Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most common water purification methods currently available. It uses a special membrane which filters out numerous organic and mineral compounds. Reverse osmosis can be used on its own or in combination with other water purification methods, such as deionisation.

When should you use a reverse osmosis system? Let’s find out.

1) Danger Of Contamination

Clean water is required for the needs of numerous industries. For example, the healthcare industry requires bacteria-free water for sanitation purposes. Food and drink, as well as the cosmetic industry, can suffer if certain types of bacteria interfere with the production process.

Similarly, manufacturing processes can be impaired by salts and metals dissolved in mains feedwater which can lead to corrosion, weak spots, poor finish, unclean appearance and overall imperfections in quality.

Reverse osmosis is one of the most effective methods of removing waterborne contaminants from water. The water is pre-treated and pushed through the membrane, which holds back contaminants based on their size and weight profile, including particulates, microorganisms, dyes, aqueous salts and metals. The rate of removal is typically 99% and when combined with other downstream technology steps (deionisation, UV irradiation, sub-micron filtration) the output water can be further polished to ultrapure levels.

2) Compliance With Regulations

When it comes to water purity, many industries need to comply with certain regulations. Otherwise, the products may become contaminated, which can lead to recall, downtime, fines, and other formidable expenses. At the same time, releasing spoiled products on the market can ruin brand reputation.

As one of the most effective ways to purify water, RO is typically a key component in water purification system design. In many industries with water quality limits, it is specified as the technology of choice to ensure businesses achieve compliance. One such area is the pharmaceutical sector where standards have recently changed to accommodate the use of RO more widely to achieve compliance in relation to US and European Pharmacopeia.

3) Limited Budget

Depending on the volumes being used, buying ready-to-use purified water can be expensive and generally doesn’t make economic sense in the medium to long term.

With RO being well established in the marketplace now, costs have come down over time and RO systems can be considered among the most budget-friendly water purification systems on the market. Furthermore, the membranes have become more robust with developments in the manufacturing process and even though they still require & benefit from regular maintenance, the frequency of servicing is less than it once was. They also produce less waste than they used to (when appropriate pre-treatment has been installed) and can be programmed to flush automatically to ensure membrane cleanliness.

4) Uptime

Providing all of the services are in place, an RO system can be installed in a matter of days, depending on the system size and complexity. If a system is being replaced, the new system can be made to work alongside until it is commissioned. And systems can be pre-assembled so that arrive as plug-and-play, further reducing the installation time period.

When the system is up and running, the production process is continuous, typically with a storage vessel being filled until it is full at which point the system automatically shuts off. In this way,. purified water is available whenever you need it, without downtime or slowing of operation.

5) Emergencies

Reverse osmosis equipment can be deployed quickly in emergency situations and designed to cope with a wide range of feedwaters. That’s why RO systems are used in military, disaster relief, and rescue operations all over the world – as well as countless business situations. They can be hooked up quickly and produce purified water in a matter of hours. Systems are available pre-assembled in containerised form for delivery by truck.

At Wychwood Water Systems, we give our clients an opportunity to choose the best reverse osmosis system for their needs. We also offer convenient maintenance plans. For more information about our products and services, please download our free Industrial Water Purification Guide e-book.