Choosing the right system that fits with each persons individual needs can include a variety of differing criteria. We have broken down each of our domestic systems suitable for drinking into the table below. While each of these four systems can be used for drinking water, they all have different component parts, set up, as well as filter and membranes usage.
System Name
Fresh 3
5 Stage Drinking Water
6 Stage Drinking Water
Whole HouseSystem
Water Filtration
Yes
No
No
Yes
Reverse Osmosis
No
Yes
Yes
No
Filter Replacement
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Membrane Replacement
No
Yes
Yes
No
Fit Below Kitchen Cupboard
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Faucet Tap
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Waste Water
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Price Range
£144 – £153
£233 – £263
£255 – £285
£258 – £680
Cost of Replacement Filters
£40
£27
£39
£78 – £282
Cost of Replacement Membranes
No
£22
£22
No
Self Installation
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
We hope that the table above will assist you in choosing the best system for your needs. Should you have any further questions or need more assistance, please contact us and one of our team will be happy to provide you with more advice.
Our RO-Man Water Filtration and Reverse Osmosis Systems remove many contaminants. However, these systems will differ in the contaminants removed. The below table outlines which contaminants each system will remove.
Choosing the right filtration system for your home can be confusing to say the least. Even going online and searching for water filtration system brings up millions and millions of hits! Look no further than our article below, we’ve simplified all the information you need to choose the right filtration system for your home.
In order to choose the right filtration system for your needs, you need to establish what you want your water filtration system to do. We have three types of water available to us.
Treated tap water.
Home filtered water, either via a whole house system or a water filter to your kitchen tap.
Purified drinking water provided by a Reverse Osmosis System to a dedicated tap at the kitchen sink.
Now we know the types of water available to us, you can choose the system that is most suitable for your needs.
If you want to filter your entire house…you are choosing home filtered water.
In order to filter your entire home, you will need a whole house system. This system consists of a 10” sediment filter and granulated active carbon filters.
What will this do to my water?
The sediment filter will remove and reduce sediments including rust, dirt, silt and sand from your water.
The granulated activate carbon filters will remove up to 99% of chlorine as well as 85% of pesticides, herbicides, some VOCs, some disinfection byproducts, and other organic chemicals from your tap water. This filter will also improve the taste and odour of the water.
Are there any chemicals that will still be present?
Most carbon filters cannot remove microorganisms, chloramine, hardness minerals, salts, fluoride, or most heavy metals. However activated carbon filters have shown promise in reducing an emerging contaminant in our drinking water supplies: pharmaceuticals.
Pharmaceuticals are natural or synthetic chemicalsthat get into our water through human waste and improper disposal of medications, for example flushing drugs down toilets or sinks. To further remove many of these contaminants we recommend using Reverse Osmosis.
If you want to filter your drinking water only….you are choosing filtered water.
If you wish to filter your drinking water only, you need a drinking water filtration system. This system is similar to the above description system but on a smaller scale and will purify the water at one point of entry only. This is usually your kitchen tap.
This system consists of 10” sediment filter, 10” CBR2 filter and a 10” Chlorplus carbon filter.
What will this do to my water?
The sediment filter will remove and reduce sediments including rust, dirt, silt and sand from your water.
The CBR2 filter will target and remove metals including lead, mercury as well as reduce levels of chlorine, taste and odour.
The Chlorplus Carbon filter which will target chlorine and chloramines, volatile organic compounds and chlorination by-products. It will also minimize petrochemical by-products and insecticides. This Chlorplus filter will provide a greater chloramine performance capacity than granular carbon.
Are there any chemicals that will still be present?
Most carbon filters cannot remove microorganisms, chloramine, hardness minerals, salts, fluoride, or most heavy metals. However activated carbon filters have shown promise in reducing an emerging contaminant in our drinking water supplies: pharmaceuticals.
Pharmaceuticals are natural or synthetic chemicalsthat get into our water through human waste and improper disposal of medications, for example flushing drugs down toilets or sinks. To further remove many of these contaminants we recommend using Reverse Osmosis.
