Reverse osmosis is one of the most well-known home water purification technologies. The name sounds technical, but the principle is simple: water is pushed through a membrane with extremely fine pores, which lets water molecules pass through and retains impurities.
How it works, in a nutshell
A reverse osmosis system works in several stages. First, the water passes through pre-treatment filters, which retain sediment and chlorine, protecting the membrane. Next comes the reverse osmosis membrane itself, the heart of the system, where dissolved particles are retained. Finally, an activated carbon filter refines the taste of the water before it reaches your glass.
What does reverse osmosis retain?
Thanks to the extremely fine pores of the membrane, reverse osmosis reduces a very wide range of impurities dissolved in water, including salts and compounds that classic filters cannot retain. The result is very clean water with a neutral taste, especially appreciated in areas where the tap water is hard or has a pronounced taste.
When is reverse osmosis worth it?
- When the water in your area is very hard and leaves visible limescale deposits in the kettle or on the dishes.
- When the taste of tap water remains unpleasant even after a regular filter.
- When you want the highest degree of purification available for home use.
When is an activated carbon filter enough?
If the tap water is of reasonable quality, and the main complaints are the taste of chlorine and fine impurities, an antimicrobial filter with activated carbon, mounted above the countertop or under the sink, solves the problem at a lower cost and with simpler maintenance: a single replacement cartridge, replaced periodically.
System maintenance
Like any filtration system, reverse osmosis requires periodic maintenance: pre-treatment and post-treatment filters are replaced at recommended intervals, and the membrane has its own lifespan. A properly maintained system will provide years of clean water.
You can find the reverse osmosis system and all Olympus filters in our online store, with delivery throughout Romania.