The world we live in today is piling up with many different types of pollution. We use toxic chemicals to clean our homes, cars, clothes, food, etc., and even some of those products contain dangerous substances.
In fact, most of our drinking water contains traces of pollutants like lead, mercury, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, arsenic, and fluoride. Some people don’t want to drink tap water because they think it’s unsafe, but in reality, it’s just safer than bottled water.
Unfortunately, bottled water isn’t always affordable, especially when you’re travelling around the globe. If you’re worried about what’s in your water, you can consider buying a reverse osmosis system.
These machines work by forcing water through a membrane, which removes impurities like chlorine, heavy metals, and microbes. Once the water passes through the membrane, it flows into a storage tank for later use. You’ll never have to worry about getting sick again thanks to the high water quality produced by these units.
Let’s dig deeper into what is a reverse osmosis system and how it works.
What is a Reverse Osmosis System?
A reverse osmosis system uses pressure to push water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane. This process allows the system to filter out contaminants such as minerals, salt, bacteria, viruses, and even heavy metals. Reverse osmosis systems work best when there is a high concentration of dissolved solids in the water source.
Reverse osmosis systems are commonly found in homes, businesses, restaurants, hospitals, schools, and government facilities. They are also used in some commercial applications like desalination plants, food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical production, and wastewater treatment.
How Does a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System Work?
Reverse osmosis is an effective method of filtering out contaminants from water. The reverse osmosis process uses pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. Impurities get filtered out while the pure water passes through the system. There are no added chemicals used during this process.
In a Reverse osmosis water purification system, the solvent is pure water, and the membrane is a thin layer of plastic, glass, ceramic, or metal. As the water moves through the membrane, some of the water molecules pass through the membrane while others remain trapped within the membrane. This creates a difference in pressure on both sides of the membrane, causing the water to move through the membrane.
Most of the dissolved solids pass through the membrane into waste streams called brines. Brine gets collected and recycled back into the system. The purified water is then stored in tanks or returned to use.
The main use of a reverse osmosis system is to purify drinking water, although it can also treat wastewater. Reverse Osmosis removes dissolved solids such as salt, minerals, and bacteria from the water. These contaminants cause problems such as corrosion in pipes and plumbing fixtures, scaling inside faucets and shower heads, and general deterioration of appliances and fixtures.
Reverse osmosis systems use a great deal of energy to force water through the membrane. They require large amounts of power to operate properly. Most municipalities charge a monthly fee based on how much electricity each home consumes.
The cost of installing a Reverse Osmosis system varies depending on the size of the system required and whether the installation requires modifications to existing piping. A typical residential unit costs $10-$20 per month to run.
What are the Components of a Reverse Osmosis System?
There are three different stages of filtration in RO water filter systems that produce either potable water or brine depending on what you want.
The first stage of filtration is pre-treatment, which cleans the water by removing sediments and chlorine that can damage the RO membrane. After pre-treatment, the second stage of filtration filters the water further to remove additional impurities. Finally, post-treatment removes residual chemicals left over from the previous steps.
A reverse osmosis system has the following parts.
i) Membrane filter – Water enters the filter via the feed pump. The RO membrane filter separates pure water from impurities like suspended solids, dissolved solids, salt, minerals, and bacteria. After passing through the membrane, the purified water flows into a storage tank.
ii) Pressure Pumps – The high-pressure pump provides the energy needed to push the water through the membranes. It pushes the water through the membrane, forcing any contaminants out of the water stream. Once the contaminated water passes through the membrane, it goes into a waste line. The waste line carries the water away from the house, preventing it from entering the plumbing system. These
iii) Valves – Control the flow of fluid into and out of the unit.
iv) Tanks – An RO storage tank stores water produced by the system, allowing you to tap into it whenever you want.
Conventional Water Filter vs RO Water Filter System
The most common way to describe Reverse Osmosis technology is “reverse.” In this case, the direction of flow gets reversed compared to normal filtration processes where water flows into the device.
In conventional filtration, water enters the device and passes through a porous media, such as sand or gravel, to trap particles larger than 0.1 microns. These get removed from the water stream and discarded.
With RO, however, water flows around the media rather than through it. As the water travels through the media, it encounters a semipermeable membrane. This membrane prevents certain molecules from passing through while allowing others to pass freely.
As a result, the water becomes concentrated in those molecules that cannot pass through the membrane. The resulting product is purer than what came in because fewer contaminants remain behind.
Reverse osmosis systems use less energy than traditional water filtration methods. Today, many homes use these RO systems because they need less power than alternative methods.
How long do RO Water Filter systems last?
A typical RO system lasts about 10 to 15 years. Yet, there are many factors that affect how long a system will last. The actual life span depends on how well-maintained the RO unit is.
For example, the type of membrane material affects longevity. A polyamide membrane might last 10 years longer than a cellulose acetate membrane. Also, the amount of flow rate through the system affects the lifespan of the membrane. Higher flow rates mean faster replacement intervals.
In most cases, membrane fouling is a result of the precipitation of solids onto the surface of the membrane. This occurs due to high concentrations of salts within the feed water.
These salts get rejected by the membrane and accumulate over time. Membrane fouling leads to increased energy consumption and decreased permeate flux. To combat this problem, it is necessary to maintain a clean membrane system. If you clean the filters regularly, then they should last longer.
Conclusion
A reverse osmosis system removes impurities from the incoming water by forcing water through a membrane filter which removes contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals. Thus an RO water filter system produces purer drinking water than any other method. You can use the RO-filtered water for cooking, washing dishes, cleaning, and even bathing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reverse Osmosis System
Does the reverse osmosis system waste too much water?
The reverse osmosis system wastes only 1% of the water that enters it. This is due to the fact that the membrane filters out 99% of the contaminants in the water. However, there are still some contaminants left behind in the water that could cause problems.
How to reduce wastewater in an RO water purification system?
There are several ways to reduce the amount of wastewater produced by an RO water filter system. One way is to use a pre-filter before the membrane. Pre-filters remove large particles from the water stream. They also help prevent clogging of the membrane. Another option is to install a deionizer. Deionizers remove ions from the water stream. This helps keep the membrane clean and prevents the buildup of minerals on the membrane.
Can I use my existing plumbing with a reverse osmosis water filter system?
Yes! You can use your existing plumbing with a reverse osmosis water purification system. There are two types of systems: one where you have to replace all of your pipes and fixtures; and another where you just need to change the faucet. Both options work equally well.
Is a reverse osmosis system expensive?
Yes, but not as expensive as buying bottled water or using a distiller. An average household will spend around $500-$1000 per year on its reverse osmosis system. However, if you live in an area with hard water, you may be able to save money by installing a water softener first.
Do I need to buy new appliances for a reverse osmosis water filtration system?
No. Most people don’t need to purchase new appliances because most of them are made specifically for reverse osmosis systems. Some appliances do need replacement though. For example, the pump needs replacement every 3 years. Also, you have to change the membranes every 2-3 months.
Is reverse osmosis water filtration system good for the environment?
Yes! Reverse osmosis systems produce less wastewater than boiling, distillation, and filtering methods. In addition, they use far less energy than these methods. As such, they are environment-friendly.
Do I need special training to operate a reverse osmosis water filtration system?
No. All you need is a little knowledge and experience. You should know how to read and understand instructions.