If you want to purify your drinking water only….you are choosing a Reverse Osmosis water purifier.
If you wish to filter your drinking water only, you need a Reverse Osmosis water purification system. This will purify the water at one point of entry only. This will be a faucet tap. This system consists of 10” sediment filter, 10” granulated active carbon filter, 10” carbon block filter, 10” reverse osmosis membrane, inline taste and odour filter as well as a remineralising filter.
What will this do to my water?
This option will purify your water, giving you the cleanest possible drinking water. It will remove almost all contaminants from your water.
The sediment filter will remove and reduce sediments including rust, dirt, silt and sand from your water.
The granulated activate carbon filters will remove up to 99% of chlorine as well as 85% of pesticides, herbicides, some VOCs, some disinfection byproducts, and other organic chemicals from your tap water. This filter will also improve the taste and odour of the water.
The Reverse Osmosis membrane will remove chloramine, hardness minerals, salts and heavy minerals, lead, chromium, copper, chloride, sodium, phosphorous, nitrate, potassium, sulfate, radium, fluoride, arsenic, E-coli, shigella, salmonella, campylobacter, giardia, cryptosporidium, rotavirus, norovirus and hepatitis B, pesticides, cyanide and pharmaceuticals. On average our Reverse Osmosis systems will reduce these from between 80% – 97%.
As a result, you will have pure clean water which will then be passed through a remineralising filter to improve the PH and restore some trace minerals such as calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a water filtration or water purification system for your home. We hope that this article has provided you with some information in how to select the right system to suit your needs. Our website contains a wealth of information on all our systems as well as the chemicals that they remove. As always our team are available for further information and advice. Please contact us via email, WhatsApp, our social media channels or telephone.
If you live in an area with hard water, you might have noticed problems like soap scum build-up, dry skin, and dingy laundry. A water softener can help solve these problems and improve the quality of your water. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of water softeners, including their benefits, types, and maintenance.
What is a water softener?
A water softener is a system that removes minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water supply. These minerals can cause hard water which can create build-up in your pipes, appliances, and fixtures, and even make it difficult for soap to lather. A water softener uses a process called ion exchange to replace these minerals with sodium or potassium ions.
Benefits of using a water softener
There are several benefits to using a water softener in your home. Here are a few:
1. Better water quality: Soft water feels and tastes better. You might notice that your skin and hair feel softer and smoother after a shower, and your clothes and dishes come out cleaner.
2. Extended appliance longevity: Hard water can cause mineral build-up in your appliances, shortening their lifespan. A water softener can help protect your investment by preventing this.
3. Reduced energy costs: Mineral build-up can also reduce the efficiency of your appliances, causing them to use more energy to operate. By reducing build-up, a water softener can help you save on energy costs.
Types of water softeners
There are several types of water softeners available on the market. Here are a few:
Salt-based water softeners: These are the most common type of water softener. They use an ion exchange process to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. The sodium ions are supplied by adding salt to the softener.
Salt-free water softeners: These use a different process called template-assisted crystallization (TAC) to reduce mineral build-up. They don’t actually remove minerals from the water, but instead change their structure so that they don’t cause build-up.
Dual-tank water softeners: These have two tanks, so that one can always be regenerating while the other is in use. This ensures that you always have a supply of soft water available.
Maintenance of water softeners
Like any appliance, water softeners require regular maintenance to function properly. Here are a few tips:
1. Add salt regularly: If you have a salt-based water softener, you’ll need to add salt regularly to keep it working properly.
2. Check for leaks: Check your water softener regularly for leaks or signs of damage.
3. Clean the resin bed: Over time, the resin bed in your water softener can become fouled with mineral build-up. You’ll need to clean it periodically to keep your water softener working properly.
In conclusion, a water softener can provide several benefits for your home, including better water quality, extended appliance lifespan, and reduced energy costs. There are several types of water softeners available, each with their own pros and cons. To keep your water softener working properly, be sure to perform regular maintenance tasks like adding salt and cleaning the resin bed.
