Water is the single most important element we need to survive; however, it also seems to be one of our bigger problems, with parts of the globe’s population still not having access to it in potable form. There have been attempts at making this situation a bit better, such as the recent project LifeStraw, which consisted of the invention of a portable water filter by a Swiss company. The LifeStraw is a hand filter you can add directly over a puddle, or any other source of water, and drink directly through it; the water is filtered as it passes the straw, and you’ve got immediate access to clean water.
Not only were these filters offered in many poor areas, but with every filter that people purchase, a child in Africa gets to enjoy clean water for a year. However, our subject for today is the reverse osmosis water filter system, a type of filter which is attached directly to your water pipes; unlike the LifeStraw, this is a more permanent solution, and it is used by people in all areas of the world, not just those without access to clean water. A reverse osmosis water filter functions thus: as you turn on the tap, the water starts running with pressure, and that pressure is used to push the water through a sort of membrane, which is partly permeable, and which stops any solids from passing through.
This membrane is thick like cellophane, and it stops any contaminants and deposits from passing through the water you drink; a reverse osmosis water filter system can have several of those membranes. Thus, the more membranes, the better the filter. However, the performance of this system is also dependent on the water pressure, its temperature, and the concentration of deposits. By utilizing a system of this kind you will not only have cleaner, purer water, but it will also taste better, eliminates any odors, and all the pollution factors are flushed down the drain.
One of the advantages of installing a reverse osmosis water filter system is that it doesn’t utilize any energy; it is also easy to clean, something that must be done once or twice a year, so maintenance isn’t an issue. Although most systems of this kind are alike in construction and principle, they differ in quality. Both the quality of the materials and the build are important, so make sure you check out enough models before choosing one. Perhaps water filtration systems are a part of our future more than we know, especially if we don’t manage to cut back on pollution and reverse the effects of global warming.
