Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Process and Uses of Reverse Osmosis Water

The Process of Reverse Osmosis

Osmosis is a natural process of water filtration when water of 2 different types of concentration are separated by a special type of filter. Reverse Osmosis is just the opposite process of osmosis, when a high pressure is applied and pushed through a special filter which separates the water from a high concentration to a lower concentration.

INVERSE OSMOSIS

The Reverse Osmosis process is usually done by using 3-6 different filters, each filtering out different types of chemicals that are in the water. The whole R.O. system is connected to a cold water pipe which is located in the area at which the system will be installed. Chemicals that are filtered out include salt, chlorine, ions, as well as other chemicals an nutrients. After the filtration process, water is let out by a faucet, and the water which comes out from this faucet is called permeate. Filters that are used for the R.O. system are made up of a dense barrier, which separates the chemicals from the water. The membrane is designed in such a way that it usually only allows liquid to pass through the dense layers of the filter, and prevents solutes, such as chlorine, ions, and other chemicals from passing through the membrane.

Between 30-250 psi is needed to push fresh water through the filter, and 600-1000 psi for sea water. The Reverse Osmosis process is best known for removing salt and other minerals from sea water, only to produce fresh water at the other end. Since the 1970's, the process has been used on fresh water for medical, industrial, and household purposes, to give people drinking the water, a healthier life. The bad taste in water is also removed by R.O. systems, giving the water a more neutral taste.

Reverse Osmosis systems are also used by NASA astronauts that venture to outer space. The astronauts can only take a certain amount of water with them to space, and when the water is finished, another water source is used. This source is urine from these astronauts. The astronauts urinate into the R.O. system, and at the other end will come fresh drinking water from which all chemicals, colours, etc are filtered and removed, only to produce water that can be fully re-used again.

Ozonation is added nowadays to reverse osmosis water that creates an even healthier drinking water for animals, people, etc. Researchers say that by adding ozone in the R.O. water can help prevent different kinds of illnesses that are becoming more and more common in today's life. Illnesses include cancer, growths,arthritis, muscle aches, common illnesses, etc.

The Process and Uses of Reverse Osmosis Water

INVERSE OSMOSIS

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

4 Disadvantages of Using Reverse Osmosis Units to Purify Water

Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the popular technologies used in water filter systems. In fact, a lot of water filters you know might use this technology to filter water. We see this term used in television commercials and newspapers often. Just what is it? It is a method of filtering water by passing it through a fine pored semi permeable membrane. Since the structure is very finely pored, a lot of chemicals and other harmful substances are blocked and you get pure water as a result. Or so you think. If you take a good look at the process, you can actually find out that it is not the best method out there to filter water. How? Let us take a look at the disadvantages of reverse osmosis

osmosis jones

Reverse osmosis is based on the principle that since most contaminants and chemicals present in water have a larger molecular size than water, they get blocked by the semi permeable membrane and as a result you get filtered water. While it's true to a large extent, there are some loopholes in it. 

OSMOSIS

1. First and foremost, reverse osmosis wastes a heck of a lot of water. A reverse osmosis unit will only recover around 5% of the total amount of water passes through the unit. The rest, all 95% of it, will go down the drain literally. To be more specific, a reverse osmosis unit will waste 2 to 3 gallons of water for every gallon filtered. At a time when people are struggling to get water for their daily use, it is simply insane to waste so much of water.

2. It takes a lot of time. You need to be really patient if you want to use a reverse osmosis unit. A typical RO unit produces less than one gallon water in an hour. And that is a lot of time.

3. Perhaps the most important question is - does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink? The answer is not really. An RO unit blocks harmful substances based on their molecular size. Unfortunately, substances like pesticides have smaller molecular size than water and they pass through the system. As a result, the water you drink is not completely pure.

4. One of the most notable disadvantages of reverse osmosis is that an RO unit can become a breeding house for bacteria if left unchecked. You need to disinfect the storage unit regularly or else it will be completely infected by various bacteria. So, if you forget to disinfect it from time to time, you will be getting your daily serve of bacteria right from your reverse osmosis unit.

The disadvantages of reverse osmosis are now no longer a secret and you now know it is not the best method out there to get filtered water. So, it is always best to go for a water filter system which uses a technology which can completely get rid of all the harmful substances and yet retain the natural goodness of water.

4 Disadvantages of Using Reverse Osmosis Units to Purify Water

OSMOSIS

Is This True? - Better Health Through Reverse Osmosis

Manufactures everywhere can be heard shouting from the rooftops about how you can improve your health through reverse osmosis. That's wonderful you might say, and it would be, if it were true. The benefits and capabilities of home reverse osmosis systems will be thrown around. The strengths will be sworn up and down. But their claims hold no water.

osmosis filter

Home reverse osmosis systems utilize the same type of desalination system in use by your local treatment facility. The system, when called upon, does this one job well. But its use is limited, as the process is inefficient and introduces other problems. This makes us question why anyone would commit the insanely duplicitous act on installing the same limited use system a second time when the first has already done its job.

OSMOSIS

You cannot obtain better health through reverse osmosis for a number of reasons. The most prevalent being that it is only designed to filter out large visible contaminates. It is not designed to block chlorine, chemicals, microbial organism or various other bacteria. These toxins remain in your drinking water after processing. If it filters nothing important, why is it being sold as a filtration system? Why are they trying to sell health through reverse osmosis?

Your wallet will also lose health through reverse osmosis. The systems are absurdly expensive, starting at ,000. Now, the retailers of the units will bend over backwards to make this cost seem acceptable. They'll deliver it at no additional charge, provide warranties, and offer limited maintenance contracts. What they won't do is foot the bill for the required professional installation. Which is also quite exorbitant, and will require most of a day.

The design also generates extensive waste. Two to five gallons of wastewater for every one gallon of processed water. With less than 1% of the water on earth meeting drinking standards, wasting even more of it with home reverse osmosis systems is unacceptable. So even the planet loses health through reverse osmosis. Not to mention all that waste will come directly from your pocket.

Another problem with home reverse osmosis is due to the design and capabilities of the system, it must also remove all mineral content from your drinking water. Now, if you live in an area where constant desalination is necessary, the water company will advise you to not drink from the tap. They'll advise you to buy bottled water. They do this because without the minerals removed by home reverse osmosis systems, you'll develop mineral deficiencies and other related illnesses. Even the water company knows health through reverse osmosis is impossible!

The only people who will try to sell anyone on health through reverse osmosis are the manufacturers and retailers of home reverse osmosis systems. We've examined the capabilities and functional capacity of the reverse osmosis design. We've covered the reasons any claim to the viability of reverse osmosis systems in the home sector are not only misleading, but downright fabrications of the truth. These people are not to be trusted. Their claims are to be ignored, their products are to be cast aside.

Is This True? - Better Health Through Reverse Osmosis

OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis Water Filter - The Negative Health Impact

For many years, the reverse osmosis water filter has been the number one choice of water filtration systems around the globe. This was due in part to the fact that these systems were the most widely available and also because it was the only system that many people knew about.

osmosis jones soundtrack

Times are changing however, and so is technology, and the reverse osmosis filter is taking the back burner to other filtration systems that have much more to offer to consumers. With technological advances that have been made, filtration systems have become far more superior than the old fashioned reverse osmosis filter and offer a great many more benefits.

OSMOSIS

The reverse osmosis filter was originally manufactured over 40 years ago to provide mineral free water for the photo processing and printing industries. While these filters are certainly affective at providing mineral free water for these industries, they are not affective at providing water that is fit for consumption.

Water has naturally occurring minerals that our beneficial to our bodies such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. A reverse osmosis water filter removes these organic minerals from the water, ultimately stripping it of it's benefits. Not only does stripping the water of these healthy minerals rob our bodies of them, it can actually cause negative health affects as well.

When a person consumes water that has been stripped of it's natural minerals, it becomes more acidic. Consuming this acid substance causes our bodies to pull minerals from our bones and teeth in order to balance and neutralize the acid. This of course results in unhealthy teeth and bones which can lead to a multitude of disorders.

Additionally, it has been scientifically proven that when our bodily fluids become unbalanced and are more acidic than alkaline, there is an increase in the production of free radicals and our bodies become at a greater risk of cancer. Healthy mineral water helps to maintain a balance in our bodies that will help them to be more successful at fighting off these free radicals and prevent cancer.

Yet another disadvantage of a reverse osmosis water filter is that though it will work to a great degree in removing contaminants from the water, it is not nearly as effective as other methods of water filtration such as carbon block filters, granular carbon filters and multi-media block filters.

A reverse osmosis filter can only remove contaminants that are of a larger molecular structure than that of a water molecule. So while they will work at removing certain toxins that can be found in todays water supply, they are not effective at removing contaminants such as herbicides and pesticides which are made of a smaller molecular structure than water and are commonly found in the water supply.

