Reverse osmosis water filters are one of the most popular drinking water filter systems. They have excellent contamination rejection rate which makes them one of the most sought-after water filters on the market. Available to buy with multiple filtration stages option, they are effective in the removal of fluoride, chlorine, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals as well as improve the taste of drinking water.

But with so many different options available on the market, it is becoming apparently difficult to choose the best system for one’s home. While most of the reverse osmosis filters work well in most cases, there are some that might be good in city water compared to well water.

Here are 5 factors you must consider before deciding to buy a reverse osmosis system for your sweet home.

1. Water Source

Water source plays a crucial role in deciding which reverse osmosis system you need. In Ireland, there are mainly three sources of water – City water, private wells, and lakes.

If you live in an urban area, which is more likely to be connected to a group water scheme, you would probably be receiving water which has already been treated and contains low levels of contamination. On the other hand, if you are using water from private wells or lakes, then the chances of contamination are way higher. In this case, a reverse osmosis system may not be enough to ensure a safe supply of drinking water. You would need to install more complex and sophisticated water treatment systems that would reduce the contamination levels in your water. Furthermore, if you live in an area of high water hardness, installing a water softener is highly recommended. A water softener prolongs the life of reverse osmosis unit by ensuring hard water doesn’t corrode the semi-permeable membrane of RO system.

2. Water Consumption

RO systems are generally rated to produce 50 gallons of filtered water per day. However, in most cases, expect anything 10-20% lesser than this amount. If you have a big family with high water consumption, then a smaller RO unit won’t be enough to fulfill your drinking water needs. If you are a small or medium-sized business, a domestic RO would unlikely suffice the needs of your staff.

It is, therefore, recommended to correctly gauge the water consumption needs in your home or office facility to select the right sized system. A 50 GPD-rated system will provide adequate production for the common household and will not cost much more than a lower GPD-rated system.

3. Filtration Quality

While most companies claim their systems to remove 99.9% contaminants from water, the actual rejection ratio of reverse osmosis water filters may differ for different manufacturers.

• Fluoride: 93%-98%
• Arsenic: 93%-98%
• Sodium: 90%-95%
• Calcium: 93%-98%
• Magnesium: 93%-98%
• Aluminium: 93%-98%
• Copper: 93%-98%
• Nickel: 93%-98%
• Zinc: 93%-98%
• Carbonates: 93%-98%
• Organic Compounds: 90%-95%

4. Number of Stages

Besides the semi-permeable membrane, there are pre-filters and post-filters that affect the effectiveness of the reverse osmosis water filters. Ro systems typically come in 3,4,5, and 6 stages of filtration. At least 4 stages are typically recommended for most types of applications. As the number of filtration stages increases, the quality of drinking water also enhances as water passes through different filters to remove different impurities.

If you are on well water that has high sediment levels, a system with 5 or 6 stages would be an ideal fit.

5. Budget

Before making any commitments, the cost of the system should be also be considered. Majorly 2 types of costs are involved in reverse osmosis filter systems – Initial cost and maintenance costs.

The initial cost includes the cost of the system and installation charges. On the other hand, the maintenance cost involves the periodic replacement of filters. Usually the initial cost of reverse osmosis lies in the range of €250 - €450 and the replacement filters cost €100 - €120 per year.

Final Word

Reverse Osmosis units are highly efficient drinking water system with unmatched contaminant removal performance. However, they would work best if you buy the right system suited for your home water supply.