Anyone used an under sink reverse osmosis unit to purify water FROM FRESHWATER tank

[McKenna]

I have used the Watts Premier reverse osmosis zero waste unit for years. The unit is about $388 not difficult to install or maintain. Filter cartridges replacements are inexpensive. You have an excellent idea stick with it for you and your crews health.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by botanybay

I am not suggesting using a water maker designed for salt water.

There are under sink water purifiers which use reverse osmosis at much lower pressure to make a couple of gallons of purified water overnight.

Because the reverse osmosis is fresh water to fresh water I suspect the required pressure is compatible with household water pressure.

The chlorine he is refereeing to is not salt (that would be chloride), but rather the chlorine in all tap water. Yes, it is bad for the membranes, but an under-sink system will include carbon filters to take care of that.

But I believe they are a waste at home and thus are a waste on the boat. I do have one at home, but I use it for medical equipment, batteries and lab work only. In fact there is a case to made (accepted by EPA and WHO) that drinking RO water on a regular basis is not good for you.

As others have said, clean the system and run a carbon block filter before the tap. Just as good, less space, cheaper.

[a64pilot]

I think there is RO water and then there is RO water.
My Father was on Hemo dialysis, he had an RO unit that was by boat comparison, huge. The charcoal prefilters look like large welders O2 tanks except they were fiberglass.
He told me it was unhealthy to drink RO water and in fact RO water would "eat" copper pipes as it was essentially very pure water, and water is the universal solvent, and very pure water will leach metals out of pipes and minerals out of your body.
But, I doubt that a Boat's RO and especially an under sink RO can even come close to the purity of the water his RO made.
I never measured the TDS of his RO water as at the time cruising boats were the furthest thing from my mind, but I bet it was approaching 0.

I think adding minerals back is pretty easy and in fact I think many bottled water companies use RO water and add minerals back for taste, that a real good RO will produce tasteless water and people don't like that.
I think I have enough lime build up in my tanks to use an RO for years

[McKenna]

I have used the Watts Premier reverse osmosis zero waste for years. The unit runs about $388. Not difficult to install and inexpensive to maintain. A wise choice for the health of you and your crew.

[SeaSon]

Originally Posted by botanybay

This is to create bottled water quality drinking water from the boat freshwater tank on a separate tap in the galley.

I know these units reject the excess water in homes down the drain, however it is still fresh water and probably just fine for normal use, I could return the reject to the 300 gallon tank or return it to a separate tank if necessary.

Any thoughts on this.

Remember, I am NOT trying to make fresh water from Salt, just clean up freshwater tank water for drinking.

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I use a sears filter undersink home RO system on Seasons and it works like a champ. Change filters when it slows or once a year. We live on the boat traveling all around for 6 months a year. Don't notice if it wastes water, never causes the pressure pump to turn on unless it's been completely emptied of its 1.5 gallons (2 gal system).

Gives me peace of mind as we fill up from marinas we visit and who knows how they manage their well water or the hose at the end of the fuel dock.

Also added a whole house sediment filter cuz my tanks are 40 years old and rusty sediment from an almost empty tank slows the tap.



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[Jsta_Rebel]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I think there is RO water and then there is RO water.
My Father was on Hemo dialysis, he had an RO unit that was by boat comparison, huge. The charcoal prefilters look like large welders O2 tanks except they were fiberglass.
He told me it was unhealthy to drink RO water and in fact RO water would "eat" copper pipes as it was essentially very pure water, and water is the universal solvent, and very pure water will leach metals out of pipes and minerals out of your body.
But, I doubt that a Boat's RO and especially an under sink RO can even come close to the purity of the water his RO made.
I never measured the TDS of his RO water as at the time cruising boats were the furthest thing from my mind, but I bet it was approaching 0.

I think adding minerals back is pretty easy and in fact I think many bottled water companies use RO water and add minerals back for taste, that a real good RO will produce tasteless water and people don't like that.
I think I have enough lime build up in my tanks to use an RO for years

Well I'll be.. You understand something about water.. I'm impressed.. The accute unit that your father had should have had two of those fiberglass tanks, one 2.5x 40" stainless membrane and a couple of cartridge filters as well as a pro con carbonator vane pump.

One of those fiberglass tanks was a mixed bed Deionized water exchanger producing water purity that is tested in Meg-ohms rather than TDS. The other was for chlorimine removal (chlorine by products) which are deadly to a Dialysis patient. Because of the DI tank, the water was not fit to drink.