While the reverse osmosis water filter was certainly a hot commodity in it's heyday, it's time has passed and should be avoided when you are purchasing a home water filtration system. Technology has advanced to the point where we can now purchase water filters that will remove all of the contaminants that are found in todays water supply, while leaving behind the healthy minerals that water naturally contains. These are the type of filters that would be the best investment, and will provide quality drinking water for you and your family.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filter - The Negative Health Impact

OSMOSIS

Monday, August 29, 2011

Reverse Osmosis in Water Dispensers

Reverse osmosis is an amazing water filtration system that has actually been in use for a long time. Although "reverse osmosis" sounds complex, it is a surprisingly simple method for the purification of water. Many high quality water dispenser units include reverse osmosis, and this feature is certainly worth the price of admission. Let's take a look at what goes into it:

osmosis

The main component of a reverse osmosis system is a specially-designed membrane that is made solely to capture potentially harmful contaminants that may have gotten into your water supply. With the quality of our tap water on a steep decline, this filtration method is becoming more important. Thankfully, it's also becoming more affordable, especially as various water dispenser manufacturers realize just how much commercial potential there is in these units.

OSMOSIS

What kind of contaminants are we talking about here? Some pretty nasty stuff, to be sure. Inordinately large levels of things like fluoride, fecal coliform, and turbidity are just a few of the things to watch out for. I'll spare you the detailed description of what these various contaminants really consist of, but take it from me, it's not stuff that anyone wants to be consuming. Your health and the health of your family or office workers are too important to trust to a questionable water supply.

Now this isn't to say that everyone needs such a filtration unit. It really comes down to doing your due diligence and researching your area's water standards and mineral levels. Only after doing this basic research can you really determine whether a reverse osmosis system is really for you.

Regardless of the presence of a reverse osmosis filter, a dedicated water cooling unit can still go a long way toward keeping your drinking and cooking water at a high enough quality level. One factor here is whether your water cooler is the bottle variety or whether it's the type of dispenser that connects directly to your building's water supply. While bottle-less dispenser is sleek looking and low-key, you're still at the mercy of your local tap water. If you're going to forego using a reverse osmosis filter, do yourself a favor and go with the bottle dispenser. Although you'll have to order water refills occasionally, the advantage is that the source of your water will come from a manufacturer that probably does reverse osmosis in their processing facility.

What this is all boils down to is whether you want to rely on paying for an outside company to process your water and bring it to you for a fee, or whether you want to install such a filter yourself and pay a one-time fee.

Reverse Osmosis in Water Dispensers

OSMOSIS

Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems - The Hidden Dangers

It never fails to amaze me the hype surrounding these residential reverse osmosis systems. They use an outdated technology, waste an astonishing amount of water and are expensive to maintain. Let me elaborate.

osmosis water system

These systems were originally designed for industry, such as the photographic industry, which needed large quantities of mineral free water, and then because of the demand for home water treatment, went on to become hyped as state-of-the-art. These reverse osmosis systems residential water purifiers however, are simply not effective and potentially harmful.

OSMOSIS

Let me explain.

Residential reverse osmosis systems use a semi permeable membrane with a very fine pore structure, which basically stops most things from passing through, great you say, right? Well no actually, not so great.

Firstly, they remove the extremely valuable trace minerals we need to stay healthy, such as calcium and magnesium. We are designed to receive these minerals and the loss of them can lead to long term health problems.

A recent World Health Organization study concluded that our water must contain some trace minerals to promote good health, one of the hidden dangers that reverse osmosis systems residential sellers will neglect to inform you about.

Secondly, for every gallon of demineralised water they produce, around 2 -3 gallons is lost. This is just not acceptable in my view in today's environmentally conscious world. There is no new water, the planet just reuses the same water time and time again. These residential reverse osmosis systems were designed as I have said, for industry long ago when we weren't facing the problems we are now.

Thirdly and finally, reverse osmosis systems residential can require extensive and costly maintenance.

What you need is a good quality water filtration method, one that preferably utilizes a multi stage process, using an activated carbon block filter. The first stage will remove the toxins and contaminants while the second stage restores the ph balance, a very important factor to keep the water from becoming too acidic.

The very best ones will remove 99% of all the bad stuff and leave in those vital minerals, leaving you with great tasting water without the worry.

So now that you know this, keep away from those residential reverse osmosis systems, and perhaps research a little on the types I have outlined for you, to find the one that best fits your circumstances.

There is no better feeling than knowing you have great tasting, pure water and are doing your level best to protect yourself and your family.

Visit my website today to learn more about the systems I recommend after my own extensive research.

Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems - The Hidden Dangers

OSMOSIS

Sunday, August 28, 2011

The Truth About Reverse Osmosis Water

Lets face it... we would have to be award winning chemists, to figure out just how our bodies react to the effects of drinking reverse osmosis water.

osmosis membrane

A simpler term would be distilled water. You probably have used it to water plants or used it in your steam iron, so it wouldn't leave rust stains on your clothes.

OSMOSIS

But how does the reverse osmosis home system turn ordinary tap water into distilled water?
To put it simply, water is boiled, evaporated and the vapour condensed back to a fluid state.
There, that's really all you need to know about the process. But what is the end result?

The end result is distilled water, which is free of dissolved minerals.

Studies have shown that distilled water has a special property of being able to absorb toxic substances from our bodies. They can then be eliminated in our urine. Not bad right?

Some studies have indicated that it may have a use in short term detoxification. A few weeks at a time may be ok.

But it is the long term effects that we need to take a closer look at.

The lack of minerals in reverse osmosis water may have some long term effects that may harm our bodies . Distilled water is even used in producing cola and other soft drinks.

Studies have shown that people who drink large amounts of soft drinks, have large amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals in their urine.

This is due to the acidic nature of distilled water. It pulls these minerals from our bodies in an attempt to balance the higher PH levels in our bodies due to the consumption of these products. Our bodies need these minerals to function properly!

Are you starting to get the picture here?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Distilled water, being almost mineral free is very aggressive. Many metals are dissolved by distilled water. Carbon dioxide from the air is easily absorbed by distilled water making it even more aggressive.

Is this what we want to put into our bodies. Is the the reverse osmosis home system our best choice for water filtration? Let me go on to say that many reports that I have read, indicate that mineral loss contributes to a greater risk of diseases like osteoporosis, hypothyroidism and coronary artery disease.

Drinking reverse osmosis water may actually have an affect on how fast we age? I don't know about you, but I think there are better alternatives.

The ideal water for the human body should be slightly alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Distilled water tends to be acidic and can only be recommended as a way of drawing poisons out of the body. Once this is accomplished, the continued drinking of distilled water is a bad idea.

Water filtered through reverse osmosis tends to be neutral and is acceptable for regular use provided minerals are supplemented.

Water filtered through a solid charcoal filter is slightly alkaline. Ozonation of this charcoal filtered water is ideal for daily drinking. A combination of a charcoal filter, along with a sub-micron filter will not only make the water taste better, but remove not only chlorine and lead, but also many of the cancer causing chemicals that are introduced to our water supplies due to industrial practices of today.

In conclusion, the reverse osmosis home system, may not be our best choice for water filtration in our homes.

Longevity is associated with the regular consumption of hard water (high in minerals). Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of distilled water.

The Truth About Reverse Osmosis Water

OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters - The Danger of Using Reverse Osmosis Filters For Pure Drinking Water

The reverse osmosis water filter was an amazing invention. The majority of the water on this planet is salt-water, undrinkable. The correct reverse osmosis filter can remove the salt and make it drinkable.

osmosis skin care

That being said, reverse osmosis filters have been touted as the best purification system for home use and that is simply not true. If your source is dirty, salty or full of debris, then that may be the case, but, on its own, a reverse osmosis water filter does not make it safe to drink. Additional steps are needed to accomplish that task. Let's look at how the reverse osmosis filter works.

OSMOSIS

A liquid under high pressure is forced through a porous membrane. Anything heavier or molecularly larger than the liquid is removed. Anything smaller or lighter passes through with the liquid.

Reverse osmosis filters are used in kidney dialysis machines to clean the blood. They are good at de-mineralizing for industrial applications that require it to prevent equipment corrosion and wear. And, as mentioned they can remove salt, which is heavier and molecularly denser or larger. Those things are great, but not enough to purify.

In order to purify, a reverse osmosis water filter must be followed by disinfection, carbon filtration and re-mineralization. You probably recognize that drinking bacteria filled water is unhealthy. It typically causes gastrointestinal illnesses, similar to the stomach flu. In most cases chlorine or some other chemical is used to kill bacteria.

Carbon filtration is necessary to remove the chlorine and other chemical contaminants. More than 2400 have been found in ground-water. All of them cause cancer. So, activated carbon granules are a step that cannot be skipped.

Re-mineralization is only necessary when a reverse osmosis filter or distillation is used. Drinking de-mineralized causes digestive disorders and is bad for your health. So, the "re" mineralization step is necessary to make the fluids healthy.

