There are a number of ways to treat water at home; some are more expensive than others. Pick the treatment method that is the best for you.

1. Steam-distillation: This is the process of converting liquids into vapor and then condensing back into a liquid. This process removes solids and other impurities. It removes metals, including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Aluminum. In fact, distillation is one of human beings earliest ways to separate salt from sea water to create fresh water. It is a simple process.

Firstly, the sea water is boiled, leaving the salt residue behind and creating fresh water vapor or steam. Then, the water vapor is allowed to cool, allowing it to become water again. It is very similar to the natural water cycle process taught in schools.

2. Solar Powered Distillation: This is a process that has been used in Australia, Greece and India for some time. In fact, in the case of a disaster or emergency, it is an ideal system to have for the home because anyone can build one with simple, inexpensive and easy-to-find materials. With no mechanical parts or the need to live in an area with lots of sunshine, it is something that everyone should learn how to make and use.

The advantages are that any type of water can be used – polluted, sea water, highly salinated and used kitchen water. Using the power of the sun, water is put into a sealed container outside, preferably placed as high above the ground as is possible. An angled glass sheet is placed on the top of the tank, facing towards the sun, south in North America, Europe and Northern Asia, the opposite south of the equator.

The water trickles into a pipe, going into a sealed collection container. It is possible to gather between 3-5 gallons of fresh water each day, and with three of them, it can produce plenty of water for family consumption, washing and cooking. Any used water can be put on gardens or in toilets. The temperature alone in the tanks is hot enough to kill most bacteria, leaving a coating at the bottom of the first container. These can then be washed out regularly and continue to produce as much fresh water as is needed. In Australia and Greece, householders have hooked the system up to their plumbing system, giving them fresh, filtered running water from their taps. The best part is that the cost is negligible as similar methods have been used for generations on window sills worldwide to grow seedlings and recycle used water.

3. Water-Softeners: These use either potassium or sodium to exchange for the calcium or magnesium which is already in the water.

4. Filtration: This is the most common method of water treatment. Filtration either absorbs or clocks contaminants from the water. Many filtration systems use carbon, but you can get more complex ones as well. The carbon filtration uses a system whereby carbon filters attracts chlorine. It is also good at absorbing dissolvable organic contaminants. However, there are other types of filtration now available for both residential and commercial use.

Microporous filtration is another system that uses carbon filtration to deal with microorganisms. Ultrafiltration is more popular than microporous filtration because it attacks both microorganism and pyrogens. However, a recent advancement on the ultrafiltration system, developed by scientist at the National Chemical Laboratory, uses a filter with a 3-5 year lifespan, that is capable of stopping not only microorganism and pyrogens, but can now stop bacteria, viruses and more deadly diseases such as polio, encephalitis, tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and dysentery. At present it out does all other methods of water filtration by far and is currently being used in Japan and France.

5. UV Light or Ultraviolet Oxydation: Water can be treated with a UV light to kill bacteria or viruses, but it is still allows through some very small toxins.

6. Reverse Osmosis: This is a high-tech method of purifying water in which it is forced through a semi-permeable membrane. This is best for treating brackish water, water high in nitrates, and heavy metals, such as iron and lead.

Where to Install Water Treatment Devices:

There are two basic places to install your water treatment device. Where you install it is dependent on what you are treating your water for. For example, if you are installing a filter for taste and odor, you only need to install it in the kitchen tap line (Point of Use System). Conversely, if you are installing a water softening system, you should install it for the entire household (Point of Entry System). Both methods of installation are explained below:

Point-of-Entry (POE) System:

These types of systems are installed where the water supply comes you’re your house. With these systems, you will be treating your water for the entire household, including all taps and showers. A water softener system is an example of a Point of Entry System.

Point-of-Use (POU) System:

These systems typically treat water in batches and deliver water to a single tap, such as a kitchen sink faucet or an auxiliary faucet mounted next to the kitchen sink. They can include one or many of the following devices: Personal water bottle, pour-through bottle, faucet mount, counter top manual fill, counter top connected to faucet, and a plumbed in filter.

SOURCES: APS Water.Com