Domestic Water Filters Explained

We sometimes hear water filter nay-sayers in Almeria state, "I've drunk the water for years with no problems."

By 'problems', what they tend to mean is that they didn't get a stomach upset or diarrhea after drinking water that's contaminated with bacteria, parasites or viruses.

However, there are many other contaminants which have negative impacts on health over the long-term.

Protecting your health with safe drinking water is critical - it's not just about taste and smell.

With so many domestic water filters to choose from, knowing which home water filtration system will suit your needs can be difficult.

We explain the pros, cons and limitations of the three most popular filter technologies - Reverse Osmosis (RO), Activated Carbon (charcoal), and Sediment Filters - to help you understand which may be the best solution for you.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filters

How they work:

Reverse Osmosis systems use pressure to push water though a semipermeable membrane, allowing only water molecules to pass through and blocking most contaminants, chemicals and dissolved salts.

✅ Pros

• Removes a wide range of contaminants, including microorganisms, nitrates, heavy metals, pesticides, PFAs and heavy metals

• 95-99% contaminant removal, providing high-purity drinking water

• Perfect for households that need a comprehensive water treatment solution

❌ Cons

• Produces some waste water

• A little more expensive than basic filters

Activated Carbon (Charcoal) Filters

How they work:

Activated carbon filters use absorption to capture contaminants like organic compounds, and chlorine, within the filter's layers.

✅ Pros

• Improves the smell and taste of water, particularly from chlorine

• Effective against some pesticides and chemicals that cause bad odours, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• Cheap and easy to install

❌ Cons

• Does not remove most heavy metals, fluoride or dissolved salts

• Ineffective against microorganisms

• Needs the cartridge replacing every 3-6 months

Sediment Filters

How they work:

Sediment filters strain out particles in your water, such as dirt, sand, rust and silt. They are often used as the first in the chain in multi-stage water filtration systems to protect the finer filters in systems from clogging up.

✅ Pros

• Simple technology and fairly cheap

• Available in different micron ratings for finer or courser particle filtration

• Essential as a pre-filter in whole house water filters to prolong the life of RO and carbon filters

❌ Cons

• They only remove visible particles not heavy metals, pathogens or chemicals

• Can become a breeding ground for bacteria if the cartridges are not regularly replaced

• Require frequent maintenance to avoid reduction in water flow and pressure

Comparison: What Each Filter Typically Removes

Filter	Removes Well	Doesn't Remove	Typical Dissolved Solids Reduction	Final Water Quality
Reverse Osmosis	Heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, nitrates, fluoride, salts	Some viruses	90 - 99%	High-purity drinking water - up to medical grade with some machines
Activated Carbon	Chlorine, VOCs, organic compounds, odours	Heavy metals, microbes, fluoride, most salts	10 - 15%	Better tasting water - but not pure
Sediment Filter	Dirt, sand, rust, large particles	Metals, chemicals, microbes	0%	Clearer water - but not purified

Which Water Filter Should You Choose?

• If you are on mains water and testing shows your main issue is taste and smell, an activated Carbon Filter is a good solution.

• If you are in an area with high levels of metal, chemical, or nitrate contamination, Reverse Osmosis is the gold standard for achieving pure drinking water.

• If you are plagued with visible particles of sand, rust or sediment, it's advisable to use a Sediment Filter as a pre-filter to a Carbon or Reserve Osmosis filter.

• If you have a private drinking water source and you are in a poor water quality, the best solution is a multi-stage water filtration system that combines a simple sediment filter to remove visible particles, a water softener to remove limescale, and an Reverse Osmosis as the final stage to give you 90-99% pure drinking and cooking water.

And Finally

In Almeria, no two homes have the same issues with water. Even neighbours can receive water from different water sources and have different testing results. Sediment, Carbon, and RO filters all serve different purposes, from improve taste and smell to producing almost pure water. The key is using the right filter technology for your water quality and the starting point is a water test to help you choose the right system for your circumstances.

Contact Us Today For A FREE, No Obligation, No Pressure, Home Water Test