Reverse Osmosis (ro) System

A reverse osmosis (RO) system is a water purification method that uses pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane, which has extremely tiny pores. This membrane acts as a filter that separates water molecules from larger molecules and ions, effectively removing a wide range of dissolved solids and other contaminants from the water.

The term "reverse osmosis" comes from the natural process of osmosis. In osmosis, water moves from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration to equalize the concentration on both sides of a membrane. In reverse osmosis, an external pressure is applied to the side with the high concentration of contaminants, forcing the water molecules to move against their natural flow, through the membrane, and to the low-concentration side.

A typical home RO system works in multiple stages to ensure the membrane is protected and the water is as clean as possible:

1. Pre-filtration: The first stage often involves a sediment filter to remove large particles like sand, silt, and rust. This protects the delicate RO membrane from getting clogged. A carbon filter is also used at this stage to remove chlorine and other chemicals that could damage the membrane and affect the water's taste and odor.
   
2. Reverse Osmosis Membrane: This is the core of the system. The pre-filtered water is forced under pressure through the RO membrane. The membrane's pores are so small (around 0.0001 microns) that they allow water molecules to pass through but block most dissolved solids, salts, lead, fluoride, bacteria, and other contaminants.
   
3. Wastewater and Clean Water: As water passes through the membrane, the contaminants that can't pass are collected in a separate stream of "reject water" or "brine," which is sent down the drain. The purified water, called "permeate," is collected in a storage tank.
   
4. Post-filtration: Before the water is dispensed from the faucet, it typically passes through a final carbon filter to "polish" it, removing any lingering tastes or odors from the storage tank and ensuring a clean, fresh taste.

The result is water that is up to 99% free of total dissolved solids, making it one of the most effective methods for water purification