Water Solutions:
A Reverse Osmosis system forces water, under pressure, into a module that contains a semipermeable membrane and a number of other filtration steps.
Sometimes shortened to the acronym RO, these systems force water, under pressure, into a module that contains a semipermeable membrane and a number of other filtration steps. A typical RO system has a pre-filter designed to capture larger particles, chlorine, and other substances; a semipermeable membrane that captures more contaminants; an activated carbon filter that removes residual taste, odor, and some organic contaminants; and a storage tank to hold the treated water for use.
This process is called “reverse” osmosis because the pressure forces the water to flow in the reverse direction (from the concentrated solution to the dilute solution) to the flow direction (from the dilute to the concentrated) in the process of natural osmosis. RO removes ionized salts, colloids, and organic molecules down to a molecular weight of 100.
You can get a whole-house RO, but more commonly, a point-of-use RO system would be on your countertop or installed under the sink. They’re great for treating water for cooking and drinking, but they don’t usually produce large amounts of treated water — more like 5 – 50 gallons a day. For that reason, typically people choose to install RO-treated faucets in the most popular areas of the home such as kitchens and bathrooms, as opposed to installing it for every drinking tap. Just like any other kind of filter technology, reverse osmosis systems require regular maintenance. That includes periodically replacing the unit’s pre-filters, post filters, and membrane modules.
Consumption of low-TDS water, such as that which results from RO treatment, does not pose any health concerns for healthy populations. Essentially, in normal, healthy individuals, the body is able to maintain homeostasis, which is what controls the release and adsorption of minerals, regardless of the TDS levels in the ingested fluids.
In cases of malnourishment, water can be a good source of nutrients. For people with an adequate amount of food, however, the level of nutrients obtained through water is negligible compared to food.
The pH of RO water is more acidic than tap water containing dissolved minerals, but not by much, and certainly not as low as that of orange juice, lemon juice, or our stomach acid. Upon contact with our saliva, the effects of the pH of RO water are quickly negated.
Reverse osmosis is a relatively new, but very effective, application of an established scientific process. Whether it is used to meet the needs of a typical family of four, or the needs of an industrial operation requiring thousands of gallons per day, it can be a cost effective to provide the required quantity of highly treated water. With continual advances in system and membrane design that boost efficiency and reliability, RO can be expected to play a major role in water treatment for years to come.
