WHY SUPPORT A REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANE FILTRATION SYSTEM

Yes, the initial cost of an RO treatment plant is more expensive, BUT IS IT REALLY? There are far more reaching and important issues that I believe if people knew all of the facts and benefits of RO water would quickly support. There is a reason why RO technology has become so popular and is replacing other types of water treatment technology. First and foremost is public health. People demand their water to look and taste good, but more importantly they want water which is safe to drink.

One of the most important benefits of RO water is that it eliminates the need for water softeners. Not only will this save people money but it eliminates their sodium intake from drinking soft water. For this reason, the medical profession often recommends that people with heart conditions NOT drink softened water. When a water softener regenerates the softening resin is attached to the sodium ions in salt (sodium chloride), and displaces the calcium and magnesium ions from hard water which flow to the drain. This wastewater then becomes very rich in calcium chlorides (road salt) which are nearly IMPOSSIBLE to remove in sewage treatment plants.

If home water softeners were eliminated in Minnetrista (approx. 1150 hookups), I would estimate that the water softener regeneration (waste water) from all of these softeners combined (serving an average family of 4 each installation) would total over 34,000,000 gallons of water annually. The salt usage to soften water to all of these homes combined would be approx. 2.25 million pounds annually. This information is based on the water softener industry standards for Minnetrista equivalent hard water.

This issue should certainly be as much or more about public health as it is about costs. We, the residents, are paying for good quality water. Not just water that looks and smells good, but water that is safe for our families. There is a reason why cities throughout the world are taking advantage of the new RO technologies in water purification, which actually SAVES consumers money annually. Gravity filtrations systems are ancient technology.

Truth be known, there are many many hazardous chemicals in nearly all water supplies, and up until the advent of RO there were no known corrective methods for removal of those chemicals or contaminants. Because of the public concern for high quality drinking water, the bottle drinking water industry has exploded in recent years. Nearly all bottled water is produced using the RO process. I believe we deserve more than just iron and manganese removed from our water. We want as many hazardous chemicals as possible removed from our water, and the city should want the same. I would believe that the residents of Minnetrista spend far more money on bottled drinking water than what the increase in our water utility rates would ever amount to. And that is the presentation or report I want to see from the city. The true cost comparisons.