Dirty purifiers spreading waterborne infections

Hyderabad: Replacement of water filters is of prime importance as contaminants get stuck to the pores of the filter restricting the cleaning process. The filters are found filled with small minute metal particles and contaminants due to which the matter gets blocked inside. Due to this, there is a small layer of fungus and often the purified water is found to have tiny particles in it which indicating that the filter is not working properly.

Water analyst G. Raghu explained, “The filters are blocked by matter in the water. We often find fine sand, mud and salts stuck on the filters. When this happens the capacity of the filter to clean the water gets reduced. If the filter is not changed the trapped particles and coating on the surface block the filtering process. This is dangerous.”

It is very important that a data-chart of the cleaning and servicing process is maintained by the household and cleaning carried out every six months.

The battery operated purifiers available in the market come with capacity indicators of 1,000 litres of water and 1,500 litres of water. As soon as it reaches the 1,000 mark the indictors go red which means that the water is now unsafe for drinking. Dr Hari Charan G, senior general physician said, “Regular filter replacement is important. But many neglect it and this leads to water-borne diseases. Do not use filters over beyond their deadlines.”