For households across America, clean and safe drinking water isn’t just a necessity; it’s a commitment to safeguarding our families' health and well-being.
If you’re searching for the most effective water treatment system for your home, you’ve probably heard of Reverse Osmosis (RO), a commonly used water filtration method.
But what is RO really, and how does it work?
Join us as we break down the pros and cons of RO systems and highlight additional water filter options so that you can find the best water filter for your sink and enjoy experiencing clean, refreshing water.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
The RO process removes contaminants from water by forcing the water through a semi-permeable membrane.
The membrane acts like a filter that only allows pure water molecules to pass through while blocking larger molecules and particles such as salts, minerals, metals, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and more.
The result is purified water, free of both helpful minerals and harmful substances with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.
How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?
A typical reverse osmosis water filter system for the sink has a large footprint as it consists of several components, such as:
- A pre-filter that removes sediment, dirt, rust, and chlorine from the water before it enters the RO membrane.
- A RO membrane that filters out up to 99% of dissolved solids and impurities from the water.
- A storage tank that holds the purified water until it is ready to be used.
- A post-filter that polishes the water and removes any remaining tastes or smells.
- A faucet that delivers the purified water to your sink.
The reverse osmosis process works as follows:
- The water supply enters the system and passes through the pre-filter, which removes large particles and chlorine that can damage the RO membrane.
- The water then reaches the RO membrane, where high pressure forces it through the tiny pores.
- The purified water collects in the storage tank. But the rejected water (brine or wastewater) is flushed out of the system.
- The purified water passes through the post-filter before reaching the faucet, where you can enjoy clean and fresh water.
What are the Pros and Cons of RO Sink Water Filters?
Reverse osmosis has many advantages as a sink water filtration method, such as:
- It can remove up to 99% of contaminants from water, including harmful ones like lead, arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, bacteria, viruses, and more.
- It can improve water's taste, smell, and appearance by removing chlorine and other chemicals.
- It can reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and health problems caused by contaminated water.
- It can save money and reduce environmental impact by eliminating the need for bottled water.
However, reverse osmosis systems also have some significant drawbacks to consider:
- RO wastes a lot of water in the process. For every gallon of purified water produced, up to 4 gallons of wastewater are discarded. To put it in perspective, that’s like pouring 3 glasses of water down the sink for every 1 glass of water you drink. Not only is this wasteful of a vital resource, but this can also increase your water bill and put stress on the water supply.
- RO can remove beneficial minerals from the water along with contaminants. Some minerals found in drinking water provide health benefits and can lower the water's pH making it more acidic. If the water is more acidic, it can alter the taste and quality and cause corrosion in pipes and faucets.
- RO systems are bulky and require a large amount of space to store the system, the tank, and all its components. Plus, they require regular maintenance and replacement of filters and membranes. This can add to the cost and hassle of owning a reverse osmosis system.
How Does Sentry Wellness System Compare to Reverse Osmosis?
If you want a better alternative to reverse osmosis, consider the Sentry Wellness System by Sentry H2O.
More than a basic water filtration system with more benefits than a traditional RO system, the Sentry Wellness System offers next-level, comprehensive water treatment.
Here's what the under-sink Sentry Wellness System has to offer:
- It removes numerous harmful toxins from your water, such as ammonia, lead, fluoride, cyanide, copper, chlorine, arsenic, pesticides, bacteria, and more.
- It enriches your water with essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, increasing the pH for on-demand alkalinity. RO systems strip water of these good-for-you minerals, while the Sentry water treatment system improves the taste and quality of your water and protects your pipes and faucets from corrosion.
- It neutralizes soft and hard scales in your water. This prevents scale buildup and clogging in your plumbing system and appliances.
- It is a zero-waste system that does not produce any wastewater or brine. Rather than waste more water than you use, the Sentry Wellness System is designed for you to drink every drop. This saves you money on your water bill and helps the environment.
- It treats your water in 5 stages, using an effective combination of filters and filtration media. This ensures that your water is free of hard-to-remove toxins, enriched with healthy nutrients, and tastes crisp and refreshing.
- It is effective for all types of water, including recycled water. This means you can use it in any location and situation, regardless of the water source or quality.
- It's easy to install—about 15 minutes and no plumbing skills are required. All you have to do is connect it to your existing faucet and immediately enjoy healthy, great-tasting Maintenance is minimal too—simply replace your filters every 6 months.
- Use it any where you need great-tasting water from the tap. Due to its compact size, it's perfect for apartments, homes (including rentals), fridges, RVs, and more.
Sentry H2O is changing the game one drop at a time with their under-sink water treatment system that outshines conventional RO systems when it comes to providing toxin-free, mineral-enriched, great-tasting water.
Visit us today to order yours!
Trust us; your tastebuds will thank you.