How to Use a Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier

A reverse osmosis water purifier is the most effective method for removing a wide range of biological and chemical contaminants. Because it is so effective, it is most often used in medical facilities, water bottling plants and is even used for desalination. This method uses a two stage process to filter the water in your home. The water is first passed through a filter to remove sediment and larger particles. Once it has passed through the prefilter, it is pushed through the RO membrane, which strains very small organisms and contaminants. For the reverse osmosis system to be effective, you must have sufficient water pressure in your house.

You have two basic choices in a reverse osmosis water filter system: whole house or under the sink systems. Whole house units are installed at the point where your supply enters your home. This purifier makes every faucet safe for drinking and bathing. Most combine RO with sediment and carbon technology to remove a broader range of contaminants. The down side of whole house water filtration systems is they work slowly and tend to waste water. Reverse osmosis purification uses about five gallons of wastewater to purify one gallon for drinking.

An under the sink purifier will remove contaminants in the water you use for drinking or cooking. Many systems come with a pump to help provide sufficient pressure for the reverse osmosis process. Under sink water filters use anywhere from three to five stages for great results. These stages use various combinations of RO, carbon and sediment filters to remove nearly all particles and sediment from your supply.

No drinking water purification method is 100% efficient, and reverse osmosis is no exception. While RO systems remove many contaminants, they are not very effective for removing all chemicals. Smaller chemicals and VOCs are able to slip through the system and remain in your water. To remove all contaminants, it’s best to combine this method with another. Carbon filters work well for removing chemicals. If bacteria and other microorganisms are a problem, consider a combination reverse osmosis/ ultraviolet light purifier.

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