Why Reverse Osmosis Is Better Than Traditional Home Filtration Systems

You keep hearing the name over and over again: Reverse Osmosis. You kind of have an idea of what it is, and you’re curious to learn more. You also want to know if it’s better than your current home filtration system. The truth is that Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtration is one of the most effective ways of removing contaminants and pollutants from your water supply. Don’t believe us? Allow us to explain:

RO systems are designed to dramatically decrease the presence of contaminants and harmful bacteria in your water supply. It involves a process where your water passes through a semi-permeable membrane where certain molecules will not make it to the other side. The water is forced through the membrane and by stages, it will reduce the concentration of contaminants in your water supply.

There are several different solutions and systems in the entire filtration spectrum that all work towards eliminating contaminants. However, certain methods can only remove certain contaminating elements from your water supply. For example, activated carbon filtration heavily focuses on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which typically include industrial cleaning solvents, lubricants, and plasticizers.

Several factors separate RO systems from some of the more conventional approaches. The capacity to reduce and eliminate contaminants, however, is what’s at the crux of the matter. We need to take a closer look at the types of contaminants that a traditional filtration method removes versus that of an RO system.

Here is what conventional filtration can remove:

• Volatile Organic Compounds. This typically involves industrial solvents, fuels, and radioactive materials.
• Herbicides, pesticides, and other substances that are used for pest control.
• Disinfectants (such as chlorine) typically used in water treatment facilities.
• Awful odors and bad taste.

An RO system will remove everything mentioned above plus:

• Salts, nitrates, and heavy metals such as lead or copper.
• Hard minerals that form deposits on metallic surfaces, including magnesium and calcium.
• Organic chemicals such as fluoride.
• Viruses and harmful bacteria. Some examples include E. Coli, Hepatitis, and Salmonella.
• Arsenic and other toxins

RO systems aren’t as effective as an activated carbon filter at removing VOCs and other organic compounds, but there is no denying that they are extremely serviceable.

You should always test the quality of your water before investing in a new filtration system. This is because you need to determine the contaminants that are more prevalent in your water supply. Most municipal suppliers will test their water every year or so and share their findings with the general public.

You should always prioritize your purification needs. Is there a higher concentration of a certain contaminant in your water supply? If so, take note of this and also take the appropriate steps toward having it removed.

Do you mainly use your hame water supply for drinking? Cleaning? Cooking? Bathing? These are things that you also need to consider. If the answer is yes to all of these questions, then you should install an RO system at the point-of-entry for your home water supply. This is where you will install your whole home filtration system. RO systems typically do not take up a lot of space and they will provide you with a considerable amount of clean and healthy water every day.

It’s not as if RO systems are incompatible with activated carbon filters. You can use both if you feel that you need to do so. You can easily install a separate filter onto any faucet of your home or, if it’s for drinking purposes, you can always purchase a filtered water pitcher.

RO systems are extremely effective in removing a wide range of contaminants from your water supply. Pure water filters are very limited in what they can do, whereas RO filtration will force out the vast majority of impurities. The tiny pores in the RO membrane make it impassable for most of the micro-organisms, chemicals, and minerals that are present in municipal water.

If you are still not sure about the system that is right for you, we recommend that you contact one of our representatives today. They can explain in greater detail all of the advantages and disadvantages of RO filtration. You can also have one of our staff members come out to your home to test your water supply. We can easily and accurately determine the concentration of contaminants and propose a solution moving forward. This can also benefit you greatly in understanding your needs and achieving a healthy and safe supply of water for your entire home.

Call us today to schedule a water test!