Water Purifier or Water Filter – Which is Best? by Ken Jorgustin – Modern Survival Blog
To know which one is the best (a water filter or water purifier), it’s about the phrasing, words, and how it relates to water treatment standards.
The term ‘water filter’ is broadly used to describe many water filtration devices. But did you know that not all water filters are alike in their ability to reduce pathogens (a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism)?
Not only that, but there is a difference between the meaning of water filter and water purifier when it comes to actual water treatment standards.
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Lets take a look at the two standards when classifying water treatment devices:
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Guide Standard And Protocol For Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers” (source),
To distinguish a water purifier from a water filter:
WATER FILTER
Classification of ‘water filter’ – the filtration device must meet this standard:
Contaminant: Pathogenic Bacteria
Removal standard: 99.99% minimum reduction, also known as (Log 4)
WATER PURIFIER
Classification of ‘water purifier’ – the filtration device must meet this standard:
Contaminant: Pathogenic Bacteria
Removal standard: 99.9999% minimum reduction, also known as (Log 6)
Plus this…
Contaminant: Virus
Removal standard: 99.99% minimum reduction, also known as (Log 4)
A WATER PURIFIER IS BEST
A water purifier must filter out Bacteria to Log 6 and Virus to Log 4.
Most of those water filter pitchers that you might keep in your fridge, or the water filters that attach to your faucet, are water ‘filters’. Meaning that they filter out somepathogens.
But there are other choices that are actually water purifiers. They will remove a much greater extent of bacteria (plus viruses).
When comparing and deciding about water filters, pay attention to the reduction (99.9999% vs. 99.99%) (and/or Log #’s).
The best water filters / purifiers will remove a higher percentage of pathogens and/or virus. Note that a water ‘filter’ doesn’t have to remove any virus at all.
Note: Fortunately virus in our water here in the U.S. is not really an issue.
