Funny tasting water and nasty chemicals can be detrimental to your home or building, which is why many people invest in water filtration systems. Water from our taps may seem clean, but it can still be filled with a range of contaminants which are not great for our health, and using water filtration systems can make a world of difference.
If you're interested in water filtration for your property, our blog dives into a full guide on reverse osmosis water filtration systems, what they do and who might use them. To learn more about this effective filtration system for your home, keep on reading.
What Is A Reverse Osmosis System?
A Reverse Osmosis system, also known as an (RO) system, is a water purification system, which uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove any unwanted contaminants and molecules. You probably remember hearing about osmosis in your science lessons, where water migrates from the weak solution to the strong solution, until both sides of the membrane are equal.
But, reverse osmosis takes a slightly different approach. By adding pressure to the stronger solution, water will migrate through the semipermeable membrane, away from any dissolved solids. This process of reverse osmosis is then used for separating salts and other molecules in water systems. The results of osmosis are more effective than using water cartridges and other filters, rejecting up to 98% of dissolved contaminants in water.
How Does It Work?
As we've just mentioned, regular osmosis means that water becomes more concentrated until there is an equilibrium of concentration on either side. Reverse osmosis, however, blocks these contaminants from entering the less concentrated side of the membrane. When pressure is applied to the volume of concentrated water, only the clean water flows through the membrane, free of most contaminants.
When it comes to water purification systems, reverse osmosis removes sediment and chlorine from water with a pre-filter, before the water is then pushed through a semipermeable membrane. After the water has passed through the semipermeable membrane, it then goes through a post-filter, before the drinking water can enter the faucet. Reverse osmosis systems can have various stages, depending on the number of pre and post filters in the filtration system.
Stages Of Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems
The reverse osmosis membrane is the main point of the water purification system, but the entire system also contains other areas of filtration. They can include from 3-5 stages of filtration. Each system will contain one or more of the following:
- Sediment filters - Removes particles such as dirt, dust or rust from water systems
- Carbon filters - Reduces VOCs (volatile organic compounds), chlorine and other contaminants that impact the taste of your drinking water
- Semipermeable membrane - Removes up to 98% of total dissolved solids
Let’s look at the stages of reverse osmosis system in more depth:
Water first entering the system will go through pre-filtration, which uses a carbon filter and sediment filter to remove any contaminants that might block the membrane.
Then, water will flow through the membrane, where small, dissolved particles are removed from the water.
After this filtration, water flows to the storage tank, where it is stored until it's needed. A reverse osmosis filter continues to keep the water filtered until the tank is full, before shutting off.
Once you turn on your taps for drinking water, water from the storage tank will then pass through a post filter, before it gets to you! Leaving you with clean drinking water from your faucets.
Why Use A Reverse Osmosis System?
Reverse osmosis is an effective way of removing a range of different contaminants, including:
- Salt
- Fluoride
- Sediments
- Chlorine
- Arsenic
- Microplastic
- Herbicides
- (other contaminants)
These are just a handful of the most common contaminants that are removed by reverse osmosis, but it’s important to note that this process doesn’t remove certain viruses and bacteria. So, what are the benefits of using a reverse osmosis system for your water?
Benefits Of Using An RO System
Aside from the clean, safe drinking water that RO systems provide, this filtration equipment offers a whole world of other benefits.
Water Tastes Better
Sometimes water can have a funny taste, where it feels slightly unusual. Plain water from our taps should not have a taste or any kind of strange odour, as it indicates that there is something dissolved in your water. Reverse osmosis filters help to mitigate these strange tastes and smells by filtering out the dissolved particles you can taste in your water!
Better For Cooking
When it comes to cooking, very few of us cook with bottled water because it's so expensive. But, filtered and purified water can make a huge difference to your taste buds! Using filtered water for cooking can make a greater impact on your food than you might think, but chemicals like chlorine and other contaminants can affect the way your food tastes. When it comes to cooking, reverse osmosis filtered water can make your meals taste great while being an inexpensive solution.
Environmentally Friendly
Reverse osmosis filtration is also environmentally friendly! Naturally some waste water is created, however families with reverse osmosis filtration systems can reduce their carbon footprint by miles. Drinking water filtration systems can also help families save plenty when it comes to buying plastic bottled water, which is also detrimental to the environment (especially if plastic waste is not recycled).
Convenience
Not only are reverse osmosis filtration systems effective, they are also convenient solutions for your home. Pitcher style filters can be a pain in your fridge or elsewhere in your home, but reverse osmosis filter equipment is seamlessly incorporated into your home's water system for convenient and discreet water filtering. The filter on RO systems only needs to be changed once or twice a year too, meaning they don't need to be frequently maintained, making them an even easier option for your home.
Who Needs A Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System?
You may be wondering who might use a reverse osmosis filtration system? And the answer may vary. Read below to learn about the most common places you might find a reverse osmosis filtration system.
Residents In Hard Water Regions
Hard water can often leave residue in cups and dishes, harming water appliances and other household items. Families and homes based in hard water regions may benefit from using a reverse osmosis filtration system to help remove those extra sediments and minerals from the water in their home (softening the water).
Homes In Contaminated Water Supply Areas
For homes in areas with contaminated water supplies, filtered water systems can be a great help. You may be living in an area with contaminated water and dangerous substances, making local water harmful to your health. This might be apparent in the taste of your water or minerals and sediment left behind. Having a filtration system can make a world of difference to your water supply, especially in regions with contaminated water.
Health Conscious Homes
Homes with young children as well as elderly members may be more conscious of the chemicals and contaminants found in water supplies. By choosing to filter water and use filtration systems, families can make more conscious decisions about their children's health. By getting rid of TDS (total dissolved solids), anyone who drinks the tap water that has been filtered is drinking safe, clean water.
Hommix UK: Direct Flow Reverse Osmosis & Water Purification Equipment
Keeping your drinking water safe and free from contaminants is crucial, and here at Hommix, we understand the importance of having safe, clean drinking water. Which is why we take pride in our range of quality water filtration systems and water purification equipment. From reverse osmosis water storage tanks to accessories and pumps, our range of quality filtration systems are designed to help you create the perfect set-up in your kitchen.
To browse our product range, you can check out our website for more information. Or, alternatively, get in touch with us today. Our team will be happy to help you find the perfect water filtration system for your home.
