What is Reverse Osmosis: Comprehensive Guide to RO System

You’ve heard about RO filters. But did you know what they really do?

Water is essential to life, and access to clean, safe drinking water is a human right. But due to continuous pollution, our water sources aren’t guaranteed to be free from contaminants and impurities. 

This is where water purification techniques like Reverse Osmosis (RO) have become a crucial part of our lives. But what is reverse osmosis? How can it be used? All your questions are answered here. 

What is Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a water purification process. It uses a semi-permeable membrane filter with a synthetic lining to filter out water molecules from substances such as chlorine, salt, and dirt.

The membrane filter contains microscopic pores. As a result of this, an RO filter doesn’t just remove the visible, obvious contaminants in the water – think sediment etc., – but also the dissolved substances. This is why RO is considered one of the most effective water filtration methods. It results in clean, great-tasting water.

What is a Reverse Osmosis system made of? 

Reverse Osmosis (RO) system consists of several vital components that play individual roles in the process of purifying water. 

1. Pre-filters: The first layer of separation, the pre-filters remove larger particles, and sediments to protect the inner RO membrane. 
2. RO membrane: This is the inner layer, which is also the heart of the system. This semi-permeable membrane removes microparticles and other contaminants and is a very important stage in water purification. 
3. Storage Tank: As the name suggests, this is the part of the RO system that collects the purified water that is ready to use. 
4. Post-filters: Just because water is free of contaminants doesn’t necessarily make it ready to consume. These post-filters function to improve the water quality after purification by removing odour and hardness. 

Where is reverse osmosis used? 

Reverse osmosis has quickly become such an essential part of our daily lives that its usage can be found in different areas: 

1. Residential use

RO systems are standard in households and are used to provide safe drinking water for daily usage. They efficiently remove contaminants such as chlorine, pesticides and bacteria that can be found in our tap water.

2. Commercial and Industrial Use

A variety of industries depend on large volumes of pure and clean water. These include food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and even electronics. Large-scale RO systems ensure water is purified consistently and is ready for industrial use.

3. Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications

In the medical industry, it is even more critical that the water used is clean and safe from impurities. RO plays an important role in ensuring that strict quality standards are met for the sanitation of medical equipment and laboratories. 

4. Desalination of Seawater

Finally, in regions with limited freshwater resources, RO systems have become vital to convert salinated seawater into ready-to-use freshwater in order to provide a sustainable source for irrigation and drinking. 

What are the advantages of Reverse Osmosis?

Apart from purifying water by removing contaminants, RO systems can also improve the taste of the water and remove any odours by filtering out substances that contribute to these factors. 

Reverse osmosis also has environmental benefits. It reduces the need for mineral water, several of which come in single-use plastic bottles. Similarly, it also provides a sustainable source of clean water. RO systems are cost-effective and require minimal maintenance.

How to select the right reverse osmosis system

One of the important things to keep in mind while selecting an RO system is your daily water consumption. Different systems have different capacities and flow rates so selecting the right one is imperative. It is vital to study your water source and identify the contaminants present. There are RO systems that are designed to filter out specific contaminants. Finally, look out for reverse osmosis systems that are energy efficient and have a larger water recovery rate to reduce wastewater generation.

How to maintain a reverse osmosis system?

Once the RO system is installed in your household, usually near a water outlet, it is important to regularly clean and sanitize the RO components to uphold water quality. Each RO system will have specific guidelines about filter replacement to ensure a continued clean and safe water experience. To keep your RO water purifier clean and safe you need to replace the filters every 6-12 months, draining and cleaning the RO tank to ensure it doesn’t become a hotbed for bacteria, and sanitizing the entire RO system every six months. In comparison, Urban Company’s Native RO Filter requires to be serviced only once every two years since its filters last that long. As a result, you save up to ₹18,000 in ownership and operating costs over the years.