In the past, Reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration technology was used primarily for military and space technology applications in the 1970s and 1980s. However, due to the deterioration of water quality worldwide, this filtration technology is now widely adopted, particularly for drinking water. In fact, in North American countries, RO filtration has become the fastest-growing type of residential drinking water filter. Recent market research reports indicate that more than half of Canadians and Americans reportedly drink only filtered water or bottled water.

In response to market demand and the need for high-quality drinking water, many households today, and even major bottled water brands such as Coca-Cola (Dasani) and Pepsi (Aquafina), use reverse osmosis (RO) technology to treat drinking water.

The most important component of an RO system, which could also be called a “super filter”, is a semi-permeable, sealed membrane that allows only pure water to pass through. Most water-soluble and non-water-soluble microparticles—including harmful substances such as arsenic (commonly known as arsenic), copper, iron, lead, chromium, fluoride, radium, nitrates (from chemical fertilizers), and bacteria—are filtered out and removed. RO significantly eliminates odors and discoloration from water, producing pure water that is healthy and absolutely safe to drink.

RO systems feature an automatic self-cleaning function, whereas conventional filters typically use activated carbon, which can only remove some impurities, odors, and color from the water and automatically lose their filtering capacity once the specified water usage limit is reached. Therefore, reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water filters have become the safest, most hygienic, and most effective water filtration systems available to consumers and households today.

By Michael Chiu, MWS, CI
Previously published in Ming Pao Daily News