Water Filter Buying in Bangladesh
Water used to be another name for life but now it has changed a bit. Pure water is another name for life. Because at present, along with various environmental pollution, water is also getting polluted gradually. This is because the water in most places today contains various contaminants such as lead, chlorine, and other harmful substances as well as various harmful viruses and bacteria that cause diseases which are extremely harmful to the human body. Many of us in BD try to purify water in the traditional way but it is not always possible to remove all these harmful substances from the water by boiling. This requires a modern filtering system.
Electric vs Gravity Filter
Electric filter: Electric water filter uses the electric pump and this is essential where water force is low. Electric water filter price in Bangladesh is as low as 5,200 Taka and water purification is 99%. Moreover, most all of the modern filtering system require electricity now a days. If the electricity is cut-off then it can not filter anymore so most of them have reservoir and water can be taken automatically from there using pressure.
Gravity filter: Gravity-based water purification system is very simple process, that can be used without electricity. Gravity based water filter price is as low as 2,000 Taka in BD and very popular to everyone for its affordable price. However, to get faster purification it needs to be ensured that enough water pressure is present in the tap water.
Water Filtration Technology
RO filtration: It is a widely used process to purify water by purifying any harmful chemicals from water, microscopic particles and molecules, largest particles, microscopic microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. In this method, the water is 100% purified in several steps. It consists of a poly filter to purify the water, then a small poly filter to clean the small particles, then a carbon filter to clean the biochemicals, then a thin film membrane that can remove any germs or microorganisms, and finally a very small Carbon filter. In Bangladesh, WASA water is generally used for all purposes. In this case, water filter with reverse osmosis technology maintains the right quality of both the taste and smell of water, providing water suitable for young children and elderly people. RO water filter price is around 3,500 Taka in BD but the RO filter price mainly depends on number of filtering stage, membrane quality and additional filtering technology added for purity. Some RO filter comes with box design that means all filters are inside the box and the this RO filter price is little pricier like above 15,000 Taka. RO filter in BD is now most common filtering system and it is replacing the traditional purification system.
Ultra filtration (UF): This water system uses ultrafiltration technology which is UF membrane to purify water which helps in controlling tolerant chlorine and water PS. In this method, chemicals are cleaned from the water. Ultra filtration water filter mainly destroys viruses, bacteria, and other micro-organisms in water through sedimentation, and microfiltration process to deliver clean water. Also, it can easily remove chemicals that affect the taste and smell of water. However, changing the filter regularly is very essential for this purification system.
Ultraviolet filtration (UV): This method can easily destroy organisms from water. For this, first, the microbiological growth of water is reduced then UV radiation with a wavelength of 254 nanometers destroys the DNA of the microorganisms and kills all kinds of bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi in the water. Ultraviolet usually do not the only purification system. Additional PP cartridge and carbon filter are used along the ultraviolet so this system is little pricier like the price of UV water filter in BD is at least 5,000 Taka.
Commercial filtration: Some water purifier is sold based on the requirement such as how many liter of water is required per hour. This type of water purifier is specially designed for industries.
Features to Look When Buying Water Purifier
It is very important to consider suitable water filter for pure water supply in homes, offices, or industry. There are numerous water filters of different brand at affordable price in Bangladesh market. So besides considering the price, here are some important things to consider:
- Water Quality: Water filter is made up of various technologies such as reverse osmosis, ultraviolet, ultrafiltration, treatment plants, and gravity-based systems, which remove viruses, bacteria, and other harmful organisms from water and maintain water quality. So TDS level of water should be considered before buying water filter. Generally, water with 500 TDS level is considered clean and water with 1000 TDS level is considered as polluted water. So before buying a water filter, you must check the water quality of the specific area using a TDS meter.
- Filter Capacity: Water filter is one of the ways to supply pure water to homes, offices, or industrial plants. Therefore, before buying a water filter, it is necessary to consider one with the capacity to supply pure water according to the needs of the people in the place of use. If more filtration capacity is required then water purifier price will be little higher in BD.
- Water Flow Rate: Water flow rate must be considered before buying a water filter. How fast a filter can purify water depends largely on the flow rate of the water filter. Therefore, consideration should be given to whether the water flow rate is appropriate according to the water demand.
- Micron Rating: Contaminated water contains viruses, bacteria, as many micro-organisms, which are harmful to the health of people of almost all ages, from children to the elderly. So before buying a water filter, you must check the micron rating of the water filter. A water filter with a low micron rating can quickly remove many of the smallest particles.
