Water Filtration

What is Reverse Osmosis?

The amount of people that still purchase bottled water for home use never ceases to amaze me. Come on people, it’s time to get educated here. You are wasting time and energy, landfill space, and yes, money…Lots of it. 

Have you ever heard of reverse osmosis? Did you know that most bottled water manufacturers are using reverse osmosis as a means of purifying the bottled water you are drinking? It’s a fact that many people are completely unaware of. 

Soon, everyone will know the benefits of reverse osmosis. Reverse Osmosis equipment has only been manufactured for the household consumer for just a few years. Until recently, it was used primarily by major corporations and the U.S. Government for purifying non-potable water supplies throughout the world. It was, and still is, used on large military and commercial ships for purifying seawater, making it suitable for human consumption.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is often described as filtration, but it is much more complex than that. People sometimes explain it as a filter because it is much easier to visualize using those terms. For instance, the osmosis phenomenon is how our blood feeds each cell in our bodies. As our blood is carried into the smallest of capillaries in our bodies, nutrients actually pass through the cell’s wall to sustain its life.

For example: If you take a jar of water and place a semi-permeable membrane in it, which by its’ construction mimics a cell wall, then divide the jar into two sections and place water on both sides of the membrane to an equal level, nothing happens. But, if  you place salt, (or other such dissolved substance), into one side of the jar, you will soon notice that the water level in the salty side begins to rise higher as the unsalted side lowers. This is the natural osmotic pressure at work. The two solutions will continue to try to reach the same level of salt or equilibrium on each side of the membrane by the unsalted water passing through the membrane to dilute the salty water. This will continue until the “head” pressure of the salt water overcomes the “osmotic” pressure created by the differences in the two solutions. 

Many years ago, researchers discovered a means to reverse or exploit this natural osmotic process and use it to purify salty ocean water. They found that if they took that same semi-permeable membrane and fed salty water into it with a sufficient amount of pressure on one side of the membrane, to overcome the natural osmotic pressure of the other side, they could actually “manufacture” clean water on the side of the membrane that has no pressure applied to it! Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t know a thing about you, but I bet after reading this you will be more concerned about the water filtering system that you have at home and you may probably disregard the thought that you will be able to obtain good health through reverse osmosis. You’re probably aware of the term reverse osmosis because this is actually a popular term when it comes to water filtering systems. Water filter providers whom you have encountered before may have claimed that you can actually drink safer water because of the contaminants that will be filtered, but the truth is, home reverse osmosis systems are not capable of performing such an activity.

Home reverse osmosis systems are most likely able to filter out those particles that are heavier than that of water, so those chemicals and other contaminants that have smaller molecular structures compared to that of H2O would not be filtered and would still be present in the water that comes out from your faucet.

So if this is the case, what can reverse osmosis do for your water? Actually dirt particles are the main thing that this system can filter out. But if you are not getting your water from a body of water like a stream or a river, it is not that necessary for you to have such a system in your home.

We are somehow very much concerned about purifying the water that we take in but we are not that sure of its effects. We’re thinking that we would be able to achieve good health through reverse osmosis although we really have to go through a realization that it’s not that different from the water that comes directly from your faucet.

There are a lot of disadvantages in using reverse osmosis to filter out your tap water. These systems require a lot of water and are very expensive. This is not a system that can be installed instantly; it would need the expertise of electricians as well as plumbers in order that it is installed correctly.

Do yourself a favor by choosing what’s best for your water system at home. Do not just settle for what is popular because it might not help at all. What’s important is that you know a little more about reverse osmosis, and that actually the solution for your every day home is a whole house water system.

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When reverse osmosis filters were introduced at the turn of the last century, it was to stave off the rash of deaths brought on by the contraction of waterborne diseases.  While reverse osmosis water filters have done an admirable job up to this point, there is more that needs to be done.

Since the advent of the practice of chlorine disinfection back in 1908, water treatment facilities have used reverse osmosis water filters to spare many lives over the years.  The system designed primarily to remove sediment from our drinking water had taken great strides in the combat against biological contaminants in the water supply.

