What is reverse osmosis primarily used for in water treatment?

Reverse osmosis is primarily used for the removal of contaminants in water treatment processes. This method utilizes a semi-permeable membrane to separate water from a wide range of dissolved substances, including salts, organic compounds, heavy metals, and other pollutants. As water is forced through the membrane, these contaminants are effectively left behind, yielding purified water on the other side.

The ability of reverse osmosis to remove such a diverse array of contaminants makes it a powerful tool for ensuring water quality, particularly in situations where the source water is heavily contaminated or where stringent water quality standards must be met. It is commonly employed in both residential and industrial applications, such as desalination and producing high-purity water for various uses.

Other methods, like disinfection or water softening, serve different functions. Disinfection mainly targets pathogens, while water softening focuses on reducing hardness ions, specifically calcium and magnesium, rather than addressing a broad range of contaminants. Therefore, the capacity of reverse osmosis to remove a wide variety of unwanted substances firmly positions it as a crucial technique in the realm of water treatment for contaminant reduction.