Did you know that there are between nine and twelve million lead pipes still in use in US water distribution systems? How about chlorine and chloramines in the water, or the by-products such disinfectants can give rise to? No matter where we look, we find water transmitting dangerous contaminants and microorganisms. This is to be expected, given water’s nature. As the “universal solvent,” water is very good at picking up trace amounts of just about everything it comes into contact with. And, as the source of all life on the planet, it makes for a very effective vector for the transmission of pathogens, protozoa, parasites, and all manner of microorganisms.
Fortunately, human innovation has risen to meet the challenges of non-potable water. Ever since the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians, human beings have recognized both the need to filter water of contaminants, and some of the ways to do it–charcoal (or activated carbon) filtration was used by many ancient peoples, for instance.
One of the most recent–and most robust–forms of water filtration, however, is reverse osmosis. Developed during the 1960s and 70s as a way of desalinating seawater, reverse osmosis (RO) filtration is a mechanical form of filtration that involves forcing water through a semi-porous membrane with incredibly small pores. An average RO membrane will have porous openings that are between .01 and .0001 microns. When you consider that a human hair is roughly 70 microns in diameter, the filtration capabilities of these membranes becomes fairly clear.
These filters are capable of reducing not only particulate matter in your water, but dissolved solids as well. The pores are so small that they filter on a molecular level, straining out cysts and parasites, as well as bits of dissolved lead or other heavy metals, PFAs, microplastics, and many more common contaminants. When an RO membrane is coupled with other filters, such as a sediment and carbon combo, the result is a powerful all-in-one filtration unit, like this one.
RO systems like this are typically installed under a sink, or as a “Point-of-Use” (POE) system. Filters typically last from six months to a year, meaning that for a minimal initial investment, and some annual upkeep, you can have fresh, bottled-water quality filtered water coming straight from your tap.
With all that’s in our water these days, including new and emerging contaminants such as PFAs and microplastics–the need for clean, safe drinking water is more pressing than ever. Don’t fall victim to the invisible threats in your water–protect yourself and your family with an reverse osmosis system today.
Interesting Related Article: “The Essentiality of Clean Water for Human Health“