You may have heard that you should drink eight glasses of water a day. While that advice is not a hard and fast rule, it does highlight the importance of water in our daily lives. Hydration means you feel and look your best.
If you drink eight glasses of water a day, you should be confident in your water quality. With reverse osmosis, you guarantee you get clean water. Here is everything you need to know about the water treatment process and why you need it for your home.
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is a water treatment process where a solvent passes through a filter in the opposite direction of natural osmosis. The filter, also known as a partially permeable membrane, removes unwanted molecules and ions. As a result, you get purified water.
Reverse osmosis removes a range of particles from your water before you drink it. You can find reverse osmosis in water filtration systems in households as well as industrial water treatment plants. You can adjust the filter based on your needs and preferences, which allows you to control the size of the molecules and ions passing through the pores
How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?
Osmosis is the process of sending a solvent from a less concentrated area to a more concentrated one. Reverse osmosis does the opposite. Because water does not want to perform reverse osmosis naturally, the process requires outside pressure to force the water through the filter.
The filter catches the molecules and ions that are too big to go through the holes. That includes metals, salts, pesticides, and other inorganic solids. You eventually flush these impurities down the drain when reverse osmosis is complete.
Reverse osmosis has a couple of variations. Experts recommend having at least four stages to achieve purified water, though some companies offer up to seven-stage systems. The essential parts for reverse osmosis include:
- A water supply line
- A pre-filter to remove large sediment like sand and dirt
- A reverse osmosis membrane
- A post filter for polishing
- A check value to prevent back flow
- A flow restrictor to maintain the flow rate
- A storage tank to hold two to four gallons of water
- A faucet, typically part of a kitchen sink
- A drain line to remove wastewater
Water treatment companies install most reverse osmosis systems under the kitchen sink. When anyone in your family gets water from this sink, you can rest assured it’s clean and safe to drink. Other models for counter tops and cabinets work well for renters, too.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis
Removes Impurities
Most people use reverse osmosis to remove impurities from their water. The water treatment effectively eliminates potentially harmful compounds, making water safe to drink. One of the leading threats is lead, which can cause high blood pressure, infertility, and nerve damage.
Some of the other contaminants reverse osmosis catches include:
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Chromium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Nitrates
- Nitrites
- Radium
- Selenium
- Total dissolved solids
Reverse osmosis tackles cysts, also known as cryptosporidium, too. These microscopic parasites contaminate water in many parts of the world. They can cause symptoms like stomach cramps, diarrhea, and intestinal pain, as well as malnutrition in children.
Reverse osmosis uses multiple fine filters to catch and remove cysts. The water treatment is especially useful for cancer patients or people with weak immune systems. Reverse osmosis gets rid of harmful microbes than can otherwise cause infection.
Superior Taste
Cleaner water means better-tasting water. You no longer have to wonder about unusual flavors or odors. Reverse osmosis delivers the purest possible water with the crisp, refreshing taste you love.
Water treatment also provides a noticeable boost in cooking quality. The lack of contaminants means any recipe involving water has a fresher taste when you serve it. Everyone in your family will notice, whether you brew morning coffee or boil water for the evening’s pasta dinner.
Reduces Need for Bottled Water
Americans spend more than $15 billion a year on bottled water. Reverse osmosis provides a safe and effective solution to reduce the need for bottled water. It also reduces your family’s negative impact on the environment when you reduce your plastic consumption.
You can get clean water for a fraction of the price of their bottled counterparts. While bottled water costs about a dollar per bottle, tap water amounts to only pennies per gallon. Investing in water treatment is one of the best things you can do to help the environment while increasing your water quality.
The Bottom Line
Reverse osmosis provides peace of mind when you know you have safe drinking water. The multi-stage process eliminates potentially harmful chemicals and metals and leaves you with pure water every time. It’s why people around the world rely on reverse osmosis for clean water every day.
Call Atlantic Blue Water Services at (410) 840-2583 to learn more about our water treatment systems or schedule an appointment today.