Water purifiers are available in different types based on the functions they provide. If you are looking to replace your old purifier or planning to have a new one at home, you need to be aware of them.
Here, in this article we will help you clear the air about water purifiers and their types. In this ultimate guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about the different types of water purifiers.
if you are planning on purchasing a new Water Purifier for your home, you better research it well before buying one since there are so many good options available out there in the market.
Let us dive into the discussion.
What Are The Different Types Of Water Purifiers?
You can classify the water purifiers into five different types based on the water purification methods. They are as below:
- Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purifier
- Ultraviolet (UV) Water Purifier
- Ultrafiltration (UF) Water Purifier
- Gravity-based Water Purifier
- Multi-stage Water Purifier
Let us discuss about each type in detail:
1. RO Water Purifier
The reverse osmosis water purifier features an RO membrane or semipermeable membrane that allows water purification. In this water purifying device, the water passes through the RO membrane through a water pump. This pump pressurizes the water, and during the process, the RO membrane traps the dissolved solids. As these solids like fluoride, chlorine, sulphates, etc., get trapped, the purified water comes out from another pipe.
If you want to get rid of chemicals and dissolved salts from hard and saltwater, an RO water purifier is the most effective way. As mentioned earlier, it removes solids like fluoride, chlorine, sulphates, lead, etc., from the water. If you live in a locality with hard water or if your water contains the above metals, it is advisable to have an RO water purifier at home. It assures the purification of water and ensures you have safe drinking water to consume.
Best Suitable For
An RO water purifier is best suitable for homes with different water sources like tap water, municipal water, borewell, etc. Having an RO is mandatory in regions that have TDS levels of more than 300 in the water. If your water source has fewer TDS, the purifier will further lower the TDS level. As a result, your water will be devoid of all the necessary minerals like calcium and magnesium that are required for the good health of the individual. Moreover, some people or consumers may not accept the water with low TDS because of its bland taste.
Types of RO Water Purifiers
Depending on where to mount, you can further classify the RO water purifiers into two types. They are:
- Wall-mounted or Table Top RO water purifier
- Under sink RO water purifier
Let us learn about each type below:
- Wall-mounted or Table Top RO water purifier: As the name says, this water purifier comes mounted either on the wall or the table.
- Under Sink RO water purifier: As the name goes by, an under sink water purifier comes installed underneath the sink. Hence, it is hidden.
Maintenance
The RO water purifier is very easy to maintain.
Price
An RO water purifier is cost-effective.
Advantages
- An RO water purifier is capable of removing metals and dissolved solids like fluoride, chlorine, sulphates, lead, etc., from the water.
- An RO water purifier is also capable of removing microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, etc., that are responsible for causing waterborne diseases.
- During the water purification process, the RO membrane traps and flushes the dead germs from the water.
- An RO water purifier removes contaminants from water that cause bad odour and taste. Thereby, it helps in improving the taste and smell of the drinking water.
- The RO water purifier is very easy to maintain.
- The water purifier with reverse osmosis technology ensures safe drinking water.
- It is a very cost-effective option.
Disadvantages
- A reverse osmosis water purifier requires electricity to operate.
- This water purifier requires running water at an optimum water pressure for purification.
- An RO water purifier discharges a lot of waste water. On average, for purifying one litre of water, the purifier produces around three litres of wastewater.
 2. UV Water Purifier
A UV or Ultra-Violet water purifier uses ultraviolet rays for the water purification process. Hence, the name UV water purifier.
During the purification process, the purifier does not use any chemicals. Instead, it makes use of ultra-violet light that helps in killing all the germs, bacteria, etc., in the water. It is the most effective water purification method that helps purify water by destroying harmful organisms up to 99.9%.
If we look at the UV water purifier, it features a tiny mercury lamp inside that is responsible for producing short wave UV radiations. When the water becomes exposed to these radiations, they penetrate the bacteria cells and destroy their ability to reproduce. As a result, the microorganisms do not multiply and eventually die.
The UV water purifier not only kills the germs inside the water but also removes them from it. However, it does not flush out during the purification process. You need separate filters to remove these dead germs. You can use the UV water purification method in conjunction with other water purification processes like reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters.
