Standing Public Water Dispenser

FAQ concerning to Reverse Osmosis System:

Q: What is a residential RO system?

It is a system that uses the principle of reverse osmosis to remove 95-99% of all the mineral and chemical contaminants from raw tap water. It gives you the quality of bottled water with the convenience of a faucet mounted on your kitchen sink.

Q: How does reverse osmosis differ from a water filter?

Ordinary water filters use a screen to separate only particles of dirt sediment from water. RO WATER FILTER employs a semi-permeable membrane that removes not only particles but also an extremely high percentage of dissolved contaminants, molecule by molecule, from raw tap water.

Q: What is the actual process of the residential reverse osmosis system?

Depending on the system you have, the raw tap water

1) flows through a 5-micron particle filter to remove rust, dust and other sediments,

2) flows into a carbon briquette cartridge filter, which removes 98% of the chlorine and organic chemical,

3) flows through a carbon block filter to filter multi-chemical compounds and suspended solids,

4) flows through a RO membrane (TFC) that separates 95-99% of the dissolved contiminants from the water molecules, which are washed down the drain,

5) flows through a small carbon filter to remove the remaining trace of chemicals, taste and odor (see Flow Chart), and

6) flows into a tank for storage. Inside the tank is a balloon -like rubber diaphragm, pre-charged with 7-10 pounds of air. As the tank fills, the air pressure increases and pushes the water out when the faucet is opened.

Q: Will reverse osmosis remove sodium from the water?

YES! Reverse osmosis was originally designed to make seawater drinkable for the Navy. It is ideal for anyone on a low sodium diet.

Q: Does reverse osmosis remove bacteria? Cryptosporidium?

YES! A reverse osmosis membrane has a pore size much smaller than bacteria, virus pyrogen, or the Cryptosporidium parasite. When functioning properly, it will remove all microorganisms from tap water and produce sterile water.

Q: How does the reverse osmosis water affect mixed beverages?

Because RO WATER PURIFIER removes invisible contaminants that mask flavor, it allows the natural taste of your beverages to come through. You will be able to use less coffee and still get the full flavor. Concentrated beverages like orange juice will taste tangier. You will probably be drinking a lot more water as well, since many people drink soda, Kool-Aid, concentrated juices, and beer as an alternative to bad-tasting tap water. Also, RO Water Filtration eliminates most of the lime build-up on drip coffee makers preventing the need for frequent cleaning. No longer will you find the white scum on the inside of pans after boiling water.

Q: Don't we need the minerals that are removed from the water?

Most of the minerals that we receive are from the foods we eat. Only a very small percentage comes from the water we drink.

Q: Where is the reverse osmosis system installed?

It is usually installed underneath the kitchen sink. In addition, the equipment can also be installed in the basement or a crawl space, since the water may stay cooler there, and can be easily run up to the kitchen sink as well as the refrigerator and additional faucets in the home.

Q: What does the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) represent?

This represents the total dissolved solids, such as rust, dust, dirt, etc., that are present in your water.

Q: How is the residential reverse osmosis system tested for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)?

The can be done by using a hand-held TDS meter. Before testing your R.O. water, you need to test your supply water. Fill a glass half full with your cold water supply after letting the water run for 30 seconds. Place the TDS meter (turned on) into the supply water in the glass and look at the TDS reading on the display. Write down this number. This reading represents Parts Per Million (PPM) and will give you a comparison for your R.O. water reading. Rinse the TDS meter with the water from your R.O. faucet to clean the sensor. Open the R.O. faucet and rinse a glass with the R.O. water. Fill the glass half way with the R.O. water. Turn the TDS meter on and place it in the glass of R.O. water. Use this reading to compare with the tap water reading.

Q: Can the reverse osmosis system connect to an extra faucet?

It only take 1/4" tee and tubing to run the water to a refrigerator or extra faucet. Some families run the reverse osmosis system to all of their bathrooms.

Q: What factors affect the quantity and the quality of the water produced?

There are four major variables to consider:

1) Pressure: The greater the water pressure, the better the quantity and quality of the water produced. A water pressure of 60 PSI is ideal. (A booster pump can be installed to increase the PSI.)

2) Temperature: 76oF is the ideal water temperature for the R.O. system. A 40oF water will cause the production of the R.O. system to fall to half of that at 76oF. The maximum water temperature recommended is 85oF.

3) Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): The higher the amount of dissolved contaminants in the water, the lower the quantity of water produced. A high level of TDS can be overcvome with additional water pressure.

4) Membrane: Different membranes have different characteristics. Some produce more water than others; some have better contaminant rejection capabilities; some have greater resistance to chemical abrasion for longer life. (You can upgrade your membrane to achieve better quality water.)

Q: How much water does the reverse osmosis system produce?

This varies from membrane to membrane. The size of the membrane will determine the amount of water that the R.O. system will produce on a daily basis.

Q: Can the amount of water produced be increased?

YES! There are several ways to accomplish this

1) Add an additional membrane

2) Increase the size of the membrane

3) Increase tank size

Q: What is the maintenance schedule for the reverse osmosis system?

This will vary from area to area, but this is the norm: The three pre-filter cartridges should be changed every 6 months

1) 5 Micron Sediment Cartridge

2) Carbon Cartridge

3) 1 Micron Sediment Filter

(Some systems come with the Extruded Carbon Filter.) Failure to change the cartridges every 6 months may allow chlorine to destroy the membrane. It is very easy to change the pre-filters. Just order the needed filters from us (see Products) All of our systems come with a housing wrench to open the filter housings so you can maintain your system yourself and feel confident about your drinking water.

Q: When should the membrane be changed?

One indication is a gradual reduction in water production caused by a layering of minerals and salts on the membrane surface. Another is a gradual deterioration in the quality of water being produced. You may notice a different taste or more white scum on the inside of a pan of water you are boiling. This might mean the R.O. membrane is disintegrating and needs replacing. (You can add a meter tester to your unit that will let you know when the membrane needs to be changed. Refer to Products to purchase the meter.)

What are TQM, DI, NSF, RO, and TDS?

DI - Deionized

NSF - National Sanitation Foundation

RO - Reverse Osmosis

TDS - Total Dissolved Solids

TQM - Total Quality Management