Do you remember anything about your high school chemistry class? You might actually use some of the skills you learned more than you realize. Take water purification for example. It’s a must-have for homes in West Texas, particularly with the hard water that’s so common here. Did you realize that one of the common “cures” for hard water is straight out of your chemistry textbook? In this post, we’ll provide a simple explanation of how reverse osmosis works, and why it means cleaner water for you and your home.
WHAT IS OSMOSIS?
To define reverse osmosis (commonly called R.O.), you must first be able to define osmosis. Let me give you an example: If you poured a glass of dirty water into a glass of clean water, the two would merge. You would still have a glass of water, but it would be cleaner than the dirty water and dirtier than the clean water. That’s because all of the particles would naturally merge together when they are put together. This process is called osmosis.
HOW DOES REVERSE OSMOSIS WORK?
So if osmosis occurs naturally, reverse osmosis does not occur naturally. To make the water clean again, you have to apply a force. An easier way to explain reverse osmosis is to call it a filter. The filter acts as a selectively permeable membrane, meaning the smaller particles will get through, but the larger ones will be left behind. In the example with water, if you force the dirty water through the filter, it will leave the contaminants behind, only allowing pure water to pass through.
You are essentially doing the opposite of the merging process that occurs during osmosis. Hence, this process is called reverse osmosis. Simple, right?
WE’LL COME RUNNING
If you’d like more information on how reverse osmosis works, the experts at City Plumbing can explain it and how it will help you provide clean water to your home. If you’re ready to make an appointment, you can reach us at 432-366-2401. Give us a call, and we’ll come running!