A reverse osmosis water filter for the home costs at least ,000. It takes a long time to clean even a gallon of water. For every gallon that it cleans, as many as five become waste-water. Some people use the wastewater for plants or irrigation purposes, but most people realize that it isn't even good for the garden.

A reverse osmosis filter is easily torn and requires a lot of maintenance. They are prone to manufacturing defects, so they may not even do the job that they are supposed to do.

Reverse osmosis filters require electricity to work properly. It is needed to pressurize and pump. Thus, it increases electricity bills and adds to the natural resources used.

All in all, you may see that while a reverse osmosis water filter is great for some purposes, it is not the best choice for most of us. Treatment facilities make sure that what comes out of our tap is clear and bacteria free. We have to worry about chemicals, drugs, hormones, weed killers, bug sprays and other chemicals that a reverse osmosis filter will not remove. Those are the facts. The choice is yours.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters - The Danger of Using Reverse Osmosis Filters For Pure Drinking Water

OSMOSIS

Six Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis

Are there many disadvantages of reverse osmosis, also known as, RO? Does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink for everyone? The answer to the first is yes, to the second, the answer would be it makes it "safer", but without additional steps, not really safe. Greater detail follows. Some people say the disadvantages of reverse osmosis outweigh the advantages. In some cases, it is a good choice. It is really the attempt to make it acceptable for home use that has failed, unless your source is questionable or you have a salt-water well.

osmosis water filter

De-mineralization is one of the disadvantages of reverse osmosis, when you look at it from a health standpoint. It has industrial applications, but for drinking purposes it is not the best choice. Studies have shown that drinking distilled water, which also de-mineralizes, leads to nutritional deficiencies and stomach problems. So if you think about it, the answer to does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink, might be, maybe safer depending on your source, but not healthy for drinking. Waste is another of the disadvantages of reverse osmosis. This is shown by the fact that for every one gallon that is cleaned, anywhere from half a gallon to five gallons are wasted.

OSMOSIS

This is one of the biggest disadvantages of reverse osmosis, when you think of it from an environmental or financial standpoint. It is also a waste of electricity, which runs up the financial cost. Installation, maintenance and operation costs are all higher than other more efficient systems. Let's get back to does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink, for a moment. What are the problems that exist in our world today? What toxins are we faced with? We have created an arsenal of synthetic chemical compounds that, after being put into use, were found to cause cancer. Everything in the environment eventually ends up in the groundwater. RO units do not have the ability to remove most chemical contaminants. If you have a problem with lead or other heavy metals, then it will block those.

If the mineral content in your area creates an alkaline pH or hard water problems, then RO may help. But, when it comes to chemicals, the answer to does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink, is no. Additional steps, such as carbon filtration, must be used to remove chemicals and improve safety. When it comes to hard-water or improper pH levels, RO removes all of the minerals, so yes, water is softer. However, additional steps must be taken to balance pH and typically to re-mineralize. There are better solutions for hardness. Ion exchange, for example, exchanges some of the harder minerals for softer ones and balances the pH level in a single step. It requires no electricity and there is little, if any, waste. Another of the disadvantages of reverse osmosis has to do with contamination with bacteria and cysts. The answer to does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink by removing bacteria and cysts is a simple "no".

The system does not disinfect, so either chemical or UV treatment must be used to kill bacteria. A cyst is a bacterium during the spore stage of development. It is very light and cannot be blocked by RO membranes. Only micron filtration will remove cysts. If ingested, they can grow inside the intestinal tract and become full blown parasites. Cryptosporidium is one such parasite that has caused illness and, in some cases, death, in this country. The treatment facilities can't get rid of them. Efforts have been made to protect reservoirs from farm run-off, which is prone to contain the parasites, but there is still no guarantee. So you see, the answer to does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink, is not for the most part. There are some particles that it can remove and it's good for desalinizing, but other than that, the disadvantages of reverse osmosis are too many to make it a good choice for your home.

Six Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis

OSMOSIS

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Should You Purchase a GE Reverse Osmosis Water System?

What is the technology behind the GE reverse osmosis water system? Is it really the best drinking water filtration system money can buy? Maybe you won't think so after you have read this article.
A GE reverse osmosis water purification system uses a semi-permeable membrane for reverse osmosis. This membrane separates two water chambers, one with untreated water under pressure, and one with purified water.

osmosis membrane

Water molecules and other molecules that are smaller in size than water molecules move through the membrane to the purified side of the membrane. This blocks contaminants whose molecular size is greater than water, such as organic compounds and biological contaminants. Unfortunately it also removes minerals from the water. It turns out that those minerals are actually good for you! We humans are designed to drink water that naturally contains minerals. Our bodies rely on them for our continued good health. In fact, the world health organization warns against the health risks from implementing water desalination treatment systems that completely de-mineralize seawater water. De-mineralized water does not contain adequate levels of some essential nutrients.

OSMOSIS

Another concern is that the GE reverse osmosis water membrane does not remove contaminants that have a smaller molecular size than water, such as chlorine and the related contaminants trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Chlorine, THMs and HAAs are thought by the EPA to cause cancer and other adverse health effects. So to get around this drawback the GE reverse osmosis filters contains two additional carbon filters to remove these and other contaminants that aren't removed by reverse osmosis.

You can purchase a stand-alone carbon filtration system for a fraction of the cost of a GE reverse osmosis water filter system. Stand-alone carbon filtration systems leave essential mineral nutrients in the water where they belong. And it turns out that carbon filtration systems are very good at removing the contaminants that are removed by reverse osmosis, as well as contaminants that are not, such as chlorine, THMs and HAAs.

So you have to ask yourself, why bother with the reverse osmosis part of the process when it results in de-mineralized water? Why pay for the extra step of reverse osmosis when a carbon filtration system does the same thing? Those are very good questions. I guess the answer is, GE reverse osmosis filters are not worth the investment when you can get high quality filtered water using carbon-filtered water purification systems.

Should You Purchase a GE Reverse Osmosis Water System?

OSMOSIS

Osmosis Truly Works in Education

Students are funny. Sometimes they grasp a concept but don't quite get it right. It happens that way all the time. Take for example the scientific term, osmosis. Sometime early in school, most students learn this word and take ownership of it, but the problem is that they learn it incorrectly. How many times have you joked yourself, or heard one of your children say something along the lines of, "I'm just going to put it under my pillow and learn by osmosis," when they have a test or quiz coming up? We laugh about it, and realize that of course we don't learn anything by sleeping on the material, but we've missed the point of osmosis, haven't we. In a true sense, osmosis does work in learning, but it's all about the movement!

osmosis filter

You see, when students use osmosis this way, they are implying a lack of activity. They are implying that it will "just happen" by having the information near to their brains. They suggest that they don't have to "do" anything. Of course they know that it won't really work, and they're just being silly, but they're focusing on inactivity, when in fact, osmosis is all about the activity. In its most pure form, osmosis means movement across a barrier. That is going to take some action. Movement is physical and active. It will require some effort or a change in position. In order for osmosis to take place, from a scientific perspective, something has to change and move from one side to another, across a barrier.

OSMOSIS

So, too, we find that to be true in education. Whether you are a student or a teacher, learning in a homeschool, a private school, or a public school, you must change your relationship to the information you are learning by taking it in, processing it, and doing the work involved to master its content. So often our students fail to learn because they fail to "do." Learning will require some effort - more effort for some students in some subject areas than others, but nonetheless, effort.

Does your student know how to study? How to learn? How to manipulate material into learning systems that can be used for making the information meaningful, applicable, and practical? Education must be about giving our students tools to use that will work on any subject if we truly want to teach and educate our students. It is not always about the content. Take the meaning of "osmosis" for example. The actual content of the term has been lost for many, many students because they looked for a "practical" application to the term and misapplied it. While they joke about an application that isn't quite true, they did learn a shade of the word because it mattered to them. It had relevance.

Be sure that your student is getting help in true learning, finding relevance, and implementing methods that will help them achieve learning for any project or study that they take on. With the right learning tools and appropriate learning activities, any subject can be learned and information can be moved from the page, across the barrier of our brains, and into significance - through the correct application of osmosis!

Osmosis Truly Works in Education

OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis and Deionized Water Filtration

Let's face it if you are in a business needing de-ionized water or reverse osmosis water you are always concerned about the quality of your water. I know as a mobile detailing business that when we have ultra clean water in our tanks we are a happy camper. We know it will make your job so much easier. We also like the idea and concept of spot free water. Have you ever considered how Reverse Osmosis really works? Let me describe the process from my industries perspective.

osmosis jones soundtrack

In R.O. water pressure forces water through a fine membrane that filters out between 85-95% of the dissolved solids in the water. Water lacking these solids won't water spot a car. It's important to have soft water filter inline the R.O. system prior to R.O. Some systems have a water softener/carbon filter/R.O. system in that order. This saves life on the R.O. membranes. R.O. units are measured in gallons per day (GPD) because there flow is relatively slow. Usually they run twenty-four hours a day and the water is put into a storage tank to be used later. Small R.O. units that cost between ,500 and ,000 put out 4 gpm. To go to 10 gpm, the speed at which you'd want to fill your tank, the cost of those units starts at ,000.

