Key Takeaways
- Filtration captures suspended particles, while purification can target microorganisms and certain dissolved contaminants.
- Neither method automatically provides system-wide protection against limescale formed by dissolved calcium and magnesium.
- Electronic water conditioning changes how hardness minerals crystallize without removing them or creating soft water.
- ScaleBlaster complements filtration and purification by helping prevent new scale while existing buildup gradually softens and breaks down over time.
Within any plumbing system, you may deal with a range of impurities, from visible particles to fine contaminants and mineral deposits that collect inside the pipes. A discussion on water filtration vs. water purification addresses two parts of this problem. Water filtration removes the visible particles suspended in the water, while purification deals with the fine contaminants like pathogens.
However, this difference between purified water and filtered water does not address the issue of dissolved hard minerals. Dissolved calcium and magnesium pass directly through traditional filters, forming thick, insulating limescale on pipe walls and heating elements. If you don’t deal with it, limescale causes all sorts of issues, like increasing your equipment repair and energy costs.
Therefore, as we discuss water filtration vs. water purification, we will also stress the efficacy of water conditioning as a way to keep this mineral accumulation in the pipes from degrading your water quality.
Water Filtration
Water filtration operates as a physical barrier made of porous material that’s designed to remove suspended, insoluble particles from the fluid stream. As the water passes through the porous material, the filter catches particles that are too large to move through its openings.
Depending on the filter’s micron rating, examples of the filtered particles can include sand, silt, rust, clay, or other sediments that would otherwise continue throughout your pipes and fixtures. What makes the water filtration vs. water purification discussion necessary is that filtration has its own limitations.
The Limitations
First of all, not every filter handles the same material. A coarse sediment filter will not catch what a much finer membrane can. Secondly, filtration improves water clarity and protects equipment from abrasive debris, but it does nothing to stop dissolved minerals from precipitating into rock-hard limescale downstream on hot pipe walls and heat exchangers.
Water Purification
The difference between purified water and filtered water is most obvious here since water purification targets the biological pathogens and molecular contaminants that water filtration cannot deal with.
Therefore, the water filtration vs. water purification discussion should be about understanding which method does what, not whether one can be used as a substitute for the other.
Even within water purification itself, depending on the problem, a purification system may use reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light, distillation, or several processes together.
- Reverse osmosis separates many dissolved substances.
- Ultraviolet systems expose the water to UV light that damages the genetic material of microorganisms.
- Distillation leaves many contaminants behind as the water evaporates and condenses.
The Limitations
Purification systems are generally used to remove specific contaminants from drinking or process water.
When comparing water filtration vs. water purification, also keep in mind that purifiers are not usually installed to protect every pipe in the building.
Even where reverse osmosis removes hard minerals, using it for all the water in the facility can be really expensive, creates a lot of wastewater discharge, and removes the healthy, harmless, naturally occurring minerals from the treated supply.
How Hardness Minerals Turn Into Scale
The difference between purified water and filtered water clearly demonstrates each method’s capability. However, while calcium and magnesium remain dissolved, they are completely invisible in the water.
Changes in heat, evaporation, or shifts in water chemistry create a problem that water filtration vs. water purification discussions cannot settle. Basically, when these changes happen, these minerals precipitate out of solution and form microscopic crystals.
These crystals can then begin collecting around rough internal surfaces, joints, valves, and areas where fluid flow is disturbed. Once the first layer has been formed, it creates a base for more crystals to attach, which is how a light coating of limescale can gradually turn into a much harder deposit.
Electronic Water Conditioning
While water filtration vs. water purification discussions cannot provide an effective solution to scale formation, there’s fortunately a noninvasive way to manage hard water and prevent new limescale from building up while gradually breaking down the existing scale over time.
This process is called electronic water conditioning, performed by descalers like ScaleBlaster. The method does not use salt, chemicals, or filtration media.
Instead of removing calcium and magnesium or altering water chemistry, ScaleBlaster applies a continuous, high-frequency signal field through coils wrapped around the outside of existing plumbing.
Therefore, while water filtration vs. water purification discussions have their place in water treatment, this is the most efficient way to reduce scale in plumbing systems, restore heat transfer, maintain pipe diameter, and reduce energy costs.
Find the Right ScaleBlaster System
ScaleBlaster has spent more than 30 years developing electronic water conditioners for residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing systems. These systems can be used in addition to your water filtration and purification systems.
Our different models allow the technology to be matched to the pipe diameter and demands of each application.
Beyond this discussion of water filtration vs. water purification, if you have plumbing systems that are affected by mineral buildup, request a quote today, and we’ll help you choose the right ScaleBlaster system for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an electronic water conditioner require a specific pipe material to work effectively?
No. Electronic water conditioners work on all standard piping materials, including copper, PVC, CPVC, PEX, steel, and iron. Because the signal coils wrap around the outside of the line, the electronic field transmits directly through the pipe wall regardless of the material.
What should you test when comparing water filtration vs. water purification?
Use a current water-quality report or laboratory analysis to identify the particles, microorganisms, metals, chemicals, and hardness minerals present. Then compare those findings with the system’s independently verified reduction claims.
Can electronic water conditioning replace a whole-house water filter or purification system?
No. Electronic water conditioning focuses exclusively on scale prevention and breaking down existing mineral buildup. It is not a drinking water purification product, does not remove physical sediment, and does not filter out chemical contaminants or bacteria.
Founder and Co-Owner of Clearwater Enviro Technologies
Jeff Conway is the founder and co-owner of Clearwater Enviro Technologies, which opened in 1989 from the city it started from – Clearwater, Florida. The first product line was the Clearwater Pool Systems with Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin as it’s company spokesman. In 1995, the electronic water conditioner ScaleBlaster was added to the product line. Jeff was born in Auburn, Indiana but grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is a graduate of Florida Southern College in 1978 and has resided in the Tampa Bay area ever since. Several products have evolved over the years, making the company the largest manufacturer of mineral ionization equipment and electronic water conditioners in the world.