At RO-Man we have created our own water softening systems and consumable products. You can access these products here. These products should assist in removing any hard water issues you may have and providing you with the benefits outlined above. Should you wish to discuss this in more detail contact us directly with any questions you may have.
In our increasingly health conscious society we are told on a daily basis of the importance of being well hydrated and drinking enough water. Water makes up almost two thirds of our body and is essential for us to function correctly. Used by our body for many processes, water aids with transporting nutrients and oxygen around our bodies, controls temperature, aids in the functioning of our digestive system, removes waste products, lubricates our joints as well as keeping our skin healthy. Simply put, we need water to survive and thrive.
In the UK we are fortunate to have drinking water suitable for consumption straight from our taps at home. But what exactly is in our tap water and is this purified as well as it should be? Is our tap water free from all chemicals and the best type of water for us and our family? Or should we be using a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for our drinking water? What is the difference between tap water and Reverse Osmosis water? Is this difference enough to warrant an at home Domestic Reverse Osmosis System? In this blog post we aim to outline the main differences between tap water and Reverse Osmosis water, the benefits and drawbacks to both allowing the consumer to decide whether a Reverse Osmosis system would be beneficial to them.
What is in our Tap Water?
The UK government has strict standards and laws in place to ensure that drinking water within our homes is safe and of suitable quality. These standards cover micro organisms, chemicals such as nitrate and pesticides, metals such as lead and copper and as well the taste of the water and the appearance of the water.
While the mineral content found in tap water is variable, depending on the where your water is sourced from, in general terms the following nutrients are found in our drinking water.
Calcium – essential for bone health
Magnesium – essential for cardiovascular and bone health
Fluoride – effective in preventing dental issues
Sodium – an important electrolyte which can be lost with excess sweat
Copper – important for cardiovascular health, iron utilisation and antioxidant function
Selenium – essential for the immune system and antioxidant function
Our water is delivered to our homes through collection, processing and treatment at specialist facilities before being transported through a network of pipes and pumping stations. The collected rainwater is pushed through screens and filters to remove debris and tiny particles before chlorine is added to the water ensuring that any remaining particles, organisms and bacteria is killed before human consumption. In the UK, we benefit from this process ensuring our water is clean and made readily available to us in our homes.
To summarise, by law we are guaranteed clean, safe drinking water but additional minerals are found in our tap water. What then does the reverse osmosis process do and which water is best for us to consume?
What is in Reverse Osmosis Water?
Reverse Osmosis water is the produced water from a Reverse Osmosis system. Reverse Osmosis is the finest filtration for water producing the purest form of water possible. These systems will filter out 98% of unwanted molecules such as fluoride, lead, chlorine, chloramines, pesticides and many more. Once this process of filtration has taken place the produced water will be expertly clean, safe for drinking and storage for future use also. With regular maintenance, filter and membrane changes a Reverse Osmosis system will provide pure water for the life span of the system.
While we are fortunate enough in the UK to have safe drinking water pumped to our homes, some areas may still have potential issues and concerns over the use of pesticides or herbicides. In areas where the quality of water may be uncertain Reverse Osmosis water is an excellent option for removing trace minerals. For people with serious allergies, illnesses and health concerns using Reverse Osmosis to ensure the safety of water can be of high importance. This will produce very high quality water removing just about every contaminant possible giving reassurance to those who may require it.
Now, we know what is in our tap water and what the Reverse Osmosis process does, which is best for our health and our families to consume?
Potential Concerns with Tap water
Our drinking water is pumped to our homes using pipes and networks laid in the early to mid 20th century. Having a lifespan of 75 – 100 years these pipes would need significant investment to ensure that the pipes are still fit for purpose or replacement in order to protect health and the environment. In addition to this, research conducted in 2017 by Orb Media found that 83% of water samples collected across 159 taps in fourteen different countries on five continents was contaminated with microscopic plastic fibres.
