| Reverse osmosis water may offer the best | | | | Is The Finished Product Expensive? |
| combination of cost and quality. However there | | | | Membranes last a really long time. Especially with |
| are several factors to consider if you think | | | | sediment pre-filters to keep out the particles like |
| reverse osmosis may work for you. | | | | iron and manganese, the main membrane will |
| How Does It Work? | | | | rarely need changing. Other filters including carbon |
| It's a simple concept based on some serious | | | | cartridges will require changing more frequently. |
| technology. Water pressure forces water through | | | | Other costs to consider with reverse osmosis are |
| a very fine mesh filter membrane. Many pollutants | | | | water waste costs. For every gallon of filtered |
| can't make it through the filter and are thus | | | | material, 3 or more gallons of water are rejected |
| excluded from the finished product. | | | | and wasted. Not only is the waste not used, but it |
| Does It Take Out Minerals? | | | | must be dealt with as waste too. |
| It gets out virtually all minerals plus many other | | | | Can Anybody Use One? |
| problems too. Usually included in the finished | | | | Water pressure forces water through the filter. |
| system are sediment filters plus carbon filters too. | | | | That means you must have about 35-40 psi |
| That takes care of most chemicals, even drugs, | | | | pressure for a filter to work. That normally is no |
| toxic metals, and most microorganisms. | | | | problem for a municipal system. For rural systems |
| What About Taste? | | | | it may mean a booster pump must be added. |
| The basic reverse osmosis membrane won't take | | | | Reverse osmosis water excludes most kinds of |
| out what usually affects taste or odors. For those | | | | pollution. It does involve some costs that you |
| problems, an included carbon filter solves those | | | | may not notice at first glance. Plus it works |
| issues. Carbon improves taste and eliminates | | | | better with municipal water and waste systems |
| objectionable odors too. Carbon filtration usually | | | | instead of rural systems. |
| comes in easily changed cartridge form. | | | | |