Ultraviolet radiation is an effective water sterilization technique since it can quickly degrade DNA in bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. Our research found the Express Water UV Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System offers the best combination of UV sterilization and reverse osmosis water filtration. If you already have a reverse osmosis system, the best standalone UV filter is the HQUA-OWS-124 UV Water Purifier.
Easy installation, No plumber needed
No change to taste, color, odor, PH of water
Water is purified as it runs through a stainless steel chamber (also called a “reactor”) that contains a special UV- producing lamp
EPA approved and certified by leading drinking water environmental groups
Requires periodic cleaning of UV lamp
Removes solids smaller than 1 micron to purify drinking water
Introduces calcium, potassium and magnesium into purified water to remineralise it
Reduces over 74 contaminants, metals, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
UV Component completely neutralizes water pathogens
Tank needs to be maintained and kept clean
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With damaged DNA, the microorganism cannot function properly as the instructions coded in the DNA are missing or altered. As a result of this, the microorganism can neither function nor reproduce as it normally does. UV radiation, therefore, renders pathogens and microorganisms of all kinds harmless. Once exposed to UV radiation, these microorganisms and pathogens eventually die and cannot cause any infection.
Best Overall UV Water System
Express Water UV Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
This high-end, heavy-duty system has no less than 11 stages to ensure that you get safe drinking water. These stages include sterilization, filtration, alkaline balance and remineralization, among others. In other words, this high tech unit is a complete solution and package for your home water requirements.
The unit has several useful features as well, including a leak detector that can detect leaks and shut down the system to prevent water damage to your furniture and appliances. The filters also have a bright color code so that you can easily identify all the filters at a glance.
The system is developed as a comprehensive solution for treating tap water. It can remove up to 99.99% of harmful pathogens and chemicals that may be lurking in your water.
The reverse osmosis system works brilliantly at removing contaminants from your water supply. It can reduce inorganic solvents, organic compounds, salts, sediments, dirt, rust and sand that can be harmful to your health and damage the subsequent filters in the system. The RO system reduces toxic elements and heavy metals, including but not limited to cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, copper and many more. It can also reduce a wide array of pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, fluoride, chlorine and chlorinated compounds.
The system deploys an activated carbon block and granular activated carbon filter to prevent the chance of any kind of strange odor, taste or appearance. This combination is also effective against all sorts of harmful chemicals commonly found in tap water.
The system works by first passing the tap water through the reverse osmosis membrane to remove a wide spectrum of solids, chemicals and heavy metals from your water. It then goes through the remaining stages for remineralization and pH balance. The final stage is sterilization that eliminates all kinds of pathogens, algae, viruses, fungi and microbes that can threaten the health of your loved ones. There is even the final stage that consists of a coconut shell filter to provide full treatment for your drinking water.
If you are worried the reverse osmosis stage will remove the beneficial minerals that your body needs, then you need not be concerned since the subsequent remineralization stage can restore the full complement of minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium. There is also a pH balance stage so that you can get the optimal pH level that is most beneficial for you.
The high-end system is a complete solution for water that is healthy, refreshing, balanced, mineral-rich and pathogen-free. In other words, it has everything you could ask for from a home filtration system.
Best UV Water Purifier
HQUA-OWS-124 UV Water Purifier for Whole House
The HQUA-OWS-6 Ultraviolet Water Purifier Sterilizer works exactly as advertised. Owing to its reliability, efficiency, ease of installation and great customer service, the unit is highly rated as evidenced by enthusiastic customer responses.
You can install the unit easily without any need for professional assistance. It is recommended that you install the unit horizontally and use a metal connector.
As this unit works purely on the basis of UV radiation and it does not involve chlorine or any other disinfectant chemical, the output water is free of hazardous chemicals and it does not have any cloudy appearance, strange taste or bad odor. The pH of the sterilized water also remains unaffected.
As far as safety and reliability is concerned, this unit can provide both to its users thanks to its choice of construction materials. The 304-stainless steel material is safe for use with water as it does not leach any harmful chemicals into the water, unlike plastics. Not only is the material food grade, it is also long lasting and durable. This steel grade is resistant to rust and corrosion, which means that it can last for a long time and provide reliable service for years to come without corroding or losing its shine. Since 304-stainless steel is safe and stable in nature, it is used widely in the medical and food industry.
The tube’s total length is just under 30 inches with a 2.5-inch diameter. Another key material used in this product is quartz glass. This material is proven to be reliable and safe for a wide range of pH, pressure and temperature. Since these high quality materials come in contact with the water, you have the peace of mind knowing that no toxic chemicals or harmful contaminants will be added to your drinking water.
The unit operates by passing water through the stainless steel chamber, which is the main body of the UV sterilizer. This component is known as the reactor and is equipped with a UV ray emitting lamp. The water keeps flowing past the lamp as it continues to radiate UV rays at a level that will kill off any harmful microorganisms. The operation of this unit is simple and requires no moving parts, which makes it reliable and durable. The unit can sterilize a large quantity of water in little time as it can process 6 gallons of water per minute.
