Tap water in Malaysia is suitable for individuals’ consumption only when taken from trusted water treatment facilities. Government and commercial organisations such as Air Selangor are responsible for carrying out sufficient tests to ensure that Malaysian water consumption quality is adequately handled. Most of the time, the water supply in Malaysia will undergo testing to successfully fulfill the requirements set by international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Malaysia established guidelines for water treatment, including adding chlorine to the water to eliminate microorganisms. This ensures that impurities and pathogens are removed from the water before the public consumes it. Even though chlorine is added to the water and effectively kills bacteria, the quantities added during water treatment are not harmful to people. These chlorine concentrations are much lower than necessary to make people sick.
It may not be safe to drink water right from the tap. This is reinforced by the fact that different areas in Malaysia may not have a good piping system, which might directly affect the water being supplied to the area. Drinking water thoroughly purified and filtered from bacterial, chemical, and physical impurities is best. Taking the extra precaution of purifying and filtering your water supply will ensure that your drinking water will be safe and healthy.
Tap water contains many impurities and contaminants that are not safe to be consumed by the human body. These harmful substances can damage the body if they enter our system, as they can cause us to contract deadly diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, and cholera.
Contaminants and impurities found in unfiltered tap water can be physical, chemical, or bacterial. This includes viruses, bacteria, minerals, lead, copper, fungi, parasitic worms, organic waste, pesticides, and many more.
How do you make sure you are drinking clean water?
It is crucial to take steps to ensure you are drinking water that is safe, clean, and without any harmful substances to prevent yourself from getting sick and contracting severe diseases. One way you can ensure the safety of your drinking water is by using a water analysis kit at home.
A water analysis kit will contain a testing strip that will change colour to indicate whether the water is safe to drink. Another way is to contact the water treatment plant to inquire about their water quality information.
Yet, the most common and easiest step is to drink filtered or purified water. This is because purified and filtered water goes through filters that remove impurities and contaminants before you can drink it.
Filtered water
Water that has undergone filtering using water treatment techniques is referred to as filtered water. Water can be filtered using various methods, including reverse osmosis, activated carbon, ion exchange, distillation, etc. Filtered water may successfully remove dangerous impurities and contaminants from the water while reducing the smell of tap water to make it more pleasant to drink. The water purifier will filter your water to ensure that all the harmful impurities are removed so you can safely consume your water without any worries.
Purifier water
Purified water must undergo several chemical treatments and mechanical filtrations to create clean, drinkable water that everyone can ingest daily. Water’s purification process includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and distillation to ensure that the water does not harbour hazardous substances, such as soil particles, heavy metals, mineral residues, and chemicals. Due to filters like the nano-positive membrane, sediment filter, and activated carbon filter that successfully remove significant pollutants, undesired chemicals, and viruses from the water, a water purifier can effectively purify the water.
Summary
Drinking a healthy water supply will help your body regulate its temperature to an average level, protect sensitive tissues, and eliminate waste through perspiration, bowel movements, and urination. You should always drink water free from impurities, as contaminants can destroy your body and render you ill.
We highly recommend using a water purifier to purify your water from all physical, chemical and bacterial impurities. This is to ensure the water we consume will not affect our health and will instead increase our well-being.
The human body loses water daily through breathing, sweating, urinating, and bowel motions. About 50% to 70% of an adult human’s body weight is water, the body’s principal chemical constituent. That being stated, water is essential for the survival and health of the human body. One can also refill their body’s water supply by ingesting liquids and meals containing water to function correctly; however, it is best to consume plain water.
As the water supply comes from different sources in Malaysia, it is essential that the water we are drinking is clean and does not contain any impurities. There are different types of water, such as boiled water, filtered water and purified water. This article will discuss these types of water and their advantages and disadvantages.
Water heated to the boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius is considered boiled water. Boiled water is water that has undergone the process of boiling, as is a traditional way of removing impurities from water. The boiling process occurs by placing a heat source beneath a container filled with water and letting it rest on the heat source until it bubbles.
The boiled water is then left to cool before individuals can consume it. Water that has been boiled is free from harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause harm to our health; however, boiling does not remove chemical pollutants such as metals, chlorine, salts, and even pesticides.
Advantages & Disadvantages of boiling tap water
Advantages
Disadvantages
Simple to do as it does not require intricate equipments
Time-consuming as boiling takes several minutes before it is fully boiled.
