Whole house water filtration systems might employ different mediums to filter out the contaminants in your water, but the basic principle they use remains the same. Here is a short explanation of how these systems work.
When the water enters the filtration system it will first encounter a sediment prefilter. This filter is specially designed to remove the larger particles in the water, like silt, sand, rust, debris, or sediment.
However, this is not its only role. This filter also plays a key role in keeping the next filters functional for a longer period of time. Without this filter, the other filters would need more frequent changes.
After the water exits the sediment pre-filter, it has to get through the activated carbon filter. This is one of the most important components of the filtering system, as it has a crucial role in removing a lot of contaminants. Activated carbon offers a huge porous surface. This filter is very effective, and it will remove most of the chlorine, what’s left of the sediment, any volatile organic compounds (VOCs), along with the foul smells and tastes from the water.
When the water exits the carbon filter, it passes through a water softener. Using ion-exchange technology to achieve this. When the water enters an ion-exchange filter, it will pass over some resin beads. These beads are filled with sodium ions. When the magnesium and calcium particles will encounter the ion-filled beads, they will replace the sodium ions. This will make the water softer, but it will also make it a bit salty. Other manufacturers use a salt-free water softener to maintain the water’s neutral taste.
Then inside the home, there will be Reverse osmosis unit installed under sink in order to desalinate and disinfect water using the semipermeable membrane and ultraviolet unit.