OSMOSIS

Car washes need units that make between 500 to 1000 gallons a day for the rinse cyles. A small unit will work because 4 GPM (gallons per minute) X 60 minutes is 240 gallons. So, in four hours at night when the car wash isn't being used, they will have one thousand plus gallons. The only problem for them is that a thousand gallon tank is five feet wide and eight feet tall.

An R.O. machine works best when it's running clean water through it. Otherwise, the membranes let nature take over. Then you have not reverse osmosis but osmosis. It's better to have a small machine running twenty-four hours a day than a big machine running two hours and then shutting off. R.O. membranes should have a constant positive flow through them. Some industry leaders believe twelve to thirteen hours is the maximum you should run an R.O. unit a day. They think the machine will last longer.

Silica, iron, aluminum and bacteria cause irreversible damage to membranes and that's why pre-filters are a must to keep membranes from fouling. Fouling results when particles suspended in the feed water are deposited within the R.O. unit. Fouling reduces permeate flow rate. Bacteria fouling usually doesn't cause the permeate conductivity to increase until your system is extremely plugged. Other particles may cause permeate conductivity to increase.

Most biological and particulate silica foulants can be removed with the proper chemicals. Bio-fouling is a problem. Pre-treatment may have little impact on R.O. unit fouling. Simply killing the bacteria won't work because the same number of fouling particles (living or dead) still enter the R.O. unit. The best way to handle bio-fouling is cleaning the equipment and the upstream pipes and filters. Chlorinated water will be bad and should be un-chlorinated before entering the R.O. unit. Fouling by non-living particles is handled by your pre-filters, or additional sediment filters or cartridge filters with a nominal filtration rating of five microns or less. This can be complicated stuff and you can call your franchsior for a telephone number of a fair and honest local or regional water purification consultant.

Chlorine is the most common agent to chemically attack and destroy the polyamide thin film membranes that are commonly used in car washes. Activated carbon blocks are used generally in filters upstream from R.O. units. Larger units use granulated carbon filters or other methods. Active chlorine consuming sites on the activated carbon material is depleted over time and eventually dechlorination will diminish and finally cease. This will allow chlorine to damage downstream chlorine sensitive membranes in your R.O. unit. Carbon filters must be replaced as frequently as their manufacturers specify.

Most commercial R.O. units are too small to justify installing instrumentation to determine when to clean them. Cleaning periodically can remove most scalants and foulants. If you wait too long permanent damage will be done and proper cures will not work. If you wait until you have low flow problems, the elements may be plugged significantly and chemical cleaning may be ineffective or may take many hours to get the elements back to near original performance.

If you want, you can have the R.O. dealer do periodic cleaning on a service contract. It may be worth your while. Expect to pay between to 0 per quarter. Watch for parts price gouging. Some companies are like sharks. If well taken care of, the membranes will last years. You may want to have a technician also check upstream filters. That way, if anything does go wrong, it's their responsibility and you can make them pay. Make sure your contract is tied to their lifetime warrantee. Regular Maintenance Of Reverse Osmosis Units is ultra important and you should change your prefilters often. Water softeners every month, carbon filters quarterly. Be sure to check the pressures weekly and membranes will need changing every so often too. Think on this.

Reverse Osmosis and Deionized Water Filtration

OSMOSIS

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Pros and Cons of Reverse Osmosis Systems

Reverse osmosis systems is just one type of many water filtration systems that are available on the market today. Water filtration pushes water through a filter that traps contaminant molecules and releases pure water molecules. There are many health benefits that can be had from the use of water filtration systems including reverse osmosis systems.

osmosis jones

The first benefit is clean and safe water to drink, bathe, or cook in. Exposure to contaminants is greatly reduced or virtually eliminated. This results in fewer occurrences of diseases including cancer and skin irritations/disorders. With lead content being eliminated or reduced there will likely be many fewer occurrences of learning disabilities in children that currently occur at over 400,000 in the United States yearly. Skin and hair become softer and more properly hydrated.

OSMOSIS

Osmosis is a process whereby a solution is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane with the lesser concentrated solution moving through the membrane to the greater concentration until the solutions become equalized. Reverse osmosis is where water is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane and pressure is applied to stop osmosis and then reverse it. It is a slow process and the result is pure water. The contaminants are trapped in the membrane which is an extremely fine membrane.

The pros of using reverse osmosis systems is that pure water will result. It is a popular seller. The same health benefits mentioned previously can result from using these systems. Although slow they are effective in removing contaminants.

The cons of using these systems lie in the fact that though they remove contaminants they also remove important minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, and many others. Depending on need and budget these systems will still be a good option for many consumers to consider for purchase.

The Pros and Cons of Reverse Osmosis Systems

OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis Isn't the Only Way

Shopping for a reverse osmosis water dispenser? Reverse osmosis water filtering systems are sometimes recommended for the removal of cysts. If that's why you are shopping for one, I just wanted to let you know that there are better, more economical solutions.

osmosis water filter

RO has been around for many years. At one time, it was the only option for home purification, but the units were large, expensive, wasteful and required lots of maintenance. Companies have tried to correct the problems and today, there is even a reverse osmosis water dispenser that will fit under the kitchen counter.

OSMOSIS

But, even though they have made the units smaller and somewhat more affordable, reverse osmosis water filtering systems are still problematic and cost more than the homeowner needs to spend. Everyone needs a purification step in the home, but at a cost of nearly 0 for an under the counter unit, RO is simply not the most economical solution.

You can get an under the counter purifier that is truly effective for less than 0. Now, that's what I call affordable.

Some people think that reverse osmosis water filtering systems are the only way to remove cysts, but that is simply not true. Any purifier that is certified to filter down to one micron or less will remove them, without removing any naturally occurring mineral content.

One of the disadvantages of a reverse osmosis water dispenser is that it de-mineralizes, like the old distillation devices. Researchers believe that drinking de-mineralized water is bad for the digestive system, which makes sense, if you think about it.

All of the surface and groundwater in the world have some naturally occurring mineral content. Researchers for the US-RDA have said that we get some of the minerals and electrolytes that we need from the water that we drink. So, basically, drinking water can help prevent nutritional deficiencies, as long as we do not have reverse osmosis water filtering systems in our home.

The best alternative to a reverse osmosis water dispenser is called "selective filtration". You want a multi-stage device that includes the following steps:

o Submicron particle filtration, to remove cysts and other microscopic particles.
o Granular activated carbon, to reduce chlorine content and trap some of the other traces of synthetic chemicals that are in publicly treated supplies.
o A block that is composed of carbon and other filtering media to trap chlorine by-products (THMs) and further reduce chlorine and other chemicals.
o Ion exchange to trap lead, balance mineral content and improve pH level.

Reverse osmosis water filtering systems were never meant to remove the chemical contaminants that plague our environment today. Many scientists believe that constant low-level exposure to these chemicals has contributed to the increasingly high number of cancer cases that we see in the US and around the world.

There is no doubt that you need home purification, but you do not need a reverse osmosis water dispenser. Make the right choice for your health and wellness.

Reverse Osmosis Isn't the Only Way

OSMOSIS

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Reverse Osmosis - Friend Or Foe?

There is a serious debate going on about reverse osmosis. People want to know what the disadvantages of reverse osmosis are and does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink. With all these questions and doubts, it just makes sense to understand a little about this process of water filtration and then you can decide what is the truth.

osmosis water filter

Reverse osmosis has been quite successful in the commercial sector, where it was designed for desalination. However, critics of the system have misgivings and tend to point out the disadvantages of reverse osmosis at homes because they feel that the system is hyped by the manufacturers.

OSMOSIS

This article will give you an honest and unbiased view about the disadvantages and also answer to the question -- does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink?

Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis at Homes:

The disadvantage of this system is the time it takes to filter water. The system takes roughly three to four hours to filter just one gallon of water. There is the price factor. Imagine you are paying around ,000 to install in your home and then you have to wait for hours before your water is filtered for drinking or cooking purposes.

In addition, there are questions about the safety of water. Does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink? Well, the system is unable to remove chemicals from our drinking water. The system does not filter out chemicals and toxins exposing you to hazards and dangers including the risk of getting cancer or lead poisoning.

If the disadvantages of reverse osmosis are so many and there are questions being asked about safety of drinking water, why is the system so popular? It all boils down to effective marketing. How many times we have seen this strategy employed? There is no doubt that the reverse osmosis system is known to remove elements that naturally exist in our drinking water. It helps to remove the all the elements that give water its unpleasant odor. But that is about all this system does.

