Reserve Osmosis Water System

The history process of osmosis through semipermeable membranes was first observed in 1748 by Jean Antoine Nollet. For the following 200 years, osmosis was only a phenomenon observed in the laboratory. In 1949, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) first investigated desalination of seawater using semipermeable membranes. Researchers from both UCLA and the University of Florida successfully produced fresh water from seawater in the mid-1950s, but the flux was too low to be commercially viable. By the end of 2001, about 15,200 desalination plants were in operation or in the planning stages worldwide.

Reverse osmosis is an excellent choice for almost all home water purification needs. It is the most recommended solution for individuals on a pre-treated municipal water system.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

While reverse osmosis can be very effective in removing bacteria and viruses, it is not recommended that reverse osmosis be the only level of purification for water that contains or may contain biological contaminants (untreated well or lake water, for instance). For these applications consider a combined reverse osmosis / ultraviolet system or the addition of a complementary whole-house ultraviolet system for maximum effectiveness and protection against bacteria and viruses.

Since membranes are subject to degrading by chlorine, iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, and to bacterial attack, a sediment pre-filter and an activated carbon pre-filter and/or post-filter should be included with your reverse osmosis system. Water softeners can be used in advance of the RO system when household water is excessively hard to prevent pre-filter and membrane fouling. RO systems are generally the best choice for water contaminated with high nitrite levels as might be found in agricultural areas.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a filtration method that removes many types of large molecules and ions from solutions by applying pressure to the solution when it is on one side of a selective membrane. The result is that the solute is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and the pure solvent is allowed to pass to the other side. To be "selective," this membrane should not allow large molecules or ions through the pores (holes), but should allow smaller components of the solution (such as the solvent) to pass freely.

In the normal osmosis process the solvent naturally moves from an area of low solute concentration, through a membrane, to an area of high solute concentration. The movement of a pure solvent to equalize solute concentrations on each side of a membrane generates a pressure and this is the "osmotic pressure." Applying an external pressure to reverse the natural flow of pure solvent, thus, is reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration, is the finest filtration available today. It is the most common treatment technology used by premium bottled water companies. It is effective in eliminating or substantially reducing a very wide array of contaminants, and of all technologies used to treat drinking water in residential applications, it has the greatest range of contaminant removal. Reverse osmosis will allow the removal of particles as small as individual ions.

The type of solution you choose will depend on your budget and the level or protection you want to install in your home. Our links to specific filter types will help you decide which type of filter systems is right for you.

Reserve Osmosis Water System

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Well Holding Tanks - Reserve Water Grows Mold and Bacteria

Holding tanks to offer reserve water in the event of drought or simply to give large homes a reserve have become common in Texas, Georgia and Arizona and most recently in California and Florida. Typically these tanks are 5000 gallons or larger, involve repressurization pumps and level switch accessories to keep the reserve water in place.

The treatment strategies or water quality concerns are no different than those warm water developing countries such as India where a water truck literally delivers the water to an underground holding tank two or three times per week to support 60 person dwelling units. No infrastructure plumbing of the water is part of the development and as with the upscale American single family dwellings the water begins growing algae, mold and bacteria in some cases.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Now there is technology from three week Apollo missions to the moon in the late 1960's protecting the holding tank water. This technology uses electrolysis to put low level copper ions into the holding tank to prevent the plant life growth and actually kills coliform, ecoli and pseudomonas bacteria as well. Water can remain "crisp" in the tank for weeks, and specific sites exist between 1,000 and 33,000 gallons since 1998. The 33,000 gallon tank in the Puget Sound also draws water from a storm water pond to supplement a marginal well in terms of recovery. The pond water is pre-filtered and oxygenated as it contains cedar tannins and other turbidity.

The site is used as a movie site for one of LA's premier movie producer/directors and has zero volume water use for many days and heavy volume for one to two weeks straight. "This movie director has actually done this strategy in Beverly Hills and at his newest set in Maui as well," said Joe Cantin, Regional Manager and the technical salesperson on the account.

In addition to the low level copper ion and oxygenation put in the water, specific filtration strategies and EPA/ETL lab water analysis is included with the equipment.

"We change the calcium from the scaling carbonate form to a soluble calcium bicarbonate, in essence giving the customer a non-salt water softener," Cantin added.

Equipment costs installed range from ,000 on the 1,000 to 5,000 gallon sites to as much as ,000 on the 33,000 gallon application.

"We'll do a movie set or a high density housing project for 60 people for the same money, it's sort of ironic," says Cantin.

Well Holding Tanks - Reserve Water Grows Mold and Bacteria

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS