Water Filtration in Mexico: Different Filters for Different Needs

If you are in Mexico, you have most likely gotten used to paying outrageous sums for jugs of filtered water from your local convenient store. Some of you might be making the biweekly trip, carrying large containers of water to and fro—often with a parched throat—until you can get home to quench your thirst. Fret not, there is a better way. There are methods of water filtration in Mexico that connect right to your sink, cutting out costs on expensive bottled water—all while helping the environment by eliminating plastic waste and sidestepping the bottled water industry altogether. In this article, we’ll cover some types of water filtration in Mexico.

What are the different types of water filtration in Mexico?

There are four main types of water filters: Activated Carbon Filters, Reverse Osmosis, UV Filters, and Whole House Filters.

– Activated Carbon Filters –

Activated Carbon Filters are often just called prefilters or carbon filters. These are fantastic for removing larger particles like sediments and silts from your water. The filters work because the carbon attracts and absorbs the particles as the water passes through the filter so they are gone by the time your water emerges from your faucet. This leaves behind a fresh and clear tasting water which removes contaminants like chlorine and other chemicals such as pesticides which makes your water unpleasant to ingest. They do not require electricity so they can operate perfectly during a power outage for example. However, they do not remove bacteria such as giardia and cryptosporidium which are so famous for causing Montezuma’s Revenge. There is some evidence that activated carbon filters can filter out radiation such as Iodine-131, however when the filter is saturated, it will cease to absorb new contaminants.

– Reverse Osmosis – One of the most popular forms water filtration in Mexico because it removes a large variety of contaminants which can be dangerous to your body including those harmful bacteria which cause stomach illness. The end result tends to be a crystal clear and odor-free water. To put the science in a nutshell, the water is forced via pressure through a semi-permeable membrane which filters out all the contaminants leaving behind a fantastic product. The water travels through a prefilter, then through the reverse osmosis tank, then through a post filter, and finally to a storage tank where it is kept until fed into your tap. An expensive reverse osmosis filter can remove impurities that are .001 microns in size. Reverse Osmosis is the best method for filtering out any radiation in your water, such as the radiation in Guanajuato’s aquifers.

– UV Filters –

UV filters are one of the newest technologies, however they are becoming more and more popular—especially in the field of atmospheric water generation. Typically, your water is passed through a series of water filters which remove particles like silt and sediments from the water. Then the water is exposed to UV radiation which sterilizes the water by destroying illness-causing bacteria. It is so effective at sterilizing your water, that it kills 99.99% of pathogens without affecting the water’s odor or flavor. One downside is that it must be connected to a power source (such as plugged into an electrical socket) for it to work. Furthermore, if there is an issue with the bulb then your water will not be purified.

– Whole House Filters –

A Whole House Water Filter is a great method for water filtration in Mexico if you are a homeowner who would like treated water flowing throughout your whole house. This is a system that connects to your water intake and filters all incoming water to your home at the source. One important thing to notice is the flow rate. If you buy a Whole House Water Filtration System with a low flow rate, this could affect your appliances. Calculated at gallons per minute (gpm), your household appliances such as your washer and dishwasher will have a minimum flow rate. Also check your showerheads and toilets. When you factor in the size of your home and the number of people living in it, you should get a rough estimate as to what flow rate you need. Typically, a standard household requires a flow rate between 20gpm – 40gpm. Any flow rate under 10gpm is likely unacceptable.

Most Whole House Filters pass through carbon filters which only treat sediments and silts, which soften water while removing chemicals and particles. However, there are UV Whole House Water Filters which pass all your water through a UV filter on the way into your home. Also there are Ozone Water Filters which are like miniature versions of bottled water plants. Ozone Water Filters expose your water to O3—a powerful oxidant that is capable of inactivating pesticides, contaminants, fungus, viruses, and other organic materials. O3 will also oxidize trace metals in water, such as iron, manganese, and sulfur, making them easier to be filtered out, and leaving behind a sparkling fresh taste throughout your whole household.

What method of water filtration in Mexico do you recommend?

Ozone Whole House Water Filtration in Mexico is typically used in high-end hotels which filter all the water in the hotel making it safe for guests to drink. It is realistically only a viable option for wealthier customers where money is no option.

Reverse Osmosis Whole House Water Filtration is the best option for removing radiation from the water in your home. Reverse Osmosis has shown to remove radiation particles effectively. When taking a shower, if the water has radiation in it, the steam can make it very easy to get into your lungs and begin to affect your system. Whole House Water Filtration is the best method to ensure that all appliances in your home is clear.

Carbon filters work well if you are in an area where the only issues is hard water or mineral deposits. If you are in a rural environment where your water source is a ground well, then a carbon filter might work well enough for you. However, this is likely not a viable option in bigger cities where sanitation becomes a problem.

Therefore, the most pragmatic options for the average household is to buy a reverse osmosis system. It’s just a small operation which will connect to a small sink that will dispense your potable water. They are available at most Home Depots in Mexico, or can be ordered online, and they are fairly simple to install.

UV systems would work equally well, and they are perhaps slightly more efficient, however they are not as common as reverse osmosis systems. It might become tedious to find replacement parts or to have those parts installed should something go wrong. However, UV filtration is becoming more popular and this technology will likely become more convenient for water filtration in Mexico in the near future.

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