Reverse Osmosis is the ultimate in water purification and filtration. You can choose from 4 or 5 stage reverse osmosis systems that come in a range of different styles including portable, countertop and undersink. Over the years advancements in technology has made reverse osmosis systems effective in providing the household with clean and safe water for drinking, bathing, laundry and a lot more uses. it is now an affordable and efficient water filtration method. There are plenty of water filtration systems available today. Among the most common are reverse osmosis systems that utilize pressure to force water to pass through a semi-permeable membrane, which is highly selective. The contaminants that fail to pass through the membrane are simply flushed away and what is left is clean and safe drinking water for you and your loved ones. The efficiency of this particular system depends largely on a number of factors including the concentration of impurities, membrane choice and water pressure. Two types of membranes are used in reverse osmosis system to filter and purify drinking water. One type is called CTA or cellulose triacetate membranes. While these membranes are generally more affordable, they need to be sterilized in order to prevent the growth of microbes. The CTA is usually composed of a sediment pre-filter, followed by the semi-permeable membrane, and a post filter with carbon. This system is ideal for households with chlorinated water supply. The other type of membrane is the TFC (Thin Film Composite) which is inorganic, hence they are not prone to growth and accumulation of harmful microorganisms. TFC-based systems are susceptible to chlorine damage so a carbon pre-filter is used to absorb chlorine and protect TFC membranes from damage and eventual failure. Reverse osmosis systems come in two variants, those with tanks and those without tanks. The former uses a tank with an internal rubber bladder which stores the filtered water before it is dispensed. The tank also contains pressurized air which forces the water to its outlet. The tank also features in line carbon filters to prevent the water from developing a flat taste when it stays in the tank for extended periods. On the other hand, the tankless reverse osmosis system makes use of multiple TFC membranes to allow the purified water to be dispensed directly from the faucet. This system is more compact and does not need a water storage tank but requires a minimum pressure of approximately 40 psi, so a pressure booster pump may be needed in some cases.