One of the things about Reverse Osmosis water, or RO water for short, is that it removes a lot of impurities, metals and even parasites from your water. Many people ask, “How is it that our treated tap water still has so much bad stuff in it?” There are many reasons for this!
How Does a Reverse Osmosis System Work?
Reverse Osmosis is a process of taking water and forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane has holes that are so small, only water can go through. This removes contaminants such as dissolved salts, mercury, calcium, iron, asbestos, and lead to name a few. In essence, Reverse Osmosis is a great way to purify your drinking water, so you have access to fresh, clean water.
How Springfield, Mo. Water Gets Polluted
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Households all over Springfield, Mo. and surrounding areas have old piping.
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Tap water is treated with chlorine which, over time, can have adverse health effects on people drinking it.
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Chemical waste from factories often leaks into our groundwater. While tap water is treated, it doesn’t remove all of the chemical waste.
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Pesticides from farmland leak into our groundwater. While pollutants can be either broken down over time or diluted with more water to the point that it is deemed safe for human consumption, the pollutant is still there.
The good news is that an RO water system can take care of all of these things while giving you safe, clean drinking water in your home or office!
Pros and Cons of RO Water Filter Systems
What: Reverse osmosis, or RO for short, is a water purification technology that uses a partially permeable membrane to remove ions, unwanted molecules and other particles from water. This technology was formulated to desalinate seawater in the 1950’s by the U.S. government.
PROS of RO Water Filter Systems
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Cost-effective
A reverse osmosis water system produces clean water for pennies per gallon.
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Convenient
A reverse osmosis water system is connected straight through your kitchen tap.
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Clean
An RO system removes 95-99% of total dissolved solids, chlorine, and even pharmaceuticals and bacteria.
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Taste improvement in food
Many people have discovered that using a reverse osmosis water system enhances the taste of their foods and recipes. This is why many restaurants use RO water systems.
CONS of RO Water Filter Systems
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Clogging
Because of the membrane in a reverse osmosis system, the unit can become clogged. One option many people invest in is a pre-filter to protect the unit. Another option would be to pair it was a water softener system.
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Slow Water
Due to the semi-permeable membrane, a reverse osmosis system uses a household’s water pressure. This can make the water flow slower than tap water.
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Maintenance
For RO water systems, you will need to change out the filter periodically. They will need to be cleaned and sterilized once per year as well.
RO Water Filter Maintenance
As a rule of thumb, RO systems have three, four or five-filter stages. Without detailing each stage of the RO process (since the number of stages varies based on the model), we outline here some basic maintenance information that applies to most RO units.
First:
The pre-filter cartridge is designed to filter out dirt, silt, sand and other sediments. This pre-filter should be changed every 6-9 months. If not properly maintained or changed on schedule, the pre-filter can foul or become clogged, thereby making it unable to protect the RO membranes.
Second:
The next phase is generally a carbon filter which is designed to remove chlorine and other taste or odor contaminants. The carbon filter should be replaced every 6-9 months, also.
Third:
This is the actual reverse osmosis phase. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a separation process that uses pressure to force water through a membrane. The membrane retains the contaminant on one side and allows the pure solvent (water) to pass through to the other side.
Water passes through the RO membrane at generally 35 pounds per square inch (psi). At this rate, roughly two drops per second. The contaminants rejected by the membrane are piped down the drain. RO membranes should be replaced every 2-3 years.
NOTE: The filter and membrane lifespan will vary based upon local water conditions and household usage.
Fourth:
Finally, a carbon filter stage is usually added to “polish” off the water at the end of the cycle. This stage removes any remaining taste or odors to create outstanding drinking water. The carbon filter should be changed every 6-9 months.
In summary, you could choose to change out your own RO filters, or you can choose to opt-into an Aquasani no-hassel RO filter maintenance program. All you need to do is set it and forget it! We can have our techs come by with the right filters and equipment you need for your unique set up. The best part? You don’t even have to use one of Aquasani’s units! We can maintain them all!
In fact, if you live in the Ozarks and would like to see what other kinds of water purification system works best for your home and your needs, get yourself a complementary hassle-free quote and give us a call! (417) 881-4000. We will have one of our techs come out and provide you with a free quote!
About Aquasani Water Purification Systems & Filter Maintenance
Aquasani is an authorized dealer for Rainsoft, WaterLogic, & JavaSmart. Based in Springfield, Mo., and at Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach in Missouri, Aquasani services areas in the Ozarks including Osage Beach, Joplin, Camdenton, Aurora and even Jefferson City. In essence, we service Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri, and Northwest Arkansas, and have been servicing these areas since 2004. We provide home water softener systems, drinking water filtration systems, whole-house air purification systems, and problem-solving water filtration systems for homes and offices. We also service other water softeners like Culligan, Sterling, Hydroquad, Pro-Series, and Whirlpool to name a few!
Aside from our purification systems, we also sell all-natural cleaning products and household items which are environmentally friendly and low-cost.
We specialize in both air and water filtration and purification for commercial businesses and residential homes. If that isn’t enough, we provide free trials for our water cooler services. If you would like a free estimate, schedule an appointment with us by calling (417) 881-4000 or (573) 692-4009 if you are in the Lake of the Ozarks area.
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