- Reservoir: Most water filter includes reservoir so choose the appropriate size for your family. Usually the 8 liter reservoir comes with electric water filter system.
- Filter replacement warning: This is a good feature and many modern electric filtering system includes this feature.
- Filter warranty and replacement system: Water filter internal filter should be checked for performance, duration of use, and ease of replacement. Therefore, before buying a water filter, you should consider durable and long-lasting filters, which will save costs.
- Hot & cold: Some water filter comes with hot and cold facility and some only cold facility. So choose the right one that suits your need.
- After-Sales Service: Warranty must be considered before buying a water filter. Because the water filter with a long warranty ensures long-lasting use without any trouble. Also, after buying the water filter should check the after-sales service for any defects.
- Certification: Check for certification from a reputed organization like NSF International or Water Quality Association. This is because certification by these organizations basically guarantees that the water filter has been tested and is capable of meeting certain performance standards for removing contaminants.
- Other Feature: Digital display, smart water tank, and water filter with various features are commonly available in Bangladesh at affordable prices. So the water filter should be considered according to the requirement of smart features.
Popular water filter brands
Whatever brand you buy in BD it does not matter but need to make sure water quality is 100%. To get better health benefit the water must preserves most of the minerals which is good for health.
- Pureit: Pureit is a sub-brand of Unilever and Pureit classic filter is the mostly used water filter in BD so far.
- Kent: Kent is another popular brand in Bangladesh for its high quality transparent design. Most noticeable is that Kent water taste is much better.
- Heron: Heron is another good brand for its very low price.
- Lan Shan: Lan Shan is a good brand and almost the same quality of popular brand.
Some precautions for safe water
- The filter cartridge needs to be changed periodically during the use of the water filter so that the proper filtration system is always maintained. Remember, in BD usually tap water contains huge iron in many places so filter might need to change early than expected.
- Viruses, bacteria, and other impurities accumulate inside the water filter, which must be cleaned periodically.
- Also, dust and dirt should not accumulate on the outside of the water filter, so it should be kept clean with a soft sponge cloth. If necessary, clean the outside of the water filter using a mild detergent.
- In addition to regular use, the filter should be checked for any kind of leakage and should be repaired if necessary.
- As a result of continuous use for a long time, dirt, viruses, and bacteria can accumulate inside the water filter and cause infection. So it is better to sanitize the filter stages after a certain time.
- Water filters have specific containers to hold the water, in which the water collects after being filtered. To prevent the infection of viruses and bacteria, the container with water must be cleaned regularly and kept well covered.
- The TDS level of the water should be checked to verify that the water filter is properly removing the contaminants from the water.
- Check whether the water flow is correct by using water filter. If the water flow is slow, the filter should be cleaned. The filter cartridge must be changed if necessary.
- Additionally, each brand and model of water filter comes with its own manufacturer's manual maintenance guide. Therefore, in the case of water filter maintenance, follow the specific instructions as well as contact the service point of the brand if necessary.
What is the cost of water filter in BD?
The water filter price starts from 3,500 Taka in BD which is a low-cost water purifier and can be connected to any faucet. Good quality purifier would cost 10,000 Taka which uses staged filtering system. However, the price of water purifier depends on brand, model, capacity, hot and cold system, filtration technology, and filter stage. Remember, whatever water filter you buy make sure that the water contains all the minerals which is beneficial for your health. Some purifier filters out the minerals which produces non-minerals water. In most of the RO system additional mineral cartridge can be added anytime.
Can it filter salty water?
Yes, but it depends on the technology used in the filter. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a popular filter for purifying saline water.
Can it run without electricity?
Not all filters are required electricity such as simple water filter. But RO water purifier requires electricity and will stop filtering once the power cut off. However, most RO system has a reserved tank to store water and will continue supply the water using the tank pressure until the tank is empty. That's why this reserved tank sometimes called as pressure tank.
What is the pH after filtration?
The standard pH of water is 6-8. After filtration, the water pH will be 6-7 which is very safe. For some filtration technologies, you can make the water more alkaline using additional cartridge. You can also check the water pH level using pH meter.
What will be the TDS after filtration?
500 mg/L is a safe TDS for any filtration technology.
Can I use gravity filter in low water pressure?
Yes you can but the amount of filtered water will be little so it will be time consuming. However gravity filter is the widely used filter in BD till now as it does not require any electricity and price is also very low.