Kills harmful bacteria and viruses in the water
Does not remove chemical pollutants such as chlorine, pesticides and metals
Retains essential minerals that are found in tap water
Quantity of water may be reduced as some of the water that is boiled may become vapour
Filtered water
Filtered water is water that goes through filtration using water treatment technologies. Filtered water can effectively remove harmful substances and impurities from the water while also removing the odour of tap water so that it is easier to consume.
Filtered water can undergo different filtration processes, such as reverse osmosis, activated carbon, ion exchange, distillation and other methods. Even though filtered water does go through its own filtration process, it may not be suitable for drinking as the filters cannot fully remove all the impurities that are in the water, which can cause infections in our bodies.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Filtered water
Advantages
Disadvantages
Convenient to use as the filtered water is available on tap to use whenever you need it for cooking or drinking
Needs to be stored in the refrigerator to avoid recontamination
Removes harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, chlorine, heavy metals, salts and fluoride
Filters need to be maintained and replaced frequently and depending on usage
Environmentally friendly as it reduces plastic waste
Filtration process can only work properly if there is pressure in the water
Purified water
Purified water involves several chemical treatments and mechanical filtrations to produce clean and drinkable water that is safe to consume for all. Purified water does not contain any toxic substances such as soil particles, heavy metals, mineral residues, and chemicals due to the water’s purification process, such as coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and distillation.
A water purifier can efficiently purify the water due to filters such as a nano-positive membrane, sediment filter, and activated carbon filter that effectively remove large impurities, unwanted chemicals, and viruses from the water.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Purified Water
Advantages
Disadvantages
Eliminates all forms of physical, bacterial and chemical contaminants such as large particles, rust, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses and chlorine
Regular maintenance and replacement of filters are needed to remove all the harmful metals and organisms that get stuck on the filter
The quantity of water does not change when it undergoes purification process
May not be able to remove some forms of organic wastes and pesticides
Easy to access the water for the convenience of drinking, making drinks, cooking, and more.
Increases energy consumption due to the processes that occur.
Summary (Best Way)
As there are different ways to consume clean water in Malaysia, it is also essential to consider how much water you drink daily. Studies have shown that eight glasses of water may not be enough for an individual. The daily water intake is highly dependent on the individual and their lifestyle. Whether it is boiled water, filtered water, or purified water, it is crucial to have a healthy water supply.
The best way to make sure you are drinking a clean supply of water is to test your drinking water and look out for signs of contamination. In a nutshell, the best water to consume without compromising your health and well-being is purified water. Purified water removes impurities and chemical compounds that are unhealthy for the body, plus it is easier to access clean water using a water purifier.
It is well known that frequently consuming water is healthy for our bodies. This is because water makes up roughly 60% of the human body. Water is essential for the body’s cells, tissues, and organs to function. It is advised to drink enough water each day to maintain good health. However, the quality of the water you drink is equally crucial for maintaining your health.
Maintaining access to a clean water supply in Malaysia is crucial since it is vital to our health. Water filters and water purifiers come into play in this situation when it comes to our house water particularly. This article will give you a thorough overview of water filters and purifiers with detailed comparisons and differences between the water filter and water purifier.
What is a water purifier?
A water purifier serves a similar purpose to a water filter, as both devices aim to eliminate impurities and pollutants from the water. However, a water purifier takes things a step further by destroying biological contaminants and removing minerals such as suspended microbes and particles, excess salts, and viruses while maintaining vital vitamins beneficial for our body as we consume filtered water.
A water purifier effectively removes harmful viruses and bacteria that can worsen our health while giving way to essential minerals that pass through the water. A water purifier is mainly used indoors in areas such as the kitchen, tabletops, or office. This is because a water purifier is used for accessing clean drinking water.
Water purifier benefits
There are several benefits to using a water purifier, and these are the main ones:
Water purifiers effectively remove toxic and harmful substances commonly found in unfiltered water, such as disease-causing microorganisms, dissolved solids, metal impurities and even unhealthy minerals. Without water purification, these harmful substances can cause us to become sick and damage our health.
The best type of water purifier is built with at least four filters for thorough and essential water purification. These four filters are the Sediment Filter, Activated Carbon Filter, Nano-Positive Membrane, and Mineraliser, which effectively remove a range of harmful substances, from rust and sediments to viruses and bacteria.
