Carbon Filtration

Activated carbon filters are one of the best means of removing tastes and odors, including chlorine, and most organic chemical contaminants. With the exception of chlorine, activated carbon works by "adsorbing" chemical contaminants onto the surface of the carbon granules, that is, the contaminants "stick" to the surface of the carbon granule. The term adsorption refers to the ability of one substance (in this case, carbon) to attract and hold molecules of another substance (contaminants).

Micron Filtration

Micron filtration is a reliable method for ensuring removal of certain surface water microbial contaminants i.e., small particles generally less than 10 μm in diameter. Specifically, filtration for the removal of surface water contaminants such as Giardia lamblia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts can be achieved via adequate micron filtration. A micron rating can define the performance capability of a particular filter. Ideally, micron filters designed for protection from Giardia lamblia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts should provide, at a minimum, a guarantee of 99.9 percent (3-log reduction) removal.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Ultraviolet light (UV), light of wavelengths from 240 to 280 nanometers (nm), is an effective agent for killing bacteria. Mercury-arc lamps are commonly used, and provide a UV light source to disinfect water by emitting high intensity radiation at 253.7 nm. UV disinfection systems employ lamps that are sealed from the water, i.e., they never come into contact with the water. One advantage of UV light is that it provides effective disinfection without a chemical residual in the water, like chlorine, that can lead to off-taste.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a common gas in the atmosphere. Plants use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis to produce oxygen, which is then added to the atmosphere. Water that is treated with carbon dioxide provides a pleasant "bubbly" water that many consumers prefer in a sparkling water. Another benefit of carbon dioxide is its ability to suppress microbiological growth in water (and also in soft drinks).

Ozone

Ozone is an unstable, colorless gas. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and a potent germicide with a much higher disinfection potential than other disinfectants. Chemically, ozone consists of 3 atoms of oxygen, while normal oxygen gas has only ,2 atoms of oxygen. With its 3 atoms of oxygen, ozone is very unstable. It quickly decomposes to normal oxygen plus one free oxygen atom. This extra oxygen is responsible for much of the oxidizing and disinfection effect. The advantage of employing ozone as a water disinfectant is that, following its powerful disinfection process, it breaks down in the water into oxygen, leaving no residual flavor in the water. A sealed container provides a barrier against subsequent contamination with path genic bacteria.

Reverse Osmosis

Process by which water is filtered by forcing through a semi-permeable membrane.

Deionization

Deionization is a physical purification process which uses an ion-exchange resin to bind and filter out the mineral salts from water. Deionization produces a high purity water generally similar to distilled water since the majority of water impurities are dissolved salts that are removed during the process. Deionized water meets the definition of "purified water" in the 23rd revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia, January 1, 1995, as specified in 21 CFR 165.110(a)(2)(iv).