Reverse Osmosis | RO | R.O. | Counter Top

Reverse Osmosis

by Jon David Miller, author & wellness educator

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a specialized method of screening out water contaminants using a fabricated membrane. This process thoroughly removes chemicals, pharmaceutical residues, bacteria, algae, radioactive particles, etc., from the water.

The purity of reverse osmosis is superior to filter systems. RO will screen out almost all of the toxic fluoride, radioactive fallout and drug residues that are in most city water. However, RO also removes most minerals and tends to leave water more acidic.

CLICK HERE for information on the natural "Corrected Water" remineralizing alkalizer cartridge that we have available to correct RO water if needed.

There are two basic styles of home reverse osmosis units to choose from: counter top, which is popular with apartment dwellers, and under counter (which could also be housed in the basement).

More About RO

"Osmosis" is a term you may remember from biology referring to the passage of a substance through a membrane from a solution of greater concentration to one of lesser concentration.

Reverse osmosis is forcing water under pressure through a membrane, which excludes substances with a molecular structure larger than the pores of the membrane. A home reverse osmosis unit operates from the source water pressure.

A unique feature of reverse osmosis, compared to standard water filter methods, is that the molecules of water actually enter and become part of the membrane as they pass through.

The membrane also allows oxygen through, as well as some other elements with a very small molecular size, including some colloidal and subcolloidal minerals.

The pores are small enough to screen out radioactive minerals, fluoride, bacteria and even some viruses. Still, some extremely small molecule contaminants can make it through, so a reverse osmosis unit should always include other types of media such as redox media to eliminate chlorine, biologicals and metals, and carbon to catch any organic chemicals.

Prices on quality RO units run from $170 to $800, depending on style and features.

Most reverse osmosis membranes are of the Thin Film Composite (TFC) type. A Cellulose Acetate (CA) membrane may be used in special situations.

Since sediment can clog a membrane, a sediment pre-filter is often included.

Chlorine can also harm membranes. With chlorinated water, reverse osmosis requires a carbon or redox pre-filter to protect the membrane's longevity.

Reverse osmosis units are susceptible to the growth of bacteria and mold within them when not in regular use. These agents can attack and ruin a membrane, resulting in contaminated water coming through.

Redox media preceding the membrane will help prevent these microbes from getting to it. Frequent use of the unit will reduce the potential for bacteria or mold to get a colony started. A low bacterial count in the source water is also important.

Corrected Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis water actually has an increased oxygen concentration, as O₂ has a small enough molecule to cross the membrane. RO water also contains small quantities of colloidal and subcolloidal minerals.

However the reverse osmosis process removes most of the minerals from the water.

Mineral devalued water if too acidic will draw minerals from the body when consumed regularly. The pH of RO water is often too acid for the human body. If this is the case, it is recommended that a remineralizing alkalizer unit be added to correct these problems.

We believe that reverse osmosis is the best choice in home water purification. When the source water has a pH of 7 or less, "Corrected Reverse Osmosis" is the way to go. It is recommended that you test your water with pH tape or strips (litmus paper) to or another method to determine if the remineralizing alkalizer is needed to correct the water.

NOTE: We have pH tape for testing the acid/alkaline status of your water, as well as your urine and saliva (approx. 15 ft. of tape + dispenser with color chart -- range 5.5 - 8.0 pH). -- $9.70 includes postage ($7 for tape refill) CLICK HERE to order.

Reverse Osmosis Units

Counter Top RO

Convenient, easy to use and hook up to a standard kitchen faucet.

all hardware included

Counter Top Reverse Osmosis Without Corrected Water

Suggested Retail: $249 plus shipping

Corrected Reverse Osmosis CounterTop System with Corrected Water

NOTE: These RO units are assembled upon placement of the order, and tested before shipping a few days after an order is placed.

Features of Counter Top Reverse Osmosis System

(see description of TFC membrane below)

This portable 3-cartridge Counter Top Reverse Osmosis System provides safe, pure high quality drinking water with capacity of up to 50 gallons per day using reverse osmosis technology. (NOTE: Production depends on source water pressure, which can vary.)

A Counter Top RO is great for homes, apartments, office, recreational vehicles, motels, and laboratory use.

