When it comes to drinking water, there are a lot of options out there. But if you’re looking for safe and clean water, free of contaminants – then purified water may be the right choice for you.
1. What is purified water?
Purified water has been filtered and treated to remove impurities like bacteria, chemicals, and any unwanted toxins.
To accurately determine the quality of water, we need to look at the total number of dissolved solids (TDS) present.
As a standard, purified water must not have a TDS count of more than 500 ppm (parts per million).
2. What is TDS in water?
Total dissolved solids (TDS) refer to the amount of organic and inorganic materials, like metals, minerals, salts, and ions, that have dissolved in water.
This means that TDS measures anything dissolved in water that is not an H2O molecule. When water encounters soluble material, the particles are absorbed into the water, creating total dissolved solids.
Fortunately, purification processes like reverse osmosis, ozonation, and ultraviolet lights (UV), can be used to achieve a low TDS level.
2.1. What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is a process that separates dissolved salts, minerals, and other contaminants from water by applying pressure and forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane.
The resulting product is pure water with no organic compounds or bacteria. This process removes nearly all the minerals— including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium—leaving behind nothing but clean deionized (DI) water.
2.2. What is ozonation?
Ozonation is a water treatment method that exposes an open container of water (or any other liquid) to pure oxygen gas at high pressure. This causes a chemical reaction between the two substances, forming ozone-rich bubbles in the water.
These ozone-rich bubbles oxidize the organic material in the membranes of bacteria, viruses, and parasites – killing all their cells and eliminating any troublesome contaminants.
2.3. What is UV?
UV is a water treatment method that exposes bacteria, viruses, and cysts to ultraviolet light. As the water passes through a UV treatment system, the UV light attacks the genetic code of every microorganism in the water, rearranging its DNA and stopping them from reproducing.
3. What is the difference between purified water and tap water?
While tap water is generally safe to drink, many of South Africa’s wastewater treatment plants are run down. According to the 2022 Blue Drop Progress Report, tap water from the majority of our municipalities pose potential health risks.
Leanne Coetzee, a specialist consultant with Waterlab said that 60% of our municipalities do not comply with the microbiological limits as required by the drinking water standard.
As a result, South Africa’s tap water can contain contaminants like lead, arsenic, and other chemicals that can be harmful to your health if consumed over time and in large quantities.
Even though purified water is essentially tap water, it has undergone rigorous purification processes to remove unwanted particles. This means that you’ll always know what’s in your drinking water and you can feel confident about its quality.
So, which is better? The answer depends on your needs – if you’re concerned about contaminants in your drinking supply, then purified water is probably best for you.
4. What are the benefits of drinking purified water?
Purified drinking water provides a better way for people to stay hydrated.
Among its many benefits, it aids digestion, boosts athletic performance, detoxifies the body, and promotes clearer skin.
So, rather than resorting to tap water or sugary drinks for your go-to beverage, there is a refreshing, healthy choice available with purified water.
5. The bottom line
Since purified water is clean; free of microorganisms or other contaminants; has added health advantages; and doesn’t need any chemical processing – it is the best way to stay hydrated.
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