UV Water Filters: Your Complete Guide To Treatment Systems
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Water is essential for our survival. It can also cause health problems if it's contaminated, sometimes right away and sometimes over years.
I'm here to help you find the best UV water treatment systems in the market that give you assurances on quality and provide you with clear, clean and safe water.
You may have heard the rule of eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Needs actually vary with your size, activity and climate, and food and other drinks count too.
UV light kills or inactivates germs, including bacteria, viruses and parasites. It does not remove chemicals, metals or sediment, and UV does not work well in cloudy water because particles can shield germs from the light. That is why home UV systems pair the lamp with sediment and carbon filters.
My top 5 favorite products are summarized below.
55W UV Ultraviolet + Sediment & CTP Carbon Well Water Filters
Our first UV system passes water through several stages to reduce sediment, chlorine and some chemicals, then disinfect it.
The 1st stage uses a 20-micron sediment filter, removing particles such as sand, dirt and rust.
The 2nd stage process, having been made easier by the first stage, gets rid of chlorine, bad tastes, odors, organic chemicals and other organic solvents. It does this with a Carbon Block Filter.
When we get to the 3rd stage, extra filtration takes place, removing more rust, dirt, and sand down to 1 micron.
At stage four, a 55W UV sterilizer rated for 12 gallons per minute targets:
- Disease- causing bacteria
- E Coli
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Harmful microorganisms
UV does not remove chemicals, so the carbon stages do that work.
iSpring UVF11A UV Disinfection Sterilizer Water Filter
iSpring UVF11A is a smart UV Water treatment System with a Flow Sensor Switch. The water flow powers the ultraviolet light on or off automatically.
It has an 11W UV lamp in a stainless steel chamber with a quartz sleeve and is rated for about 1 gallon per minute, which suits a single tap.
UV disinfects without adding chemicals, but it only works on clear water and doesn't remove contaminants like lead or nitrates. Use a pre-filter if your water has sediment.
It also comes with 2 quick fittings and 2 brackets to hang the filter on the wall.
SunSun JUP-01 9W UV Sterilizer Serbmersible Filter Pump
SunSun JUP-01 is a submersible UV sterilizer and pump. Note that it is made for aquariums and ponds, not for treating drinking water.
It saves you the trouble of assembling different parts of the water filtering system, such as adding in tubes or circulation pumps.
The filtration starts with a large mechanical pre-filter sponge, where debris such as rust, dirt, and sand are removed so as to optimize Ultra Violet exposure.
Water is then directed past the UV-C lamp by the built-in pump, which helps control algae and microorganisms in tank or pond water. Do not use it for drinking water.
Change the bulb yearly for optimum UV performance.
Steripen Adventurer Opti Handled UV Water Purifier
Steripen Adventurer is a Compact Handheld ultra violet light water filter, efficiently made for outdoor use.
The maker rates the lamp for up to 8,000 liters.
The maker says it destroys more than 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and protozoa in clear water.
It doesn't change the water's taste. It doesn't filter anything out, though, so pre-filter cloudy water and remember it won't remove chemicals.
There's no need to worry about its portability as it only weighs 3.8 ounces and has small batteries. It has a 3- year limited warranty.
S8Q-PA VIQUA Home Ultra Violet Water Disinfection System
This UV water filter system is designed especially for family use.
It targets bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Unlike chlorine, UV leaves no lasting disinfectant in your pipes, and it works best with a sediment pre-filter.
It's a chemical-free treatment. Before you buy any whole-home UV system, test your water so you know what you need to treat.
It's mostly recommended for houses with flow rates of up to 10 GPM.
Look for certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 55 on any UV system you consider, and replace the lamp on the maker's schedule.
So there we go, those are some of the best UV water filters on the market. Paired with good pre-filtration, UV systems are efficient and give you clean, clear and safe water to consume.
No single system removes everything. The CDC advises testing your water and checking the label to make sure a system treats the contaminants you're worried about.
