Understanding the bottled water purification process

Before you stretch out to grab a bottle of bottled water at your neighborhood store it would be better if you knew the actual process that goes into purifying your favorite brand of bottled water. By understanding the bottled water purification process, you can make an informed choice while getting convinced that the water that you are drinking is truly pure in all aspects.

Bottled water that is specifically meant for drinking goes through various filtration processes that removes impurities, odor and harmful bacteria even while allowing vital minerals to pass through all the purifiers. Some bottling companies replenish lost minerals and vitamins after the final process so as to offer a better product to its customers. The source of the water itself could be from a humble municipal tap or a well or even from a clear spring high up in the mountains.

The first process usually involves softening of the water by removing minerals such as manganese and iron, among other trace metals and other physical impurities up to a certain level of microns from the water. The second stage involves filters that can remove harmful pesticides and other chemicals including chlorine that might be present in the water. This purification process uses an activated carbon filter to remove such compounds present in the water.

The next stage also contains filters that remove particles of smaller microns before the water is dispatched to the next stage. This stage involves passing the water through UV or Ultra-Violet rays that kills almost all living micro-organisms present in the water. The next stage is the Reverse Osmosis System or RO system that effectively prevents the smallest of smallest micro-organisms and harmful chemicals from passing through. The water is then passed through another charcoal or granular activated carbon filter that makes the water ready for the final filtration and packaging process.

The next stage involves treating the water to another doze of UV rays after which the water passes through another filter that removes particles up to 0.2 microns. The last stage of the filtration process involves treating the water with an ozone process that disinfects both the water and the bottle in which it will be packed while also improving the taste of that water.

The final water that is totally purified can now be bottled in the required bottle size, which itself is usually cleaned with steam, and the bottled water is then dispatched to distributors and retailers. Hence, the entire purification involves using physical barriers, filters, electric processes such as UV filters and ozone to provide safe drinking water that also tastes good, especially when kept in a cooler.

This water is also available in bottleless form when you drink such water from your personal water dispenser. Such dispensers use water that arrives in large containers of up to 20 liters each. You can be sure of drinking totally pure water if the bottling company has strictly followed the above processes of filtering the water. The bottled water purification process contains of many purification stages that each remove specific threats and the end result is a bottle of crystal-clear drinking water.