Sediments generally come from nature and plumbing, and though they are fairly harmless, they don’t taste good and can discolor your water. Sediments include: Dust, Sand, Rust, Dirt, Debris, and Grit, etc.

Minerals come from rock and dirt as they break down. Minerals are generally good, and can actually help give your water a better taste, though they can become harmful if too abundant. They can also cause your water to feel hard, and can damage your clothes and property. Some of the most common minerals are: Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, and Potassium, etc.

Heavy metals pose a huge risk, and are one of the primary contaminants watched for in water. They are so dangerous because they can cause both physical and mental illnesses, which can be irreversible and cause death in extreme cases. Some of the most common heavy metals include: Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, Sulfur, and Mercury, etc.

Rotting or decaying organic matter is another concern when it comes to your water. The biggest issue is that they can bind and precipitate organic proteins, which can lead to some bigger problems. Contaminants here include: Biomolecules, Polyphenolics, and Astringent, etc.

Solvents can be very difficult to filter out because they dissolve into the water itself on a sub micron level. These can vary quite a bit, but include: Sodium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Humic Substances, and Organic Compounds.

Micro particles are sub micron materials that don’t dissolve. The newest concern in this category are micro plastics which can pose a heavy risk to health and organ functions as they build up and get into bloodstreams.

There are thousands of chemicals showing up in our water and food today. Unsurprisingly, these chemicals can be quite harmful to our bodies, with many of the negative effects still not totally understood. While some of these chemicals stay suspended in water, others can become airborn as toxic gases. Some of the major chemicals include: Perfluoroalkyls, Polyfluoroalkyls, Benzene, Ethylene, Glycol, Formaldehyde, Chlorine, Perfluorooctanoic Acid, and many more.

Parasites are living organisms that can cause serious illness. They can be extremely resilient to chemicals, and usually need to be physically filtered out of water, or killed by boiling the water first. Common parasites include: Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora Cayetanesis, Amebiasis, and many more.

Though not all bacteria is bad, there are around 10,000 recognized species of bacteria, and millions more yet to be discovered and classified. Some of the common ones include: E. Coli, Salmonella, Legionella, Malaria, Cryptosporidium, and many more.

There are too many viruses to count, and because they are constantly evolving, the only sure way to be safe from them is by stopping them. Viruses like Norovirus, Rotavirus, Hepatitis, Influenza, and many more, all pose major health risks.

In an effort to kill bacteria, the city and even some home filtration systems use chemicals. Chlorine and Chloramine are some of the most common chemicals used for this purpose, and although they aren’t particularly harmful in small doses, they can make the water taste worse, cause bad chemicals reactions with organic compounds, and are harmful in larger quantities.

Media filters use various layers of sand, clay, and rocks, etc, to help remove large contaminants from water. They are simple and effective at providing the most basic level of water filtration.

These filters are very basic in their function. Typically they are made from a polypropylene, fabric mesh, or twine, and they filter out sediments ranging between 0.5 - 50 microns by trapping them in the filter itself. Because of this, they do need to be replaced simi-regularly.

Good carbon filters are made from coconut husks on average, and have three main variants. Granular Carbon, Carbon Powder, and Compressed Carbon Blocks. These filters can range from 0.5 - 50 microns in filtration size, and are great at removing chemicals, bad tastes, and odors, with some being able to help filter out Heavy Metals as well. They filter by attracting, trapping, and chemically altering harmful substances. They are more effective the longer water has contact with them, which means the most effective systems will have at least three stages of carbon filtration.

Ultraviolet lights can be used to kill microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses, etc. This form of water treatment requires longer contact time to be effective, and there is a chance that some contaminants get through alive if shielded by larger ones.

Reverse osmosis is the most advanced form of membrane technology, and works by physically blocking out contaminants on a sub micron level. Lesser variants include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration. It is capable of filtering out: Minerals, Heavy Metals, Organic Matter, Solvents, Micro Particles, Parasites, Bacteria, and Viruses. These filters can block contaminants down to 0.0001 microns in size, making it the most effective option for filtering out these dangerous contaminants.

Water softeners use resin beads to attact and remove hard minerals from the water like, calcium and magnesium, through a process called ion exchange. Salt is then used to clean the beads periodically. These Minerals if not removed can cause scaling on water fixtures, pipes, glassware, and appliances. It will also reduce the effectiveness of detergents and soaps, making it diffcult to clean your home and keep you clothes soft.

Descalers, or water conditioners, don’t remove the minerals from your water, but rather, forces them to crystallize, thereby neutralizing their effects. Your water wont feel or taste different with a descaler, but you will prevent scaling on your faucets, glassware, and appliances. The benefits of these systems are that they are cheaper to maintain, and they take up less space.