As more people explore ways of purifying their drinking water at home, reverse osmosis often comes into the dialog. Technically speaking, it is not the same as water filtering, but it does accomplish the same goal: cleaner water.
Reverse osmosis has been around for about four decades. It was first developed as a means of taking salt out of seawater. It was actually something of an accident that it was also noticed to be a very good way to remove contaminants from water as well as removing the salt. In-home systems that use reverse osmosis started becoming popular in the mid-1970's. Since then, they have only grown in popularity around the world.
OSMOSIS
Reverse osmosis may sound like a complicated matter, but it is fairly easy to understand the basic principle behind it. The process starts with a semi-permeable film or membrane; pressurized water is forced through this membrane. It is the opposite of natural osmosis which is the tendency of water to naturally move from a weaker saline solution to a stronger saline solution, resulting in each solution gradually equalizing.
In reverse osmosis, the untreated water is forced to move in the opposite direction, ie; from a stronger saline solution to a weaker solution. It must still travel through the semi-permeable membrane which blocks the passage of many drinking water contaminants. By blocking or trapping these contaminants, ro systems can be used as an effective drinking water purification method.
Reverse osmosis systems is very good option for those who have high mineral content in their water. Most mineral particles found in water are physically larger than water molecules, which makes them easy to catch by the semi-permeable membrane. Some of the more common minerals include salt, lead, manganese, iron, and calcium. In addition, Ro systems can also remove some chemical components often found in drinking water, including fluoride.
It should be noted that reverse osmosis systems do have some drawbacks that may be important to certain people. For instance, reverse osmosis systems cannot remove chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water that is delivered from water treatment plants (ie, municipal water). These contaminants are smaller in size than water which means the semi-permeable membrane cannot trap them or stop them from passing through the membrane.
Reverse osmosis systems can also lead to acidic water. This happens because the process removes any alkaline mineral constituents that may be in the water.
When considering installing a Ro system in your home or office it is always best to consult with an expert first. You can find professional water purification advice easily online, and their advice can help you select the best option for your drinking water and household water needs.
Reverse Osmosis Water Purification - Good Or Bad? OSMOSIS
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