Reverse Osmosis is one of the most effective forms of water filtration. Unlike carbon or chemical filtration systems, which employ specific materials to draw in or directly target the impurities in the water, reverse osmosis filters the water by forcing it through a material that is minuscule in size.
By applying an induced pressure to the water that is thirty times higher than usual, reverse osmosis allows the water’s particles to pass through the membrane while keeping and getting rid of all the contaminants the water picks up on its way through the pipes.
With a pore size of about 0.0001 microns, this semi-permeable membrane essentially traps any larger molecules of pollutants, organic compounds, or even salt while only permitting the small water molecules to pass through. Reverse osmosis was first developed to desalinate seawater and lessen the amount of strong chemical contaminants like heavy metals. Today, it is used in a wide range of commercial, military, government, and even domestic applications.