How Can I Filter My Drinking Water Without Losing its Minerals?

The key to filtering your drinking water without removing beneficial minerals lies in choosing the right type of filtration system. Did you know the Constitution of South Africa guarantees access to water? Established in 2000 by then-President Thabo Mbeki, the policy ensures that all citizens in South Africa have access to clean water.

This is an admirable goal and one we’ve seen grow in the years since. The thing is, even though there is a push for clean water, it’s often difficult to achieve and maintain, and areas of South Africa have water rich in sediment and harmful bacteria.

How do you combat this? How do you ensure that your home and family always have access to clean, nourishing water? It seems like an overwhelming task.

Not to worry, there are plenty of ways you can invest in water filtering without breaking the bank or having to deal with complicated setups. Let’s see how.

WHY YOU MAY NEED A WATER FILTER SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME

Water quality may be something we take for granted in the modern age, but there are still plenty of reasons you may need a filtration system in your home. Water filters can remove pollutants, including sediment, taste and smell, bacteria, and germs, as well as change the texture of the water and purify it. 

From better-tasting drinking water to more specialised applications like coffee brewing and making crystal-clear ice, there’s a need for everyone to consider water filtration. 

But it’s not just aesthetics and taste, water filtration systems are good for you! 

WHAT IS FILTERED WATER?

Filtered water is water that has been purified to remove impurities, contaminants, and unwanted elements. This can be done using a variety of filtration systems and technologies, depending on the specific contaminants that need to be removed. The end goal is to produce water that is cleaner, safer, and often better tasting.

THE BENEFITS OF FILTERED WATER FROM A TAP WATER PURIFIER

Protecting your body and immune system from disease and illness is more important than ever, and while some areas may have excellent natural filtration systems, there is always more you can do to give yourself the best chance.

Even filtering standard tap water can have significant advantages for your health and lifestyle. Not only that, but they’re better for the environment and often cheaper in the long run.

COST-EFFECTIVE

While the initial cost may seem more expensive, using filters for water purification is much cheaper than buying distilled pre-packaged water. This is not always particularly eco-friendly, but most bottled water is already coming from someone else’s tap, anyway.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Speaking of eco-friendly, there is a significant environmental impact of filtering your own water on world health. Did you know it takes a regular plastic bottle up to 450 years to degrade? It also takes three times as much water to make the bottle you’re drinking than is actually inside! 

DO WATER PURIFIERS REMOVE MINERALS?

Water filtration removes impurities and harmful toxins like chlorine and heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic), and filters disinfection products and other cleaning agents.

The right water filters cleverly preserve essential minerals like fluoride, calcium, zinc, and magnesium, which are necessary for healthy bodily function. It’s also possible to prevent the build-up of limescale with a water filter

LOW MAINTENANCE

Water filters are easy to use, convenient, and ultimately very low-maintenance. A good water treatment system must be durable and easy to change.

WATER FILTERING METHODS

We all want clean, great-tasting water, and luckily there are different filtering systems to suit every home and price point. Before buying a water filter, you’ll need to know a few things:

1. What’s in your water?
2. What is the filter quality? 
3. Do they use single filtration systems?
4. What combinations of filtration systems do they use?

You can also implement any of the following filters for your home water in several ways. You can invest in under-sink also known as an under-counter or on-the-counter filters/ filtration system, as well as more permanent faucet-mounted solutions. If you’re not aiming to use the water in large amounts, a pitcher or bottle solution could even work.

MECHANICAL FILTERS

Mechanical filters remove sediment, dirt, or particles in the water. They can be anything from a simple mesh to a complex ceramic and pore-based system. These kinds of filters would be rated based on size (microns), with the smaller numbers able to get rid of tiny particles.

ABSORPTION FILTERS

Carbon, which is effective at absorbing water-borne pollutants, is most typically used in water filters for absorption. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is found in most household filters, and it absorbs undesirable tastes and odours. Manufacturers use carbon block elements in more expensive filters, which are generally more effective and have a micron rating for particle removal.

SEQUESTRATION FILTERS

The action of chemically isolating something is known as sequestration. One of the most common chemicals used in this is polyphosphate, which separates calcium and magnesium, which can cause limescale and corrosion.

ION EXCHANGE

Ion exchange is a water softener, which changes hard water by swapping calcium and magnesium ions with other ions like hydrogen or sodium. Ion exchange, unlike sequestration, physically eliminates hard materials, reduces limescale, and makes water more suitable for things like coffee machines, where it’s being kept at a consistently high temperature.

REVERSE OSMOSIS

Reverse osmosis sounds complicated, but it’s not. Basically, it is the process of pressuring a solvent (or liquid) and forcing it through a semipermeable membrane in the opposite direction the water typically flows in. 

This process forces water through the membrane, which leaves the bulk of dissolved pollutants behind. It’s a very thorough process and can purify water by 99.9%.

The only trade-off is that most membranes create wastewater, which will need to be disposed of. It also basically removed any minerals from the water, since their molecules are bigger than those of water so you end up leaving behind the good minerals as well. 

ADDING MINERALS BACK IN

It’s relatively clear to see that though water filtration is often necessary, particularly if you’re in an area with heavy sediment, there is the risk of losing valuable minerals. That’s why we recommend putting them back in. 

It’s best to go for an option that is going to clean your water the best and bring the goodness back. You can add minerals in several ways: 

• Mineral drops and salts
• Alkaline bottles and pitchers
• A demineralization filter

These all give easy ways to add essential minerals back into your water with minimal effort. It’s especially important to add minerals back into purified water or water that has gone through a reverse osmosis process.

INSTALLING A TOPIA WATER SYSTEM

Improve your sustainability credentials by eliminating the production, transportation and disposal of pre-packaged bottled waters. Installing one of our Topia water systems allows you to filter your own water, eliminating the need to bring in pre-packaged water. Our premium filtration systems hold back all the bad minerals while letting all the good minerals pass through, this form of filtration also doesn’t cause any water wastage.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Finding the ideal water filtering system for your family or office needs can seem impossible at first, especially with so many options on the market. However, once you’ve found the solution, you’ll have a happier, healthier body. 

Let us help you find the right water purifying system and let your worries circle the drain, just like all those harsh chemicals. Get in touch and let’s see what we can do together!