The Water Softener Blog

Choosing between UF and RO? Here’s a clear, practical guide for whole-house and point-of-use applications. What is Ultrafiltration (UF)? • Benefits of UF • Best Applications (Whole-House & POU) • How UF Differs from RO • Which Should You Choose? What Is Ultrafiltration (UF)? Ultrafiltration is a membrane-based process that uses pores around ~0.01 microns . Under low pressure, water passes through a semipermeable membrane that retains suspended solids, bacteria, protozoa, and some viruses while allowing water and dissolved salts to pass. UF improves clarity and microbiological safety without altering mineral content. Key point: UF does not remove dissolved salts or most dissolved chemicals . It’s built for particulate and microbial control, not for high TDS or dissolved contaminants like nitrate or arsenic. Ultrafiltration: How it works and where to use it! Benefits of Ultrafiltration...

Reverse Osmosis filtration  is a process where water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane to reduce total dissolved solids and other contaminants from water to supply clean, fresh drinking water.     A typical residential reverse osmosis system will have 3 to 7 stages of filtration consisting of a 5-micron sediment pre-filter, an Activated carbon filter, a Block carbon filter, a Reverse Osmosis Membrane, an  In-line  Activated carbon post filter, and a water holding tank.   The pre-filter and carbon filters are there to remove sediment and any chlorine that may be present in the water supply to protect the membrane from becoming fouled out with iron and large particulate matter to protect the reverse osmosis membrane.  The RO membrane is the main stage of the filtration process and removes up to 99% of contaminants in the water supply.    The list of filtration that a Reverse Osmosis drinking water system will remove is exten...