REVERSE OSMOSIS BASICS Water in nature is never really perfect and comes to us with impurities from living organisms, suspended substances, and dissolved gases and solids. All of these can affect the taste and appearance of water, not to mention its degree of both safety and hardness. The Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System process is the same process that many hospitals throughout the country have used to make certain that their pharmaceutical water is of the highest quality. Your drinking water comes from two main sources: groundwaters (wells and springs), and surface water (lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds). Both sources are replenished by rain, which dissolves and carries contaminants into the surface and underground aquifers. Some of these contaminants are dioxin, THM's, arsenic, and other chemicals which can be dangerous even when measured in the parts per billion range. Over 40 million Americans need to restrict their intake of salt (NaCl) because of high blood pressure, yet almost every water supply has sodium chloride in it. Nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers enter our water supplies as run-off during rainstorms and irrigation. Nitrates over 10 parts per million may cause intestinal and stomach cancer. Waste from private septic systems and public disposal plants can lead to dangerous bacteria levels causing virus and bacteriological diseases. You can't see, smell, or taste most of the dangerous contaminants in your water supply. Although it may take 15 to 20 years before you develop cancer, heart disease or nervous disorders, perhaps we should take preventative measures to better protect ourselves. A home reverse osmosis (R.O.) system can substantially reduce dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and manganese as well as brackish mineral salts, chlorides, and other tastes. The result is cleaner, healthier drinking water. Water contains total dissolved solids (TDS), which is the measurement by weight of dissolved materials in a given volume of water. If the material will completely dissolve and is not visible in the water, it is part of the total dissolved solids. Reverse Osmosis helps to lower the TDS content of water (such as brackish water, saline water, or seawater) since substances such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium cannot readily pass through the semi-permeable membrane, while water can. With the assistance of water pressure, impurities are removed and sent down the drain. R.O. is a membrane process that acts as a molecular filter to remove up to 99% of all dissolved minerals. The pores in the membrane are about .0006 microns in size. To give you some perspective, the smallest known bacteria is .02 micros. Water passes through the membrane while the dissolved solids and particulate materials are left behind. As pressure is applied to the concentrated solution, the flow is reversed and water is forced through the membrane from the concentrated side to the dilute side. Water molecules penetrate the thin layer of the reverse osmosis membrane and diffuse through it molecule by molecule. Dissolved salt ions would also diffuse through this layer, except that the solubility of the salt ions in the membrane is much less than that of the water. Thus, the water moves through more rapidly with the result that separation occurs. The driving force is furnished by both the pressure and the concentration differentials across the thin layer.For water, the pressure effect is the most important. Therefore, increases in pressure increase the water flux without a corresponding increase in salt flux. This process removes most of the dissolved mineral salts, almost all of the particulate matter, and most of the dissolved organic compounds. With reverse osmosis systems, water pressure must be maintained at 40-70 pounds per square inch (PSI) to keep a driving force across the membrane to produce a high clarity, low mineral content water. Most reverse osmosis systems operate in the 25-50%conversion range. This means that at 50% conversion, 100 gallons of feed water will produce 50 gallons of pure water (permeate)and 50 gallons of brine (concentrate). Other methods of water treatment such as water softening and antiscalant injection, are also important and it is a combination of these along with reverse osmosis that will normally produce the highest quality water. It should be noted that a reverse osmosis system is not a solution for all water problems and that water must be potable - safe for human consumption - before it is put through a reverse osmosis system. The central part of the reverse osmosis system is the module which is a pressurized container housing the semi-permeable membrane. Cellulose Triacetate (CTA) membranes are used for chlorinated supplies. Thin Film Composite (TFC) long-life membranes are used for non-chlorinated water supplies. Here the feed water will be separated into a usable product called permeate and a waste product called concentrate. On either side of the module may be two carbon filters, one which pretreats the feedwater, the other which post treats the permeate. The product water may then pass into a diaphragm pressure tank which holds the water until it is taken from the discharge faucet by the user. Counter-top units, however normally omit a pressurized storage tank and discharge directly into a non-pressurized container. Most of these systems have a one to five-gallon capacity, usually more than adequate for drinking and cooking purposes. Unlike the larger commercial systems, a pump is not required to provide additional pressure. The home R.O. system operates online or system pressure. No electricity is needed. Its compactness allows the system to fit easily in a small area, often under the kitchen sink or in a cabinet. Better quality RO system has a built-in shut-off which saves water by shutting off the flow of wastewater when the tank is full. The home low-pressure Reverse Osmosis System is designed for use on a potable drinking water supply. In addition, the water should be clear in appearance, not turbid or cloudy, and without offensive taste. If these conditions have not been met, the water will require treatment before putting it through the R.O. system. Good quality feedwater is essential if the system is to function properly and produce a satisfactory product. This is why the carbon filter system is important: it can treat the feedwater for chlorine removal, as well as reduce suspended solids. Reasonable care must be taken to prevent damage to the R.O. membrane. Factors that can shorten the life of the membrane include scaling, excessive pressure or temperature, and bacteria and chlorine degradation. By exercising care, avoiding extremes in feedwater impurities, and occasionally cleaning and monitoring the system, these problems may be prevented. However, periodically changing the membrane will be necessary. Approximate percent reduction* in the following contaminants by a reverse osmosis system:
- Aluminum 97-98 %
- Hardness 95-98
- Polyphosphate 98-99
- Zinc 98-99
- Bromide 93-96
- Mercury 96-98
- Magnesium 96-98
- Manganese 98-99
- Bacteria 99+
- Pyrogen 99+
- Lead 96-98
- Cadmium 96-98
- Radioactivity 95-98
- Chloride 94-95
- Silicate 95-97
- Chromium 96-98
- Silver 95-97
- Copper 98-99
- Sodium 94-98
- Cyanide 90-95
- Strontium 96-99
- Ferrocyanide 99+
- Sulfate 99+
- Fluoride 94-96
- Virus 99+
- Sulfite 96-98
- Silica 85-90
- Chromate 90-98
- Thiosulfate 99+
- Iron 98-99
- Ammonium 85-95
- Arsenic 94-96
- Boron 60-70
- Phosphate 99+
- Borate 40-70
- Orthophosphate 98-99
- Bicarbonate 95-96
- Nitrate 93-96
- Barium 96-98
- Nickel 98-99