As your local water treatment company, we often get a lot of the same questions about reverse osmosis systems. Since we offer these products, we wanted to share some FAQs with you. With such a beneficial product for your household today and every day, knowing what you’re getting and what features to look for is helpful and worthwhile. We’ll start with the basics and then get into some specifics.
What is reverse osmosis?
Commonly referred to as RO, reverse osmosis is a process where water is demineralized or deionized by pushing it under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane. During the process, the water goes through a membrane that retains the solute on one side, and allows the pure solvent to pass to the other side. Just as its name implies, is the opposite of osmosis.
How does an RO system work?
Using normal household tap water, the water typically flows first through a sediment pre-filter which removes any dirt and small particles that are in the water. Next, the water is pushed through a carbon pre-filter which removes organic contaminants such as chlorine and chlorine by-products. Then comes the RO membrane, a very tight, thin membrane where just the water can pass but all other solids are unable to pass through. Almost all (around 95% to 99%) of the dissolved salts, which attract the contaminants, are left behind in the reject stream. The purified water is then stored in a tank until it is used. Of course, there may be other variations depending on products or features.
Why should I look into a reverse osmosis system?
With tap water, there is the potential for chemical and biological contaminants. While most of our water is treated before it enters our pipes, it is not always 100% effective and there are some untested contaminants in drinking water as well.
We could go on for days about this, but simply put, reverse osmosis is more eco-friendly than choosing bottled water. Effective RO systems have more than one membrane which will remove tons of contaminants. And, you’ll enjoy better tasting water.
Is this the same as a water filter?
A water filter is a device which removes impurities from water by means of a fine physical barrier, chemical process and/or biological process. Filters are used to clean water for things like irrigation, drinking water, filling aquariums, and swimming pools. This is not the same as reverse osmosis.
Are all models and brands of RO systems the same?
The simple answer is ‘no’. Doing some research on your own and talking to our technicians can help you decide which product is right for you. Quality, safe, and great tasting drinking water from eco-friendly products is what you get when you choose a reverse osmosis system for your home!
