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!±8± Are Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems Worth the Money?

Reverse Osmosis Water Cleaning Systems Have their Ups and Downs

Of all the water purification products available on the market today, reverse osmosis systems have a good reputation. People often have them installed next to their kitchen taps, but before you buy one read here about the pluses and minuses of these systems.

Reverse osmosis systems work by pushing tap water through a membrane or film that has tiny holes in it. In theory, only pure water molecules can pass through the tiny holes, leaving pollutants, little organisms and minerals on the dirty side of the membrane.

These reverse osmosis systems require pressure to push water through the membrane and a pump must be used to keep the water flowing through with enough pressure. The process is very slow and more water is wasted than is purified. The systems use between three and ten gallons to produce one gallon of clean water. If you live in a place with a water shortage, this is not a good system to use.

A good quality reverse osmosis system can remove up to 80% of organic chemicals and toxic minerals. They cannot remove chlorine, radon or many microorganisms so cannot be used as water disinfectants. A carbon filter can remove these materials but not many other contaminants.

Reverse osmosis systems can become clogged with bacteria, algae (tiny plants) or sediments. If your water has a high level of "total dissolved solids" (TDS) then you need to use another system or pre-filter the water before it reaches your RO system. Before you invest in such a system, you must have your water tested for TDS and bacteria. If you use a RO system in sediment laden water or hard water you'll need to replace the filters often.

The membrane in a RO system degrades with time. If the water going into the system is quite clean, the membrane can last up to three years. If your water has the pollutants discussed above, then it can degrade sooner and will need to be replaced more often.

You can get two types of membranes for an RO system. Thin Film Composite systems cost more but they cannot be used in chlorinated water. Cellulose acetate (CA) cost less but can be exposed to chlorine which is a common but toxic disinfectant used in water systems and swimming pools.

Home RO systems cost between 0 and ,000, depending on quality and the number of filter membranes.

Summary

The upside of reverse osmosis systems lies in their ability to remove many water contaminants. The downside comes in their wasting water and their inability to tolerate chlorine in many cases, along with the slow process by which they produce clean water.

RO systems most often are used with other types of filters to make an effective system. Click the link below to learn more about a high quality multistage water purification system for your home.