Does Reverse Osmosis Make Water Safe to Drink?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Reverse osmosis uses a process known as ultra filtration wherein a membrane is used to filter the water. The openings of this membrane are microscopic which do not allow larger particles to pass through. The systems also use electric shocks to keep chemicals from passing through the membrane.

The process of not allowing contaminants to pass through the membrane is called rejecting the contaminant and there is a rate for this process. If the rate is not set at high, the membrane will allow undesirable elements to pass through it make the water unsafe to drink.

For those of you who are still pondering over the question: does reverse osmosis make water safe to drink should realize that correct installation has to be used at homes for reverse osmosis to be effective and this means spending more money to be a plumber and an electrician to do the fitting, even then you are not sure whether the fitting is done correctly.

The disadvantages of reverse osmosis far outweigh the so-called benefits. If someone forces you to buy a reverse osmosis system, do not listen to the person. The best way for you to judge the efficacy of a water filtration system is by testing it and making sure that it fulfills your water treatment needs. Different systems handle water treatment differently and you have to find one that is right for your requirements. But the best water filtration system is one that can remove chemicals, impurities and particulate matter while retaining the beneficial trace elements.

Reverse Osmosis - Friend Or Foe?

OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Comparison and Reverse Osmosis Reviews

The vast majority of reverse osmosis (RO) reviews are positive, and in some cases they are downright glowing about the ability of these units to clean up brackish well water or water with very high iron or sulfate content. And I would also praise RO systems' ability to clean up such water. But most of us don't have brackish water that needs this very expensive and cumbersome technology. In this article let's take a look at a reverse osmosis water treatment comparison with other water filter technologies options that are available.

In the area I live in a lot of folks have well water with high iron or sulfate content. In some cases either the taste or smell makes it almost impossible to drink. But, when the water is cleaned up with an RO system they think it tastes great and, compared to what they have been drinking, it is. But, visitors often find the water very "flat" tasting.

INVERSE OSMOSIS

This "flat" taste is a small thing, but it is a symptom of something larger. The flatness comes from the fact that the RO process removes ALL the minerals from the water. We need trace minerals such as calcium and potassium to maintain good health. Also, this mineral removal produces slightly acidic water and such water will try to reach a neutral pH by leaching calcium from bones or teeth. If you use a RO system, you may want to consider adding mineral supplements to your diet.

Not to belabor the point, but health officials have proven that when body fluids become more acid than alkaline there is an increased production of free radicals, thus increasing the risk of cancer.

RO systems filter by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. Any molecules larger than water molecules are separated out and removed. The amount of force required may necessitate an auxiliary pump.

With adequate pressure, however achieved, much of the water still will not pass through the membrane and, with many systems, is simply a costly waste byproduct.

Chlorine is usually used to kill the living bugs in our well water or our city water and, since chlorine molecules are smaller than water's they will not be filtered out. Neither will any of the thousands of synthetic organic chemicals that trouble our water supplies today. To remove these items, RO systems must be used in conjunction with some sort of carbon filtration.

All water filtration systems impede water flow to some extent, but RO systems are notoriously slow. Large, whole house systems require an additional storage tank in order to provide adequate water for laundry or bathing.

These units are rather bulky, comparatively, and with extra pumps, storage tanks, etc., they generally will require the assistance of a plumber to install. They are also prone to maintenance issues and higher operating costs.

If your drinking water comes from a water utility company, or from a chlorinated well, not plagued with brackish water, I would recommend you look at a selective filtration system. It's what I use and I don't think you can beat the guaranteed quality of the water for the price.

These systems filter in stages, using granulated carbon, a carbon and multi-media block with a sub-micron filter, along with ion exchange. This is state-of-the-art water filtration technology. In simple English, the bad water flows into the filter system from one end, using normal water pressure, all the bad stuff is removed, and the good, safe water, complete with the healthy minerals flows out the other end.

No pumps, no storage tanks, no need for mineral supplements, and the filtered water is clean and healthy.

Bottom line though, any filter system is better than using your body as a filter. If you don't think so, read my article entitled, "Tap Water Facts-Chlorine in Drinking Water Makes Chickens Cry "Foul""

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Comparison and Reverse Osmosis Reviews

INVERSE OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Systems - Do They Work?

If you want to finally find out whether reverse osmosis water treatment systems can effectively purify your water at home then you'll want to read this article.

osmosis water filter

We know that drinking untreated tap water is very unhealthy, with all of the weed killers, pesticides, metals and chemicals that are in it. You may not realize it, but bottled water is just as bad. There are no requirements in place that force bottled water companies to filter or treat the water that they sell. So what are we supposed to do?

OSMOSIS

You may have heard of reverse osmosis water treatment systems as a purification method. The problem with a reverse osmosis treatment system is that it removes all of the "good stuff" - the healthy and essential minerals that your body needs and leaves the "bad stuff" - the lead, mercury, chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

The reverse osmosis method removes molecules based on their size. Any molecules that are larger than a water molecule is removed from the water. Unfortunately, many harmful chemicals are smaller than water molecules, as are pesticides and herbicides. Healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium are also larger than water, so they are stripped out too.

What happens when we drink water that has been treated with a of reverse osmosis water treatment system?

When water is stripped of essential minerals, over time as you drink it, it actually pulls minerals out of your teeth and bones. It also will absorb any chemicals in the air once it is exposed to air. The water then becomes to acidic to be healthy, not to mention all of the chemicals that are still in the water are causing cancer cells to develop in your body at an alarming rate.

The only way to get healthy, pure, good-tasting water is to filter it through a multi-layered filtration system. All water that you drink should be filtered with one of these types of filters, and if possible, any water that you use for anything at all should be filtered too.

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Systems - Do They Work?

OSMOSIS

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems Are Great - NOT

Who needs residential reverse osmosis systems? That's a good question. So, far, I'm having trouble finding the answer.

osmosis jones dvd

Most of the new reverse osmosis systems residential units were designed for use on publicly treated water. But, people with publicly treated water don't need to use reverse osmosis. There is simply no reason for it.

OSMOSIS

I know that it can be confusing, because there's a lot of different information and varying opinions. But, if you read the Environmental Protection Agency's recommendations, you will see that residential reverse osmosis systems are only suggested as one option for cyst removal.

Cysts are microscopic organisms that cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting, loss of appetite and other unpleasant symptoms. A strong person may only be sick for a few days, but a person with a weakened immune system or a small child can die from the infection.

The EPA states that cysts may be present in any publicly treated supply and even in bottled waters. Cysts may be ingested by drinking, brushing teeth or washing fresh fruits and vegetables with contaminated water.

The EPA recommends that "at-risk" individuals should use a residential RO system unit OR a purifier that includes submicron particle filtration. Submicron particle filtration costs a lot less than reverse osmosis systems residential units and they are just as effective.

For chlorine removal, the EPA recommends activated carbon. Now, some residential reverse osmosis systems include a carbon granule step, but many do not. It is typically an "additional option." So, if you do decide to use RO, you need to make sure that you add the step.

There are a number of contaminants that the EPA is not particularly concerned with, primarily, because they don't cause "immediate" illness. If you want to protect your long term health, however, you should be concerned about those contaminants.

Consider the heavy metal lead, for example. The EPA has created a "federal action level" for lead content, which simply means that if a facility determines that the levels have risen above the action level, steps must be taken to correct the problem.

Reverse osmosis systems residential products only reduce lead to the federal action level, but there is really no safe level for lead consumption. The metal builds up in the body overtime, causing heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and other long term health problems. Not to mention the affect that it has on the human brain.

Instead of choosing residential reverse osmosis systems for lead reduction, you should choose ion exchange. Home purifiers that include ion exchange, submicron filtration and carbon blocks will reduce all of the contaminants mentioned here by at least 99%.

There are other reasons to avoid reverse osmosis systems. The units break down easily and require extensive maintenance. They create gallons of wastewater when functioning properly and provide no protection when they are dysfunctional.

The cheaper residential reverse osmosis systems are simply not a worthwhile investment. Multi-stage, selective filtration is the right answer for most of us. That's what you need to look for.

Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems Are Great - NOT

OSMOSIS

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do?

What does reverse osmosis do? What is reverse osmosis, anyway? Here, you'll find the answers to those questions and more.

osmosis

You see in nature, compounds travel from a direction of higher content to lower content. So, if you throw a handful of dirt into a gallon of water, it will not simply stay there. It will gradually contaminate the entire gallon.

OSMOSIS

That's the opposite of what does reverse osmosis do. Pressurized liquids are forced through a membrane so that minerals and other substances heavier than the liquids are removed.

That's the simplest explanation that I have found. The process is actually very complicated and difficult to explain. To fully explain what is reverse osmosis, you need to understand more about the size and weight of water molecules as opposed to other substances.

So, what does reverse osmosis do to water? It can be used to remove large particles of dirt from river-water and other sources. It can remove rocks, stones, sand, etc. It can also be used to remove salt, so you will find this step in a desalinization plant.