Our Counter Top RO has 9 stages of filtration:

• Stage 1: Water passes through Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) cartridge. GAC is universally recognized and widely used as an effective adsorbent for a wide variety of organic contaminants, such as chlorine (99.9%), chemicals linked to cancer (THM's, benzine) pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), PCB's, MTBE's and hundreds of other chemical contaminants that may be present in water, as well as eliminating bad taste and odors from your drinking water.

• Stages 2 through 8: Water travels through a multi-stage cartridge with six stages consisting of a one micron sediment filter pad, Eagle Redox Alloy 6500, Eagle Redox Alloy 9500, ceramic ball resin, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), and another 1 micron Sediment Filter Pad. This cartridge removes particulate matter, heavy metals, chemicals, and residual chorine, and destroys bacteria, algae and parasites.

• Stage 9: Water passes through 50 GPD TFC Reverse Osmosis membrane, which removes lead, sodium, cyanide, ammonium, mercury, bromide, cadmium, trivalent chromium, radium and any radioactive particles, magnesium, fluoride, nitrates, nitrites, microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, algae and parasites such as cryptosporidium and giardia), and more.

• With our "corrected" counter top RO, a "Corrected Water" sealed remineralizing alkalizer is added as a final stage to remineralize, energize and slightly alkalize the water to make it ideal for biological systems.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be aware that there is a discharge of waste water with reverse osmosis, about 2 gallons for every gallon of pure water produced. (By comparison, washing dishes uses more, and an average shower uses about 20 gallons.)

For the RO membrane to continue functioning well, it is necessary to have the contaminants that are screened out flushed away. The flush water is only fit as work water, such as scrubbing the floor or washing the car. This waste water should NOT BE CONSUMED or used to water plants. Most of the time, it should just run down the drain.

Under Counter RO

3.2 gallons / 12 liter storage tank

long reach faucet

all hardware included

Under Counter Reverse Osmosis Without Corrected Water

Suggested Retail: $399 plus shipping

Suggested Retail: $456 plus shipping

NOTE: These RO units are assembled upon placement of the order, and tested before shipping a few days after an order is placed.

Features of Under Counter Reverse Osmosis System

(see description of TFC membrane below)

This thorough Under CounterReverse Osmosis System provides safe, pure high quality drinking water with capacity of up to 50 gallons per day using reverse osmosis technology. (NOTE: Production depends on source water pressure, which can vary.)

An under counter RO unit is more appropriate for long term installation in a home or business that you own.

• In stage 1, water travels through a 5 micron pleated sediment cartridge for removing dirt, sediment, silt, sand and scale particles. This reduces bad taste and odor and extends the life of the rest of the system.

• In stage 2, Water flows through pre one-micron filter pads (1 micron equals 1/25,000th of an inch), which remove suspended particles such as silt, sediment, cyst (Giardia, Cryptosporidium), sand, rust, dirt, and other undissolved matter.

• In stage 3, water passes through granulated activated carbon (GAC). GAC is universally recognized and widely used as an effective adsorbent for a wide variety of organic contaminants, such as chlorine (99.9%), chemicals linked to cancer (THM's, benzine) pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), PCB's, MTBE's and hundreds of other chemical contaminants that may be present in water, as well as eliminating bad taste and odors from your drinking water.

Carbon is extremely porous and provides a large surface area for contaminants to collect. Carbon-only filters must also use their capacity for chlorine removal, resulting in a shortened life. They also may use a bituminous coal carbon, which is good at removing chlorine, but not as effective at removing chemicals.

We use a high-grade coconut shell carbon that is most effective at removing chemicals. Coconut shell carbon provides a significantly higher volume of micro-pores than either coal, wood or lignite- based carbon. As a result, it is more effective than other carbon types in removing trihalomethanes (THM's) and other chemicals from municipally supplied water.

Since our REDOX media removes the chlorine before it reaches the carbon, the carbon capacity is not wasted on chlorine and is free to concentrate more effectively on organic contaminants.

• In stage 4, Water flows through the ion exchange resin, reducing heavy metals such as lead, copper, aluminum, and water hardness.

