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Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Microplastics?

 

Clean water may look pure, but it could have some microscopic substances that our naked eye is unable to see. Whether it is tap water or bottled, it may contain such substances, i.e., microplastics and nanoplastics, that we really don’t want to consume.

 

Today, in Canada, not only municipal water but even bottled water is not safe to drink due to growing concern of microplastic that are really harmful to your health.

 

To manage this problem and provide you with cleaner and healthier water, OAKS Wellness Water introduced an extra ultrafiltration stage in its RO system to remove these microplastics.

 

This RO system is designed by introducing an ultra-fine membrane to remove the microplastic that cannot be removed by conventional filtration membranes.

 

What Are Microplastics?

 

Basically, Microplastics are the smaller plastic particles that are smaller than 5mm. They are divided into two types according to their formation:

 

Primary Microplastics:

 

These are the microplastics intentionally formed in that small size that are used in making synthetic products like toothpaste and cosmetics, etc.

 

Secondary Microplastics:

 

Over time, the plastic used to make plastic bottles and other products made up of plastic degrades and breaks down into small pieces called secondary microplastics.

 

Besides Microplastics, there are some smaller particles with a size between 1 and 100nm called nanoplastics. Whether it is microplastic or nanoplastic, they are disturbing the life cycle by entering our environment and food. 

 

How Do Microplastics End Up in Drinking Water?

 

The waste plastic bottles and packaging material can end up producing microplastics and even nanoplastics. When the plastic waste is thrown directly into the river or on ground, the microplastics enter the drinking water.

 

In Canada, most of the municipal water comes from the lakes and rivers that have a large amount of microplastics in them. It is treated in treatment plants, but these plants are not very efficient in removing the tiny plastic substances. At last, you get the contaminated water in your tap.

 

The well water used by Canadian people also has tiny plastic substances found as the wasted plastic ends up in microplastics and seeps down into the underground water.

 

Bottled water that is considered a safer source of water may also contain microplastic in it. It is added to water during packaging, storage, and transportation. 

 

Are Microplastics a Concern for Human Health?

 

Microplastics are really a concern for human health. They are present everywhere in our environment on land, in water, and in our air. 

 

They can be ingested in your body with the intake of food and water we drink. They can enter our bodies while inhaling the polluted air.

 

Microplastics may cause inflammation in the human body and affect the brain, heart, gut, lungs, digestive and reproductive system.

 

It is not a thing to worry about; you need to have a solution. You may remove it from drinking water by using the OAKS RO System.

 

How much Microplastic is in tap water?

 

There is no exact number of microplastic substances present in tap water. It depends on the water you are using, whether it is underground water or municipal water. 

 

Underground water also has some microplastics, depending on the area where it seeps more or less. 

 

Municipal water is treated in a filtration plant and removes most of the contaminants, but not microplastics. It needs to be removed by using other systems.

 

In Ontario, Canada, the tap water mostly has 20 microplastic particles per liter that is a concerning amount of contaminants for health-sensitive people. 

 

If it is used without filtration, it enters the body and causes severe problems.

 

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How Reverse Osmosis Filtration Works to Remove Microplastics

 

RO filters work against the osmotic pressure. Unlike other water filters that remove contaminants by reactions, RO removes contaminants by using different filter stages. It removes specific contaminants in specific filtration membranes.

 

  • In the sediment membrane, sand and sediments are removed.
  • The carbon membrane improves the taste of water and removes most of the contaminants. 
  • The main RO membrane cleans the water to make it healthier. 
  • The ultrafiltration stages are used to remove tiny particles, i.e., microplastics and nanoplastics. 

 

All the membranes work depending on their pore size. The smaller the pore size of the membrane, the more small contaminants can be filtered. Ultrafiltration membranes have fine-pores that can remove tiny plastic particles.

 

Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Microplastics and Nanoplastics?

 

Yes, Reverse Osmosis is highly effective in removing microplastics and nanoplastics. It works by using different filtration stages to remove specific-sized contaminants. 

