Water, containing dissolved solids (ions), suspended solids, bacteria and organic matter is forced, under pressure, against the membrane surface. Pure water molecules pass through with relative ease, while >95% of impurities are rejected by the membrane. Unlike filtration, which involves trapping and holding specific contaminants within a media, RO rejects virtually all contaminants and flushes them away to the drain. Nothing is trapped or held by the membrane. It is a separation process.
TDS is the measure of a broad array of contaminants, including calcium, magnesium, chlorides, sulfates, iron and nitrates (to name a few) that water encountered and dissolved along the way to your tap.
Scale:
Varying amounts of scale-forming compounds (primarily calcium and magnesium carbonates) are present in water supplies. These dissolved hardness minerals form as hard, rock-like deposits in equipment. Over time, scale build-up impedes steam or ice production, reduces energy efficiency, increases maintenance requirements and eventually causes equipment shut-down requiring expensive service.
Corrosion:
Corrosion is the deterioration of materials due to reactions within the environment. There are numerous physical and chemical variables that can influence corrosion. Chloride, in water, can become particularly reactive at higher temperatures (140-212º F) and can penetrate the passive surface of stainless steel, allowing a corrosive attack to occur. When present, chlorides can be problematic with steam equipment, coffee brewers and espresso machines. Many equipment manufacturers have minimum water quality standards which include dissolved chloride levels.
OptiPure systems that utilize reverse osmosis are specially designed to meet the unique requirements of different types of equipment such as combi and steam ovens, espresso machines and coffee and tea brewers.
OptiPure offers different styles of reverse osmosis systems, which include blending water systems (BWS) and mineral addition systems (OP & SRO).