Reverse Osmosis Filters: Exaggerated Claims For
& Against Reverse Osmosis Filters
Camilla Johannsen
Reverse osmosis filters are one of the most popular home water
filtration systems, yet they are also one of the most widely
opposed. Their manufacturers claim that reverse osmosis filters
are able to stop any and all contaminants. Those who oppose RO
filters accuse them of being completely useless, asserting that
they are only a nest for bacteria, actually making water more
dangerous rather than safer. What is the truth?
As always, the truth is somewhere between those two opinions.
RO filters are good, but neither perfect nor universally
suitable.
How do reverse osmosis filters work?
In short, the reverse osmosis process relies on pushing water
through a membrane that traps the contaminants on one side and
forces clean water through to the other. The commonly used
membranes have no pores and the water is able to cross it only
because of the diffusion process. This treatment is 100%
effective against the inorganic contaminants and theoretically
should be able to get rid of bacteria as well. However, in
practice reverse osmosis filters are known to let some bacteria
to pass through, usually through the micro-leaks around the
membrane, but also through the membrane itself.
Why some people praise reverse osmosis while others curse it?
Most honest people who praise home water filtration systems
that rely solely on RO water filters either simply repeat what
the advertisements claim or they are really doing so because
reverse osmosis filters are the most cost-effective solution,
especially in places where the bacteria aren't the real
problem. If you add to that the fact that they are aggressively
marketed and the marketing languages don't have such words as
“mostly” or “for the most part”, you see why some people say
that reverse osmosis is really cool.
On the other hand, those who hate reverse osmosis filters and
claim that everyone should avoid home water filtration systems
that use only RO filters, are also partially right.
First, the reverse osmosis filtration systems require a lot of
careful maintenance in order to keep them working. The
membranes have to be checked and replaced on a regular basis or
you risk them becoming infested with all kind of bacteria. Keep
in mind that RO doesn't kill bacteria, it simply contains them
on one side of the membrane.
Also, reverse osmosis filters are known to work at peak
performance when the contamination level is relatively low. The
more the water is contaminated, the worse performance RO filters
have, especially when dealing with bacteria.
The bottom line on RO filters ...
Use reverse osmosis filters whenever you need a reasonable
quality for a low price or when a multi-stage home water
filtration system is out of question (for example, while
traveling). Just make sure the system gets its share of
maintenance and remember you can't completely trust a home
water filter that rely solely on a reverse osmosis. If you can
afford it, buy a multi-stage filter, preferably one that will
incorporate both a reverse osmosis filter and some strong UV
lamps to kill the bacteria.
About The Author: The water purification process is a
minefield, with disinformation everywhere. If you are truly
concerned about the purity of your water, you need to
understand the pros and cons of every technology.
http://uncontaminatedwater.com
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