How does a reverse osmosis water filter work
At the heart of the reverse osmosis water filter is a deceptively simple concept: a semi-permeable membrane that acts as a selective barrier, permitting water to pass while intercepting unwanted substances.
The Mechanics of Reverse Osmosis
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is like a highly efficient filter for your water. Imagine a fine net that catches all the unwanted substances from water, even the tiniest particles, and lets only clean water through. The main part of an RO system is a special filter, the RO membrane, which acts like an extremely fine sieve. It is so precise that it can remove particles that are almost too small to see even with a microscope — as tiny as 0.0001 microns. This means it can catch a huge variety of impurities, from dirt and salt to harmful chemicals.
What do Reverse Osmosis filters remove?
Reverse osmosis systems are adept at excising a vast array of contaminants, inclusive of bacteria, viruses, and a suite of chemicals such as nitrates, sulfates, fluoride, and even arsenic. The efficacy of these systems is profound, with most boasting a filtration efficiency rate of 99% or higher, capable of eliminating hundreds of substances from our tap water.
Yet, in this process of purification, there's a catch—these systems, while extracting harmful substances, also strip away essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium. These are minerals that our bodies do not just crave but require for optimal function. Hence, while RO systems excel in purification, they necessitate a secondary process to reintroduce these vital minerals back into the water—a process known as mineralization, which is crucial not only for the water's taste but for the holistic health benefits it offers.
However, not all reverse osmosis filters are created equal. Lower-cost options often correlate with reduced efficiency. This distinction underscores the importance of due diligence—scrutinizing independent lab tests and certifications for each brand and product becomes paramount to ensure that you are getting the quality you expect and require.
Moreover, it's important to note that reverse osmosis does not inherently remove chlorine or soften water with high efficiency. This is where activated carbon filters come into play, serving as an indispensable complement to RO, targeting and removing over 70 additional contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, chlorine by-products, pharmaceuticals, and more.
In essence, the narrative of reverse osmosis is one of subtraction followed by a necessary addition. It's a two-step dance of purification followed by enhancement, ensuring that the water we consume is not just safe but is also imbued with the necessary minerals that elevate it from mere hydration to a source of nourishment.
A pure, healthy, delicious and planet friendly solution
The Kitchen Station by Bluewater is a system that not only incorporates the transformative process of reverse osmosis but also enriches the water with the world's purest minerals called Liquid Rock™ through precision technology, enhancing the water's taste and nutritional value. It's a system designed for the discerning individual who understands that the value of water, like truth, is not just in its purity but also in what it contains.
The Kitchen Station stands as a testament to the harmony of form and function, embodying the Swedish ethos of lagom — not too little, not too much, just right. It purifies up to 99.7% (superior to competitors) of waterborne contaminants and then reinvigorates the water with the right balance of minerals, optimizing it for hydration and taste. It's unlike any other solution out there really putting your health and taste in the centre while innovating with the planet in mind.