Frequently Asked Questions

What is Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a separation technology used to reduce dissolved solids from water through the use of a semi-permeable membrane. Because the technology is very effective at removing bacteria, pyrogens, and organic contaminants, many municipalities and industrial facilities use the RO process to remove impurities from water for municipal use, industrial use, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and many other applications. The easiest way to explain this process is to first explain osmosis:

Osmosis is the naturally occuring movement of water with a low solute concentration (pure water) to an area of high solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. In the case of water treatment this simply means when untreated water and clean water are seperated by a semi-permeable membrane (a membrane that will allow certain molecules or ions to pass through it), the pure water will naturally flow through the membrane to the higher concentration water.

Reverse Osmosis is a process in which the natural osmotic process is reversed. To accomplish this reveral, pressure is applied to the higher concentration solution forcing it through the semi-permeable membrane to the pure water solution. In practical applications the force required is supplied by the membrane feed water high pressure pump.