Water filtration systems are important for having access to clean water. Water in some regions can be contaminated and may lead to health concerns if used or consumed regularly. Water filters have significantly improved over the years and continue to do so with ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis systems remaining as the two most popular options. If you can’t decide which water filtration system to buy, here is an insight into how these systems differ and why you should choose one over the other or both, if you can afford.

What Is Ultrafiltration?

Before we can dig into discussing both ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis systems, it is important to understand and be familiar with the working concept behind them. This will help you make an informed decision.

An ultrafiltration system comes with a membrane through which the water passes. This type of system relies on your home’s water pressure and a membrane that is semi-permeable. As the water is forced through the ultrafiltration membrane, it traps the impurities and contaminants while circulating safe and good quality water for consumption.

Since the membrane is semi-permeable, it offers great filtration quality with the filter usually made of hollow fiber and pore sizes ranging between .01 to 0.1 microns. This means, impure particles bigger than these pore sizes will not be able to pass through the filters.

Meanwhile, the minerals and all the other smaller molecules make it to the other side of the filter along with the drinkable water. Keep in mind that the ultrafiltration process is only effective for water that contains dissolved contents.

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

The reverse osmosis filtration system tends to be one of the most advanced filtration systems out there. Its water filtration capability is hard to beat. The pore size of RO filters is around .0001. This is why reverse osmosis filtration systems are more popular than ultrafiltration systems, especially in homes that are conscious about what they consume.

With pore size so small, the water is nearly filtered to its core and is hardly left with any contaminants or particles that might raise health concerns. At the same time, the RO filtration system also helps remove minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium and ensures the water doesn’t have excess minerals.

The RO system relies on your home’s water pressure. It uses the pressure to force the water to flow through the system and the filters that are semi-permeable to trap the contaminants and purify water along the way.

What Are The Similarities & Differences Between Reverse Osmosis And Ultrafiltration Systems?

If you study and observe the similarities and differences between RO and US filtration systems, you will realize there isn’t much to discuss. For example, both filtration systems are specifically designed to trap contaminants and will effectively purify water.

Both filtration systems come with semi-permeable filters with a specific pore size to catch particles that are only visible under a microscope. But, while the similarities are there, some crucial differences need to be considered as well.

The Reverse Osmosis filtration system, considering its pore size, is able to trap almost all types of contaminants. This is why homeowners who are looking for a filtration system that traps all types of dissolved solids prefer this filtration system over the others.

But the extremely high efficiency of the RO system means that it blocks some healthy minerals as well. As mentioned earlier, the water passing through such a system will be devoid of magnesium, calcium, and sodium. The only way to reintroduce these minerals into the water is by installing an extra remineralized filter.

Meanwhile, the pore size in ultrafiltration systems is .01. This is bigger than the pore size in RO systems. This also means that ultrafiltration systems are not that effective when compared to RO systems. But the upside to this is that the water gets to retain its beneficial minerals.

Wastewater And Water Capacity

One of the reasons ultrafiltration systems tend to be a popular choice for homeowners is due to their higher efficiency in water utilization. This means the filtration system wastes relatively less water while purifying it. But the filtration process in RO systems is crossflow.

There are two water streams going through the membrane. One stream ends up in the storage tank while the other in the drain. The drain consists of water that contains all the inorganic minerals. Modern RO systems feature advanced technology that offers a 1:1 drain ratio.

This means by the time you collect your filtered water, the system has already wasted another cup of contaminated water.

Technically, the water storage capacity of a traditional RO system is around 75 GPD. Meanwhile, the ultrafiltration system offers 0.5 GPM, which is a lot more than what the RO system offers.

Water Conservation And Storage

Traditional RO systems come with water tanks due to their slow filtration process. Although you will have access to the water when you need it but considering the tank, you will need a bit more space under the sink. Plus, there is also a chance of the tank promoting bacteria if it is not regularly cleaned and maintained.

On the other hand, ultrafiltration systems do not come with a tank as they are connected directly to the faucet. Furthermore, the RO systems also come with an internal pump to speed up the slow filtration flow and process. Manufacturers are working on introducing tankless water filters that allow homeowners to install systems without acquiring a larger space.

Installation & Replacement Of Filters

Installing an RO system can be a bit tricky. You will have to connect the water storage tank, drain, faucet, and a combination of other things that make the process a bit overwhelming. In ultrafiltration systems, all you need to do is connect the faucet to the system and you are done.

Additionally, you will need to turn off the RO system to access and clean the filters thoroughly. This is not possible if you do not have access to the required tools. On the other hand, ultrafiltration systems come with three easily accessible filters at most, which makes the cleaning and replacement process a lot easier.

Cost

Finally, the cost of both filtration systems is not something you can ignore. When choosing to buy a traditional RO system, you can expect to spend somewhere between $150 to $300. However, it adds to the price and becomes more expensive if you opt for additional features and accessories like a UV sterilizer, storage tank, or mineral filter, etc.

Meanwhile, you can get an ultrafiltration system within the same budget. However, you might need to replace the parts or the system itself more frequently than the RO systems.

Conclusion

The decision to choose between these two whole house water filtration systems depends on your budget, needs, and preferences. Make sure you consult an expert for making an informed and smart decision.