Water sold in supermarkets and convenience stores is usually stored in plastic bottles. As you know, plastic bottles cause a lot of waste and pollution to the planet due to the mass production of water. Using a water purifier, you can save the environment and be assured of an even healthier supply of fresh and clean water, as the device uses an intelligent water tracking system that enables you to save water.
Using a water purifier can help you save a lot of time and energy, as mundane tasks such as boiling water can be sped up. Usually, boiling water is done by using a designated water filtration jug that often takes too long to boil water. With a water purifier that has an insulating layer and heating elements, you can be assured of having boiling water within minutes.
Types of water purifiers
At least six types of water purifiers or purification methods are allocated to different water issues and perform a specific action that can be noticed in water purifiers in Malaysia. A water purifier contains these water purification methods targeted to remove substances that should not be in the water. Typical water purifiers or purification methods include distillation, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet, activated carbon, ultrafiltration and sediment filters.
Distillation
The most dangerous chemicals and microbes in contaminated water can be eliminated using distillation. It is one of the only techniques to remove bacteria, herbicides, pesticides, nitrates/nitrites, lead, arsenic, coliform, and other contaminants. The polluted water is heated to a boil; the vapour that rises during this process is collected, cools, and then condenses back into clean drinking water. Because the impurities don’t dissipate as quickly as steam, they remain in the container where they were boiled.
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a technique for water purification that eliminates particles, chemicals, salts, minerals, and other contaminants from drinking water. Pressure is used in reverse osmosis to turn around how liquids usually pass through semi-permeable membranes. Systems for reverse osmosis do not need electricity to push water through the membrane. They substitute water pressure instead. A mechanical (sediment) filter and an absorption (activated carbon) filter are two standard supplementary filters with reverse osmosis.
Ultraviolet
A technique for purifying water called ultraviolet disinfection can get rid of the germs and chemicals that are the most dangerous. To accomplish this, ultraviolet radiation destroys the water’s germs like Legionella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus. Producing ultraviolet light only eliminates living things. Therefore, this technology is typically combined with reverse osmosis and activated carbon.
Activated carbon
The most popular application of the water purification technique known as activated carbon filtration functions is eliminating the chlorine taste from tap water. Pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and much more can all be eliminated with this method. Granular activated carbon and activated carbon blocks are the two forms of activated carbon.
Activated carbon is ground into a fine powder and assembled into a carbon block water filter. Then, a binder is added to this powder and crushed into a solid block. To purge pollutants from drinking water, granular activated carbon filters use carbon loosely bound in powder form.
Ultrafiltration
Reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration are both techniques for filtering and purifying water, and both involve membranes. The primary distinction between the two is that reverse osmosis only filters out particles larger than 5 nanometers in size, while ultrafiltration also excludes particles larger than 1 nanometer.
More pollutants and turbidity can be eliminated by ultrafiltration than by reverse osmosis. Water is purified by ultrafiltration when forced through a thin membrane under high pressure. Water molecules are caused through the membrane’s microscopic pores by the pressure, while larger particles are too massive to fit through and stay on one side of the membrane.
Sediment filters Sand, silt, and rust are examples of the enormous dirt and dust particles that sediment filters are made to remove. A pre-filter for well water is the most typical application for this water filter. A sediment pre-filter can prolong its life and prevent damage to the following filtration stage. Sediment filters are usually the first water purifier filters, as noticed in the Snaptec Aurra water purifier.
Water filter vs. water purifier comparison (table)
Criteria
Water filter
Water purifier
Use
Removes contaminants and sediments to provide better-tasting and healthier water
Removes sediments and contaminants in the water while destroying biological substances such as viruses and bacteria.
Filters used
Reverse osmosis, sequestration, absorption, ion exchange, and mechanical filters
Distillation, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet, activated carbon, ultrafiltration, and sediment filters
Advantages
– Gets rid of dangerous substances from the tap water – Enhances the taste and odour of tap water – Consumption of bottled water will reduce – Saves money
– Protects water against harmful organisms – Eliminates toxic metals – Ensures good vitamins and minerals pass-through – Saves time
Disadvantages
– Output of water can be slow – Maintenance is needed – Limitations to what the water filter can filter out
– May not eliminate pesticides – Regular maintenance is needed – Must be handled with care
A water filter enhances water quality by removing undesirable contaminants such as hardness, sediment, taste and odour, and bacteria. A water filter reduces water contamination by using a thin physical barrier, a chemical reaction, or a biological reaction to remove contaminants. When the impurities are removed from the water, it is safe for the body to consume.
