Whether you happen to be a potential user of a mechanized home water purifier or someone looking to switch to a different technology or brand, you’re likely to find a suitable model. Global and Indian brands are now vying for consumer attention in a fast growing market.
All this can be a little confusing. How would you know which domestic water purifier is the best fit? Water purifiers use one or a combination of technologies to treat water and render it pure and palatable. The purification method you select should depend on raw water quality. It’s therefore necessary to ascertain the level and nature of contamination of water in your area and to know what the TDS (total dissolved solids) level is. Once you know this, you can select a suitable brand based on the right purification method and price.
Reportedly, domestic water purifiers available in India are based on either of or a combination of three technologies – UV purification and filtration, reverse osmosis and chemical treatment. reverse osmosis and UV purifiers are more expensive than the chemical based purification systems. If the water in your town doesn’t require reverse osmosis purification, there’s no point in buying one. Often, even a low priced comprehensive purifier can serve the purpose very well.
All three technologies can destroy or deactivate micro organisms. But reverse osmosis is known to have the highest success rate as far as filtering out dissolved solids, even salt, is concerned. While ultra violet purification is very effective in deactivating biological contaminants, it does not remove suspended particles. This is why the UV method is usually combined with activated carbon or some other form of filtration. The right chemical purifiers destroy disease causing microbes and when combined with filtering techniques remove dissolved solids as well.
Let’s look at the major brands available in these categories.
You might want to consider buying an reverse osmosis purification system if the water where you live is hard and tastes salty, contains chemical toxins, and the source is a bore well. It’s worthwhile to remember that reverse osmosis purifiers are best avoided if the TDS level is under 500 mg per litre because reverse osmosis removes essential minerals and the outcome could be water that is mineral deficient. The leading vendors of reverse osmosis water purifiers in India are Delhi based Kent reverse osmosis systems and Eureka Forbes. Kent has introduced an reverse osmosis purifier that claims to retain minerals. Eureka Forbes’ reverse osmosis purifier retails under the brand name, Aquaguard Total reverse osmosis. Overall, reverse osmosis based home purification systems are the most expensive and range from around Rs. 13000 to Rs. 25000.
UV purifiers are currently the most widely used electrical home water purifiers and are suitable for towns and cities where TDS levels in water are below 500 mg per litre. UV purifiers are priced at roughly Rs. 5000 or more. In this segment, Eureka Forbes’ Aquaguard is the market leader. Global major, Philips, has introduced Intelligent Water Purifier in four models.
Global giant Hindustan Unilever and local major Eureka Forbes have each introduced economical chemical based purifiers, which are becoming increasingly popular. Since both do not run on electricity, they could be ideal for areas where the power supply is erratic. Eureka Forbes Aquafresh, a resin based system, uses a four stage purification process which combines filtration and chemical treatment to destroy micro organisms, improve taste and odour, and remove organic chemicals and solids. The chemical used for purification is then removed from the water. HUL’s Pureit is based on an innovative technology developed by the company’s R&D scientists over a period of five years at HUL’s labs in India and abroad. This patented technology, which combines chlorination and filtration, has passed US based EPA’s stringent testing norms and has also been tested by reputed institutes in India and abroad. HUL claims that Pureit water is totally safe, clear and tastes good. It is powered by a Germkill battery kit, which needs to be replaced after 1500 litres. Pureit and Aquasure cost less than Rs. 2000.
Finally, settle for a brand that has a good track record in terms of equipment quality and after sales service and comes with a warranty.