In 2009 it was estimated that approximately 25% of domestic households in the EU have lead pipe either as a connection to the water mains or as an integral part of the household plumbing. While lead is no longer found in paints, petrol or food containers, if your water is travelling through lead pipes small amounts can build up over time which could cause serious health problems.
As explained in the article earlier chlorine is added to water at the end of the treatment process to kill off any remaining bacteria. However, recent reports have indicated that there may be an increased risk of bladder and colorectal cancers from long term consumption of water contaminated with chlorine.
Given that we are told that tap water in the UK is safe to drink these potential contaminants may cause some concern but is reverse osmosis the better option or are there any potential causes for concern with it also?
Potential Concerns with Reverse Osmosis Water
Reverse Osmosis systems produce the purest water possible by removing all molecules and contaminants within the water. However, the system has no way of differentiating between good and bad molecules. So while a RO system is excellent for removing all harmful contaminants, it will also remove all nutrients and minerals that are needed and beneficial to our bodies. In an ideal world this wouldn’t be an issue as we would get all the nutrients that we need from our food but unfortunately that is not the case. In addition to this when cooking with demineralised water, such as RO water it may reduce the amounts of vitamins and minerals found in whole foods. So if are some individuals are already vitamin deficient and also using a reverse osmosis system, by extracting the remaining minerals in our water could lead to vitamin deficiencies.
In addition to this, the process of purifying the water Reverse Osmosis systems will also produce some waste water. There is a cost implication to consider with a Reverse Osmosis system. The purchase of a system which must be followed up with regular maintenance and filter changes. If the filters are not changed regularly this can unintentionally make the tap water worse over time, hence the need for regular and carefully maintenance.
RO-Man Drinking Water Systems
At RO-Man we have created and manufacture a range of Reverse Osmosis and Water Purification Systems that are designed to purify water for drinking. All our systems are expertly manufactured using high quality components and filters, using water safe parts.
Drinking Water 6 Stage Purification System
Our Drinking Water 6 Stage Purification System is a complete filtration system designed to produce pure water that can be used for drinking, preparing and cooking food as well as any other household tasks. This Reverse Osmosis system has 6 stages of filtration to ensure your water is expertly clean, pure and tastes great. This system will remove and reduce chlorine, pesticides, lead, oestrogen, fluoride and many other contaminants. More information on this drinking water system as well as specification details can be found here.
Fresh 3 Stage System
Our Fresh 3 Stage System has been specially designed to produce high quality, pure water without altering the overall dissolved mineral or pH of the water. This Water Purification System is ideal for drinking water and should fit underneath most kitchen sinks. This system has 3 stages of filtration and will reduce and remove chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, earth metals as well as any other volatile organic compounds. More information on this drinking water system as well as specification details can be found here.
Whole House Filtration System
Our Whole House Filtration System is a complete water filtration system for the home. This system is installed at the water entry point to the house and will allow this system to begin treating water as soon as it enters the home’s plumbing system. This system has 3 stages of filtration and will remove chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals and earth metals as well as other volatile organic compounds for the water. This system can treat up to 380,000 litres of water. More information on this whole house system can be found here.
Summary
Water is essential for our health in any form be it tap water or Reverse Osmosis water. To sustain a healthy body it is important that we drink sufficient water per day for our bodies to function at their optimum level. In the UK we are fortunate to have good quality, safe drinking water readily available pumped to our homes. However, with the addition of Reverse Osmosis our drinking water can be made even more pure by removing all traces of harmful contaminants. Our society is becoming ever more health conscious and with the risk of lead, chlorine and other contaminants in our tap water, Reverse Osmosis would be an excellent choice for ensuring the water we consume is the best for our health and bodies.
Ultimately, the choice between tap water and Reverse Osmosis water is a personal choice for each individual and family. RO-MAN is always available for any advice on water quality and the benefits of Reverse Osmosis systems. We have a range of systems designed to suit every need, from small to industrial systems. Should you be interested in any more information please feel free to contact us for some further advice on our products.
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