Reverse osmosis (RO) water is produced by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane that filters out impurities and contaminants. Here's a breakdown of the reverse osmosis process:
The Reverse Osmosis Process
The reverse osmosis process generally involves the following steps:
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Prefiltration: Incoming water first passes through a prefilter. This crucial step removes larger particles like sediment, silt, rust, and other debris, preventing them from clogging or damaging the delicate RO membrane. This prefiltration extends the lifespan and improves the efficiency of the RO membrane.
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Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filtration: Next, the prefiltered water is forced through the reverse osmosis membrane. This membrane has extremely tiny pores, allowing only water molecules to pass through. Dissolved salts, minerals, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants, even those too small to see with an electron microscope, are blocked and flushed away.
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Storage: The purified water then flows into a storage tank, where it is held until needed. This ensures a readily available supply of clean water.
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Post Filtration (Optional): Some RO systems include a post-filter, usually a carbon filter. This final filtration stage further polishes the water by removing any remaining tastes or odors, resulting in fresher-tasting water.
In essence, reverse osmosis uses pressure to push water through a membrane that blocks contaminants, producing highly purified water.
