Reverse Osmosis Is Energy Intensive – Is It Worth It?

Reverse Osmosis Is Energy Intensive – Is It Worth It?

Basin Water Solutions, a Texas-based water filtration and solutions company, writes about how reverse osmosis might be a popular way to get clean water, but the downside is it uses a lot of energy. They explain that it’s because RO systems need high-pressure pumps to push water through a special membrane, and more energy is needed if the water is really dirty or cold. Despite this, they say RO is still a good choice because it gets rid of harmful stuff like lead and bacteria, makes water taste and smell better, and can save you money in the long run by extending the lifespan of appliances. The environmental benefits are also significant, as it cuts down on plastic waste. They say for water treatment pros, the key is balancing the upfront energy costs with these long-term benefits. Newer RO models are more energy-efficient, making them an even better option for clean, safe water.

Roundtable Discusses Hard Water

It sounds like the setup for a classic bar joke: a plumbing expert, a nurse, a science teacher, and a cleaning business owner walk into a meeting to discuss... hard water. Unfortunately for us there’s no punchline here, just a diverse group of pros sharing their insights on a common household issue, hard water.

In a recent article posted on Southern Living, the group talks about how hard water is more than just a nuisance leaving white marks on dishes - it's a common problem in many homes, especially those using well water. It dries out your skin, fades your clothes, and can even damage your plumbing and appliances over time. It's also important to recognize the usual suspects: soap that won't lather properly, dull laundry, and calcium buildup on faucets. More in-depth details are listed in the article.

Brief History of Water Filtration

The Lockport Journal (of Lockport, NY) takes us on a quick dive through the history of water filtration. Starting way back with the ancient Egyptians using sand and siphons, to Hippocrates filtering rainwater through cloth (known as the “Hippocratic Sleeve”), the journey of cleaning up our water is as old as civilization itself. The real game-changer came with the microscope in the 15th century, letting us see tiny particles in our water for the first time. Fast forward to the 19th century, London's cholera outbreaks showed how vital sand filtration was in stopping disease. And then finally, James Carter enters in the late 1800s in America. He upped the game with his Carter Filter Company, making water purification systems that were all the rage for homes and businesses.

How to Remineralize RO Water

We all know that reverse osmosis systems are awesome at getting rid of bad stuff in water, but sometimes they also strip out good minerals. In Aquasan’s recent article they chat about how to add these minerals back (aka remineralize the water). They say that RO systems with a built-in remineralization cartridge, like their own Aquasana SmartFlow™, are super handy for this. For people who are more of a DIY type, they can use mineral drops or even Himalayan salt, but need to be careful about the extra salt intake. Another option is alkaline pitchers, but they might not add back enough minerals lost in RO processing. In the end, adding minerals back is important for taste, hydration, and overall health benefits like better digestion and blood pressure control.

What else is happening:

• California expands CV-SALTS program, which requires key dischargers (growers, dairies, industrial facilities and wastewater plants) to test domestic wells and provide free replacement drinking water

• EcoWater announces Building Management Solution (BMS) integration for commercial water treatment systems, compatible with Cisco, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, and Schneider Electric

• Culligan has sponsored post in Business Insider discussing signs that hard water is affecting your home

• WaterFilterGuru is becoming a regular here and is back with the AquaTru vs RKIN review (spoiler: AquaTru won)

• Wolverine Water Systems writes about understanding the hard water scale

• O’Sullivan Pump Co. says that submersible pumps are “The Silent Workhorses of California’s Water Supply”