Do you too want to constantly enjoy contaminant-free water for drinking and cooking? A reverse-osmosis system filters your drinking water to remove all contaminants. Find out what you should consider when purchasing a reverse-osmosis water filter. We also present a kitchen tap that adds valuable minerals to your drinking water.
A reverse-osmosis system is a water treatment system that uses reverse osmosis technology. It effectively removes contaminants, chemicals, salts and other impurities from water to deliver clean and safe drinking water. These systems are made up of multiple filters and a semi-permeable membrane that the water is pressed through, filtering out even the smallest of particles.
Reverse-osmosis systems are particularly popular in households that value or even need high water quality. They are available in various models, including systems with and without tanks and both under-sink and countertop models that suit a wide range of needs and space requirements.
As mentioned at the start of this article, a reverse-osmosis system uses the principle of reverse osmosis. The water is pressed through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure. This membrane only allows the water molecules to pass through it, retaining larger molecules such as salts, minerals and impurities.
The process involves several steps:
This creates almost pure water (permeate) and removes the trapped impurities (retentate).
There are various types of reverse-osmosis systems, which differ in the way they work, their suitability and their advantages and disadvantages:
Reverse-osmosis systems with a tank:
These systems collect water in a tank and release it in filtered format as required. They remove impurities and chemicals and store the water in the tank. They are ideal for households that consume higher amounts of water with the usage staggered at different times. The advantages of these systems include a constant water supply and suitability for irregular demand. The disadvantages include the amount of space required for the tank and the need to maintain this. Depending on the tank size, such systems have a medium to high purchase cost. Installation is relatively simple and can often be done by DIY enthusiasts. The tank needs to be regularly cleaned and the filter regularly changed.
Direct-flow reverse-osmosis systems without a tank:
These systems directly filter the water as it passes through them without the need for a tank. They are suitable for households that use water evenly and offer the benefit that water doesn’t have to be stored. They are also wonderfully compact and don’t require any maintenance. The disadvantages include the higher flow pressure required and the higher procurement costs due to the advanced technology. Most such systems need to be installed by a professional and both regular filter changes and complex repairs may be required.
Underground reverse-osmosis systems:
These systems are installed under the ground and deliver filtered water. They remove impurities and are ideal for larger volumes of water. Such systems are perfect for homes with more space that need to continually filter water. The advantages are the large volume of filtered water and the concealed installation. The disadvantages are the complex installation and high initial investment costs as well as the need for regular maintenance by professionals.
Countertop reverse-osmosis systems:
These systems are installed on the worktop and filter water directly at the point from which it is drawn. They remove impurities just before the water is used and are particularly ideal for small households or individuals who don’t need a lot of water. The advantages are that the systems are easy to install and mobile. The disadvantages are the limited capacity and the need to regularly change the filter. The procurement costs are low to medium and the systems can be installed without any specialist knowledge.
By choosing an appropriate reverse-osmosis system you can ensure that you have constant access to clean, filtered water that optimally meets your health and functional needs.
Reverse-osmosis systems with a tank are ideal for households with varying water requirements as they ensure a continual supply of water. Direct-flow reverse-osmosis systems are suitable for households that prefer instant water filtration without a need for storage. Underground reverse-osmosis systems are perfect for larger homes or institutions that require large amounts of filtered water and have enough room for the underground installation. Countertop reverse-osmosis systems are ideal for small households looking for a flexible solution that is easy to install.
A reverse-osmosis system is recommended if your tap water is contaminated and/or particularly hard. The filtered water no longer contains any contaminants and has a neutral taste. Some people say that tea and coffee taste better. Because the reverse-osmosis water filter reduces the limescale content, less cleaning is required and your domestic appliances are protected. One downside that should be noted is that reverse osmosis filters all substances from the water, sometimes including important minerals. You should therefore make sure that you don’t suffer from a deficiency.
