Reverse osmosis is a popular method for purifying water that many people use in their homes. If you’ve been thinking about getting a water filtration system installed, considering reverse osmosis is worthwhile. Here’s how it works and why it’s beneficial. 

What You Need to Know About Reverse Osmosis

What happens during reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis uses membrane filtration technology to remove dissolved solids, like sodium, and contaminants, like arsenic and lead, from your drinking water. It works by forcing pressurized water through a semi-permeable membrane that filters out impurities. Most home units combine this technology with mechanical and carbon filtration, which removes organic impurities, such as chlorine.

What does a reverse osmosis system do?

During the first step of the process, the water goes through pre-filtration, which typically involves a carbon-based filtration system that removes sediment and mineral deposits. The next step is reverse osmosis, which is when your water goes through the semi-permeable membrane. Finally, the contaminants removed by the filtration process are drained out of the system, and the treated water is stored for future use.

What types of contaminants are removed?

Some of the most common impurities filtered out by reverse osmosis include salts and colloids, which are oil- and fat-based molecules. This filtration system also removes bacteria and pyrogens, which are bacterial byproducts that cause fevers in humans.

What size unit do I need?

It can be tempting to buy the largest unit possible when fitting your home with a water filtration system. However, you should stick with a size that makes sense for you and your family. If you buy a 75-gallon unit and only use three of those gallons per day, your system will frequently sit idle. If you install a unit that is the correct size for your needs, it will run at the rate it was designed for, ensuring the system cleans itself regularly.

Have your home fitted with a reverse osmosis water filtration system by contacting the experts at The Water Source in the Hudson Valley, NY. These water purification professionals have more than 25 years of experience in the industry, giving them the expertise they need to help residential and commercial clients. The technicians always offer the latest technology at affordable prices. Schedule your free water analysis by calling (845) 297-1600, or visit the website for more information.