The 2 Sides of Reverse Osmosis: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using It

The reverse osmosis iron water filter system- I know, technical words can sometimes be intimidating and tedious to talk about- but hey, this is about how to be sure you get safe drinking water. Because an enormous percent of our water now is already polluted and there is a shortage of clean water, it is to your advantage to try some of the water filtration products that are available on the market today. And one method of water filtration is reverse osmosis.

Let me explain this first, as it is an extensive process that is being used in households and industries internationally. In reverse osmosis, the water runs through a membrane to take away the impurities and unwanted contaminants- resulting in purified water. Many of these pollutants are toxic, so you don't want them present in your drinking water. There are lots of filtration methods out there, but you have to know that just like any other filtration process, there are advantages and disadvantages in using them.

Advantages of Reverse Osmosis

1. Removes bacteria and pathogens in drinking water

Water has biological contaminants which are present in tap water. Some examples are Giardia and Cryptosporidium which are harmful bacteria that can cause diseases. Both of these bacteria reproduce in our intestines. And if you happen to drink Giardia-contaminated water, you may suffer malaise, diarrhea, excessive gas, bloating, loss of interest in food and weight loss. On the other hand, you might have Cryptosporidiosis- a disease of the intestinal tract- if Cryptosporidium attacks you.

2. Better taste and smell

Since in this process, 98% of chemicals are removed from your drinking water, it will not taste of chlorine anymore. You'll enjoy drinking lots of water every day and it's definitely, good for your health.

3. Reduces the risk of having diseases and illnesses

Tap waters contain chlorine, asbestos, mercury and lead. RO offers defense between the body and the over 2100 known toxins that could be present in tap water.

4. Children- friendly

Drinking pure water is very important especially for children. Water filters such as reverse osmosis systems provide the healthiest water for children's developing immune systems.

5. Quickly hydrates the body

Summer weather can be very hot, and the tendency is for us to perspire more frequently- even just doing simple activities. And one of the good things about drinking water filtered through a RO water filter is that our body quickly absorbs clean and contaminant-free water.

Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis

1. Purification Limits

The Chlorine and volatile organic chemicals (VOC's) are smaller than water molecules, which is why they can't be filtered on the reverse osmosis membrane. For this reason, many RO systems come with carbon pre-filters to remove them.

2. Speed and Efficiency

RO units require from 3 to 10 gallons of untreated water to make a single gallon of purified water, which is wasteful and expensive. And since it works against standard osmotic pressure, the reverse osmosis process is fairly slow and some RO water filtration systems can only produce 15 gallons per day (gpd).

3. Maintenance

A RO system needs to be maintained and checked regularly. You should schedule replacement of its filters to avoid the fouling of the membranes and for best performance.

The pre-filters protect and extend the life of the membrane and must be changed annually, while the reverse osmosis membrane (thin film composite - TFC) should be replaced every 2-3 years.

The reverse osmosis filtration process is one of the newer ways that scientists have developed to reuse and produce clean water. And just like any other type of equipment, it has pros and cons and that's unavoidable because its operation will always depend on the user- whatever brand it is. RO filters should be maintained regularly to achieve their optimal performance and to ensure that they will continue to give you and your family safe drinking water.

By Laura E Schneider
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