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Water's Good

Reverse Osmosis: The Holy Grail of Water Filtration?

Posted On 03/13/2024 By iSpring Water Systems

There are various types of water filters that help purify water. However, none of them can compete with the reverse osmosis (RO) filtration method. The process of reverse osmosis is so efficient that many bottled water companies rely on RO filtration to provide consumers with the pure, clean taste they seek. Being able to achieve high-quality water in your home will not only save you money in the long run but will also assist in protecting your family against the microplastics commonly found in plastic bottled water as well as assist in protecting our environment. 

RO filters have an impressive removal rate of up to 99% against thousands of contaminants. No other water filter can come close to achieving the purity a RO filtration system does. Although powerful, it typically works alongside other filters in a complete system to provide consumers with the highest quality water possible. 

Key Points

  1. The power of the reverse osmosis filter 
  2. The importance of a complete system to achieve the purest water possible
  3. What total dissolved solids (TDS) are and why some may still be left behind after passing through your RO system
  4. Comprehensive RO systems offered by iSpring to meet your water filtration needs
  5. Importance of regular maintenance for your system

How Reverse Osmosis Works 

How is a reverse osmosis filter able to pack such an impressive punch? Its power lies in the semipermeable membrane that water passes through. With the help of forced pressure, water is pushed through small pores in the system’s membrane, trapping impurities down to 0.0001 microns and only allowing pure water molecules to pass through and be delivered to you. 

A prime example of the effectiveness of the RO membrane is looking at the desalination of seawater, making it potable. In this case, seawater is forced through the RO membrane, leaving the salt on the other side and producing water that is safe to be consumed. 

The same is applied in residential water filtration systems, allowing families to enjoy near-perfect water after passing through the reverse osmosis membrane.  

The Necessity of a Comprehensive Water Filtration System 

You may be asking yourself, “If an RO filter produces such pure, clean water, then why does it need other filters in the whole system?” However, there are typically two other processes that work with the RO filter to produce the ultimate filtered water. 

As mentioned, most systems feature a first-stage sediment filter to remove any particles such as rust, dirt, dust, loose scale, and other larger organic materials that could cause the RO filter to become clogged and function less efficiently. 

They may also use a second-stage activated carbon filter to remove the contaminants like chlorine, which can corrode and damage the delicate RO membrane, thereby further enhancing water purification and protecting the RO membrane. 

After passing through the reverse osmosis filter, removing all the undesirables that were lurking in your water, people oftentimes find that the water is not as tasty and describe the taste of RO water as flat. Therefore, most choose to also employ a post-carbon filter to enhance the flavor.

And, because the RO filter is nondiscriminatory and removes both contaminants as well as healthy minerals, many also opt for an alkaline filtration stage to restore healthy minerals and produce balanced alkalinity to your water once it has been purified using the RO filter. 

The result of a comprehensive reverse osmosis filtration system is some of the highest quality water possible with an in-home water filtration system at a fraction of the cost of costly bottled water. 

Removing Total Dissolved Solids from Your Drinking Water 

While the reverse osmosis water filter is a powerful tool, consumers may see that their purified water does not return 0 total dissolved solids (TDS). While RO systems should be able to remove nearly all total dissolved solids from your water (<50 ppm), if your water’s TDS is above 750 ppm, a standard household RO system will not be able to effectively remove enough TDS from your water using its RO membrane.  

When thinking about TDS, it is important to keep in mind that the presence of TDS in your water does not immediately equal something negative and the TDS showing up on a meter is oftentimes just minerals in your water, especially if your water source is municipal. 

While things such as arsenic. lead, pharmaceuticals and fluoride make up a water’s TDS, so do healthy minerals, and a TDS meter cannot differentiate between the good and the bad. If your water source is well or if you notice things such as an unpleasant odor in your water or spots on your fixtures, it might be worth taking a closer look at your water quality using an at-home water test kit to discover the issue and working with an iSpring customer service representative to address your concerns with one of our other systems that can address these concerns. 

Recommended Reverse Osmosis iSpring Systems

We know that every customer has different requirements and desires when it comes to water filtration. Therefore, iSpring offers a range of systems that work to address customers’ various water needs and specific concerns. We have designed our systems so that they can fit into any budget and so that they are mindful of different space requirements. Here at iSpring, our goal is and always will be to ensure customers are able to enjoy pure, contaminant-free water effortlessly in their homes. 

To help you reach this goal, we have three recommended reverse osmosis filtration systems that we highly recommend: our RCC7AK, our RO500AK-BN, and our RCD100. Each of these reverse osmosis water systems removes up to 99% of harmful water contaminants including vinyl chloride, chlorine, fluoride, lead, arsenic, asbestos, calcium, and sodium from your drinking water so that you can have confidence in the water you are consuming. 

Our RCC7AK

  1. uses a six-stage alkaline reverse osmosis filter system, exclusively designed to restore the natural alkalinity and mineral balance of your water.
  2. employs an ultra-fine reverse osmosis water filter to remove contaminants down to 0.0001 microns.
  3. is NSF/ANSI 58 certified.
  4. features a second-stage GAC filter and a third-stage carbon block filter to effectively eliminate chlorine, unpleasant tastes, odors, cloudiness, and sediment.
  5. uses a pressurized tank to ensure a stable water flow.
  6. produces up to 75 gallons of filtered water per day.
  7. can easily be connected directly to the refrigerator’s water supply for added convenience.

Our RO500AK-BN is the next-generation, tankless reverse osmosis system. It also uses an alkaline RO filter system and

  1. functions four times more efficiently than traditional reverse osmosis systems, providing a faster water flow and an industry-leading pure-to-waste ratio of up to 2.5:1, saving water waste by up to 400% compared to traditional RO systems.
  2. employees a first-stage two-in-one composite sediment and carbon block filter, a second-stage advanced reverse osmosis water filter, and third-stage carbon alkaline filter. 
  3. restores the natural alkalinity and mineral balance of water.
  4. produces up to 500 gallons of filtered water per day.

Our RCD100 is our premier reverse osmosis countertop system that

  1. uses a five-stage filtration system, including our reverse osmosis water filter.
  2. requires no installation and only needs a plug-in to operate.
  3. has a revolutionary instant heating function that quickly allows a customized experience by providing four temperature settings.
  4. boasts a large-capacity water tank that holds 1.3 gallons of water.
  5. employs an innovative wastewater circulation technique that enhances the filtration performance, achieving a remarkable and unbeatable up to 2.5:1 pure-to-drain water ratio.
  6. can produce up to 100 gallons of contaminant-free water per day.
  7. includes convenience features such as a self-cleaning mode, a smart panel display, a twist-and-lock design for filter replacement, an energy-saving mode, a child safety lock, and a quiet operation.

When designing each of our systems, we took our consumers’ needs to heart. If one of these systems does not meet your needs, check out our complete reverse osmosis line or contact one of our customer service representatives to find the system that’s right for you. 

System Maintenance 

Like anything that employs a filter, the end product is only as good as the filter it passes through. That’s why achieving the purest water possible from your iSpring water filtration system is possible with regular maintenance. Each system’s filters come with a recommended lifespan, and it is crucial these guidelines are followed to keep your system working effectively and efficiently. If you notice your water quality is starting to suffer, immediately check the filter. 

Our systems strive to make maintenance as effortless as possible with features such as twist-and-lock filter replacement and filter replacement reminders. And, like with any purchase from iSpring, we stand behind our products 100% for the lifespan of the system. Our customer support team is here to ensure you feel confident in the investment you are making and are available should you need technical support.

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