Having fresh water to drink is a convenience we all enjoy in modern times. Despite this, you may be concerned about contaminants in your water, or simply do not like the taste. Many have stopped buying bottled water to help protect the environment and reduce their waste, while others find fridge filters do not give them the capacity, flow rates, and quality they are looking for.
So, what are our choices? You have a few different options when it comes to filtering your home’s drinking water. Two of the most popular methods are main faucet filters and reverse osmosis (RO) systems.
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis systems use reverse osmosis to reduce the number of contaminants in the water. Osmosis is a natural process that is critical for our lives and all other living creatures’ lives. Osmosis is the movement of a solvent through a membrane from a solution with a low concentration of solute to a solution with a high concentration of solute.
The fluid which passes through a membrane is usually water. This membrane needs to be semi-permeable, meaning it allows some particles to pass but not others. When it comes to reverse osmosis, it turns this process around.
You will have a solution with high solutes forced across a semi-permeable membrane to a solution with low concentration. This is how the filter works and provides the highest levels of filtration.
What Is A Main Faucet Filtration System?
An under-sink main faucet water filter can easily be installed on your existing kitchen faucet to deliver clean, filtered water. At Water Direct, our AO Smith main faucet filtration system uses Claryum filtration technology to reduce harmful contaminants that affect the smell and taste of your water. It can reduce up to 99% of 77 contaminants, including lead, mercury, asbestos, pesticides, chlorine, and more. This method provides exceptional filtration along with the convenience of a simple install and higher flow rates.
How Do These Systems Compare?
Most homeowners want to know whether a water filter or reverse osmosis water filtration system is the best for them. While both are highly effective at removing contaminants, the difference is which contaminants they remove and how the water is dispensed.
Under-sink main faucet water filters remove volatile organic compounds and other chemicals. It can also remove some herbicides and pesticides. It can remove disinfectants like chlorine, and remove the bad taste and odour in tap water all while using your existing faucet.
RO systems can remove salts and nitrates, heavy metals, reduces mineral content from hard water, some organic materials like fluoride, viruses like Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and Rotavirus, and it is effective at removing bacteria like Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli, and it reduces arsenic. These often come with a dedicated faucet-mounted alongside your main faucet.
Which System Is Right For You?
While we’ve outlined what contaminants, can be kept out of your water, both have their advantages. Each have exceptionally high levels of filtration, so a consideration you may have is whether you want to install the dedicated RO faucet on your counter, or simply use your main faucet by installing the filter. Either system can also be plumbed into your fridges water supply to provide much higher levels of filtration than typical fridge filters, with larger capacity and longer replacement intervals. With either system, you will be reducing bottled water waste, helping the environment, and improving the quality of water in your home.
For more information about water filtration systems, water filter replacement parts, and water softeners contact Water Direct today.