What method is commonly used to filter out giardia lamblia?

The method commonly used to filter out Giardia lamblia is ultrafiltration. This technique employs a membrane with very small pore sizes, typically in the range of 0.001 to 0.1 micrometers, which effectively captures Giardia cysts as they are considerably larger (about 10 to 14 micrometers). Ultrafiltration is particularly effective because it not only removes these cysts but can also filter out other pathogens and particulates, ensuring a high level of water quality during treatment.

While rapid sand filtration, chlorination, and carbon filtration have their places in water treatment processes, they are not as effective at removing Giardia lamblia. Rapid sand filtration can reduce turbidity and remove large particles, but it does not consistently filter out small pathogens like Giardia. Chlorination can kill some bacteria and viruses, but it may not be effective against cysts and could be less reliable due to the potential for cysts to survive some chemical treatments. Carbon filtration primarily focuses on removing organic compounds and improving taste and odor, but it does not target pathogens specifically.

Due to the unique characteristics of Giardia lamblia, ultrafiltration is the most appropriate and widely recognized method for its removal from water sources.