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Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Reverse osmosis water filters are an effective water treatment system, but at a price I don't know if we can afford. It's an incredibly wasteful process, flushing most of the water that comes through the filter, rather than creating clean water from it. Water quality is important, but so is water conservation. If the refuse water could have be used for something, a reverse osmosis water treatment system could be an ideal water filter.
Reverse osmosis is also known as hyper-filtration and is an effective way to remove contaminants, such as toxins and salts, from water. Reverse osmosis water filters work when high-pressure water passes through a very fine, semi-permeable membrane that won't allow most contaminants to pass through the filter. The minerals in the water that are unable to pass through the sediment filter are flushed away as waste. What's left is purified water that after successfully passing through the membrane is collected in a storage container for use.
Household reverse osmosis water filters that operate under typical residential water pressures will produce anywhere from 1-10 gallons of purified water each day. The downside to using the reverse osmosis technology is that only 5-15 percent of the water that enters reverse osmosis water filters is purified. The remaining 85-95 percent of the water goes down the drain as waste. Not only is this waste a tremendous amount of water but also it puts an extra load on a household with a septic system. For example, a system that delivers five gallons of purified water each day may discharge 40-90 gallons of waste water each day. In times of water shortages, expensive water and conservation, reverse osmosis water filters may not meet your environmental needs.
Despite the fact that reverse osmosis water filters produce a lot of waste water, they are an effective method for treating water. Before purchasing this or any water treatment system, make sure to test your water. The results of the test will identify what types of contaminants your water has, which will help you determine what type of reverse osmosis system to consider. In addition, identifying the intended use of the water, whether it be for drinking only, drinking and cooking, or all household uses, will influence your decision.
Once you've decided what type or reverse osmosis water treatment system will best meet your needs, you must be aware of certain practical factors that will affect both the quality and quantity of your purified water. These factors include the amount of water pressure available in your home, the water temperature, the types of contaminants found in your water, and the maintenance required for reverse osmosis water filters.
Water Pressure -- Reverse osmosis technology relies on high water pressure. The typical unit requires a water pressure of 25-50 psi whereas the typical household water pressure ranges from 30-40 psi. This means that you won't be able to use your reverse osmosis system to its full capacity without a booster pump.
Water Temperatur -- The manufacturer's optimum water temperature is generally room temperature and as water temperature drops during the winter, the less capacity the reverse osmosis system will have.
Types of Contaminants in Your Water -- Certain contaminants, such as iron, silt, bacteria and hard water scale, can cause reverse osmosis water filters to clog and become smelly. Before purchasing a reverse osmosis system, check the manufacturer’s recommended products for disinfecting your water.
Maintenance -- In order for reverse osmosis water filters to work properly, they must be regularly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Typically, this means doing any necessary pretreatment, changing the filters regularly, and checking the quality of your purified water to detect problems with the system.
Once you've decided that reverse osmosis technology meets your needs, make sure to include all the costs of the system when comparing reverse osmosis water filters. This includes the initial costs of the system, installation costs, and operating and maintenance costs. You'll find that the costs range from $300-$3,000 and vary in the quality and quantity of purified water produced.
