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What is Reverse Osmosis (RO)?
Reverse
Osmosis, or RO for short, is the opposite of the natural process by which moisture is taken up by living cells. Root cells
of plants, for example, have special cell walls that allow water to pass through them. In reverse osmosis, water is forced
against a synthetic membrane using normal city water pressure. Only molecules of water easily diffuse through this unique
membrane material, and are collected as pure water on the other side. Impurities are left behind and are rinsed away to a
waste drain.
What about minerals? Do Reverse Osmosis systems remove them, and if so, aren't they
needed for health?
Many
home water devices claim they leave so called "beneficial" minerals in, considering it an advantageous feature. Distillers,
on the other hand, claim they remove all "objectionable" minerals and consider it an advantage. Sounds confusing, doesn't
it?
The
subject of minerals in water is one over which there is much controversy. There is even disagreement among health authorities.
To help you decide for yourself, consider the following information:
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Minerals in water exist as
mineral salts or so called inorganic minerals. Minerals in this form may not be as biologically acceptable to the human body
as are the organic forms of minerals found in all food and quality mineral supplements.
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Some inorganic minerals are
harmful to human health and no water treatment process can differentiate them from inorganic minerals that are not harmful.
Examples of inorganic minerals that are harmful are nitrates and toxic metals (lead, mercury and arsenic).
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Excess inorganic minerals in
water may be responsible for bad tastes, salty tastes and metallic tastes.
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Excess inorganic minerals may
interact with almost every food and beverage, detracting from its flavor. That's why virtually all packaged beverages, including
soft drinks and beer, are made with controlled levels of inorganic minerals to insure the best flavor possible.
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The
mineral content in water may be much less than the mineral content found in foods. An 8-ounce glass of milk typically contains
more calcium and magnesium than 5 gallons of water.
Does Reverse Osmosis remove fluoride from the water? Isn't fluoride necessary to reduce cavities?
Reverse
Osmosis systems can remove over 90% of the fluoride in the water. Fluoride occurs both naturally in the earth and water and
is often artificially added to municipal supplies because there is evidence it helps prevent tooth decay.
The
long-term effects of fluoridation of public water supplies, however, is still a subject of great controversy. Here's why:
Chlorine,
for instance, has been used routinely since 1913, but only recently have we discovered this helpful chemical has the potential
to generate cancer-causing chemicals (tri-halomethanes or THMS) when combined with organic substances naturally found in water.
Fluoridation may have little benefit for teeth after childhood, yet the population can consume fluoridated water from their
municipal supply as well as pay for it. Consider too, that only 2% of total fluoridated water is used for human consumption.
Further,
there are more prudent alternatives to fluoridating the entire water supply such as the application of fluoride tablets and
vitamins that may provide a safe, precise dose to your children.
What factors affect my RO system's performance?
The
quantity and quality of water produced by a Reverse Osmosis system are affected by feed water temperature, feed water pressure
and total dissolved solids.
Temperature
affects the performance of an RO due to the intricate design of an RO membrane. Production is improved as water temperature
approaches 77 degrees Fahrenheit (32ºC). Please Note: An RO device should only be installed on the cold water line.
Reverse
Osmosis systems are also affected by feed water pressure. As pressures increase so does the rate in which water is produced.
Generally speaking, Reverse Osmosis systems should be operated on feed water pressures above 40 psi to provide acceptable
performance.
High
concentrations of total dissolved solids (poor quality) of the feed water may decrease the life of the RO membranes or require
additional maintenance.
How long do RO membranes last?
The
longevity of an RO membrane greatly depends on feed water conditions, how well the system is maintained and whether the supply
is municipal or well water. On most municipal water supplies, the average useful life of a Reverse Osmosis membrane is 2 to
4 years. In well water applications, RO life may be reduced due to varied water conditions.
What kind of maintenance is required?
The
prefilter(s) need to be replaced every 6 months. Please contact Aquaflow proper maintenance of your Drinking Water System
What can I use Reverse Osmosis water for?
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