Considered to be one of the oldest technologies on the planet, carbon filter is a water filtration method that uses carbon, such as activated carbon filter, to remove contaminants and chemicals from the water. Through carbon filtration, the contaminants will be blocked from coming through and the chemicals will be reduced through adsorption.

Unlike the unfiltered tap water, the water from the activated carbon filtration system is healthier. The method removes metals, chlorine, and chemical compounds that can potentially cause certain health issues. Like any other systems, using carbon filtration systems come with pros and cons. Some of them are the following:

Advantages

• Carbon filter enhances the taste of water and eliminates odors.
• It filters out organic chemicals, microorganisms, chemical germicides, and any other carbon-based elements.
• It utilises natural materials in the filtration process, such as wood, bituminous (natural hydrocarbons), and coconut shells.
• Compared with other technologies such as reverse osmosis, carbon filters are much cheaper to purchase and install and easy and convenient to maintain.

Disadvantages

• Carbon filter are inefficient in removing chemicals not drawn to carbon, such as nitrates, fluoride, arsenic, copper, sodium, copper, mercury, heavy metals, and other substances.
• It is also ineffective with bacteria and viruses removal. Sometimes, it nurtures the growth of bacteria.
• Due to the bonding sites in the filters that become packed with contaminants, it is usually short-lived.

Basically, reverse osmosis is a treatment process that removes impurities from water through utilising pressure. It purifies water by using membrane technology. The pressure forces water through a penetrable membrane that filters out or removes impurities and contaminants.

The following are the four common stages of purification that the system features:

• Water passes through a pre-filter that removes sediments as well as larger particles, salt, and dust.
• Another filter processes and expels odors, putrid tastes, chlorine, and mineral related oils. A pre-carbon block filtration further processes residual chlorine, other odors, and bad tastes.
• Then, water forces its way through a membrane, separating it from other harmful elements and removing almost 100% of remaining impurities such as fluoride.
• Finally, a polishing carbon filter initiates a cleansing process to improve the taste and flavor of the water.

When water is pushed against the membrane, contaminants and impurities are left behind, so the outcome of the process is a clean, potable, and drinkable water.

Reverse osmosis removes pollutants and elements such as chemicals, lead, metal ions, bacteria, cysts, fluoride, mercury, odors, organic compounds like pesticides and herbicides, minerals, molecules, pharmaceutical, viruses, parasites, and larger and heavier particles.

This purification method gives out the purest water for drinking and cooking as it removes around 97% of all contaminants. For this very reason, most restaurants and businesses that need to supply pure water to customers use this method. The reverse osmosis system also brings forth pros and cons, and some of them are the following:

Advantages

• Through a membrane technology, reverse osmosis eliminates a high percentage of dissolved solids and improves taste and odor, producing exceptional water results.
• It is a healthy drink replacement for any beverage and good cooking source for nutritional meals.
• It is very convenient that its availability is within the reach of your fingertip.

Disadvantages

• Reverse osmosis removes minerals and other beneficial substances, affecting vegetables, cereals, and other types of food. It minimises the nutritional value of food.
• It eliminates calcium, manganese, iron, and other essential nutrients, resulting in the occurrence of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Because of the loss of fluoride, children’s dental health is affected.
• Demineralising the water depletes vitamin and mineral. That’s why it’s detrimental to general health.

Based on the previously stated facts, no filtration or purification method has the ability to remove all the harmful substances present in water. What sets the two apart is their usage or purpose. The carbon filter is best for home use and reverse osmosis is designed for commercial use. If you want to achieve optimal water purification, it is best that you combine the two.