The tap water in Germany is tested and of drinking-water quality. Nevertheless, it can still contain numerous contaminants. Ground water can be polluted with residues of pesticides, nitrates and heavy metals. Bacteria and residues from medication can also survive the filtering process at local treatment plants.
A reverse-osmosis system in the kitchen is the most effective filtration system for removing contaminants and limescale from the tap water, so you can be sure you’re drinking and cooking with pure water.
This kind of water filter uses the principle of reverse osmosis. In nature, osmosis is the natural process of evenly distributing substances in water. As the name suggests, reverse osmosis reverses this process: at the core of this system is an extremely thin membrane that only allows water molecules to pass through it. Pre-filters free the tap water of coarse impurities.
Summary: a reverse-osmosis system is recommended if your tap water is contaminated and/or particularly hard. The filtered water no longer contains any contaminants and has a neutral taste. Some people say that tea and coffee taste better. Because the reverse-osmosis water filter reduces the limescale content, less cleaning is required and your domestic appliances are protected. One downside that should be noted is that reverse osmosis filters all substances from the water, sometimes including important minerals. You should therefore make sure that you don’t suffer from a deficiency.
Back to reverse osmosis: there is a huge range of this kind of filter, and every system uses the principle of reverse osmosis. So the devil is in the detail. The filters fitted determine the membrane’s shelf life. You should therefore read the manufacturer’s information on the quality of the built-in filters.
The filter system is usually directly plumbed in to the water and drain connections under the sink. The size of the reverse-osmosis water filter therefore plays a key role when choosing a model. In an ideal situation, the device would be installed in the base cabinet under the sink and an additional tap for filtered water would be fitted on your sink basin.
If this is a problem, you can choose a model without a direct water connection. This countertop system does not require any installation. However, you need to fill the device regularly and dispose of the filtered waste water.
These systems come with a water tank or as direct flow. A reverse-osmosis system with a tank filters the water and stores it. This has the benefit that you can draw off the water without having to wait. The water taken out of the system is immediately replaced, but doing so mixes stagnant and fresh water. To avoid a build-up of germs, the tank needs to be totally emptied on a regular basis. A system with a tank also requires much more space.
Direct-flow systems only filter the water when it is actually needed. A booster pump transports the water through a very high-performance membrane. But this means you have to wait a short while. Depending on the efficiency, it can take a few minutes for a litre of water to be filtered. Please refer to the manufacturer’s information to find out the system’s speed.
It is important that all reverse-osmosis systems are regularly flushed as this cleans the filters. We therefore recommend selecting a model with an automatic flush.
You should also note the ratio of filtered water to waste water. Modern systems have a ratio of 1:1.
Instead of installing a reverse-osmosis system, there is another efficient way of removing contaminants from tap water, softening it and even enriching it with valuable minerals – for purified drinking water straight from the tap. How?
The kitchen tap is known as the Aqittura M91 and comes from hansgrohe. A patented filter system is installed in the kitchen base unit to purify and optimise the water. The Aqittura M91 FilterSystem purifies and descales the tap water leaving it clear and delicious. It does this through the use of activated carbon and ion exchangers.
Depending on your lifestyle and needs, this ingenious hansgrohe kitchen tap can also enrich water with important minerals such as magnesium, potassium and sodium through the use of MINTEC® mineralisation technology.
The Aqittura M91 is ideal for households who value the ability to enjoy clean and mineralised drinking water without having to install and maintain an extensive reverse-osmosis system. It is particularly ideal for:
Want to find out more about the Aqittura M91? Then check out our guide on water filters and the Aqittura M91 product page. These offer detailed information about how the Aqittura M91 works as well as its installation and maintenance, and help you make the best decision for your needs.
You have to regularly empty the tank of these reverse-osmosis systems for hygiene reasons but have instant access to filtered water.
With a plumbed-in reverse-osmosis system, the water is always freshly filtered and is not left standing in a tank. However, please note there is a waiting time.