Reverse osmosis filtration is a process where water is moved through several different filters that each remove different contaminants from the water. Reverse osmosis is an attractive purification choice for many reasons including that does not use chemicals or require electric. Water pressure alone moves water through a reverse osmosis filter. Perhaps most importantly, reverse osmosis removes contaminants that other filtration systems cannot.
Removing Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are one of the worst contaminants in water and they are also one of the most difficult to remove. Metals such as mercury, arsenic and lead are found in many drinking water sources including municipal water systems. Filtering tap water through reverse osmosis can help to reduce the number of metals in the water and reduce the risk of illness for those who drink it.
Improved Taste
Most people consider natural spring water to have a nice taste due to trace minerals in the water. Municipal water filtration systems remove these minerals along with undesirable contaminants. However, without the minerals, most municipal drinking water has very little taste or a slightly acidic taste. Reverse osmosis systems use two sets of carbon filters, one to remove chemicals early in the filtration process and one at the end to reintroduce minerals. The reintroduced minerals help to neutralize the acidic taste and provide a natural flavor to the water.
Hardware Preservation
Trace amounts of rough particles such as sand and rust are considered harmless to the human body. However, these trace amounts can cause damage to plumbing fixtures over time. The buildup of sand and rust in appliances can cause values to stop working, faucets to clog and water heaters to work inefficiently. However, a reverse osmosis system will help to protect these fixtures and appliances by removing the rough grit from the water.
