Water Filter vs. Water Purifier: Key Differences

Having access to safe and clean drinking water is essential for your well-being. However, with so many options available for water treatment, the terms “water filter” and “water purifier” are often used interchangeably, leaving many people confused about their differences. Understanding how they work, and their key distinctions can help you make an informed choice for your household needs.

This blog talks about the essential differences between a water filter and a water purifier.

What is a Water Filter?

Water filters use physical barriers to remove visible impurities such as dust, silt, sediments, and clay. They are effective at tackling suspended particles and some microbiological organisms like bacteria and viruses. When equipped with carbon filters, they can also address odours and chlorine in the water. However, water filters are not designed to remove dissolved solids, heavy metals, or chemical contaminants.

What is a Water Purifier?

Water purifiers go beyond the capabilities of water filters, effectively removing physical contaminants (like loose dirt and dust particles); chemical and biological contaminants (metals, pesticides, toxins produced by bacteria or human and animal drugs); and new age contaminants (heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium and lead; personal care products like cosmetics, shampoo, and hair dyes; microplastics from the trash in our water bodies; as well as other contaminants like tea waste, soft drinks, energy drinks, etc.)

Since drinking water often gets contaminated while traveling through old or rusty pipes, a high-quality water purifier ensures thorough filtration and eliminates impurities that could harm your health.

Advanced purifiers use advanced technologies like Reverse Osmosis (RO), Ultraviolet (UV), and Ultrafiltration (UF) to provide enhanced water purification. These technologies use water filters and make the water purification complete.

For instance, in water purifiers with multi-stage purification, there are RO filters that use a semipermeable membrane to remove dissolved salts, heavy metals, and harmful chemicals, making them ideal for areas with high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). UV filter uses UV light, eliminate bacteria and viruses, and disinfect water, while UF filter captures larger pathogens and particles.

Water Filter vs. Water Purifier: Key Difference

1. Levels of Purification

⮚Water Filters
 Water filters typically offer basic filtration with 2-3 stages, each targeting specific impurities. While they can provide clear water by removing physical contaminants, they fall short in treating salty water or eliminating heavy metals and harmful chemicals

⮚Water Purifiers
 Water purifiers use advanced purification processes like RO+UV, RO+UV+UF or more to remove a wide range of impurities, including dissolved solids and pathogens. These multiple stages not only purify but also enhance the taste of the water, ensuring it is safe and pleasant to drink.

For example, the Aquaguard Marvel NXT RO+UV Taste Adjuster Alkaline Water Purifier offersadvanced purification with Taste adjuster options, making it perfect for families needing comprehensive filtration.

Similarly, the Aquaguard Delight NXT RO+UV+UF Water Purifier combines durability with effective biological protection and delivers safe drinking water through advanced 6-stage purification, combining RO Maxx, UV e-Boiling, and Ultra Filtration technologies. It effectively removes 99.9999% bacteria, 99.99% viruses, microplastics, and harmful chemicals. Designed for all water sources, it comes with a durable cartridge and certified performance and ensures consistent purity and peace of mind for your family. The smart service alert ensures you get to know when the water purifier needs to be serviced or if the filter is to be changed.

2.  Clean vs. Purified Water

⮚Water filter

Water filters provide clean water. It refers to water that appears free of visible impurities but may still contain harmful contaminants.

⮚Water purifiers

Water purifiers provide purified water. They ensure the removal of both visible and invisible impurities, making it completely safe and healthy for consumption.

While water filters can make water look clean, only water purifiers can guarantee safe, refined drinking water.

⮚Water Filters
 Ideal for areas with natural water sources or where water quality is treated and reliable. Suitable for regions with fewer impurities.

⮚Water Purifiers
 Best suited for urban areas with multiple sources of pollution. RO water purifiers are highly effective for treating water with high levels of TDS, heavy metals, and other pollutants.

Advanced Features

⮚Water Filters
 Water filters are simpler devices requiring more manual intervention, such as refilling and regular cleaning. They lack automated features and are generally non-electric.

⮚Water Purifiers
 Modern water purifiers are equipped with smart features, including filter replacement alerts, tank full indicators, and issue notifications. These advanced features minimize manual effort and enhance user convenience. Aquaguard Delight NXT RO+UV+UF+MC Aquasaver Water Purifier comes with all these smart features. Moreover, with Aquasaver, it helps in saving up to 60% more water as compared to regular RO.

Conclusion

Choosing between a water filter and a water purifier comes down to understanding your water quality, household requirements, and water purifier price. While water filters are economical for basic filtration, water purifiers provide thorough protection against harmful contaminants, ensuring better health for your family. The water purifier range of Aquaguard starts from Rs. 6000 (approx.) and goes up till Rs. 32000 (approx.). They combine cutting-edge technologies with convenience, giving you peace of mind and access to safe drinking water every day.