What is Reverse Osmosis Filtration?

A woman in a denim shirt drinks water in a kitchen, surrounded by fresh vegetables and a bowl of apples on the counter.
woman in the kitchen

Reverse osmosis is one of the most effective forms of water filtration.  It works by pushing water through a microscopically small filter material. This semi-permeable membrane has a pore size of around 0.0001 microns, effectively only allowing the small water molecules through and catching any larger molecules of contaminants, organic materials or even salt.

Widely considered one of the most effective water filtration methods, reverse osmosis (RO) creates clean, great-tasting water.  

How Does Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Work?

Reverse osmosis is a multi-stage water treatment process that removes contaminants from unfiltered water when pressure forces it through a semipermeable membrane. Residential reverse osmosis systems utilize at least three stages of treatment to reduce levels of virtually all contaminants. In the final stage, the RO membrane, water flows from the more concentrated side of the membrane to the less concentrated side to provide clean drinking water. 

Reverse osmosis simply involves adding higher pressure to move the water molecules out of the stronger solution (the contaminated water) and into the weaker solution (the pure water).

Because of the microscopic pores on the semi-permeable membrane filter, reverse osmosis can not only remove  contaminants such as sediment and larger organic material, but it can also even remove dissolved substances from within the water.

Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration

With nearly two million Americans living without basic access to safe drinking water and another 40% of Americans further filtering tap water at home, water filtration systems have become an important part of many U.S. households.

1. Reverse Osmosis Filters Nearly All Contaminants

Unlike other forms of water filtration, reverse osmosis is considered one of the most all-around effective ways of eliminating water contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems have ended boil water advisories in communities across the world by safely treating the drinking water where traditional water filtration systems did not work.

What does reverse osmosis remove?

No matter where you live, there’s a lot more than you think in your home’s water. If pure water is what you want, a reverse osmosis drinking system is what you need!

With a reverse osmosis system, you can remove these unwanted contaminants such as:

  • lead
  • arsenic
  • copper
  • nitrates and nitrites (hexavalent & trivalent)
  • chromium
  • PFAS
  • fluoride
  • chlorine
  • microplastics
  • total dissolved solids (TDS)

 RO systems also include sediment and carbon filtration for a broad spectrum of reduction. The carbon filters in an RO system remove chlorine, bad taste, and foul odors, and the sediment filter removes dirt and debris.

2.  You’ll Stop Buying Bottled Water

Reverse osmosis is significantly better for the environment and safer than bottled water.

If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, or you’re concerned about what might be in it, there’s a good chance you’re buying bottled water all the time.

Bottled water is expensive. Those plastic bottles create a lot of waste as they all too often go unrecycled and end up in landfills and the oceans. Plus, the bottom line is much of that bottled water isn’t as pure as you think. The quality of water in bottled water has been put into question in the last few years due to microplastics and PFAS found to be contained in them.

Additionally, a reverse osmosis system will pay for itself in no time because you’ll only be paying pennies per gallon.

3. Other Benefits Include:

It’s Better for Cooking

The impurities in your home’s water are going to affect the taste of the food you make.

That makes a lot of sense when you think about it, because the water you cook with often ends up in your food. When you boil pasta, make soups, or bake homemade bread, pure water can make a big difference.

If you’re using municipal tap water for cooking, there’s a good chance you have too much chlorine in it. That will not only cause food to taste odd, it discolors it as well.

You’ll also find that coffee and tea taste better with reverse osmosis water. In fact, many of the best restaurants now exclusively use R.O. water for cooking.

Crystal Clear Ice Cubes

Have you ever noticed how when you make ice cubes they tend to look white and cloudy?

The reason for that is impurities in your water, which crystalize as they freeze. Ice forms from the outside in, and as this happens the impurities are forced to the center of the ice cube, resulting in a cloudy appearance. Ice cubes made from reverse osmosis water will be crystal clear!

Reverse Osmosis Water Tastes Delicious

Perhaps the best reason to have reverse osmosis drinking water in your home is how great the water tastes. When you remove all those impurities, you’re left with nothing but clean, refreshing water.

You will notice a major difference in both the taste and appearance of your water.

Many families who start using reverse osmosis drinking water find themselves drinking more water and less sugary juice, sports drinks, and soda.

Ready to learn more about getting a Reverse Osmosis System installed in your home?

Contact us today! To learn more about reverse osmosis drinking water systems contact us today (805) 963-7873 or visit www.getpurewater.com