A reverse osmosis filter, or RO water system, can be very valuable for removing water contaminants, including arsenic and dissolved solids. A reverse osmosis filtering system works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. When something is referred to as semi-permeable, it simply means that some molecules can pass through the filter, while others cannot. This forces the cleaned, treated water through the membrane, while leaving the contaminants behind. Let's take a look at the stages involved in the process and whether RO is right for your family.

A sediment pre-filter is used to extract larger contaminants like dirt, sand, dust, grit and rust particles from the water when present. An optional secondary carbon pre-filter is used to extract most of the organic chemicals and chlorine; providing enhanced taste and reduction of odor while helping to protect the reverse osmosis membrane, which can be vulnerable to chlorine.

A RO membrane is normally made from a thin film composite. An optional carbon post-filter is used to capture any chemicals that are still present. This step also helps guard against any tainting which might occur within the device's water storage tank. Another option, an ultraviolet light (UV-C), is incorporated into the process to disinfect the water of any organisms that may have escaped the reverse osmosis membrane.

A RO water system can be extremely wasteful because for every gallon of water purified, three to four gallons are wasted in the process. And they are extremely slow. If you require a large supply of drinking water, then an RO water filter can never keep up. The tank generally holds one to two gallons of filtered water. Once you have used what is in the tank, you will more than likely be out of filtered water until the following morning.

A reverse osmosis water treatment system must occasionally be sanitized with chlorine, a chemical that is highly undesirable and which in many cases is filtered out by other systems. Though chlorine is nearly universally used by city and municipal water systems, it has been shown to cause cancer. Using it to clean the filter that you will use to filter out such things seems to be counter intuitive.

What types of contaminants does a RO water system filter? The contaminants it does filter include mercury, bromide, cadmium, chlorine, calcium, chloride, chromate, copper, cyanide, fluoride, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese and sulphate, to name a few. For all these many reasons, reverse osmosis water filtration systems are rarely your best or only choice for purifying water. There are other highly effective filtering systems without nearly as many drawbacks.

There are many water filters to choose from today, from the Kohler Faucet K-200-NA to the Countertop Superior Water Filter System. Reading water filter reviews will help you choose the best model for your needs.

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