What Is Reverse Osmosis?

In order to reverse the natural tendencies of water and salt movement and force clean water to flow from salty water, the osmonic pressure must be overcome, i.e. osmosis must be reversed. In order to reverse this flow of water, membrane systems, and Reverse Osmosis systems in particular, utilize a special constructed semi-permeable membrane element enclosed inside a pressure vessel. Pressure is applied to reverse the flow of water, the source of which is usually and existing, pressure is applied to the feed stream, water molecules are passed through the membrane while salts are retained in the feed. Thus, utilizing the principles of water and salts movement, and combining them with pressure and membrane technology, the natural osmotic flow of solution is reversed.

How a membrane separates substances

Metals, Organic compounds, and other contaminants are either too large, or due to their chemistry unable, to pass through the reverse osmosis membrane

Private Water Supplies

Over 19 million American households and cottages rely on private wells. Tens of thousands more rely on lakes, streams, and other surface water sources. Unfortunately, not all of them have a UV water disinfection system protecting them from harmful microorganisms. While nation-wide studies do not exist, smaller scale studies have commonly found that between 20 and 40% of wells in any given region suffer from E.coli and/or coliform bacteria at any given time ? not to mention the countless other microorganisms that may be in a water supply. The fact is that the quality of well water can vary from day to day and from year to year. In the short term, things like heavy rainfalls or snow melt can affect water quality. In the longer term, quality may be affected by distant contamination sources, earthquakes, and other factors. Water that has been safe for years will not necessarily be safe tomorrow.