Best Suitable For
The UV water purifiers are the best suitable option for areas having low TDS levels in the water. If you are living in a locality with hard water, then UV purifiers are just not the right option. They are incapable of treating water containing high TDS levels. Unlike a reverse osmosis water purifier, the UV purifier does not remove metals and dissolved solids like fluoride, chlorine, sulphates, lead, etc., from the water.
Maintenance
The UV water purifier is very easy to maintain, as it requires less manual cleaning. There are some models that do not even require manual cleaning.
Price
A UV water purifier is cost-effective. Moreover, it has low maintenance costs.
Advantages
- The UV water purifier is very energy-efficient. Although it requires electricity to run, the power it consumes is as much as your electric bulb.
- The UV water purifier has low maintenance costs. All you require is changing the UV lamp yearly once or when it does not work.
- The UV water purifier has the highest purification rate.
- The device with UV water purifying technology can purify about two to four litres of water in a minute. Other water purifiers like RO, UF and Activated Carbon may take several minutes for purifying just one litre of water.
- The UV water purifier is very easy to maintain. It requires less manual cleaning. Some models that come with a storage tank require cleaning twice weekly. However, those purifiers that do not have a storage tank do not even require manual cleaning.
- A UV water purifier does not change the taste of the water. Since it does not use any chemicals or semi-permeable membrane during the purification process, the taste of the water remains unaltered.
- The UV purification process preserves essential minerals during the purification process. It does not remove necessary minerals like calcium and magnesium from water that are required for the good health of the individual.
Disadvantages
- The dead bodies of the germs may remain in the purified water. Let us assume there are some germs that do not get exposed to the UV light or remain live even after getting exposed. They reproduce in the water and make it impure to drink.
- Unlike the RO water purifier, a UV water purifier does not improve the taste or colour of the water. The taste and odour remain pretty much the same before and after the water purification process.
- A UV water purifier does not work on mud water and is highly ineffective on it. The undissolved solids present in the muddy water like sand obstruct the UV light to pass through the water.
- If you are living in a locality with hard water, then UV purifiers are just not the right option. They are incapable of treating water containing high TDS levels.
- A UV water purifier is specially designed for purifying water with low TDS levels like lake and river water.
- Unlike a reverse osmosis water purifier, the UV purifier does not remove metals and dissolved solids like fluoride, chlorine, sulphates, lead, etc., from the water.
 3. Ultrafiltration Water Purifier
The technology used in an ultrafiltration water purifier is similar to reverse osmosis. However, an RO purifier blocks minute particles. Whereas, a UF purifier blocks only large particles. Both RO and UF water purifiers use semi-permeable membranes. While the former has very tiny pores, the latter has comparatively larger pores.
An ultrafiltration water purifier uses hollow fibres of a membrane made of a thin layer of material. This membrane acts as a filter that separates water and other particles present in water.
When water passes through the UF membrane, the bacteria, virus, or other impurities get trapped here.
Best Suitable For
The ultrafiltration water purifiers are most suitable and highly recommended for those areas containing low chemical contaminations in the water. They cannot remove toxic chemicals from water but can only trap and remove impurities like germs, bacteria, viruses, etc.
If you are living in a locality with hard water, then UF purifiers are just not the right option. They are incapable of removing dissolved salts from the water. As a result, the water remains hard before and after purification.
Maintenance
The UF water purifier is not very easy to maintain. It requires high maintenance and frequent cleaning.
Price
A UF water purifier is cost-effective.
Advantages
- The UF water purifiers do not require any electricity to run.
- These water purifiers can work under low water pressure conditions.
- It is ideal for effectively removing germs, mould impurities, and other microorganisms from the water.
- A UF water purifier does not use any chemicals to purify water. Instead, it uses hollow membranes that block the impurities.
- This water purifier is capable of filtering even muddy water.
- The water purified from the UF water purifier does not contain any dead germs. Instead, whatever bacteria or virus is present, gets blocked in the UF membrane.
- The UF water purifiers have a longer life span.
- The germs, bacteria, viruses, etc., that get blocked during filtration can be flushed out when cleaning manually.