The quartz sleeve works by keeping the UV lamp out of contact with water through a waterproof seal while still allowing the UV rays to pass through it. Hence, the radiation can sterilize the passing water while the UV lamp can avoid water damage. The quartz sleeve has a 90 percent transmittance so that the radiation can reach the water, making this a highly efficient device. The device can eliminate 99.99% of the bacteria in water.
Also Reviewed UV Water Filters
Bluonics 110W UV Ultraviolet Light
With its powerful 110W and 24 gallons per minute capacity, the Bluonics system is a high flow device that is suitable for both domestic and commercial applications. The unit is fitted with NPT ports to facilitate a high flow rate so that you can sterilize more water in less time. Besides having a sturdy housing, the unit also has a filtration system to remove harmful substances from your drinking water.
The first stage filter has a 20 micron size for removing sedimentation, rust, silt, dirt and other solid particles dissolved in water that may harm your health. The filter prepares water for the next step, which is the carbon block filter.
The string wound filter provides several benefits and functions. This configuration allows for greater efficiency, lower pressure drops, higher dirt removal capacity, quicker flow rate and longer cartridge life compared to other designs.
The second stage carbon block filter has 5 micron pores for removing chlorine and associated compounds that contribute towards bad taste, cloudy appearance, foul odor and possible health hazards. Besides chlorine and chlorinated compounds, the filter is capable of removing other chemicals and organic solvents that are known to cause cancer and other serious health effects. The high performance filter can remove hundreds of contaminants and chemicals, including MTBEs, PCBs, benzene VOCs, trihalomethanes, insecticides, herbicides and pesticides. These substances are often present in tap water and the second stage carbon filter can reduce these toxic compounds.
The third stage comprises a 1 micron sediment filter that can remove fine particles, including rust, silt, dirt and sand. The 4th stage is the UV sterilizer. UV radiation from this device is excellent at eliminating bacteria, viruses, algae and fungi that can cause disease and infections.
The Bluonic water filtration and sterilization system is a complete home solution for your drinking water needs. It is designed to remove all sorts of harmful chemicals while neutralizing harmful pathogens that may be found in well water. Since the device has a very high flowrate of 24 gallons per minute, you can use it to deliver sparkling clear and refreshing water to your home for drinking and cleaning purposes.
As the system does not use any chemicals to disinfect your water, there is no added taste and odor. In fact, it can remove chlorine, chemicals and toxic substances like rust and dirt that can ruin the taste and appearance of water. So even if you live in an area with poor quality water supply, you can install this device to obtain water that is perfect for making great-tasting coffee, tea and food.
The device entails easy installation. You will not need any professional help to install this unit. The package includes housing wrenches and an easy to follow user manual that has all the instructions you need for installation and maintenance. There is also an LED lamp indicator that shows the life of the UV lamp so you can replace it when necessary.
HQUA-OWS-6 Ultraviolet Water Purifier Sterilizer
This unit is much like the one mentioned above except that it only has a flow rate at 6 gallons per minute. The outer steel tube has a length of 37.2 inches, while the diameter is two and a half inches.
The model is designed so that users with little or no experience in hardware can install it easily without the need for professional assistance. A fully instructed user manual is also part of the package so that users can install the device easily on their own. It is recommended that the device be installed horizontally.
The unit works purely on the basis of UV radiation without the need for chlorine or any other disinfectant that can be potentially harmful to your health. You can, thus, drink water without any concern for harmful chemicals, cloudy appearance, bad taste or poor odor. You will find that there is no change to the pH or taste of your water, making this device perfect for sterilizing filtered water that you want to use for cooking and making beverages like tea and coffee.
The unit is built with the best materials that are food grade and proven to be safe for human health. 304 stainless steel is a food grade material that is used widely for food production and pharmaceuticals. It is a stable material that can withstand corrosion. Equally importantly, it does not leach any harmful chemicals unlike plastics. Another important material in this unit is quartz glass, which is proven to be safe and reliable even with all kinds of pressures, temperatures and pH levels. These two relatively inert materials come in contact with the water. Hence, you can drink water with a reassurance that the unit has not leaked any toxic chemicals that you might end up consuming. The company’s customer service is quick, responsive, friendly and cooperative. In the rare event that you end up with broken parts, a customer representative will immediately dispatch replacements to your address for free. You can always contact customer support in case you need help or face any issues with the device. However, since the device is easy to use and install and it also has a simple user manual, it is highly probable that you may never need to contact customer service in the first place.
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Conclusion
The systems described above use this process to render your water safe for drinking. Some of these systems have all the stages required for removing toxic chemicals while sterilizing your drinking water at the same time. Other simpler systems need to be installed alongside filtration systems that can remove these toxic chemicals from your tap water. Thus, you can decide on which model is best for you, depending on your home consumption needs.
