Can a water purifier filter heavy metals?

Water purifiers are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Because the drinking water in many cities does not meet the direct drinking standards, people think that there are still some harmful substances in direct drinking water that will harm the body, so they will buy water purifiers and install them at home, so that they can drink safe and reliable drinking water. Moreover, the filter core rod of the water purifier can really filter out a lot of impurities. Can the water purifier filter heavy metals?

After all, it is an indispensable thing in life. More and more people are beginning to seek to improve the quality of drinking water at home. As a result, water purifiers, the new darling of the home appliance market, are in great demand. There are many types of water purifiers on the market with different prices, which makes consumers overwhelmed. The shopping guide's eloquent speech often leaves consumers confused. So, how should consumers choose a water purifier? For this reason, experts remind: Don't be superstitious about foreign brands, but check their "Imported Sanitary Permit for Drinking Water Hygiene and Safety Products" (issued with the seal of the Ministry of Health, you can check the authenticity online), customs import documents, import commodity inspection certificates and other documents or copies. Don't be confused by counterfeit and shoddy products, and make choices based on your own water quality.

According to the different degrees of filtration, the water purifiers currently on the market can be divided into four categories of filtration modes from coarse to fine: coarse filtration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. From the perspective of water treatment principles, a coarse filtration water purifier that uses activated carbon as a water purification medium can adsorb a variety of organic substances and harmful heavy metals, and remove odor-causing substances in the water; an ultrafiltration water purifier that selectively separates substances on the surface of an ultrafiltration membrane can filter out harmful substances such as rust, sediment, suspended matter, colloids, bacteria, and macromolecular organic matter in the water; a nanofiltration water purifier that uses a nanofiltration membrane can remove most of the hardness and a certain amount of salt in the water; a water purifier that uses reverse osmosis technology is also called a pure water machine, which can effectively remove dissolved salts, colloids, microorganisms, organic matter, etc. in the water.

During the filtration process, the water purifier not only filters out some harmful substances, but also some beneficial ingredients may be filtered out. Therefore, we can only say that the filtered water is safer and cleaner than before.

Expert advice:

First, choose a water purifier that suits you based on local water quality issues. For example, if the tap water has a high hardness, a water softener can be selected; if the tap water has a high content of colloids and organic matter, an activated carbon water purifier can be selected; if there is a lot of sediment in the tap water, or there is occasional water outage, a pre-filter is necessary.

Second, understand the service provider’s installation service and after-sales service. You should choose after-sales service that provides at least one-year warranty and lifetime service; you should choose a manufacturer that regularly provides on-site warranty service and filter element replacement.

Third, know the cost and method of subsequent replacement of filter element consumables for the product. Water purifier products that are used for a long time require subsequent maintenance and replacement of consumables, so you need to make a comprehensive comparison when purchasing.

Beware of secondary pollution

Maintenance and replacement of water purifier filter is essential. The reporter learned that the life of the filter element is related to many factors such as local water quality and user's water consumption. The replacement of filter elements is generally calculated based on the rated total amount of purified water. When the amount of purified water reaches the rated amount, the consumer must replace the filter element.

The main material of the filter element - activated carbon not only has an adsorption effect on trace organic matter, but also has an adsorption effect on bacteria. When the adsorption capacity of activated carbon is saturated, the excessive impurities adsorbed will fall off, causing secondary pollution. The water that comes out of a water purifier is not as hygienic and safe as unpurified tap water.