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What Is a Reverse Osmosis System and How Does It Work?

A girl filling a glass of water at a kitchen sink.

When we fill a glass of water from the tap, we want to believe that the water is as clean and contaminant-free as possible. However, some contaminants — such as sediment and chlorine — can sometimes linger in the water supply, which may affect the taste of our water and more.

Fortunately, there are various options on the market for purifying water, including reverse osmosis systems. However, you may have a few questions about what this particular water filtration process involves. So, what is a reverse osmosis system, exactly? What can you expect from installing one of these systems in your home?

Let’s discuss how a reverse osmosis system works in-depth.

Do You Need to Filter Your Home’s Water?

Before we can review what a reverse osmosis system is and how you can benefit from one, it’s important to be familiar with the current state of your water supply. Fortunately, various signs can help you understand if you need a water treatment system.

Have you thought about contacting a professional team to provide you with a whole-house water filter near Jackson, MS? Use this guide to find out if you could benefit from a water filtration system:

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

If you’ve been on the market for a water filtration system, you may have heard reverse osmosis (RO) systems mentioned by both professionals and fellow homeowners. After all, they’re among some of the most popular options for removing contaminants from residential water supplies.

What is a reverse osmosis system? Perhaps it goes without saying, but reverse osmosis is the complete opposite of osmosis. During this process, water molecules are pushed through a semipermeable membrane. As they’re forced through the membrane, the water molecules go from a highly-concentrated solution with contaminants to a less-concentrated solution (which becomes your clean, safe drinking water).

How a Reverse Osmosis System Works

Are you hoping to achieve clean, pure water in your home? Installing a reverse osmosis system with the help of a trained professional may be a suitable solution.

When it comes down to it, reverse osmosis works by filtering out small and large particles from your drinking water. These systems are known to be effective at removing contaminants such as sediment, chlorine, and chloramines. Let’s go through the step-by-step process for removing these contaminants in more detail below.

Sediment Filters

When discussing what a reverse osmosis system is, we have to start by talking about the sediment filter. As the name suggests, the sediment filter is responsible for removing larger particles of sediment — such as dust, dirt, and sand. This is essentially a pre-filter stage that prepares the water for subsequent filtration.

Carbon Filters

Carbon filters utilize activated carbon to remove volatile organic compounds (VOSs), chlorine, and chloramines from the water supply. This is a crucial step in the filtration process, as it helps remove bad tastes and smells from the water.

Reverse Osmosis Membrane

We’re almost finished with our discussion of how a reverse osmosis system works. However, we still have one more crucial step to touch on, which involves water finally passing through the semipermeable RO membrane.

During this step, the water is pushed through the semipermeable membrane, where contaminants such as sodium, fluoride, and lead can be removed. Afterward, this filtered water is sent to a storage tank.

In the end, there are many potential benefits to having reverse osmosis-filtered water, which include everything from removing harmful contaminants to reducing foul odors in your water.

Choose Environment Masters for Your Water Filtration Needs

Hopefully, this step-by-step guide has helped you understand how a reverse osmosis system works. All-in-all, there are many advantages to installing a water filtration system in your home. If you’re interested in learning more about your options and whether or not you could benefit from treated water, turn to the experts at Environment Masters for help!

We’re proud to offer top-tier home water filtration systems near Jackson, MS, and beyond. Our friendly team can discuss your options with you and find the perfect solution for your specific needs.

Are you ready to improve your water quality? Contact us today to request an appointment, and let us help you achieve cleaner, safer drinking water!

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