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Loading...Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration
- Annie B. Bond
- March 3, 1999
- 4:15 am
- 20 comments
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released information stating that, no matter where we live in the United States, there is likely to be some toxic substance in our groundwater. Indeed, the agency estimates that one in
five Americans, supplied by one-quarter of the nation’s drinking water systems, consume tap water that violates EPA safety standards under the Clean Water Act.
The most obvious solution to water pollution is a point-of-use water
purification device. The tap is the end of the road for water consumed by our families, so this is the logical, and most efficient, place to focus water treatment.
- Different water purification technologies each have strengths and weaknesses, and are particularly effective against specific kinds of
impurities or toxins.
- Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are complimentary processes.
Combining them results in the most effective treatment against the broadest range of water impurities and contaminants.
- Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification technology that utilizes normal household water pressure to force water through a selective semi-permeable membrane that separates contaminants from the water. Treated water emerges
from the other side of the membrane, and the accumulated impurities left behind are washed away. Eventually sediments builds up along the membrane and it needs to be replaced.
- Reverse osmosis is highly effective in removing several impurities from
water: Total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, asbestos, lead and other heavy metals, radium, and many dissolved organics.
- RO is less effective against other substances. The process will remove some pesticides (chlorinated ones and organophosphates, but not others), and most heavier-weight VOCs.
- However, RO is not effective at removing lighter-weight VOCs, such as THMs (the chlorine by-product) and TCE (trichloroethylene),and
certain pesticides. These compounds are either too small, too light, or of the wrong chemical structure to be screened out by an RO membrane.
Note: RO systems have two major drawbacks.
- First, they waste a large amount of water. They’ll use anywhere from 3 to 9 gallons of water per gallon of purified water produced. This could be a problem in areas where
conservation is a concern, and it may be slightly expensive if you’re paying for municipal water. On the other hand, this wastewater can be recovered or redirected for purposes other than drinking, such as watering the garden, washing the car, etc. - Second, reverse osmosis treats water slowly: It takes about 3 to 4 hours for a residential RO unit to produce one gallon of purified water. Treated water can be removed and stored for later use.
Read more: Home, Health & Safety
Excerpted from the Real Goods Solar Living Source Book,edited by Doug Pratt and executive editor John Schaeffer.Copyright (c) 1999, Real Goods. Reprinted by permsision of Chelsea Green Publishing Company and Real Goods.
Excerpted from Real Goods Solar Living Source Book,edited by Doug Pratt and executive editor John Schaeffer.
Annie B. Bond
Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).
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I've heard of a few of these. Thanks for sharing.
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You wouldn't lilac to me, would you?
20 comments
+ add your ownI really wish there was a better way to get fluoride and other toxins out of water than RO. It wastes so much water
An interesting post - I do not filter my tap water and unless I am away from the UK I do not buy bottled water.
Thanks for the article.
Thank you for the post.
Anne, Thank You. Excellent.
Thanks for the info.
RO sounds like a life saver, but one of the substances that are highly pollute is chlorine, which you find everywhere in this world. Maybe we should forbid people to drink tap water. water damage restoration is another interesting process you should consider.
I'm excitedly waiting all the changes in technology and availability of vehicles in the near future!!!
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Hi Sherry: Your apology is gladly accepted. I may have sounded a bit more upset than I really was. I hope we all learn as much about water filtratrion as we want and need to make good decisions.
Steve
Hi Lim:
Well, we are talking about RO water as that is a very good way to clean up the water that we drink here in America. Personally I use a system that incorporates 3 filters. One before and one after the RO. Tastes great and my 91 yo father likes it too, every day. My energy level is pretty good at 56.
Have a great day-y'all
Steve
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