A home water filter is typically placed where the main water shut-off valve is located. Some water filters are also placed under the sink, connected to a pipe leading to the main water supply.
Water filters can eliminate harmful toxins and impurities from the water, including heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury. Water filters also remove disinfection byproducts, limescale and chlorine. At the same time, water filters deftly ensure that crucial minerals like magnesium, fluoride, calcium, and zinc are kept in the water.
Filtering tap water with a water filter is significantly less expensive than purchasing plastic bottled water. Since tap water is used to fill these plastic bottles, you are only paying for the bottle packaging, which is a waste of money. You can save money by investing in a professional water filter, and the water you drink will be of superior quality because it has been properly filtered.
Using a water filter is easy and convenient as no complicated instructions exist. The water filter only needs a quick filtration change occasionally; plus, it is portable and durable.
There are at least five types of water filters that each address a specific and different water issue found in water filters around Malaysia. These water filters include reverse osmosis, sequestration, absorption, ion exchange, and mechanical filters.
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis removes dissolved inorganic particles like calcium and magnesium ions from water by applying pressure to a semipermeable membrane and forcing water through it. Most of the pollutants are left behind, so the water goes through.
Reverse osmosis systems do not require electricity to force water through the membrane. Instead, they use water pressure. Reverse osmosis is typically used in conjunction with several additional filters, including a mechanical (sediment) filter and an absorption (activated carbon) filter.
Sequestration
Sequestration is the method by which a substance is chemically isolated using scale-inhibiting filters. The filter will prevent issues such as limescale and corrosion, which can poison the water with harmful metals. The filter uses a polyphosphate material to prevent scaling while keeping the essential minerals in the water without softening it.
Absorption
Absorption uses carbon, most frequently used in water filters, to absorb impurities because it effectively removes them from the water. Carbon quickly absorbs pollutants because it has a large interior surface that is crammed with holes and crannies that can trap chemical contaminants like chlorine.
Granular activated carbon (GAC) in most conventional residential filters absorbs unpleasant tastes and odours to lessen them. The carbon block elements used in more expensive filters are often more effective and have a micron rating for particle removal.
Ion exchange
By switching the magnesium and calcium ions in hard water with other ions like sodium or hydrogen ions, ion exchange is used to soften hard water. As opposed to scale inhibition, ion exchange physically removes the hard minerals, lowering limescale and preparing the water for use in applications where a constant high temperature is maintained, like in coffee makers.
The most typical method for ion exchange is an ion exchange resin, which often takes the form of tiny beads. Some water softeners utilise a resin of a similar type.
Mechanical
The fundamental concept of mechanical filtration is to use a barrier to physically remove any silt, debris, or other particles from the water. Mechanical filters range from a simple mesh that removes big particles to a ceramic filter with an intricate pore structure for pathogenic organisms’ ultra-fine filtration. A mechanical filter will typically be assigned a micron rating, which describes how well the filter can remove particles of different sizes.
A house water filter is a type of water filtration system that will treat the water effectively at the location of an individual’s main water supply. Before the water supply enters the house, the filter will ensure that the water is free of impurities and clean. A house water filter will enable clean water to flow into every household item that needs water, such as a washing machine, kitchen sink faucet, bathroom shower, and more.
Indoor water filter
Snaptec Aurra
An indoor water filter is a more specific filter usually placed on the countertop or under the countertop of your kitchen table. This type of water filter will filtrate the water coming through your regular kitchen faucet to produce clean water that is safe to drink. An indoor water filter comes with multiple filters that will help remove impurities and chemicals from the water.
Summary
Overall, water filters and water purifiers exist to create filtered water that is safe for all of us, as water is essential to the human body and has many health benefits. We must consume water daily, as it will keep us from falling sick easily and help regulate our body functions effectively. Between a water filter and a water purifier, it is best to go for a water purifier if you want clean, drinkable water to be supplied. An example would be the Snaptec Aurra water purifier, as it can deliver clean water that is safe to consume.
However, a water filter does have its benefits, especially when it comes to a whole house water filter, as it can supply clean water throughout your entire house. Depending on your needs, you should be able to decide based on the qualities and comparisons above.
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