 

As microplastics and nanoplastics are too small to be seen by the naked eye, an ultrafiltration stage used in the RO system may remove them.

 

It is observed that an RO system is highly efficient in removing almost 99% of the microplastics from the tap water.

 

If you want to remove microplastics from your water in Canada, you should choose an effective OAKS RO System with an ultrafiltration stage.

 

Can Reverse Osmosis Systems Release Microplastics?

 

RO membranes are polymer-based, and they are efficiently designed to pass the clean water from it. Over time, it can age or degrade due to the accumulation of contaminants in it.

 

If the membranes are not maintained timely they become degraded and may reduce the efficiency of the system. If the poorly maintained membranes degrade, they would not be able to remove contaminants and sometimes begin to release microplastics.

 

The risk of release of microplastics is very low. Still, if the system is not maintained properly, it could be a concerning problem for your health.

 

It is recommended that the system maintenance and membrane maintenance should be done on time.

 

What Else Does Reverse Osmosis Remove?

 

RO system not only remove microplastic but also other contaminants at different stages, i.e.,

 

  • Heavy metals (arsenic, copper, mercury, lead, etc.)
  • Chlorines and disinfection by-products are added to water at municipal water filtration plants.
  • Bacteria, Viruses, and Parasites 
  • PFAS, TDS and industrial chemicals

 

OAKS Wellness Water RO System not only cleans the water by removing all types of contaminants but also makes it healthier by remineralizing the water. 

 

Benefits of Reverse Osmosis for Canadian Homes

 

The following are the benefits you can get by installing an RO system in your Canadian home:

 

  • The RO ultrafiltration stage is highly effective in removing the microplastics.
  • It may reduce the bottled water consumption, which is environment friendly and better for your health, as sometimes bottled water also has some amount of microplastics in it.
  • RO system provides long-term convenience and peace of mind for your drinking water.

 

Reverse Osmosis vs Other Filtration Methods

 

All the other water filtration systems may remove contaminants. Still, they are not as effective as RO systems, as RO uses different stages to remove various pollutants.

 

An additional benefit of the RO system is its best Ultrafiltration stage that can remove microplastics most effectively to provide you with cleaner and healthier water.

 

Is Reverse Osmosis Better Than Bottled Water?

 

Yes, RO is better than bottled water.

 

Firstly, bottled water also contains some amount of microplastics in it that are added during packaging, storage and transportation.

 

Secondly, bottled water has a bad environmental impact by adding plastic garbage to the environment. 

 

Thirdly,  the RO system is budget-friendly, whereas bottled water is comparatively expensive. 

 

Conclusion

 

The RO system is highly recommended as the best water filtration system, as it uses multiple-stage filters to remove contaminants. 

 

An extra ultrafiltration stage with fine-sized pores is also used in the RO system to remove very small particles like microplastics and nanoplastics.

 

For households concerned about their health and water quality, it is recommended to contact OAKS Wellness Water to install the best system for their health betterment.

 

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Your local Oaks experts will provide personalized recommendations for the right solution for your home.

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FAQs about “How to Fix Hard Water”

Does reverse osmosis remove all microplastics?

Yes, almost 99% of microplastics can be removed by using the RO system.

Yes, microplastics are really common in Canadian tap water because most of the Canadian people use municipal water that directly comes from lakes and rivers having high amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics in them.

If it is spoken about according to the microplastic case, both of them are risky for your health. It is recommended to use the RO system for cleaning the water.

No, Carbon Filters may improve the taste, but they can’t be used to remove microplastics. Some extra ultrafiltration stages are used in the RO system to remove microplastics.

Different RO filters have different life spans:

 

  • Carbon pre-filter membranes: 6-12 months
  • RO membrane: 1-2 years
  • Carbon post-filters: 1 year
  • Ultrafiltration membranes: 2-3 years

Yes, RO water is highly effective and safe for daily drinking.

Written by Joseph Mroueh

Joseph, founder of Oaks, develops high-quality whole-home and drinking-water filtration systems. He focuses on delivering reliable, clean, and safe water solutions for modern households.

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