Like showerhead filters, faucet filters directly connect to your faucet and filter water as it pours out. You can use a faucet filter on your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and even gardening faucet.

● Portable Personal Water Filters

Personal Portable Water Filter Near River

It can be challenging to adjust to impure water when you’re using a water filter at home. Quite a few people have stomach problems and can’t afford to drink clean water, which may not be pure.

If you don’t want to take the risk, you can always carry a portable water filter that does the job for you.

● Water Filters: Pitchers

Some companies also offer portable water pitchers with attached filters.

● Straw Filters

A recent addition to the world of water filters, a straw filter allows you to purify water as you drink it. This innovative filter uses a strong membrane that purifies the water and eliminates up to 99.99% of bacteria.

You can use a straw filter directly with any utensil or get a bottle integrated with a straw filter.