What You Need to Know About Reverse Osmosis

Although there is no evidence yet of this happening anywhere, microorganisms do sometimes invade tap water and cause serious health problems.

18:55 15 August 2020

Homeowners who have been thinking about having a whole-house water filtration system installed may finally make the decision if they worry about the novel coronavirus getting into the water supply. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control explains that reverse osmosis systems are highly effective at removing many different contaminants, including viruses. Information is provided at websites like aquariuswaterconditioning.com.

 

About Reverse Osmosis

 

This kind of treatment sends water through a semi-permeable membrane that captures the tiniest contaminants. Reverse osmosis not only removes microorganisms, but a variety of harmful chemicals and other toxins as well. Some examples include lead, chromium and chloride. Reverse osmosis significantly reduces dissolved mineral content like a water softener does. The treatment also decreases fluoride levels, which is reassuring to people who do not want this chemical in the water. This particular system can be combined with filtration devices to make it even more effective.

 

Protozoa

 

When health problems develop due to tap water contamination, the problem most frequently involves protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Municipal water is effectively treated with germ-killing agents to ensure that the supply is safe. Nevertheless, there have been incidents when contaminants appeared in tap water throughout municipalities.

 

In 1993, for example, the largest epidemic of water-related illness occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, due to Cryptosporidium. The protozoa made it through a water treatment plant's filtration system and sickened more than 400,000 city residents over two weeks.

 

Viruses

 

The risk of a virus being in municipal water is very low. Still, outbreaks of hepatitis A and norovirus have occurred in municipal supplies. An extensive review of cases found these viruses connected with illness in both city and well water.

 

Households using well water have a somewhat higher risk. The water may be deemed completely safe when the residents move in, but contamination could occur later. A lack of disinfection of the groundwater can make people very ill if this happens. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends having a water treatment system installed that is very effective at removing these contaminants.

 

Bacteria

 

Bacteria like Campylobacter and Shigella can invade well water and cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and other symptoms. Many people have heard about the problems with the municipal water supply in Flint, Michigan. Most of the publicity has focused on lead contamination, but bacterial invasion from sewage also was discovered. That particular issue was related to inadequate levels of chlorine for sanitization.

 

Legionnaire's disease is a bacterial infection caused by breathing in tiny water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria. This most frequently happens when commercial air conditioners are contaminated. However, cases have been documented of the disease being contracted through municipal water supplies. Infection does not occur from swallowing the water but rather from breathing droplets because of coughing or choking while drinking.

 

Concluding Thoughts

 

Homeowners typically have water treatment systems installed because of high dissolved mineral content, or unpleasant odors and flavors. Reverse osmosis is an ideal choice for households worried about the potential for more hazardous contaminants.