Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment
Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment removes a wide range of contaminants from your drinking water. This is accomplished by pushing the water through a semipermeable membrane that filters out unwanted molecules and particles.
The water is then flushed down the drain leaving delicious and clean tasting filtered water. Many RO systems include a sediment pre-filter that should be changed on a yearly basis.
The Basics
Reverse Osmosis removes contaminants from water using pressure to push it through a semipermeable membrane. The contaminated water (referred to as waste or brine) is separated from the pure drinking water in a separate container. The process is similar to how the roots of a plant draw water and nutrients through the soil by creating osmotic pressure. The difference is that in reverse osmosis, we apply energy to the more saline side of the membrane to create osmotic pressure and force the water through.
The semipermeable membrane allows the smaller water molecules to pass through, but blocks larger ones including dissolved salts and organic materials. It is a process that can be used to desalinate water by applying high pressure to the salt water side of the membrane, and it is also used in the production of maple syrup to concentrate the sugary sap, dairy processing to focus on whey and milk, and in the wine industry to control alcohol content.
The filtration process in an RO system starts with sediment and chlorine filters to get rid of any contaminants that could clog the membrane, followed by a reverse osmosis membrane that is able to reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from water. Most systems then use a postfilter to polish the water and a storage container for safe keeping until it is ready to be consumed.
The Membrane
A reverse osmosis system uses a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while holding back the majority of Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment contaminants. Using pressure that is greater than natural osmotic pressure, the membrane separates ions, organics, bacteria and pyrogens from your drinking water. This is a similar process to the way the roots of plants draw water and nutrients up through their roots.
Reverse osmosis systems remove an incredible number of contaminants from your drinking water. The resulting water is much healthier than standard tap, and can help reduce the risk of disease and illness. This includes toxins like chlorine, heavy metals and disinfection by-products (DBPs) like trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. It also removes the harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause infection and other problems.
In addition to removing unhealthy contaminants, the RO membrane also removes dissolved salts and minerals. While some people are concerned that this will deprive their body of the nutrients they need, it’s important to remember that most of these minerals can be obtained through food. Furthermore, the body needs only small amounts of sodium to function properly.
Finally, the RO system also removes dissolved iron, which can cause a metallic taste to your water. The result is clean, refreshing sips of delicious water. In fact, it’s so good that many bottled waters are produced by reverse osmosis.
The Filter Cartridges
Reverse Osmosis uses pressure to force tap water through a semi-permeable membrane that allows single water molecules to pass but rejects contaminants. The fresh, clean water then flows to a holding tank and the contaminants are flushed away as waste water.
The filter cartridges themselves can be made of paper, plastic or even activated carbon. They typically have a core that supports the filter medium and prevents it from collapsing under pressure. The ends of the cartridge contain gaskets and o-rings that create a seal between the filter and the pressure vessel. The material of the filter media and the construction of its end caps can vary based on the type of contaminants that need to be removed.
Cartridge filters have low solids-loading limits and must be changed before they become too dirty to continue to perform well. This can stop the fluid flow and disrupt process operations. To avoid such a disruption, many systems use duplex filter units in which the dirty cartridge is replaced with a new one without stopping the process flow.
Reverse Osmosis removes dissolved contaminants from water, including heavy metals and many volatile organic compounds. It also removes beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium. The body needs these minerals, however, because they lubricate joints and aid organ function. Our bodies are 70-80% water, and we get the rest of our minerals through food.
Installation
Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment systems require more time to install than most other home water filtration systems. Most systems come with detailed installation instructions. A plumber may be needed to help with the more involved parts of the installation process. While this adds to the overall cost of the system upfront hiring a professional can save you from making costly mistakes during the installation process.
Before the reverse osmosis membranes are introduced, the water will pass through one or more pre-filters. These filters remove sand silt, dirt and other sediment that can clog the membranes. These filters also remove chlorine from the water. Some of these pre-filters are made with carbon, which reduces the amount of dissolved minerals and other contaminants that can harm the semipermeable membranes.
The water then passes through a membrane Filling Machine Supplier that separates the clean and dirty water. The clean water enters a storage tank, while the rejected contaminants flow down the drain. Some systems use a three-stage filtering process, while others include up to five stages of filtration.
The water storage tank is typically located under the sink. It’s important that it’s within 10 feet of the reverse osmosis faucet to avoid low pressure problems. The system’s water lines run from the tank to the faucet and back to the system’s filtration unit. Depending on the specific system, some of this tubing is threaded and others have quick-connect fittings. It’s important to read the product manual carefully to ensure that you know how to connect all of the tubing correctly.
