Water Filter with Activated Carbon: What Exactly to Expect?

Activated carbon is almost an integral part of household water filters. And it's no wonder, as it not only deals with the vast majority of unwanted substances but also improves the taste and smell of the water. If you too desire better quality drinking water, read on to learn how activated carbon works, what it can capture, and how to choose a water filter with activated carbon.

What is Activated Carbon and How Does it Work

Activated carbon, used as a filling in carbon filters for drinking water, has a specific porous surface and excellent adsorption properties. It has a very large internal surface area made up of pores of various sizes, which under a microscope resembles the structure of a sponge. It is in these pores that unwanted microorganisms and molecules of dissolved substances in the water are captured.

How exactly does adsorption occur? A substance (or virus, bacteria, microscopic impurities, etc.) upon contact with activated carbon is trapped in the pore wall, where it is permanently bound by the attractive force of the molecules. As a result, the molecule does not release back into the water. Additionally, activated carbon acts as a catalyst for various chemical reactions, allowing it to break down some pollutants into completely harmless substances.

This principle of water purification is therefore very versatile and can capture a wide range of unwanted types of pollution. However, during this process, it does not remove important minerals from the water, so water filtered through activated carbon has an ideal composition.

What Activated Carbon Captures

Chemical substances dissolved in water – chlorine and disinfection by-products, pesticides, heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues, and much more.
Fine mechanical impurities that are not captured by a mechanical water filter and cause water turbidity.
Microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria. However, be aware that activated carbon is not a full replacement for water disinfection.

Types of Activated Carbon

Activated carbon is made not only from coal but also from coconut shells, wood, and other organic materials. The desired properties of the raw materials are achieved through a process called carbonization at high temperatures. For water treatment, the most suitable is activated carbon from black coal, which has the ideal frequency and size of pores.

According to shape, activated carbon is divided into granulated, which is used specifically for water treatment, and also powdered, extruded, and fabric forms. These other types are used in various other applications, such as in air conditioning. Besides activated carbon, there are also many synthetic granulates available.

Activated carbon improves the taste and smell of water and removes turbidity.

When to Use Carbon Filtration

If your water analysis has shown excessive concentrations of unwanted substances, consult an expert about the appropriate solution for filtration and water treatment. The solution must always be tailored to the specific composition of the water; there is no universal filter. However, a filter with activated carbon will solve most drinking water problems.

Thanks to the ability of activated carbon to capture a wide range of unwanted substances, a carbon filter finds extensive use in prevention, or simply if you desire better water quality. This method of treatment is very suitable for children, seniors, chronically ill people, or those following a healthy lifestyle. Even if the concentrations of unwanted substances in your water meet hygiene standards, it does not mean that its quality is one hundred percent.

In the case of well or borehole water, a carbon filter will remove unwanted substances from the water that are commonly found in the surrounding environment and naturally enter water sources. These include chemicals from industry, agriculture, and transport, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and also most microorganisms that can enter the well from the soil.
In the case of water from waterworks, a carbon filter will remove not only chlorine and other disinfection by-products but also various unwanted substances that are proven to be present in tap water and that treatment plants cannot remove – such as pharmaceutical residues, hormonal contraceptives, or antibiotics.
When filtering rainwater, activated carbon ensures the removal of chemical substances from the environment and unwanted microorganisms that could multiply in the tank. The result is very high-quality utility water.
A carbon filter also deals with odour, turbidity, and aftertaste, so water filtered in this way is crystal clear, healthy, and delicious, and moreover, it does not dry out the skin, which is especially appreciated by people suffering from skin diseases.

Triplex rainwater filter Honeywell with activated carbon.

Types of Filters with Activated Carbon and Their Maintenance

If the analysis of drinking water has shown excessive concentrations of unwanted substances, it is necessary to use a filter with activated carbon at the entry point, i.e., for the entire building as part of a home water system. However, if you only want to improve the quality or sensory properties of otherwise safe water, you can use much simpler and cheaper battery filters, which are most often placed under the sink. In this case, only the water from the given tap will be filtered. Activated carbon is also used in filter jugs.

Investment in a filter with activated carbon is relatively low, with the cheapest small filters costing around 1,000 CZK, the price of higher-quality battery filters being around 5,000 CZK, and for larger household filters, the price can rise to about 10,000 CZK.

Then, it is necessary to consider maintenance costs, i.e., the replacement or regeneration of the filter cartridge, which represents a cost of about 500 CZK. The lifespan of an activated carbon cartridge is approximately 6 months, but it depends on usage, the level of contamination, and the volume of water filtered. After the lifespan expires, activated carbon loses its properties and cannot effectively remove unwanted substances from the water. Such a filter cartridge is either discarded and replaced with a new one, or sent for regeneration, during which its function is restored.