The human body is composed of about 60% water, so we need to stay hydrated for proper brain and organ function. Many people reach for a glass and turn on the tap without thinking about what’s in the water. If you haven’t installed a filtration system, you could be ingesting sediments and chemicals, including arsenic, nitrates, and chromium, on a daily basis. Installing a reverse osmosis filtration system can ensure the water you drink is free of harmful substances.
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is a water filtration system that removes contaminants from tap or unfiltered water using force and pressure. Reverse osmosis systems produce clean, fresh drinking water, that is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than bottled water. Reverse osmosis systems are ideal for home and businesses that might benefit from cleaner water.
Reverse osmosis uses a three-pronged filter system: a prefilter, a semipermeable membrane filter, and a postfilter. These three filters work together to remove sediment, chemicals, and contaminants, ensuring the water you use is as clean as possible.
How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?
To produce filtered water, a reverse osmosis system forces unfiltered water through a prefilter, which removes chlorine and sediment. The water is then forced through a semipermeable reverse osmosis membrane, which is made up of tiny holes that block contaminants but allow fresh, clean water to flow to a holding tank. The contaminants are washed down the drain, and clean water then passes through a postfilter to improve taste before it comes out of the faucet.
- Prefilter: Typically a carbon or sediment filter that removes sediment and chlorine.
- Reverse osmosis membrane: Removes tiny particles too small for the human eye to see.
- Water storage tank: Holds clean, filtered water until it is needed.
- Postfilter: Gives the water “one final polish” before flowing through a faucet.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration
One of the most apparent benefits of reverse osmosis water filtration is that it provides clean, refreshing water directly from your kitchen sink. Reverse osmosis technology filters out these chemicals and toxins commonly found in tap water:
- Salt
- Sediment
- Fluoride
- Chlorine
- Pesticides
- Arsenic
- Nitrates
- Chromium
- VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
- PFOS & PFAS (perfluorooctanesulfonic & perfluorooctanoic acid)
Reverse osmosis systems remove these contaminants and many others to eliminate unpleasant tastes and odors from your water. They can easily be installed under your kitchen sink, in a utility closet, or another convenient location. When harmful chemicals and toxins are removed, water becomes safer and healthier to drink and cook with. Reverse osmosis systems are also cheaper and more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
Do you want to learn more about installing a reverse osmosis filtration system in your home? Fletcher’s Plumbing & Contracting has been serving the Northern California area since 1973 as a licensed, bonded plumbing contractor and an authorized independent Kinetico water system installer. Contact us today to learn more about installing a reverse osmosis water filtration system, or call us at (530) 673-2489.