Since then, things have been going steadily downhill where reverse osmosis water filters are concerned.  The industrial revolution in America has given us many appreciable luxuries, but it has cost us the possibility to be able to find drinkable water from any existing natural source.

Reverse osmosis filters must now contend with contaminant such as herbicides, pesticides, petroleum products, cleaning agents, and pharmaceuticals, that the system wasn’t designed to be able to stop.  This is the dilemma that we find ourselves in today.

We are reliant on reverse osmosis water filters to do something that they were never intended to have to do.  They were only built to remove particles that were heavier than water molecules.  The system is incapable of slowing down this armada of chemical contaminants.

With the additional help from a multi-stage filtering system that is designed to precisely and effectively block out the individual threats that we now face, reverse osmosis systems could be effective, but only as the first stage in this chain.  Don’t however expect to see any large scale changes at the treatment centers.

The water treatment facilities are typically county run, and funded by the state.  There is no possible way for a county or state government being able to come up with enough extra money to be able to make the kinds of renovations that the reverse osmosis water filters need to make.

So, what is to be done in order to make up for the inadequacies of the reverse osmosis filters in order to make our water safe to drink?  It seems that we as individuals are forced into deciding on a personal level whether or not the health threat that the public drinking water poses to our families is great enough to force us into taking steps to protect ourselves.

The answer is a simple one for me, but it might not be for everyone.  People have known about the shortcomings of reverse osmosis water filters for years, and have still done nothing.  The threat to our health is growing greater all of the time.  With new impurities turning up at regular intervals it’s only going to get worse.

Now is the time to take action by purchasing a home water purification system.  You can’t afford to wait until they discover evidence. With 2100 known carcinogens already in the water supply, we can’t depend strictly on reverse osmosis water filters any longer.

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an Ezine Op-Ed 

If you’re like me, you’re probably pretty weary of salesmen. They would lie and cheat just to get you to purchase their products. People that sell home water purifiers are one in the same. The example that really comes to mind here are companies that sell reverse osmosis systems. Sure, having a reverse osmosis water treatment system is better than having no water treatment system at all but there are far better options out there. Here are 5 ugly lies to watch out for so you understand why reverse osmosis systems are mediocre at best.

1. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are inexpensive.

Using a reverse osmosis system may be cheaper than drinking bottled water but it is by no means inexpensive. Reverse osmosis costs 18 to 24 cents per gallon. In contrast, carbon filtration systems cost less than 10 cents per gallon. Which would you choose?

2. A reverse osmosis water treatment system removes all contaminants.

Reverse osmosis systems are not capable of removing synthetic chemicals. It helps to understand how they work in order to see why that is. During reverse osmosis, water is exposed to a porous membrane under pressure. Contaminants such as minerals and organic chemicals, which are molecularly larger than water, are caught by the membrane. Synthetic chemicals are molecularly smaller than the membrane so they pass through. For that reason, reverse osmosis systems must be used in conjunction with a carbon filter. Why not just use a carbon filter in the first place? Carbon filters remove both organic and synthetic chemicals.

3. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are convenient and easy to use.

In comparison to other water treatment systems like carbon filtration, reverse osmosis systems are high-maintenance and complicated. Reverse osmosis systems require adequate water pressure and a diaphragmed storage tank and as such as very high-maintenance. They are also difficult to install. Carbon filters on the other hand can be installed in a matter of minutes without the help of a plumber.

4. A reverse osmosis water treatment system produces healthy, pure water.

Having a reverse osmosis system is better than having no water treatment system at all but the water it produces actually isn’t that healthy. The problem with reverse osmosis systems is that they produce de-mineralized water. Studies show that in order to maintain good health, we must drink water that contains natural trace minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Drinking de-mineralized water can lead to multiple mineral deficiencies and an increased risk for cancer. Comparatively, carbon filtration systems remove all the bad stuff while leaving in the good stuff.

5. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are efficient.

The truth is that reverse osmosis systems are wasteful. They waste 2 to 3 gallons for every gallon of clean water they produce. They are also notorious for being slow because they produce less than a gallon of water per hour. Carbon filtration systems can produce up to 30 gallons of water per hour without wasting a single drop.

Now that you are armed with this information, make your decision wisely and carefully. There are many water filters out there to choose from but when you consider cost, effectiveness, efficiency, and convenience, a reverse osmosis water treatment system simply isn’t a good choice. Carbon filtration systems are the best option available when it comes to home water filters. So get out there and find a carbon filtration system for your home if you want the best water filter money can buy.

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 safer 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.

Reverse osmosis has been quite successful in the commercial sector, where it was originally 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.

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

Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis at Homes:

One disadvantage of this system is the time it takes to filter water, roughly three to four times longer than most other types of filters, but keep in mind a reverse osmosis system filters out far more contaminants than standard filters. Then there is the price factor which can run into the thousands of dollars for a whole house system, although smaller under sink units are available for much less. In addition, there is still the question does reverse osmosis make water safer 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. With the rate set at high, the membrane will not allow undesirable elements to pass through it making the water safer to drink.

Some say the disadvantages of reverse osmosis far outweigh the benefits, yet those who suffer with health problems or who do not have access to good tasting, odor-free water they feel is safe to drink swear by these systems. Of course, the best way for you to judge the efficacy of a water filtration system whether it is a reverse osmosis system or otherwise 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 the one that is right for your requirements.

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Reverse osmosis is based on the natural process of osmosis which involves the selective movement of water from one side of a membrane to the other. Reverse osmosis ( also known as hyper filtration ) is the same process used by a human body to filter out contaminants. Particles or impurities can be removed from a solution through the process of reverse osmosis when the solution is forced through a semi-permeable membrane which allows the passage of water but rejects ions like sodium and calcium or contaminants like bacteria or urea. Gore-tex is a common semi permeable membrane. Gore-tex fabric contains an extremely thin plastic film into which billions of small pores have been cut. The pores are big enough to let water vapor through, but small enough to prevent liquid water from passing through.

Reverse osmosis also involves a process known as crossflow, which allows the membrane to clean itself. As fluid passes through the membrane some of the fluid continues downstream, sweeping the contaminants away from the membrane. For reverse osmosis to occur, pressure must be applied to the fluid. The most common method of applying pressure is the use of a pump. The higher the pressure applied, the greater the force created. As the concentration of the fluid being rejected increases, the force required to continue concentrating the fluid increases. Pressure is exerted on the area containing the concentrated solution, which forces the water molecules across the membrane to the area of the fresh water.

Reverse osmosis has become very popular in recent years because it not only filters water but also rejects bacteria, salts, sugars, proteins and other elements that have a molecular weight of greater than 150-250 Daltons; a unit of measurement so small it can only be seen with a microscope.

The process of reverse osmosis is of immense benefit to mankind. Its applications are wide ranging with the most common use being for purifying water in both commercial and residential water filtration systems. It is also used to desalinate seawater as well as to purify liquids in which water is an undesirable impurity, for instance in glucose or ethanol.

An Ezine article

Reverse osmosis is based on the process of osmosis. Osmosis involves the selective movement of water from one side of a membrane to the other. Reverse osmosis is also known as hyper filtration. It is the same process as used by a human body to filter out contaminants. Particles or impurities can be removed from a solution through the process of reverse osmosis. The solution is passed through a semi-permeable membrane. The semi permeable membrane allows the passage of water but rejects ions like sodium and calcium or contaminants like bacteria or urea. Gore-tex is a common semi permeable membrane. Gore-tex fabric contains an extremely thin plastic film into which billions of small pores have been cut. The pores are big enough to let water vapor through, but small enough to prevent liquid water from passing through.

