Water companies use several methods to purify water, ensuring it's safe for consumption. Two key methods include ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis.
Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration is a method where water passes through a filter with extremely tiny pores.
- This filter acts like a sieve, allowing only water and small molecules to pass through, such as salts and small, charged molecules.
- It effectively removes larger particles, such as bacteria, viruses, and suspended solids.
Reverse Osmosis
Another filtration method is reverse osmosis.
- This process pushes water through a special membrane, removing additional impurities that ultrafiltration might miss.
- Reverse osmosis removes a broad range of contaminants and makes water even cleaner.
Summary of Water Purification Methods
| Method | Description | What it removes |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrafiltration | Water is forced through a filter with very small pores. | Larger particles, bacteria, viruses, suspended solids. |
| Reverse Osmosis | Water is forced through a membrane to separate contaminants from the water. | More contaminants, including dissolved salts. |
Water companies often use a combination of these methods to deliver the highest quality of drinking water.