What is reverse osmosis good for? It is good for people that have brackish or only seawater to choose from. It is also good in industrial settings that require demineralization to protect their equipment. It is not good in most settings however, because of the disadvantages.

Most groundwater contains chemical contaminants. Some of them cannot be smelled or tasted. Many cannot be removed by treatment facilities.

Then there are tiny bacteria and other water-dwelling organisms. Ingesting them can cause a group of illnesses known as waterborne diseases.

In order to remove living or organic contaminants, a disinfection method is required. In order to remove chemical or inorganic contaminants, carbon and multi-media blocks are needed.

So, the flip side of "what does reverse osmosis do" is "what does it not do". It neither disinfects nor removes chemicals. It may be one step in a complete process, but it is never the only step if water is to be safe for human consumption.

Some companies sell the systems for home use and they are very expensive, but not because they are better than other types. They are the only option for seawater, so there is some demand for their products. It's just that for most people, they are unnecessary.
They are also wasteful and de-mineralized water is not good to drink.

The best answer to what is reverse osmosis good for has to do with kidney disease. Dialysis machines use a form of the system to remove waste from the blood stream, taking the place of the lost kidney function until a transplant becomes available to the patient.

Hopefully this answers your questions about what does reverse osmosis do. For water purification purposes there is a better choice.

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do?

OSMOSIS

The Benefits of Using Electro Osmosis Damp Proofing

Are you searching for a clean eco-friendly way to keep moisture out of your home? Then consider using the electro osmosis damp proofing system. It's safe to use because it uses the process created by electro osmosis, which is the natural principal of water movement, to prevent the moisture from getting into your home and causing problems.

osmosis jones

Materials such as stone, brick and cement will absorb moisture from the earth. That's why so many homes have a problem with excess moisture and high humidity that usually starts in the basement. It can give your home a damp uncomfortable feeling, cause mold and mildew to grow and do structural damage to your home. This is why homeowners need to have a way to protect their home and the electro osmosis damp proofing system is an excellent choice. This system is a clean chemical free way to reduce moisture in your home and that is one of the reasons why it's so popular. Another reason is the fact that it really works so you can enjoy a warm comfortable environment in which you can relax. Once you have it installed, all you need to do is regular maintenance checks to make sure everything is working correctly, then sit back and enjoy the comfortable environment it provides.

OSMOSIS

That is one of the biggest benefits of all. Just imagine how great it would be to not have to worry about high humidity that can make you and your family sick and cause significant damage to your property. It can be a huge relief, allowing you to worry about more important things happening in your life. Of course, the fact that the electro osmosis damp proofing system is also safe to use is another great benefit that you have to appreciate. It works by producing a small electrical charge that runs through wires that are attached to titanium anodes, which run through holes that were drilled into the outside of your home in specific areas. It's a scientific system that uses electrical current to naturally reverse the electro osmosis process and stop moisture from entering your home. It sends the moisture back into the earth creating a low humidity environment.

This system produces such a small amount of voltage that it's both safe and inexpensive to use. You even have the choice of installing it yourself or having a professional do it for you, whichever you prefer. The electrical voltage is designed to automatically adapt to the amount of moisture that is being pulled from the water in the ground. This provides optimal drying for your home, which is exactly what you need to keep your home free from all the dangers and problems caused by moisture.

If you would like to know some more of the benefits provided by the electro osmosis damp proofing system, then go online and look for reviews written about this product. These reviews are written by homeowners just like you who have tired the system and they give their opinion of how it has worked for them.

The Benefits of Using Electro Osmosis Damp Proofing

OSMOSIS

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Reverse Osmosis Reviews - A Tale of Two Systems

Here, you have a reverse osmosis water treatment comparison that's a little different. Using reverse osmosis reviews and facts that I've learned through research, I compared the effectiveness and cost of the Ever-pure under the counter system to a multi-stage selective filtration device that makes use of sub micron filtration, but not RO.

osmosis water filter

Of course, there are many different kinds of systems on the market and you might be looking for a "whole-house" reverse osmosis water treatment comparison. But, regardless of the "type" of measures that you plan to take, I believe that you will find this information helpful.

OSMOSIS

Contaminant Removal

Customers rarely talk about contaminant removal in reverse osmosis reviews. You have to look for product performance data to get that information. According to their website, the Ever-pure company has a system that fits under the kitchen counter and reduces the most common contaminants in publicly treated supplies.

All of the under-counter and other kitchen systems are designed for publicly treated supplies. Even some of the larger systems like GE's "Smart Water" are designed for the homeowner that is serviced by their local water authority. None of these systems are effective for someone that has a high sediment, sodium or bacterial content. If you have a private well, you should have testing conducted and choose your system based on the contaminants that are found.

I have read reverse osmosis reviews in which consumers complained that they could still taste chlorine. That's because the system that they chose did not include the necessary steps to remove it. That's why I chose Ever-pure for this reverse osmosis water treatment comparison.

It is the only one that includes the necessary steps to reduce chlorine and its byproducts (THMs), as well as VOCs, lead and cysts. Now, it only reduces lead to the federal action level. A multi-stage system that includes ion exchange can reduce lead by more than 99%.

The company does not mention the percentage by which other contaminants are reduced. But, with the best multi-stage selective filtration devices, all of the common contaminants are reduced by at least 99%.

One of the most frequent complains in reverse osmosis reviews concerns how much the systems cost. So, here's a look at what you might run into.

Costs

Cost is usually the primary topic in a reverse osmosis water treatment comparison. In truth, the more expensive systems are the most effective for private well owners and others that need them. But, when it comes to publicly treated supplies, the costs are unnecessary.

The Ever-pure under-the-counter system costs nearly 0 to purchase. The most effective selective filtration devices cost less than 0. Percentage-wise, the price difference is similar, regardless of the type of system that you need. It will cost at least four times as much, usually more, to include a reverse osmosis step.

These are the things that I've learned from reverse osmosis reviews and from personal use. Hopefully, this reverse osmosis water treatment comparison will help you make the right choice.

Reverse Osmosis Reviews - A Tale of Two Systems

OSMOSIS

Reverse Osmosis Water Purification - Good Or Bad?

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.

osmosis replenish

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

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do

Reverse osmosis is a separation process used in everything from the food processing industry, to concentrate fruit juices, to water filtration and dialysis, where it is used to remove contaminants. In this article we will discuss reverse osmosis, and osmosis, in order to answer the question, "What does reverse osmosis do," by following the process as it filters pollutants from drinking water.

osmosis filter

To answer the question, "What is reverse osmosis?", we need first to look at osmosis.

OSMOSIS

Let's say you have a container with two compartments, separated by a very fine screen, and there is pure water on one side of the screen and salt water on the other side. The screen is so fine the salt molecules cannot pass through it, but the water molecules can. If normal osmosis takes place, the salt water concentration will slowly become diluted by the fresh water.

In reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to the salt water side, forcing the water out, but leaving the salt molecules behind the filter. Since the process is going against the normal inclination of the water, it is referred to as reverse osmosis.

In the case of reverse osmosis used in filtering water, the screen is called a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane is about as thick as a piece of cellophane with pores so small only particles the size of a water molecule, or smaller, can pass through.

As the water squeezes through, contaminants are left behind to be flushed from the system. To speed up the process, it may be necessary to increase the amount of water pressure by adding a booster pump to the water line. Even with adequate pressure, however, an appreciable amount of water will still not pass through the membrane and will be lost as waste.

Reverse osmosis systems are very slow producers and, in order to have enough clean water for bathing and doing laundry, a storage tank (with a diaphragm to maintain pressure) is needed.

One advantage of these systems is that they do a great job in cleaning up brackish water, or hard water, i.e., water with excessive minerals such as calcium, iron, lead, magnesium, sulfates, etc.

Disadvantages include the fact they remove all minerals, even the trace minerals our bodies need, and water without minerals is slightly acidic and stale or flat tasting.

Also, since cancer seems to thrive in an acidic environment, many doctors advise against drinking de-mineralized water. Anyone using one of these systems might want to look into taking mineral supplements.

Another disadvantage is they do not remove pollutants having a molecular size smaller than water. If there is chlorine in your water, for example, it will not be removed by reverse osmosis because its molecules are too small. All of the carcinogenic by-products of chlorine, and many synthetic organic chemicals, will not be removed either.

The EPA recommends activated charcoal filters to remove such contaminants and one should definitely be used in combination with a reverse osmosis system.

Even if the water is not chlorinated, a carbon pre-filter is recommended to remove any volatile organic chemicals for health reasons and to protect the membrane.

So, there you have it. A short explanation of what reverse osmosis is, how it works, and what it removes.

The Good: As you have seen, reverse osmosis systems will do wonders in cleaning up brackish water and water with excessive mineral content and, when used in combination with a carbon filter, delivers very clean water.

The Bad: The process is also bulky, prone to maintenance issues, is more expensive than other filtering technology and delivers a "flat" tasting product some have deemed unhealthy for long term consumption.

