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What Are the Benefits of Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse osmosis (R/O), or hyperfiltration, is the process of removing impurities from water by passing it through a porous membrane. The process produces clean, pure water that is safe for human consumption. Reserve osmosis is typically used to purify seawater by removing salt and other contaminants from it. It is also used to purify rainwater, groundwater and other liquids. Reverse osmosis is typically used in car washing facilities, food industry, maple syrup production, small-scale hydrogen production and in reef aquariums.

  1. Removal of Impurities

    • According to Department of Health and Human service, reverse osmosis removes organic chemicals, excessive minerals, salts, dissolved solids and other impurities from a liquid. Clean, treated water does not produce scale in coffee makers and kettles. The process is particularly beneficial to people on potassium or sodium restricted diets since reverse osmosis filters out all excessive potassium and sodium content from water. Other contaminants removed by reverse osmosis include nitrates, mercury and chromium. A reverse osmosis unit with a carbon filter will remove soluble organic compounds (SOCs), such as dioxins and pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as petrochemicals and chloroform.

    Useful in the Desalination of Water

    • Reverse osmosis is particularly useful in those areas that are short of clean drinking water. It is an effective desalination agent---removing impurities from sea, ocean and groundwater water to make it fit for drinking. Desalination is the process that involves the reduction of the salt content of saline water to bring it down to normal, drinkable level. A desalinating reverse osmosis system is comprised of four major processes---including pretreatment, pressurization, membrane separation and post-treatment stabilization. Water desalinated by reverse osmosis is used for agricultural, industrial and potable use. RO technology is currently used in Brazil and Argentina to desalinate groundwater.

    Restricts Disease Causing Pathogens and Bacteria

    • Reverse osmosis is capable of removing certain biological contaminants from water---such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Giardia is a harmful protozoan parasite that reproduces in the small intestine of its host. Symptoms of Giardia infection include malaise, diarrhea, excessive gas, bloating, loss of interest in food and weight loss. Cryptosporidium is a protozoan pathogen that causes cryptosporidiosis---a disease of the intestinal tract. Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include diarrhea, malabsorption, anorexia and weight loss and vomiting. The membranes used in the reverse osmosis process to filter water prevent chlorine resistant pathogens from contaminating the water.

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