|
In order to reverse the natural tendencies of water
and salt movement and force clean water to flow from salty water,
the osmonic pressure must be overcome, i.e. osmosis must be reversed.
In order to reverse this flow of water, membrane systems, and
Reverse Osmosis systems in particular, utilize a special constructed
semi-permeable membrane element enclosed inside a pressure vessel.
Pressure is applied to reverse the flow of water, the source of
which is usually and existing, pressure is applied to the feed
stream, water molecules are passed through the membrane while
salts are retained in the feed. Thus, utilizing the principles
of water and salts movement, and combining them with pressure
and membrane technology, the natural osmotic flow of solution
is reversed.

How
a membrane separates substances
Metals, Organic compounds, and other contaminants are either too
large, or due to their chemistry unable, to pass through the reverse
osmosis membrane
Private
Water Supplies
Over 19 million American households and cottages rely on private
wells. Tens of thousands more rely on lakes, streams, and other
surface water sources. Unfortunately, not all of them have a UV
water disinfection system protecting them from harmful microorganisms.
While nation-wide studies do not exist, smaller scale studies
have commonly found that between 20 and 40% of wells in any given
region suffer from E.coli and/or coliform bacteria at any given
time ? not to mention the countless other microorganisms that
may be in a water supply.
The fact is that the quality of well water can vary from day
to day and from year to year. In the short term, things like heavy
rainfalls or snow melt can affect water quality. In the longer
term, quality may be affected by distant contamination sources,
earthquakes, and other factors. Water that has been safe for years
will not necessarily be safe tomorrow.
|