One of the more common question asked of me over the last several months is regarding whole house reverse osmosis systems. Are they appropriate for the Santa Clarita Valley area? Do they waste water?
Probably the most effective type of water filtration available to us, there is value here. Having said this, I would present three questions to anyone considering one for their home.
1. Might this be an over kill?
2. Is it cost effective? And finally…
3. Are we doing all we can to conserve our precious water supply?
If the answers to the first two questions are favorable, the answer to the third question would have to be a resounding—No! R/Os in a whole house application do waste a fair percentage of water. However for the more common use, an under the sink filter in the kitchen for cooking and drinking, it is much easier to justify.
Think of it this way. When you look at a five-gallon bottle of water filtered by R/O, it takes about seven-plus gallons of water to fill that bottle. The other two-plus gallons go down a drain. This can be a waste of water.
Now let’s look at a five gallon bottle of a “mountain spring” type water. It takes only five gallons of water to fill that bottle. No waste here.
I can’t help but believe that whole house R/Os will be restricted by many water districts very soon. As we are encouraged, and in some cities and counties required, to reduce our water usage, would it make sense to invest in a filtration system that increases our water usage?
There are other considerations. The whole house R/O is remarkably more expensive than our other whole house filter. R/O requires four to six month maintenance intervals as opposed to four to six year maintenance for the other. And finally, as automatic water softeners have been banned in the SCV for environmental reasons, how long will it be before whole house R/Os are banned for cause?
There are more efficient and cost effective options available to us. If, however, the R/O is the way to go for you, please call me. I will be happy to go over all options with you so you may make a well-informed decision in whatever you chose, if anything, for water treatment.
Thank you and as always, good health to all.
For more information, please call Kirk Walker at 661-713-7762.
1. Might this be an over kill?
2. Is it cost effective? And finally…
3. Are we doing all we can to conserve our precious water supply?
If the answers to the first two questions are favorable, the answer to the third question would have to be a resounding—No! R/Os in a whole house application do waste a fair percentage of water. However for the more common use, an under the sink filter in the kitchen for cooking and drinking, it is much easier to justify.
Think of it this way. When you look at a five-gallon bottle of water filtered by R/O, it takes about seven-plus gallons of water to fill that bottle. The other two-plus gallons go down a drain. This can be a waste of water.
Now let’s look at a five gallon bottle of a “mountain spring” type water. It takes only five gallons of water to fill that bottle. No waste here.
I can’t help but believe that whole house R/Os will be restricted by many water districts very soon. As we are encouraged, and in some cities and counties required, to reduce our water usage, would it make sense to invest in a filtration system that increases our water usage?
There are other considerations. The whole house R/O is remarkably more expensive than our other whole house filter. R/O requires four to six month maintenance intervals as opposed to four to six year maintenance for the other. And finally, as automatic water softeners have been banned in the SCV for environmental reasons, how long will it be before whole house R/Os are banned for cause?
There are more efficient and cost effective options available to us. If, however, the R/O is the way to go for you, please call me. I will be happy to go over all options with you so you may make a well-informed decision in whatever you chose, if anything, for water treatment.
Thank you and as always, good health to all.
For more information, please call Kirk Walker at 661-713-7762.