Contaminants Removed by Reverse Osmosis Filters

For those looking for the highest-quality water filtration system for their home, a reverse osmosis system is among the top choices available. A system based on air pressure forcing water through a membrane that traps numerous contaminant types, reverse osmosis water filters help you be rid of everything from basic mineral buildups to significant metals and chemicals that may be present in your unfiltered water supply.

At My Buddy the Plumber, we’re proud to offer reverse osmosis water filter systems as part of our broad plumbing services. What kinds of contaminants do reverse osmosis units help remove from your water? Here’s a basic primer on a few of the most important, though the actual list is extremely long and detailed.

Sediment

For starters, reverse osmosis filters are valuable for their ability to remove basic sediment, dirt, silt, clay and various minerals from your water. While these types of sediment usually do not pose direct health risks to humans unless they’re present in very large amounts, there are a couple other major benefits associated with their removal.

The first is taste, which these sediment and mineral types can impact in several negative ways. Reverse osmosis filters remove these problems instantly, allowing for water that tastes great. In addition, removing these minerals gets rid of any risk of hard water buildup within fixtures or other areas of your home, where minerals build up on surfaces and lead to discoloration, hardening and other negative effects.

Lead Materials

Swapping over to contaminants that do have an adverse effect on human health, lead is at or near the top of any such list. Lead in drinking water can be harmful and even toxic to humans, and will come from two primary sources:

• Old pipes: If your plumbing pipes are more than a couple decades old, they may have been made with lead materials. They may also be rusting and decomposing now, leading to small pieces of lead breaking off into your water. Luckily, reverse osmosis filters will remove this lead.
• Well water: If you receive your water from a well, it’s possible your well’s source will be contaminated with lead. The well should be tested by one of our plumbers at least once a year, and more often if possible, for lead and other pathogens.

Harmful Pathogens

Finally, reverse osmosis filters are known for their ability to remove pathogens that are directly harmful to your health. The first is known as Giardia Intestinalis, a common parasite that comes from animal feces and causes a condition called Giardiasis, a significant stomach illness that can last months. Another is cryptosporidium, a similar parasite that’s even resistant to other filtration methods like chlorine.

For more on the role reverse osmosis water filters play, or to learn about any of our water filtration or other plumbing services, speak to the staff at My Buddy the Plumber today.