Today, a water purification process can only be considered complete when the home owner has installed a chemical and cyst filtration system. But, that is the final step. In order to explain water purification, you have to start at the beginning.

The water purification process varies slightly from one area to another. The source is one factor. Usually it is a man-made lake or reservoir. Other environmental factors play a role. If the company has to deal with a specific pollutant, they may have to use extra steps. But, here is a very basic attempt to explain water purification.

First, there is a wire mesh that removes large objects, such as rocks, tree limbs, animal life, etc. Once it enters the plant, a coagulant is used that causes dirt, sediment and other items to clump together, making them easier to remove.

Usually, the next step in a utility’s water purification process is chemical treatment. A number of chemicals may be added, each one serving a specific function. Lime, for example, binds with certain contaminants, making them easier to remove. It is then allowed to sit for a while as the additives do their work.

The use of sand filters comes next in the water purification process. Disinfection to remove bacterial contaminants and other life forms is typically the final step, before testing. UV lights may be used, but chlorine is typically added as well.

We know that drinking chlorinated water is bad for our health, so in order to explain water purification at this point, it is important to mention that before chlorine use became commonplace, there were outbreaks of waterborne illnesses all over the country.

Regardless of the water purification process or processes that a facility uses, there are contaminants that can get in “down-stream”, so to speak. Even the pipes that it travels through can cause contamination. It was commonplace, at one time, to line them with lead.

Now of course we know that the use of lead for any purpose results in health hazards. Learning disabilities, brain damage, birth defects and other health conditions result form exposure to the toxin.

Bacteria resistant to the chlorination process can still be present. Cysts, which are kind of like bacterial eggs, can float in at any point, enter the home, be ingested and cause illness.

Hazardous by-products are released when chlorine is used to kill bacteria. The facilities test their levels at the end phase, since there are maximum allowable levels set forth by the EPA, but the content can increase before it gets to your faucet.

Those are just some of the problems with the public water purification process. If we are to explain water purification in full, we should cover the home systems that will solve all of the problems that public treatment has created.

Carbon filters remove chlorine and other chemicals. Multi-media blocks remove more and can be targeted to remove specific contaminants. Ion exchange removes lead and other heavy metals while balancing mineral content and correcting the pH level. If you have an efficient filtration system on your kitchen tap, then you have a complete water purification process and you may drink the water safely.

David Everett is passionate about the quality of drinking water and dedicated to carrying out the necessary research to determine how to make our water safe to drink. Discover the only water purification process he recommends and why at http://www.SafeWaterFiltrationSystems.com.