When it comes to removing pollutants, odour, and unpleasant taste from tap water, activated carbon filters are truly amazing. But what are they and why do you need one?
Here’s a quick rundown of how active carbon filters function, what they remove, and what they can’t do.
What are the benefits of activated carbon filters?
Activated carbon filters, also known as charcoal filters, are made up of microscopic granular or block-like bits of carbon that have been processed to be exceedingly porous. A football field’s worth of surface area is contained in just 4 grams of activated carbon (6400 sqm). Active carbon filters are particularly effective in adsorbing (basically removing) pollutants and other chemicals due to their large surface area.
What does active carbon filters remove and reduce?
Activated carbon has been shown to be effective in removing hundreds of pollutants and other compounds from tap water. However, the most widely recognized studies by the EPA and the NSF suggest that 60-80 chemicals can be effectively removed, another 30 can be effectively reduced, and 22 can be somewhat reduced.
The range of effective removal is critical and is determined by the quality and kind of activated carbon utilized (GAC vs carbon block). Choose a filter that removes the pollutants that are a concern in your area’s tap water.
Activated Carbon is the only filter technology recommended by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States) for removing contaminants.
- THMs are among the 32 organic pollutants discovered (by-products from chlorine).
- All 14 pesticides on the list (this includes nitrates as well as pesticides such as glyphosate also referred to as roundup)
- The 12 most widely used herbicides
What Activated Carbon Isn’t Capable Of Filtering
Activated Carbon filters remove more than 70 pollutants, although some compounds are not removed.
- Magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium are all beneficial minerals (this means TDS is generally not reduced with activated carbon)
- Minerals, salts, and metals such as iron are examples of dissolved solids that are not considered pollutants.
- Coliform, viruses, and tiny bacteria are examples of microbiological pollutants.
- Arsenic and asbestos are examples of inorganic pollutants (only partially reduced)
- Despite the fact that radionuclides are being lowered.
Minerals and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), a typical measure used by water filter salespeople, are generally not reduced by activated carbon water filters.
