Reverse Osmosis
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process where water is cleaned by forcing water through an ultra-fine semi-permeable membrane which allows only the water to pass though and retains the contaminants (usually salt and other impurities). Quality reverse osmosis systems use a process known as cross flow to allow the membrane to continually clean itself.
How is it used?
Reverse osmosis (RO) water processors are ideal for water purification in various locations. To work effectively, the water feeding to these units should best be under some pressure (40psi or over is the norm). RO water processors can be used by people who live in rural areas without clean water, far away from the city’s water pipes. Some travelers on long boating trips, fishing, island camping, or in countries where the local water supply is polluted or substandard, use RO water processors coupled with one or more UV sterilizers. One of the disadvantages of RO is that a system may require from 3 to 10 gallons of untreated water to make a single gallon of purified water.
Water purification is often a necessity on private islands. Treatment can reduce common contaminates, such as sediment, calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfate, nitrates, arsenic, lead, bacteria and viruses. Water treatment can produce cleaner, safer, better tasting, and better smelling water, better suited for household use.