Everything you wanted to know about buying a water purifier but didn’t know whom to ask. Water is life-giving. But impure water can be hazardous. With pollution ever ...
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Everything you wanted to know about buying a water purifier but didn’t know whom to ask.
Water is life-giving. But impure water can be hazardous. With pollution ever on the rise, it is becoming more and more difficult to ascertain just how impure the water we drink can be. Which is why buying a water purifier today is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Gone are the days when you could simply stick a filter bought from a neighbourhood general store onto the kitchen tab and be assured that you wouldn’t come down with a terrible water-borne disease.
However, with so many different types of water purifiers available, buying a water purifier can be a confusing process. Conveniently, we are here to help you make an informed decision so you can be sure that the glass of water you’re drinking is clean and safe.
Buying a water purifier need not be a terribly daunting task. Here are a few key factors you must consider before buying one:
You may be living in a very posh neighbourhood, but that doesn’t always mean that the water flowing through the taps in your home is municipal water. It isn’t unusual even for some of the most sought-after buildings in the country to have to rely on borewell water supplied by tankers daily. So, before you think of buying a water purifier, you must find out the source of water in your home.
If your home receives a municipal water supply, your reasons to worry can come down considerably. However, this doesn’t mean all municipality-supplied water is potable. Some years ago, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) put the tap water from 21 cities to the test and revealed that Delhi had the worst water quality in the country. As many as 15 cities failed to meet one or more safety parameters during tests carried out in laboratories. Even so, even the smallest municipal corporations have mass filtration plants, and their processes are put through certain basic safety standards that borewell water does not necessarily go through.
If your water comes from a borewell (which is to say, if a water tanker inside your building complex is a common sight), your water likely has gone through fewer rounds of filtration. It could contain any number of harmful minerals, contaminants, or bacteria. Borewell water or water from a private source can be more dangerous than water you’d receive through a municipality network. In this case, buying a water purifier should be even higher on your priority list.
Most water purifiers require electricity to function. But if you live in a neighbourhood facing regular power outages, you may want to consider buying a water purifier with backup power options.
There are several different types of water purifiers, each meeting a specific need.
Carbon Filters use activated carbon to remove impurities such as chlorine, sediments, and some chemicals. A water purifier with a carbon filter also helps improve taste and odour.
UV purifiers were among the earliest to hit the Indian market. These purifiers use ultraviolet lights to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
Gravity-based purifiers use gravity to filter water. These filters have two containers stacked on each other, and the water is forced through a filtration system as it flows to the bottom container. Such filters are best for areas where the power supply is unreliable. However, they tend not to be as effective as UV or RO filters and aren’t very effective when water has high TDS (total dissolved solids) levels. The tanks also need to be cleaned regularly so as to avoid recontamination of water.
Whole-house filtration systems are perhaps the most comprehensive because, unlike all the other filters in this list, they provide filtered water to multiple taps, thus ensuring comprehensive purification.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifiers use semipermeable RO and UF membranes and pre-carbon and sediment filters to remove a wide range of contaminants — from heavy metals and dissolved salts to viruses and bacteria. An RO water purifier does a very thorough job and provides highly purified water.
Obviously, the cost of a water purifier varies widely based on its type, features, and model. But a good RO water purifier should cost you between ₹14,000 and ₹20,000. However, cost should not be the only factor to consider when buying a water purifier. You should also consider water purifier maintenance costs, a recurring annual expense.
This isn’t a question many people ask themselves while buying a water purifier. Maintaining a water purifier can be an ongoing expense. Different types of water purifiers have different maintenance requirements and costs. But the biggest expense comes with filter replacements.
A filter is the beating heart of a water purifier, and all filters need to be replaced on a regular basis. The filter cost for different types of water purifiers vary on types and models. But filters for RO water purifiers tend to cost north of ₹4,500. It is recommended that these filters be changed every 12 months.
Besides a filter change, you must also consider the annual maintenance contract costs while buying a water purifier. Ideally, you should buy a contract that also includes the filter cost. All of this would set you aside by ₹6,000 or more
However, Urban Company’s Native RO Water Purifier stands out in that it doesn’t require maintaining or filter replacement for two years, helping you save without compromising on your and your family’s health.
The best water purifier for your home depends on your needs and the above factors. However, an RO water purifier is usually considered the best water purifier for home use.
Native RO Water Purifier by Urban Company is India’s first RO water purifier that requires servicing only once every two years. With filters that last for two years, a ten-stage purification process and US FDA compliance, Native is a leap in water purification.
Native RO Water Purifier has a two-year unconditional warranty with zero maintenance costs. This includes free filter replacements and zero service charges for two years.
All of this can help you save up to ₹18,000 on the total ownership and service cost over the years.
You can buy yours here!
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