Have you been wondering how to give your family clean, great water? Let’s take a look at one of the most popular systems around for this and explore how it works. Most bottled water brands claim that their product is filtered with reverse osmosis, but very few people actually know what this process entails. The reason for the lack of clarity is likely because companies assume it’s too complicated for consumers to understand. Let’s dive in and see how a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis filtration system works.
A Quick Overview of RO?
The reverse osmosis water purification process uses a semi-permeable membrane (synthetic lining) to filter out contaminants and large particles such as chlorine, salt, and dirt from drinking water. Not only does reverse osmosis remove contaminants and sediments, but it also gets rid of microorganisms – something you definitely do not want in your water. In fact, it cleans water down to a molecular level, so the only thing left behind is pure H2O.
How does Reverse Osmosis (RO) Work?
Let’s begin by understanding how osmosis works before we move on to reverse osmosis. Osmosis is the process of water passing through a semi-permeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, which you may remember from high school chemistry class.
In other words, the uncontaminated water flows towards the dirty water to equalize concentrations – which is not something we want our drinking water to do. This motion creates osmotic pressure. The process of reverse osmosis works by using pressure to force water molecules from an area of high concentration to low concentration. The result is the purest drinking water possible because the contaminated water is forced to move in reverse and pass through a filter that traps contaminants before they can mix with the clean water.
The four stages of filtration in a reverse osmosis system are: a sediment filter, pre-carbon block, reverse osmosis membrane, and post-carbon filter. By removing the largest particles first, like dirt, sand, and rust,, it prevents clogging of the smaller subsequent filters.
The pre-carbon filter uses activated carbon to trap particles larger than a speck of flour, as well as attracting and bonding with positive ions to prevent chemical compounds like chlorine and chloramines from passing through to the third filter.
The reverse osmosis membrane’s purpose is to remove molecules that are heavier than water, like sodium and lead. It also eliminates dissolved minerals and fluoride. The post-carbon filter polishes the water after those contaminants have been removed.
What’s So Great About Reverse Osmosis?
While carbon filtration can only remove particles as small as 1 micron, reverse osmosis differs in that it gets rid of 99.9% of all contaminants and sedimentation, or particles down to .001 microns.
Although the water that leaves the municipal plant is clean, it could travel for miles and become contaminated with a variety of pollutants.
Furthermore, H2O from the tap often has a higher than-average rate of total dissolved solids (TDS).
That’s why it’s a great idea to get a reverse osmosis filtration system to safeguard that your water is contaminant-free.
Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to filter out contaminants and large particles from drinking water. In addition to removing contaminants and sediments, reverse osmosis can also remove microorganisms – which you certainly do not want to drink. It gets water clean down to a molecular level, leaving only pure H2O behind. Reverse osmosis systems are great for getting rid of harmful contaminants like chlorine, salt, and dirt from your drinking water, as well as ensuring the water has low levels of total dissolved solids (TDS).
Where To Get A Great RO System?
If you’re ready to give your family the best possible water, then we can help. A great RO system doesn’t have to be expensive. The professionals at Just Plumbing can advise you on the system that’s best for you. So call or text today.