Is The RO Water System Right For You?
A reverse osmosis filtration device, or RO water system, can be a useful filtering device in the home. Other applications for reverse osmosis include aquariums, tap water purification, the production of hydrogen, dialysis and many different applications in the food industry. Let’s take a look at the various stages in the reverse osmosis water purification process to get an idea if it’s the right kind of filtration unit for your home.
A sediment pre-filter is used to extract larger contaminants like dirt, sand, dust, grit and rust particles from the water when present. An optional secondary carbon pre-filter is used to extract most of the organic chemicals and chlorine; providing enhanced taste and reduction of odor while helping to protect the reverse osmosis membrane, which can be vulnerable to chlorine.
A RO membrane is normally made from a thin film composite. An optional carbon post-filter is used to capture any chemicals that are still present. This step also helps guard against any tainting which might occur within the device’s water storage tank. Another option, an ultraviolet light (UV-C), is incorporated into the process to disinfect the water of any organisms that may have escaped the reverse osmosis membrane.
A RO water system can be bulky, which means it will take up a lot of cabinet space under or near the sink. Here are a few other shortcomings of reverse osmosis water filtering systems. Unlike faucet, countertop or carafe filters, reverse osmosis filters require plumbing modifications and need to be installed by a professional. If you don’t mind modifying your plumbing and giving up some cabinet space, then a RO filtering system may be the perfect choice for you.
A reverse osmosis water treatment system must occasionally be sanitized with chlorine, a chemical that is highly undesirable and which in many cases is filtered out by other systems. Though chlorine is nearly universally used by city and municipal water systems, it has been shown to cause cancer. Using it to clean the filter that you will use to filter out such things seems to be counter intuitive.
What types of contaminants does a RO water system filter? The contaminants it does filter include mercury, bromide, cadmium, chlorine, calcium, chloride, chromate, copper, cyanide, fluoride, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese and sulphate, to name a few. For all these many reasons, reverse osmosis water filtration systems are rarely your best or only choice for purifying water. There are other highly effective filtering systems without nearly as many drawbacks.
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