For information on Consumer Reports' top rated filter system, see my website below.

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do

OSMOSIS

Monday, August 22, 2011

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration - The Facts

Unfortunately, it is estimated that in every state, every city and every home in the United States, toxins - dangerous compounds - are in our groundwater. The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that 1 out of 5 Americans is drinking water that violates the Clean Water Act's safety standards. Of course, that doesn't mean we can't correct the problem before it negatively effects us. There is a way to combat this scary statistic and that is by taking it upon ourselves to clean our water at home, right from the tap, through reverse osmosis water filtration.

osmosis filter

What is it? Well, at home it's quite simply a water purification technology that utilized the force of regular tap water from the home faucet which is forced through the tap and then through a filtration device that separates water from it's contaminants. The then filtered water comes through the filter membrane on the other side as safe drinking water.

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At home water filtration is extremely effective. It removes many water impurities such as TDS or total dissolved solids, dissolved organics, asbestos, lead and other heavy metals and radium. Of course reverse osmosis filtration is not perfect. There are some substances such as some pesticides and some compounds that aren't removed because they're too light, too heavy or they're not completely removed because their chemical compounds are not screened out by the reverse osmosis membrane.

The reverse osmosis water filtration product in a home will need to be properly maintained. The sediments will build up over time and this will produce a need for a replacement of the filtering membrane. Many home reverse osmosis water filtration devices will come with one "filter." It's important that homeowner purchase additional ones so that they'll never be without clean, fresh water.

The downsides of ROWF are that the process consumes more water - about 3 to 9 gallons for ever gallon of filtered water. Also, because it can take up to 4 hours for water to be purified by reverse osmosis water filtration, it's wise to filter and remove the water for later use. This way a supply can be built up so it's always available.

ROWF products can be purchased in home supply stores, some large grocery stores and various home accessory stores. For the very best selection and pricing, shop online first and be sure to order extra filters when purchasing.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration - The Facts

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GE Reverse Osmosis Water System - 7 Thought-Provoking Facts

Boy, did I learn a valuable lesson when I recently decided to look into the possibility of installing a GE Reverse Osmosis Water system in my home. I wanted to get away from the weekly hassle and expense of hauling 5 gallon water bottles for refill at my local water provider. GE reverse osmosis filters are a very well-known, well-respected brand, so it made sense to me to begin my research with them.

osmosis jones

During the course of my investigation, I received a crash course in reverse osmosis water treatment. I discovered seven thought-provoking facts that I'd like to share with you.

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1. Originally reverse osmosis was developed as an industrial water filtering system for printing and photo processing. GE reverse osmosis water systems, along with other purification companies, adapted this process for home use in response to the rising demand for clean H2O.

2. R.O. works by forcing water under pressure through a permeable membrane. GE reverse osmosis filters operate the same way. Unfortunately, for every gallon of usable water produced by this system, two to three gallons are wasted. It is possible to recover this wasted water, but you should know that it is a very expensive process

3. While effective at an industrial level, the residential application of reverse osmosis makes sense only for those home owners whose water sources are limited to salinated groundwater. For homes with access to municipal resources, a system such as GE reverse osmosis water, may not be appropriate.

4. The "clean" water that a system like G.E. reverse osmosis water produces is stripped of vital minerals necessary for good health. Drinking this water means that you have to find other sources of calcium, magnesium and potassium, when, normally, all it would take would be to drink a glass of healthy water.

5. Some contaminants, such as certain harmful bacterias, are small enough to make it through the permeable membrane and into your water. It may be necessary to add a disinfecting step to a system like G.E. reverse osmosis filters.

6. Because of the expense of installing and maintaining such a system (9.99 for a GE reverse osmosis replacement filter), other methods of water purification, such as drinking water filters and whole house filters, may be better suited for in-home use.

7. Residential reverse osmosis systems are usually installed in the kitchen and only treat water used for drinking and cooking. G.E. reverse osmosis water is no different. This means that the water dispensed in the remaining areas of the home - faucets, toilets, baths, showers, and washing machines is still in an unfiltered and, probably, undesirable condition.

Knowing these facts about GE reverse osmosis water purifiers, and their numerous competitive counterparts, made me rethink my approach to purifying the water in my home. After further research, I have found that there are more affordable, easy to install and maintain purification systems available that will deliver clean, HEALTHY water for use by me and my family.

I hope you'll take the information that I've shared with you about GE reverse osmosis filters and use it make the best decision about meeting your specific water filtration needs.

GE Reverse Osmosis Water System - 7 Thought-Provoking Facts

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Sunday, August 21, 2011

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do? The Facts

What does reverse osmosis do? Good question. Dependent on whom you ask, you will either get a glowing report which hails it as the most innovative and most heavily relied upon method of water treatment, and which is a necessity to our way of life.

osmosis membrane

On the other hand, you will get the critics of the reverse osmosis process who slate it for its gross inefficiency, high levels of wasted water as well as the exceptionally significant running costs associated with it.

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To add further insult to injury, the end results of reverse osmosis are not especially favorable or beneficial as many of the harmful contaminants present in water remain unfiltered, whilst beneficial minerals are filtered leaving a rather concentrated solution of harmful chemicals and pollutants with no redeeming features.

Sadly, the overwhelming majority of evidence would indicate that critics of the reverse osmosis process have hit the nail squarely on the head, and the limited positive benefits identified have only ever been so determined through very selective and deliberate criteria which are not particularly reliable or accurate.

What does reverse osmosis do? Well, in theory, it makes use of a carbon filter in order to chemically treat and purify water by removing certain substances and contaminants from water. The way this is achieved is that if the sizes of the molecules are larger than the porous surface of the carbon filter they cannot pass through. If you can imagine a chemical sieve, then you have grasped the fundamental concept behind it all.

Whilst this sounds like a great idea on paper, the reality is rather different and the results have been limited and extremely flawed at best. Does reverse osmosis prevent certain chemical elements to pass through due to the size of their molecules? Yes. Does it prevent the most harmful of such elements from passing through? No. And therein lies the problem with the design.

If you are thinking of using reverse osmosis please be aware that it is an extremely expensive option indeed, as the running costs associated with it are frightfully high. As a general rule of thumb, for every one gallon of water which is successfully purified by the reverse osmosis process there is another 3-5 which are wasted in the process.

These machines are also very susceptible to breakage and so also have to be frequently repaired or replaced, posing additional unnecessary financial strain.

Many people assume (wrongly) that water filtering is an expensive process and therefore is little more than a luxury. This is wrong on both counts, as water filtering is only ever as difficult and costly as you make it, with systems to suit all capacities and budgets, you will be bound to find the right system for you. All you need to do dear reader is look!

You can read more about water filtration systems by visiting my website below.

What Does Reverse Osmosis Do? The Facts

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How Does Reverse Osmosis Work

It seems lately that a lot of questions are coming up like "how does reverse osmosis work, anyway". There are lots of companies out there selling whole house reverse osmosis systems. Unless you really understand the answer to how does reverse osmosis work, you could be wasting your time, your money and your water, if you buy into their company claims.

osmosis replenish

The basic function of whole house reverse osmosis is to de-mineralize ground water, far different from purifying it.

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How does reverse osmosis work to clean water? Water under high pressure is forced through a porous membrane. The size of the pores determines what particles are captured. The system may be used to filter out trash, dirt, mud, etc.

Whole house reverse osmosis is used in areas where water is "hard" and in areas where saline (salt) content is a problem. Industries, such as film processing, use water filtered by reverse osmosis to prevent spotting and other damage on negatives that would affect the quality of the print. If you have hard water, you should know that whole house reverse osmosis is not your only or your best option. If you have well water with a high salt or microbial content, you should compare the effectiveness of other filters, before you buy.

Whole house reverse osmosis systems are expensive. The lowest price that we found is ,000. They take up a lot of space, larger than the average closet, bigger than a water heater, furnace or washer dryer. Whole house reverse osmosis systems also waste more water than they "clean". Look at the product performance evaluations to see what things are filtered out and how much water the unit wastes. The average is around three gallons for every one gallon filtered through.
How does reverse osmosis work to remove chlorine and other chemicals? It doesn't. One of the reasons that treatment facilities add chlorine is to protect the membrane in their reverse osmosis system from rot an algae growth. Logically, if chlorine will disinfect the pores of the membrane, it must be able to pass through the pores of the membrane.

How does chlorine "clean" water? Most of us need a home filtration system because our water has been chemically treated with chlorine. Chlorine "disinfects" the water, except in the case of certain microscopic organisms, chlorine kills living things found in the water that can cause illness. At first, we thought it was safe to consume water with certain amounts of chlorine, but we have learned that it is bad for our digestive systems, on the short term, and could cause cancer, on the long term. Not to be repetitive, but whole house reverse osmosis does not remove chlorine.
If your goal is "softer" water, ion exchange is a better system because it balances mineral content, rather than removing all of them. Activated carbon filters remove chemicals and chlorine from the water. Micron filters remove tiny microscopic organisms that can survive chlorine. The latest technology is to use all three stages in one unit, to provide the cleanest, healthiest water ever.

