RO in a water purifier stands for Reverse Osmosis, a water purification technology.
Reverse Osmosis is a highly effective method for purifying drinking water by using a semi-permeable membrane to remove impurities. Here's a breakdown:
How Reverse Osmosis Works:
- Semi-Permeable Membrane: The heart of an RO system is a special membrane with tiny pores. These pores allow water molecules to pass through but block larger particles like dissolved salts, minerals, heavy metals, and even microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.
- Pressure: Pressure is applied to the contaminated water, forcing the pure water through the membrane while the impurities are left behind. These impurities are then flushed away as waste water.
- Pure Water Collection: The purified water that passes through the membrane is collected and stored, ready for use.
What RO Removes:
RO systems are capable of removing a wide range of contaminants, including:
- Dissolved Salts
- Heavy Metals (e.g., lead, mercury)
- Minerals
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Sediment
- Other harmful substances
Benefits of Using RO Purifiers:
- High Purification Efficiency: RO is known for its ability to remove a vast array of contaminants, providing a high level of water purity.
- Improved Taste and Odor: By removing minerals and other substances, RO can improve the taste and odor of drinking water.
- Health Benefits: Removing harmful contaminants reduces the risk of waterborne illnesses.
Drawbacks of Using RO Purifiers:
- Wastewater: RO systems typically generate wastewater as a byproduct of the purification process.
- Mineral Removal: While removing harmful minerals is beneficial, RO systems can also remove beneficial minerals from the water. Some systems add these minerals back in after purification.
- Cost: RO systems can be more expensive than other types of water purifiers.
