It is becoming more and more common to hear news reports regarding what is in our water and how the effects of the particulates and contaminants affect our overall health. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) spends years studying what should be considered an acceptable level of contaminants in the water we drink and the best methods to treat them.
Chemicals Added to Drinking Water
Particulates and contaminants in residential water can include industrial waste products, fertilizers, pesticides and household cleaning products. More often than not, treatment involves adding additional chemicals to the water in order to neutralize the particulates. Chlorine for example, is added to residential drinking water to control the amount of microbes, but adding additional chemicals to water can give it less than desirable tastes along with strong unpleasant odors.
The expert water filtration technicians at AAA Water Team have provided what you can expect from having a whole home reverse osmosis system installed within your home.
What is Reverse Osmosis Water?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a system that is used to remove many of the contaminants and particulates found in our residential water supply. It works by pushing water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane. The beauty of this technology is that the system exists to remove contaminants from water without adding any chemicals. A semi-permeable membrane is designed to allow some molecules to pass through but not others. In layman’s terms, think of a screen door that allows air to pass through but keeps bugs out or anything larger than the holes in the screen. The holes are big enough to allow air through which is desirable, but small enough to keep out the things you don’t want getting into your home such as mosquitoes and other pests.
Why do I need a Whole House Reverse Osmosis System Installed?
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems have become a much needed appliance within residential homes. RO systems work by combining water pressure and a semi-permeable membrane to reduce the amount of contaminants to provide your home with great-tasting water without the addition of added chemicals. In some areas, the quality of the water has been so compromised that an RO system is needed for the entire home.
How does a Reverse Osmosis System Work?
A reverse osmosis system consists of four parts; a pre-filter, a membrane, a storage tank and post-filter. Water supplied by either the city or well enters through the pre-filter. The primary function of the pre-filter is to protect the life of the membrane by filtering out sediment and chemicals such as chlorine. RO technology relies primarily on water pressure to push the water through the membrane; the production rate of the membrane depends on factors including temperature and the total amount of dissolved solids. Flow and production rates often vary so many whole home RO systems have an attached storage tank, which allows pure drinking water to be available on an on demand basis. The resulting water is so pure, that odors and bad tastes from the storage tank can contaminant the water during prolonged contact. A post-filter is an important element of the whole home RO system as it is designed to remove any odors or unpleasant tastes that may have been picked up from the storage tank ensuring that your water once again tastes pleasant and is also refreshing. For whole house systems, a polisher is often used after the post-filter process to add healthy minerals to the water to protect the pipes. Many people also feel that a polisher further enhances the water’s taste.