Everybody needs pure and clean drinking water to stay healthy and fit. And for this reason, we need water purifiers. Most of us know some, if not all, health benefits of water purifiers. Tanker water and groundwater contain contaminations, such as bacteria, pesticides, excessive total dissolved solids, heavy metals, and cysts, which makes the water quality poor. And this has made several people shift towards using this excellent appliance to clean water.
There are several different types and brands of water purifiers available. And it can overwhelm you. Here, this buying guide will help you to decide on the right water purifier for your home.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Water Purifier
Although there are a lot of factors to consider before buying a water purifier, the two crucial ones are water quality and purification technology.
Purification Technology
- Ultraviolet (UV) Technology: it is perfect for low TDS water. UV technology uses intense ultraviolet rays to inhibit or kill viruses and bacteria. You can supplement UV with activated carbon filters or pre-filters. It does not remove dissolved impurities.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO): it reduces the hardness of water and removes magnesium and calcium compounds from the water. RO technology also helps in removing chemicals like mercury, arsenic, lead, and fluorides. It uses a tiny semi-permeable membrane to carry out this function. Reverse Osmosis is perfect for a wide range (from 200PPM to 2000 PPM) of dissolved impurities.
- Ultrafiltration (UF) Technology: it is a gravity-based cleanser that does not consume electricity. It is ideal for cyst removal and low TDS water. UF technology purifiers retain good minerals, and it is advisable to supplement activated carbon filters and sediments.
- Alkaline Technology: it is a pH-based purifier perfect for low TDS water. It removes harmful acids from water, which makes it ideal for areas where water is acidic and tastes sour.
- Electro-absorption Technology (EAT): it has different filters for removing different degrees of impurities. Electro-adsorption (EAT) removes silica, dirt, dust, and suspended particles. It also eliminates bacteria, cysts, ions, and germs. After that, it removes lethal chemicals like pesticides, arsenic, lead, and chlorine. EAT uses 5 step process and is ideal for TDS under 500 PPM.
Best Type of Water Purifier According to TDS of Water
Once you know the TDS of your water, you can select the water purifier as per your TDS.
TDS | The recommended type of water purifier |
50PPM- 200PPM | Ultraviolet (UV), Ultrafiltration (UF), UV+UF |
200PPM- 500PPM | Reverse Osmosis, Ultraviolet + Reverse Osmosis |
Above 1000PPM | Reverse Osmosis, Ultraviolet + Reverse Osmosis |
Key Features
- Display: it delivers information regarding purifier status, water level, and much more.
- Storage Tank: as the name suggests, it stores purified water. A large storage tank is necessary for the areas with electricity problems. But make sure that that tank material is non-toxic and food-grade. Steel tanks are available, which are an ideal choice.
- Membranes and Filters: removes suspended particles and minute soil impurities. Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes eliminate biological impurities, heavy metals, and dissolved salts. The Ultraviolet (UV) filters inactivate parasites, bacteria, and viruses.
- TDS Controller: generally used in Reverse Osmosis (RO) purifiers and maintain a healthy level of essential minerals. It also controls output TDS levels.
- Sediment Pre-Filter: eliminates fine and coarse particles like mud, dust, and dirt. Sediment Pre-filters reduce the maintenance cost and enhance the life of Ultrafiltration/Reverse Osmosis membranes. You can also add it as an attachment to an existing water purifier.
- Activated Carbon Filter: it removes foul odor and taste-causing organic compounds from the water. An activated carbon filter also eliminates organic impurities and chlorine. Other uses include taste enhancement and final purification.
In this list, we have picked the 5 best water purifiers to buy in Singapore [2024 review] to make your work easier.