| Are you frustrated with trying to find the perfect | | | | compounds contained in tap water but, it is incapable |
| means of ridding your tap water of harmful | | | | of efficiently removing all of them as the water's |
| contaminants? I know myself, living in a city where | | | | contaminant concentration increases. Again |
| the quality of water is quite low to begin with I don't | | | | unfortunately, it eliminates several essential minerals |
| even want to think about what might be floating | | | | necessary for health and well-being (potassium, |
| around in it. Each year my local treatment facility | | | | calcium and magnesium). Surprisingly, I also discovered |
| releases a report on the "great quality" of the water | | | | that even though this system type does take away |
| it provides my community. Also, the management | | | | a high percentage of toxins, the overall rejection |
| company at my condominium complex has a reverse | | | | percentage (or removal efficiency) does not always |
| osmosis system installed under my kitchen sink. | | | | reach the minimum amount required by health |
| However, there still seems to be quite a few | | | | department guidelines to qualify for drinkable tap |
| problems with my tap and shower water. I thought it | | | | water. So I thought to myself, what is the system I |
| might be in my best interest to investigate another | | | | already have, really accomplishing? Is my water really |
| type of water system to see if there was more I | | | | that consumable and safe? |
| could do to make the water in my house healthier | | | | Some of the other disadvantages of RO include a |
| and more pure. | | | | large amount of wastewater generated in producing |
| Since I already have this system in my home, I | | | | a small amount of purified water. The amount of |
| decided to first look at reverse osmosis systems and | | | | waste can be anywhere from 50-90 percent of |
| see what I actually have under my sink. I figured if I | | | | water filtered into the system, leaving pure water |
| could find out the facts about what this type of | | | | recovery between 5 and 15%. This means it would |
| water filter achieved, I could then reassess my tap | | | | take about 40-90 gallons of waste water to produce |
| water and decide on the best type of filtration | | | | 5 gallons of pure drinkable/usable water a day! While |
| method for me. My findings were awakening to say | | | | this unit can reduce the levels of some SOCs, |
| the least. | | | | pesticides and VOCs, this apparatus alone may not |
| Reverse osmosis (RO) is best known for desalinating | | | | be the best solution for these types of toxins. |
| water (changing seawater into water you can drink). | | | | Reduce yes, eliminate no. They can also be quite |
| RO is a process based on osmosis. Basically, water is | | | | expensive overall as compared to other filtering |
| moved from one side of a membrane (think | | | | systems. |
| cellophane film) to another. The contaminants | | | | So after looking into reverse osmosis systems, I |
| contained are not pushed through this membrane as | | | | found that my best choice wasn't actually the |
| pressure is applied and "purified" water collects on the | | | | apparatus under my kitchen sink, but a |
| other side for use or storage. It can reduce the | | | | comprehensive multi-stage type filter that would |
| amount of bacteria, particles, VOCs (volatile organic | | | | encompass several processes (carbon and sub-micron |
| compounds) and SOCs (soluble organic compounds), | | | | filtering as well as ion exchange) to make my tap |
| but unfortunately eliminates the good minerals along | | | | water the purest possible, leaving it without toxins, |
| with it. Which down the line, can definitely cause | | | | while still maintaining the integrity of essential vitamins |
| health problems such as mineral absorption from | | | | necessary for me to stay healthy. |
| teeth and bones and increased acidity/lowered pH | | | | So there you have it. If you take the time to explore |
| levels which can wreak havoc on the body and | | | | the clear advantage of a multi-stage filtration system |
| possibly contribute to diseases. | | | | over a reverse osmosis system as I did, I am certain |
| Also, as the amount of contaminants increases, so | | | | you will find what I did. This type of system will |
| does the pressure required to remove the extra | | | | certainly purify your water, rendering it wholesome |
| concentrations of them. Come to find out, RO | | | | and healthy! |
| treatment can reduce the amount of poor | | | | |