Reverse osmosis water filtration that uses high pressure to force water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane. This process filters out more than just the larger contaminants most other water filtration systems catch, it also removes dissolved minerals and organics.

Osmosis happens naturally in nature: water molecules move from areas of low concentration to higher concentration until the concentration is equally distributed, passing through a semipermeable membrane along the way. Reverse osmosis reverses this natural process to create a system that puts the water in control.

RO works by using a high-pressure pump to apply pressure greater than the natural osmotic pressure on the salt side of an RO membrane, forcing water molecules through while leaving most dissolved salts and contaminants behind in a stream of reject water (also known as concentrate). The resulting stream of treated water is known as permeate.

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water: Is It the Healthiest Option

A good RO system will include multiple stages of filtration to address a wide range of water quality issues including taste, odor, color, hardness and contaminants like lead, arsenic, volatile organic compounds, PFAS and bacteria. Some systems will also use a post-tank filter to add additional polishing steps to produce the highest-quality drinking water possible.

Point of use systems are a great option for homes because they treat water directly at the source, usually a sink faucet. This reduces energy consumption and wear on appliances and extends the life of your water filters. Whole-house systems are a more costly option that can be installed to treat all of the water in your home at the source, reducing costs and eliminating the need for bottled water.