Hopefully, this answers most of your questions about how does reverse osmosis work. The simple answer is inefficient, ineffective and expensive.

How Does Reverse Osmosis Work

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Why Install a 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System?

There are many reasons to use the 5 stage reverse osmosis system to clean your drinking water. First, you can install it in any sink in your house that you want. It is quite easy to set up and easy to take care of and maintain over time. Plus, the systems are long-lasting. Moreover, it will give you the much needed peace of mind when it comes to the water you and the members of your family will drink at home.

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Scientific studies have proven time and again that this method of reverse osmosis is an excellent way to keep your water safe as it will kill any bacteria or other harmful microscopic organisms that might be living in your water supply. Microbes simply cannot survive the five-stage reverse. Thus, they cannot enter your body and do the much-feared harm. Five-stage reverse also lowers the levels of metals and chemicals in your water, which can be particularly prevalent in homes and drinking water supplies located near chemical and industrial plants, as well as wastewater-treatment plants. And since the effectiveness of this process has been scientifically demonstrated many times over, five-stage reverse osmosis systems have been certified by the government and many health agencies all across the country at both the local and state levels. In fact, when you are looking to buy a five-stage reverse osmosis system, feel free to ask the seller about the certifications this process has received in your area so you can be fully at ease with what you are going to get.

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Why Install a 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System?

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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

The tap water that comes out of your faucet is perfect. Get a filter or be a filter. Which of these two sentences are more true? Both are partially true.

osmosis replenish

In many places, tap water does not taste good. In other places, tap water has tiny amounts of substances you would not want to drink - and over a lifetime might have an affect on you.

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There are many kinds of potential problems in tap water. Even if your city provides good water, it has to travel a long way through old pipes on the way to your house.

I use a whole-house ten micron sediment filter to filter all water going into my house. I change the filters every five months, and they are filthy and red-colored, because of the rust and dirt in the water. When you use a whole-house filter, shower heads and faucet screens don't clog. Whole-house filters are separate from drinking water filters.

All reverse osmosis water systems require both sediment and carbon pre-filters. All filters need to be changed. Plan on changing sediment and carbon filters every six months or sooner, and reverse osmosis membranes every 2-3 years.

It's best to buy a dissolved solids meter, and test your water every month to make sure the system is working right. Pure water will measure zero parts per million of dissolved solids. Tap water will usually measure at least 200 parts per million.

Don't get a liquid chemical test set, get a - portable battery-operated tester with a LCD readout. These cheap meters only show the total dissolved solids in water - they do not tell you what is in the water.

Water filter systems and replacement filters are available on Ebay and Amazon, and many other places - even retail stores.

The hardest parts of installing water filters are connecting to the supply side of the water into your house, connecting to a drain line for the waste water, and installing a clean water faucet onto your sink. The rest of a water filter installation is easy.

You may need a plumber, or to buy a system where they will install it for you. The best systems have clear plastic casings, so you can see how dirty the filters get. The best systems also use standard-sized replacement filters, so you don't have to buy tiny, expensive, and proprietary filters.

Reverse osmosis water filters require both a sediment and a carbon filter in front of them, to screen out the dirt and most of the junk, before the water enters the reverse osmosis filter.

A sediment filter blocks particles larger than five or ten microns. That's an improvement over tap water, but it does not help the taste, or filter out tiny or dissolved nasty stuff in the water. The next step is a carbon block filter.

Almost all carbon block filters are activated. Activation is a process where high pressure steam is passed through coal to purify it so that it becomes almost pure carbon. Carbon is the fourth most common element in the universe, and is needed for life. Carbon makes an excellent filter, especially when extruded into a solid block.

Activated carbon block filters strain water to trap much more particles than a sediment filter can. Activated carbon filters have a positive charge to attract chemicals and impurities. As the water passes through the positively-charged carbon, the negatively-charged contaminants are attracted and bound to the carbon.

Activated carbon block filters strain out sediment, dirt, bacteria, algae, chlorine, some pesticides, asbestos, and much more. They filter sub-micron size particles, making quality water that tastes good.

The water passing through activated carbon blocks still has some particles, chlorine, nitrates, fluoride, and other dissolved junk. The next step for the best quality water is a reverse osmosis filter.

Reverse osmosis filters force water through 0.0001 micron-wide holes, through semi-permeable membranes. Long sheets of membranes are sandwiched together and rolled up around a hollow central tube in a spiral.

The reverse osmosis filter removes 99% of the remaining junk in the water. It takes almost everything out, even the calcium and magnesium in the water. Most often a small carbon filter is used after the reverse osmosis filter, to improve the taste and catch a bit more of that 1% of junk the reverse osmosis filter lets go though.

Even after sediment, carbon block, and reverse osmosis filters, water is still not perfect. Chloramines and metal ions, while reduced, may still be in the water. For this reason, some systems include a final deionizing (DI) filter.

DI filters are usually cartridges filled with plastic-like resin crystals that grab the remaining ions in the water. After the DI filter, the water is very pure.

Reverse osmosis water filters generate waste water, and they produce only a few drops of clean water per minute. For this reason, most reverse osmosis systems have a storage tank to accumulate water. All reverse osmosis systems have a drain line for waste water, that is "wasted". The waste water can be used for plants, dumped down the drain, etc.

Ultra-pure water can grow algae very easily. When you take chlorine and other nasty stuff out of water, tiny microbes and sunlight can combine to make a perfect environment to grow harmless algae.

The quality of water filtered this way is cleaner than even distilled water. Some people think pure water tastes flat. Some people add a tiny amount of sea salt to pure water. For me, no salt is needed, pure water tastes like water should.

The Internet has baseless scare stories about how ultra pure water is dangerous. Hogwash. If you inject pure water, it may hurt you. Drinking pure water does not hurt anyone unless they are fasting.

The instant that pure water hits your mouth it's no longer pure. Nothing is better for making coffee, cooking, and ice cubes, than using pure water.

My observations over 20 years show that pets, plants, and people really like it. When growing sprouts - with pure water, I found they grew twice as fast as with tap water.

The truth is that ultra-pure water is missing minerals. If you get calcium and magnesium in your diet, you are more than ok. Ultra pure water has no lead, copper, barium, or other garbage.

For me the trade-off is clear. What I want from water is water. As long as you get calcium and other minerals from food or supplements you should be fine. Also, too much copper is not good for you, so why get it in your water?

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

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Does Learning by "Osmosis" Really Work?

What do I mean by learning by "osmosis?" Osmosis is really a scientific term relating to the flow of fluids through a semi-permeable membrane. With respect to learning, it means a gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation. The term has been applied to "sleep learning," but I'm using it in a broader sense here to refer to "unconscious learning."

osmosis jones soundtrack

When we first learn how to speak, we learn from being around other people and simply picking it up by repetition--by osmosis--from people who already know how to speak. Most of us do not have to go to school to learn our native language. We simply pick it up because it is all around us. It doesn't matter what the language is: English, French, Chinese...if it is what everyone else is speaking, we automatically pick up the basics when we are children.

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The same is true about other things in our environment. It's often how effective marketing campaigns are created. Companies will find celebrity opinion leaders and pay them to use their products. A classic example: Tiger Woods. You almost never see a picture of him without his Nike hat or shirt. Their logo is all over his equipment. Nike has paid Tiger, millions of dollars for his "endorsement" of their products.

Companies will also pay a hefty fee to have their products used by characters in a movie. Why? Because that will plant a subconscious suggestion in the minds of a certain percentage of people to want their product. A blatant example? When James Bond traded in his Astin Martin for the BMW convertible.

Have you ever been walking down the street only to find a song playing in your head? In this case, a song that you didn't purchase, but one that happened to be playing in a store you were recently in. Or that you happened to hear on the radio or a television show or in a move. That "afterglow" is an example of the type of "osmosis" I'm referring to.

How does this apply to the use of Power Affirmation recordings? The application here is to find various ways to add positive thought to your every day environment. For example, you can do that by listening to various audio self-help books, putting up posters of positive statements, or by listening to Power Affirmation recordings. I like to let the recordings play in the background while I'm doing other things. Often, I'm not even paying full attention--it's just "white noise" in the background. This is different from "subliminal learning" because the words can be clearly heard. I find that by doing this consistently, the Power Affirmations positively influence my thoughts so that the ideas are automatically there when I need them.

This is just one example of how I use my Power Affirmation recordings. There are also times when I actively participate in the affirmation. The point is, there are multiple ways to use them. The more you listen (even when you are not really paying close attention), the more they will help you. The more good "stuff" you put in, the more good "stuff" will come out.

Does Learning by "Osmosis" Really Work?

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