Reverse osmosis involves a process known as crossflow, which allows the membrane to clean itself. As fluid passes through the membrane some of the fluid continues downstream, sweeping the contaminants away from the membrane. For reverse osmosis to occur, pressure must be applied to the fluid. The most common method of applying pressure is the use of a pump. The higher the pressure applied, the greater the force created. As the concentration of the fluid being rejected increases, the force required to continue concentrating the fluid increases. Pressure is exerted on the area containing the concentrated solution, which forces the water molecules across the membrane to the area of the fresh water.

Reverse osmosis rejects bacteria, salts, sugars, proteins and other elements that have a molecular weight of greater than 150-250 Daltons. The separation of ions with reverse osmosis is aided by charged particles. The membrane rejects charged ions such as salts.

The process of reverse osmosis is of immense benefit to mankind. The most common application of the process of reverse osmosis is in purifying water. It is used to produce water that requires meeting certain specifications. Reverse osmosis is used in commercial and residential water filtration. It is also used to desalinate seawater. Reverse osmosis is used to purify liquids in which water is an undesirable impurity, for instance in glucose or ethanol.

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The number of gallons being flowed through water coolers has nearly doubled in the last half a decade, due to the growing concerns about the safety of tap water. The increase alone isn’t directly sourced from offices but also schools, universities and hospitals are opting to exchange their water coolers for reverse osmosis systems.

This change is primarily motivated by the fact that coolers can provide the perfect breeding grounds for high amounts of unhealthy bacteria, which can cause diarrhea and unsettled stomachs. In a study conducted on a Boston University campus which examined their own water coolers, dangerous levels of potentially harmful bacteria were found. Of the ten water coolers that were tested, each contained a count exceeding 2,000 times the government’s recommended quantity, or four times the 500 organism ceiling. These bacteria are not thought to be present when the water is delivered, but rather the dispensers and spigot are thought to be the major cause for concern. When connected to the cooler the bottle is sitting in a contaminated holder thus infecting the clean drinkable water.

Fortunately a process of reverse osmosis does not have the same amount of bacteria infecting the water. Instead of harboring bacteria reverse osmosis, purifies even the dirtiest of water. The process is called reverse osmosis given that that the method requires pressure to force unpolluted water through the membrane, leaving the impurities behind. The reverse osmosis process uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate and remove dissolved solids, pyrogens, submicron colloidal matter, viruses and bacteria from the water. This technique leaves no space for the common bacteria found in today’s drinking water as it removes almost 99% of the total dissolved solids (TDS) and 99% of all bacteria, leaving the user with fresh, clean drinkable water. Reverse osmosis water coolers, which needless to say are also bottle-less, are becoming more prominent everyday in the workplace, health clubs and even in many homes as an excellent alternative to the water cooler of years ago.

A variety of different water filters are on the market, but some of the most popular and effective are reverse osmosis filters. Reverse osmosis is a separation process that forces a solution through a membrane, blocking the solute on one side, and allowing the solvent to pass through to the other side. In the case of a drinking water filter, it blocks the impurities and chemicals on one side, and lets the pure water flow through to the other. Filters like the Crystal Quest Reverse Osmosis Filter remove up to 99.9 percent of all contaminants, and provide you with clean, safe water.

Ranking as one of the most bizarre ideas in water purification in recent years, consumers can now find New York City’s tap water in bottles.

Credit a company called TAP’D NY for the idea, which implements a reverse osmosis process to purify the water and filter out any potentially harmful agents. They then encourage everyone to reuse the plastic bottles the water comes in, and drink locally. The carbon footprint of drinking from other sources, they say, is getting too much for the earth to take.

Even though the idea sounds bizarre and even somewhat unappealing, TAP’D NY has an honest marketing strategy, which is a rarity when it comes to bottled water. They’re calling theirs “Truth in Hydration,” which is fair enough. Most other companies are quick to tell you that the water comes from a glacier, stream or other “natural” source, when all the while it might be runoff from an industrial plant. (And before you think no company would ever market something bad for your health, give the people at Phillip Morris a call.)