Have you shopped for a water filtration system in the last few years? If so, you’ve undoubtedly encountered products that tout reverse osmosis as their main method for purifying your water. What does that mean, though, and how does a reverse osmosis water system work to keep your water clean and your family hydrated and healthy? Read on to learn more.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Osmosis is the process in which water moves through a semipermeable membrane to dilute a concentration of soluble substances on the other side. Reverse osmosis essentially uses pressure to force this process to happen in reverse. The pressure forces tiny water molecules through the semipermeable membrane, leaving the larger contaminant particles behind. This results in clean water that is free of many types of contamination.
Using this process, reverse osmosis can even be used to desalinate – or remove salt from – seawater, making it potable and useful for every task we commonly use tap water for. Just ask Australians – nearly twenty percent of their drinking water comes from this process!
How That Works for Your Home Water Supply?
Ok, so the science behind reverse osmosis is interesting – but how does that work to keep your water supply clean? Reverse osmosis systems typically include at least two filters. One is referred to as a pre-filter and is usually an activated carbon filter that removes chlorine and other chemicals often present in municipal water. After passing through that pre-filter, it will move on to the chamber where it will be forced through the membrane filter that does the actual reverse osmosis filtration of your water. After filtration, the clean water is then stored in a pressurized holding tank, ready for dispensing – and for your family to use.
All of this adds up to a reverse osmosis water system being one of the best and most thorough ways to deliver fresh, clean water with next to no effort on your part. It’s a great investment – powered by super cool science!
