Brita vs. Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a water treatment that uses water to force water through a semi-permeable membrane with very few holes or "pores". Brita water filters often include carbon filters. These filter out some chlorine. Pure Blue H2O wants to provide you with all the information you need to make sure your family has the right tools to maintain your water quality and the plumbing system in your home. Pure Blue H2O is the right place to call if you're interested in reverse osmosis for your home.
Carbon Filtration (BRITA Filters)
Carbon filtration is one of the oldest methods of filtering water. They are most commonly used today as Brita water filters and refrigerator filters. They use carbon gravel to filter out some chlorine. Carbon block water filters can also be purchased in blocks. Some carbon filters come with activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal. These filters will remove more chlorine. High-quality carbon filters remove 99% of chlorine from water. However, they are not available in Brita filters. They are only found in reverse osmosis systems. These systems work best to remove bad taste and odors, as shown in the chart.
Reverse Osmosis - R/O
As mentioned, reverse osmosis is water treatment. Water is forced through a semipermeable membrane with very few holes or "pores". Clean water flows through, and any impurities that are too large to pass through the membrane are left behind. Engineering at Dartmouth claims that reverse osmosis was invented in France by Jean Antoine Nollet, a French physicist, in the eighteenth century. It wasn't until 1969, however, that reverse osmosis was made commercially available when Dean Spatz used it to separate maple syrup from sap. It has been a major process in water filtration since then.
The Difference
Carbon filters and reverse osmosis are two very different technologies. Carbon isn't necessarily bad. It is used often in dechlorination. There is a huge difference when it comes down to whole-home water. As shown in the chart, reverse osmosis can remove more than 500x as many microns from water than carbon filters. Reverse osmosis has many health benefits.
Reverse Osmosis Has Health Benefits
Reverse osmosis is a chemical process that applies pressure to water through a series of specialized membranes. This allows foreign substances, molecules, and minerals to be removed. Pure water is created by this process, which has many health benefits.
Free of Lead
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that reverse osmosis is able to effectively remove lead and make highly contaminated water safe for consumption. High levels of lead can cause brain damage in children and be extremely dangerous. In smaller amounts, it can cause increased blood pressure, fertility problems, nerve and muscle damage, as well as higher blood pressure. If you suspect you have lead problems in your water, you should have it tested and set up a reverse osmosis water filtration system.
Safe For Cancer Patients
Reverse osmosis water purified water can be ingested by cancer patients during and after treatment. Cancer patients are more likely to have compromised immune systems after radiation and chemotherapy. Although untreated water is often considered safe, it can lead to serious infections in patients with cancer. Reverse osmosis purifies water so that cancer patients are safe before, during, and after treatment.
Filters Cryptosporidium
The parasite cryptosporidium can be found in contaminated water. This contaminant can be removed by reverse osmosis, according to the CDC. This parasite can cause diarrhea, nausea, and fever if the water isn't treated. Children can experience more severe symptoms.
Takes Out Sodium
Large sodium molecules can't pass through the filtering system of reverse osmosis because of the special membranes. Installing a reverse-osmosis system in your home is advisable if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, or any other reason for sodium restriction.
What Is The Best Reverse Osmosis System to Purchase
There are many brands of reverse-osmosis systems available. You should choose a high-quality system that includes a carbon filter. This will block harmful chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. Pure Blue H2O will provide you with the best 3 stage reverse osmosis system or 4 stage reverse osmosis system on the market. These systems are high-quality and come with both a pre-carbon filter and a post-carbon one. Contact us today to find the right system for you.