We all need fresh, clean water to live, it is the fundamental building block of life on this planet. While we can usually draw water from the tap or a well, it is not always potable, meaning that it’s not safe to drink as it is, and must be treated to remove impurities that are harmful to us. While boiling water will kill dangerous bacteria, it does nothing to stop hazardous heavy metals and other contaminants.
Your best course of action is to filter any water you intend to drink or cook with before use, and one of the best ways to do so it to employ a reverse osmosis water filter that will remove all unhealthy impurities! The technology originated in the 1960’s as a way to recycle water in a spaceship, and is now an essential component of the healthcare, medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and laboratory sectors as well as home use!
So, what is reverse osmosis? It is a process of water treatment that uses multiple stages to remove contaminants from unfiltered water by using pressure to force it to travel through a semipermeable membrane. A home reverse osmosis system typically involves three stages of treatment in order to reduce the levels of nearly all types of contaminants. The last stage, the osmosis, involves sending the water through the Reverse Osmosis membrane from the side that contains contaminants to the side that does not. The byproduct of this process is contaminated waste water called ‘brine’ which is disposed of. The good results of the process are called ‘permeate’, which means clean drinking water that is safe for you to consume!
Those were the basics in how the reverse osmosis system works, but people often ask just exactly what What does a reverse osmosis filtration system remove? The following is a list of the typical contaminants:
- Chlorine
- Fluoride (Sometimes added to a municipal water supply to prevent tooth decay, but the process has come under criticism over environmental and health concerns)
- PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances used in coating products made to resist stains, heat, oil, grease, and water)
- Salt
- Arsenic
- VOCs (Volatile organic compounds are from gases emitted by a variety of chemicals that may present short and long-term adverse health effects)
- Sediment, Dirt, and Debris
- Microplastics
- Herbicides
- Pesticides
- Heavy Metals
- Bad Tastes and Foul Odours
-Along with many any other contaminants, those listed above are just some what a Reverse Osmosis filter system can treat!
It is important to note that Reverse osmosis systems are unable to remove certain viruses and bacteria! If your water is sourced from a municipal water treatment plant it should be microbiologically safe. Reverse osmosis does remove some bacteria, but bacteria might be able to grow on the filter’s membrane and possibly enter your clean water supply. In order to completely remove any living organisms and viruses, the additional use of a UV (Ultraviolet) disinfection system is highly recommended.
Visit the Australian Department of Health If you would like to learn more about water filtration. Reverse Osmosis water filtration in your home is a great way to help ensure that you and your family can enjoy fresh, clean water!