Reverse Osmosis (RO) Fact Sheet

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process where water and contaminants are separated by passage through a thin semipermeable membrane. The membrane creates a barrier between water molecules and chemical or microbial contaminants as high-pressure forces water through the membrane, leaving contaminants behind. RO systems can remove most organics, metals and nitrate but are often used in succession with activated carbon and UV light for increased efficiency and for removal of inorganic compounds. This multibarrier approach eliminates a wide variety of contaminants that no single system can fully address.