Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems Explained

What is Reverse Osmosis (RO)?

Reverse Osmosis (or simply RO) is a water treatment method that reduces mineral content in water. It involves passing water under pressure through a very tight membrane that allows only water molecules to pass through and rejects most mineral salts.

Among its many uses in industry, it is used extensively all over the world to convert sea water to drinking water (desalination) and for reducing harmful contaminants in potable water. Most bottled waters are made using Reverse Osmosis.

 How are Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems different from other drinking water systems?

Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems are installed where reduction of specific contaminants is required. For example sodium, dissolved salts, mercury, nitrates, copper, fluoride, selenium etc. If your water has any such contaminant or tastes “salty”, RO is the way to go.

Other drinking water systems reduce contaminants that Reverse Osmosis systems do not reduce, such as chemicals, herbicides & pesticides, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Trihalomethanes (THM), MTBE, etc. Ceramic filter-based systems also reduce bacteria, coliform etc. Therefore, it depends on what your specific need is.

 I have bacteria or Coliform in my water. Should I install an RO system?

No. Contrary to popular misconception, Reverse Osmosis systems should not be installed on water that is microbiologically unsafe. It is the nature of the process that does not make it a fool proof disinfection device. However, Reverse Osmosis systems can remove filterable cyst (e.g. Cryptosporidium, Giardia etc).

I’ve heard RO systems waste a lot of water. Is that true?

The nature of RO technology is such that when water flows through it, some of it is collected as clean drinking water, while the rest of the water, along with the contaminants, flows down to drain. To put the waste water in perspective, on an average, however, for a family of 4, the total amount of water that goes to drain is equivalent to 2-3 additional toilet flushes a day. This varies with water usage and quality.

 I have heard that by drinking RO water, your body is deprived of minerals. Is it true?

Our body gets most of its minerals from the food we eat, not from the water we drink. For example, a glass of orange juice can have the same mineral content as you can get in 30 gallons of water! What’s more, RO water tastes great as well and that’s why most bottled waters are made using RO process.

 Can I install RO on the main line to treat all the water in my home?

Installing RO on the main line is impractical, wasteful and expensive. RO produces high quality water, which will be a waste flushing down in the toilet. Waste water from the RO will be high and all the copper piping in the house will have to be changed to plastic!

Can I hook up the RO system to a refrigerator/icemaker?

Yes, it is common.