• In stages 5 and 6, Water flows through a bed of redox media made of a special high-purity alloy blend of two dissimilar metals - copper and zinc. it is a major advancement in water treatment technology that works on the electro-chemical and spontaneous-oxidation-reduction (redox) principles. Chlorine is instantaneously and almost inexhaustibly oxidized.

Tests on the cartridge have shown 99+% chlorine removal past 20,000 gallons of water. In comparison, carbon cartridges of comparable volumes drop below 90% effectiveness after only 4,000 gallons.

Iron and hydrogen sulfide are oxidized into insoluble matter and attach to the surface of the media. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, cadmium, aluminum, and other dissolved metals are removed from the water by the electrochemical process. They are attracted to the surface of the media, much like a magnet.

This media also inhibits bacterial growth throughout the entire unit. In fact, it has been shown to be reduced up to 90%, eliminating the need for silver, which is commonly used in carbon-only filters (silver is considered a pesticide by the EPA and, as such, must be registered with them).

Is copper or zinc added to the water in any significant amount? On 2.3 ppm chlorinated water, <0.05 mg/l copper and only 0.46 mg/l zinc were measured. The EPA aesthetic levels are 1.0 mg/l for copper and 5.0 mg/l for zinc. Both zinc and copper are essential minerals for good health - the FDA recommends a daily intake of 15 mg of zinc and 2 mg of copper.

• In stage 7, Water flows through another one-micron filtration pad for further reduction of undesirable particles. The end result is a great reduction or elimination of a wide variety of contaminants.

• In stage 8, water travels through a 5 micron solid carbon cartridge for removing volatile organic compounds (VOC's), insecticides, pesticides, industrial solvents and residual chlorine. It also removes sediment, silt, sand and dirt. The extrusion process allows the production of a carbon block with more carbon, but a lower pressure drop.

• In stage 9, Water passes through the reverse osmosis membrane, which removes lead, sodium, cyanide, ammonium, mercury, bromide, cadmium, trivalent chromium, radium and any radioactive particles, magnesium, fluoride, nitrates, nitrites, microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, algae and parasites such as cryptosporidium and giardia), and more.

• In stage 10 and 12, Water flows through additional one - micron filter pads (1 micron equals 1/25,000th of an inch), which remove suspended particles such as silt, sediment, cyst (Giardia, Cryptosporidium), sand, rust, dirt, and other undissolved matter.

• In stage 11, water passes through additional Granular Activated Carbon (GAC).

• With our "corrected" under counter RO, a "Corrected Water" sealed remineralizing alkalizer is added as a final stage after the holding tank to remineralize, energize and slightly alkalize the water to make it ideal for biological systems.

For the RO membrane to continue functioning well, it is necessary to have the contaminants that are screened out flushed away. There is a flush water tube to be fed into the under sink drain pipe.

NOTE: We also have under counter reverse osmosis systems with Ultra Filtration after the holding tank for a final bacteria screen. Contact us for more information.

Description Of TFC Reverse Osmosis Membrane

TFC Membrane *Nominal Rejection Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis Membranes
ION	% Rejection	ION	% Rejection
Calcium	95 - 98	Bromide	93 - 96
Sodium	94 - 98	Phosphate	97 - 98
Magnesium	95 - 98	Cyanide	90 - 95
Iron	97 - 98	Sulfate	97 - 98
Potassium	94 - 97	Thiosulfate	97 - 98
Manganese	97 - 98	Silicate	94 - 96
Aluminum	97 - 98	Silica	85 - 90
Copper	97 - 98	Nitrate	92 - 95
Nickel	97 - 98	Boron	60 - 70
Cadmium	95-98	Borate	40 - 70
Silver	95 - 97	Fluoride	93 - 95
Zinc	97 - 99	Polyphosphate	98 - 99
Mercury	95 - 97	Orthophosphate	98 - 99
Hardness Ca&Mg	95 - 98	Chromate	90 - 97
Radioactivity	95 - 98	Bacteria	99+
Chloride	90 - 95	Lead	96 - 98
Ammonium	85 - 95
*The above percent of rejection is for reference only and not to be construed as any guarantee since the chemistry, temperature and TDS are not constant in each water supply.

Waterama.com

Reverse Osmosis Systems