By Gordon Lee
Reverse osmosis has been around for some time and is an extremely popular method of filtration for both domestic and industrial applications. There are many different manufacturers of water filtering systems with the most common being GE. While reverse osmosis filters do indeed work well, there are some advantages and disadvantages to the product that make it a poor choice for many applications.
One of the disadvantages to the reverse osmosis filter is its cost. While the units certainly do not need to be replaced on a monthly basis, if your application requires a lot of water pressure reverse osmosis will definitely not be the best option. RO systems require high water pressure to function, which means they are often needed to operate large-scale water systems such as a municipal water plant or a well. For these types of applications, GE reverse osmosis units simply will not cut it.
The low water pressure factor also comes back to haunt the RO systems. With less pressure at play, it takes a much longer time for an RO system to complete the necessary stages of filtering water. You will find you will waste gallons upon gallons of water if you use a reverse osmosis system with low water pressure. When you compare this to other options such as carbon-based filters, you will find that GE reverse osmosis units simply will not hold up. Carbon-based filters can operate at lower pressures because they do not need as much pressure to perform adequately.
If you have a lot of household chores and/or work that requires you to wash your hands, you will definitely want to consider one of these systems. In addition to the problems discussed above, a reverse osmosis membrane may not filter out all of the contaminants found in tap water. There are numerous reports from health officials around the country stating that certain contaminants present in tap water are actually more dangerous than others. These can include chlorine, lead, VOCs, pesticides, and herbicides. If a filter is not installed that includes an additional stage for removing these contaminants, then you are not getting the full benefit of your RO system.
Finally, when looking at the cost of a GE reverse osmosis membrane compared to alternative options, you must also consider the RO system itself. An under sink or countertop filter is definitely less expensive than a RO system but what about the RO pump and other components? Do you really want to spend that much money on a filter? One thing many people do not realize is that the filter does not have to be replaced on a monthly basis. This means you can save hundreds of dollars over the course of a year on drinking water alone.
In closing, a reverse osmosis home water treatment system will allow you to get clean, fresh-tasting water. However, there are other filters that can be installed along with it that will allow you to remove all of those harmful contaminants mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. The key point is to shop around, find a reputable vendor, and make sure that the product you choose includes an additional stage for purification. By doing this, you will have the purest, cleanest water possible, period. You will probably even see results within minutes of installing the system!
This post was written by a water treatment expert at Paragon Water Systems. At Paragon Water Systems we are the Manufacturers of the best Water filter housing! We know that the best product comes from the best materials. We manufacture home water solutions such as reverse osmosis systems, under sink water filtration systems, showerhead filtration systems, carbon cartridges, and a wide variety of other products. Our focus is to provide Americans with safe and clean water throughout the home.
