Choosing a whole-house water filter system—whether it’s Reverse Osmosis (RO), Ultrafiltration (UF), or Microfiltration (MF)—depends on what contaminants you want to filter out, your water source, and your budget. Here’s a breakdown of each type:
1. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
- Filtration Level: RO is the most thorough, filtering out particles as small as 0.0001 microns, which can include dissolved salts, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic contaminants.
- Process: RO uses a high-pressure pump to push water through a semipermeable membrane, removing a wide range of contaminants but also removing minerals beneficial for health.
- Water Usage: RO systems waste water during the filtration process (generally around 2-4 gallons per gallon of filtered water).
- Considerations:
- Best For: Areas with heavily contaminated water, high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), or specific health concerns requiring removal of dissolved contaminants.
- Not Ideal For: Homes with high water needs, due to its slow filtration rate and high water waste. Typically, RO systems are used for drinking water, but whole-house RO setups are available for very specific needs.
- Maintenance: Filter and membrane replacements are more frequent and can be costly.
2. Ultrafiltration (UF)
- Filtration Level: UF filters out particles down to about 0.01 microns, effective against bacteria, most viruses, and large organic molecules.
- Process: Uses a hollow fiber membrane to separate contaminants from water without removing beneficial minerals.
- Water Usage: UF systems generally don’t waste water, making them more water-efficient than RO systems.
- Considerations:
- Best For: Households on well water, as UF can filter out most bacteria and particles while keeping minerals in the water. Also suitable for municipal water supplies.
- Not Ideal For: Filtering out dissolved salts and heavy metals, which require RO.
- Maintenance: Requires occasional filter replacement, but maintenance is generally lower than RO.
3. Microfiltration (MF)
- Filtration Level: Filters particles down to 0.1-0.5 microns, effective against bacteria and larger particles but not small enough to filter out most viruses or dissolved contaminants.
- Process: Uses larger membrane pores, so it’s better for filtering visible particles and some bacteria but less effective against finer contaminants.
- Water Usage: Similar to UF, MF doesn’t typically waste water.
- Considerations:
- Best For: Reducing sediment, dirt, and larger bacteria, particularly in well water or municipal water with minor particulate issues.
- Not Ideal For: Water that needs removal of viruses, dissolved chemicals, or heavy metals.
- Maintenance: Low maintenance, with filter replacements generally required less frequently than UF or RO.
Comparing the Systems
| Feature | Reverse Osmosis (RO) | Ultrafiltration (UF) | Microfiltration (MF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micron Size | 0.0001 | 0.01 | 0.1-0.5 |
| Removes | Dissolved salts, metals, bacteria, viruses | Bacteria, most viruses, large organics | Bacteria, large particles |
| Water Waste | Moderate to High | Low to None | Low to None |
| Mineral Retention | Removes most minerals | Retains minerals | Retains minerals |
| Best For | High-contamination areas, TDS removal | Bacterial removal, well water | Particulate removal, basic filtering |
| Maintenance | Moderate to High | Moderate | Low |
Choosing the Right Filter
- For High Contaminants: Go for Reverse Osmosis if you need a thorough filtration, especially if you’re dealing with high levels of TDS, heavy metals, or specific contaminants.
- For Balanced Filtration: Ultrafiltration works well if you want strong filtration without stripping out minerals.
- For Basic Filtration: Microfiltration is generally sufficient for removing particulates and sediment in low-risk water supplies.
If you’re on municipal water, UF or MF might be all you need. For well water or if you’re concerned about specific contaminants, UF or RO could be worth the investment.
Washington water filtration & treatment systems are designed to remove harmful or nuisance minerals and pathogens from your water supply. Whether the concern is hardness, acidic water, iron, arsenic, nitrates, sodium, chlorides, or bacteria, a properly designed, installed, and operated water treatment system can deliver peace of mind to a growing family.
Testing & Design
Proper water filtration & treatment system design starts with a good onsite testing routine. JKA Well Drilling & Pumps always recommend an onsite visit with one of our lead technicians to look at, smell and even taste the water, talk to you about your experience with your water, perform on-site analysis of the water with special water testing equipment, and custom-design a solution that’ll meet your needs.
Call us today to schedule your water testing and system design in your home. (360) 684-1932