- You can clean the UF membrane thousands of times. No pesticides or chemicals can cause damage to these UF hollow membranes. When maintained properly, you can use a UF membrane for about three to five years.
Disadvantages
- If you are living in a locality with hard water, then UV purifiers are just not the right option. They are incapable of treating water containing high TDS levels.
- They cannot remove toxic chemicals from water, but can only block, and remove impurities like germs, bacteria, viruses, etc.
- You cannot use a UF water purifier for borewell water, as it contains a high level of dissolved solids.
- It requires frequent cleaning. The germs, bacteria, viruses, etc., that get blocked during filtration remain in the UF membrane. Hence, you need to clean the membrane manually to flush out the germs
 4. Gravity-based Water Purifier
The gravity-based water purifiers are those purifiers that work using gravity. That means they do not require any electricity to run.
The gravity-based purifiers feature multiple filters in the upper section. The water gets purified here, and all the impurities and dirt get trapped in this section. After the heavy particles and other dust are removed, the water now passes through other sections containing activated carbon filters. The remaining impurities, germs, etc., get trapped here. Upon filtration, the purified water reaches the lower section of the water purifier.
The best thing about a gravity-based water purifier is that it is very easy to install when compared to other purifiers. It is easily portable, too.
Best Suitable For
A gravity-based water purifier is ideal for effectively removing germs, impurities, and other microorganisms from the water.
Maintenance
The gravity-based water purifiers require high maintenance.
Price
The gravity-based water purifiers are very affordable.
Advantages
- The gravity-based water purifiers do not require any electricity to run.
- These water purifiers are very affordable.
- It is ideal for effectively removing germs, impurities, and other microorganisms from the water.
- A gravity-based water purifier is easily portable, and you can place them anywhere.
- It does not require running water.
Disadvantages
- A gravity-based water purifier cannot remove hardness from the water.
- These water purifiers require high maintenance.
 5. Multi-stage Water Purifier
Multi-stage water purifiers are those types of water purifiers that are highly capable of dealing with any kind of impure water. These water purifiers contain multiple pre-filters of different types. Hence, the name, multi-stage purifier. Apart from the various pre-filters, these devices also contain additional features like UV treatment or adding alkaline chemicals for improving the water quality.
The multi-stage water purifier is bulky in design and can look unsightly in your modern kitchen. These devices have a lengthy water purification process. However, they are very effective in purifying.
Best Suitable For
The multi-stage water purifiers are most suitable and highly recommended for those areas containing hard water. Also, they are the best bet for purifying water that has chemical contaminations.
Maintenance
The multi-stage water purifiers require less maintenance.
Price
The multi-stage water purifiers are comparatively a little expensive.
Advantages
- The multi-stage water purifiers can remove germs of up to 99% and other impurities from water.
- These water purifiers require less maintenance.
- The multi-stage water purifiers can easily remove hardness from the water.
Disadvantages
- The multi-stage water purifier is bulky in design and can look unsightly in your modern kitchen.
- Installing a multi-stage water purifier is a little complicated.
- The multi-stage water purifiers are comparatively a little expensive.
Comparison Of Different Types Of Water Purifiers
To help you understand better, here is a quick comparison of all the types of water purifiers. Below is a table highlighting the characteristic features for an easy analysis.
Parameters | RO Water Purifier | UV Water Purifier | UF Water Purifier | Gravity-Based Water Purifier | Multi-Stage Water Purifier |
Removing hardness from water | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Removing germs from water | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Improving taste and odour of water | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Maintenance | Less | Less | High | High | Less |
Electricity | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Conclusion:
I hope this article explained everything about the different types of water purifiers. The detailed information, advantages, and disadvantages of each type should help you better in discerning the right water purifier for your home. If you are residing in a locality with hard water, do not go for a UV or UF water purifier. If you are looking for a water purifier that is capable of removing metals and dissolved solids like fluoride, chlorine, sulphates, lead, etc., from the water, an RO water purifier is the most suitable option. It can also remove microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, etc., that are responsible for causing waterborne diseases. You can use this write-up as a reference to make an informed decision. You can share this information with your friends and help them know about the various water purifier types.
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Stay healthy and stay safe!!!