Whole House Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems

Osmosis water filtration systems are essential for the purification of water, especially drinking water. It is being used increasingly for the treatment of water from municipal sources and wells, and of water containing dissolved solids and other impurities. The reverse osmosis water filter softens water and eliminates bacteria, heavy metals and other unwanted substances.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Process

Reverse osmosis is considered to be the finest filtration process. It is also known as hyperfiltration and was developed under the US government, in the late 1950s. Initially, it was being developed as a method for the desalination of sea water, but was later accepted by many manufacturing industries as a method of water purification. Now, it is also being used in residential setups as it has proved to be the most convenient and efficient water filtration method.

The process of reverse osmosis, involves forcing of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane, by the high pressure applied by the water. The membrane is rolled up spirally around a hollow tube. The pressure exerted by the water, forces the water through the membrane, separating it from the impurities. This process is capable of removing unwanted particles that are as small as dissolved ions. The impurities left behind are carried away to a waste drain, by a part of the feed water, thus keeping the membrane clean.

A reverse osmosis water filtration system is installed in homes to make clean and pure water available for drinking, cooking, laundry, showers, etc. A whole house reverse osmosis water filtration system, consists of the following components.

• A Reverse Osmosis Unit: This is required for the production of treated water, as per the daily requirements. Different capacities of the unit are available depending on the rate of production of purified water. For example, a 500 gallon-per-day system, produces purified water at the rate of 20 gallons per hour.
• A Pretreatment Equipment: This is an optional component and needs to be installed along with the reverse osmosis filtration system, especially if the water contains excessive mineral hardness.
• A Storage Tank: This is required to store water that has been purified by the reverse osmosis filtration system. Reverse osmosis is a slow process and the water is purified even when it is not being used. A storage tank will store the purified water for later use.
• A Re-pressurization System: This is required to make the purified water available in the house, whenever needed. It consists of a pump that exerts pressure and supplies water, as per the demand.

The cost of a whole house reverse osmosis water filter would depend upon factors, like the amount of water that will be required on a daily basis, the type and size of the water storage tank, the required water pressure, etc. They are available under different brand names and need to be installed by a professional.

Osmosis water filtration systems are low-maintenance, multi-filtration systems and guarantee safe drinking water that also tastes great!