What three things would you take to a deserted island? If you’re a thinker, one of the items you probably said you would bring is a machine that would turn salt water into drinking water so you could stay alive. However, you of course know that you simply can’t suck all of the salt out of a glass of ice water – don’t you?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is the process of removing salt from seawater. This technique is used for all kinds of purposes, from wastewater treatment to recycling, and it is something that has shed some positive light on the global water issues we are facing today. For instance, The Economist states that the arid city of Perth, Australia, uses desalinated water that comes from an RO plant for nearly 17 percent of its drinking water.
RO has become a common method for treating drinking water supplies because it can remove certain impurities. In addition to salt, RO can help improve the color, smell and taste of water by removing substances that might cause the liquid to be unappealing, reveals North Dakota State University. It can also reduce or eliminate substances that could contaminate the water supply.
However, some of the most common impurities that RO is used to remove are totally dissolved solids and suspended matter. Depending on where you live, the water might have higher levels of nitrate, sodium, sulfate, lead and other total dissolved solids. These metals and substances must be removed to make the water suitable and appealing for drinking.
Therefore, consider using bottleless water coolers that are equipped with RO water filtration. This does everything carbon filters do, and it’s even better at removing dissolved salts and nitrates. It can help eliminate organic molecules that create bad tastes and odors, which helps make staying hydrated at your business easier and more pleasant than ever.