You bring up an interesting point that those who have Watermakers on this board never discuss. Desalination using RO causes the permeate (product water) to be very aggressive and will eat up metal pipes, fixtures, and even SS water heaters. This is because of the lack of alkalinity in the permeate water and the fact that the permeate is in ionic imbalance ( more negative ions than positive in the water) So do any of you guys using water makers do anything to add alkalinity back to your water to help reverse this effect??

BTW, Good Post a64pilot. One to twist your melon with.. The hollow fiber dialyzer your father used use to be used as an RO Membrane and the plate style membranes currently used in RO were used as dialyzers. One more thing.. Dialysis is simply RO. But in reverse!!. in other words, a membrane is nothing but an artificial kidney working backwards..

[SeaSon]

Btw, $200 for the RO system at sears and $30 for the whole house unit. Too easy and cheap to not do.

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[Kenomac]

Honestly, some of the comments on this thread regarding the fear of city tap water border on Excessive Compulsive Disorder. How do any of you actually enjoy eating out at a restauant or consuming prepared products from a grocery store?

Weird paranoia if you ask me. We grew up drinking from the garden hose, and still do. Just filled up 200 gallons today with the hose from a tap at the marina.

So far... Nobody's died.

[lordgeoff]

Just get a domestic charcoal filter from your local hardware store. RO needs more attention.

[Kokanee]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I go for tap water everywhere for health, economy, ecology, and humility


Mark

Yes - that sums it up nicely.

I don't quite understand the bottled water fad either, other than the fact that it is making some companies a lot of money.

[knockabout]

we use lifestraw family microbiological purifier/gravity fed reverse osmosis filter/a funnel with filter attached approximately 3ltrs 10 min-200mil drain off using tap water/we don't use the drain off /filter lasts approx. 3 years/

[Jsta_Rebel]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Honestly, some of the comments on this thread regarding the fear of city tap water border on Excessive Compulsive Disorder. How do any of you actually enjoy eating out at a restauant or consuming prepared products from a grocery store?

Weird paranoia if you ask me. We grew up drinking from the garden hose, and still do. Just filled up 200 gallons today with the hose from a tap at the marina.

So far... Nobody's died.

You're absolutely correct. I do have a watermaker on my boat. A basic system that runs off or the engine and makes 20gph. stores in my poly tanks. TDS is about 350-400 depending on how much calcium carbonate is added I add a little bleach to the tanks, and have a carbon block filter. Nothing more. Reading some of these posts is unbelievable. Putting an RO on tap water of 250? Just doesn't make sense to me nor does putting one on a boat after the fresh water tanks. But what do I know.. I'm just some guy that makes a living designing and installing industrial Desalination plants throughout the Caribbean for islands, top resorts, and marinas. BTW to the guys that say most marina water is lousy. Most have their own desalination plants ALL IGY marinas do worldwide. Water is a funny thing. It's got to be really messed up to cause you any health problems. You know ,,Cholera, or fecal bacteria and lots of it.. People have been watching way to many infomercials on TV of people trying to separate them from their hard earned dollars using scare tactics. Do yourselves a favor and Google stuff before you believe it and especially before you buy it..

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Jsta_Rebel

You're absolutely correct. I do have a watermaker on my boat. A basic system that runs off or the engine and makes 20gph. stores in my poly tanks. TDS is about 350-400 depending on how much calcium carbonate is added I add a little bleach to the tanks, and have a carbon block filter. Nothing more. Reading some of these posts is unbelievable. Putting an RO on tap water of 250? Just doesn't make sense to me nor does putting one on a boat after the fresh water tanks. But what do I know.. I'm just some guy that makes a living designing and installing industrial Desalination plants throughout the Caribbean for islands, top resorts, and marinas. BTW to the guys that say most marina water is lousy. Most have their own desalination plants ALL IGY marinas do worldwide. Water is a funny thing. It's got to be really messed up to cause you any health problems. You know ,,Cholera, or fecal bacteria and lots of it.. People have been watching way to many infomercials on TV of people trying to separate them from their hard earned dollars using scare tactics. Do yourselves a favor and Google stuff before you believe it and especially before you buy it..

Agreed, a bit over the top cautious.
Are you still currently working in this field?

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Honestly, some of the comments on this thread regarding the fear of city tap water border on Excessive Compulsive Disorder. How do any of you actually enjoy eating out at a restauant or consuming prepared products from a grocery store?

Weird paranoia if you ask me. We grew up drinking from the garden hose, and still do. Just filled up 200 gallons today with the hose from a tap at the marina.

So far... Nobody's died.

Yep, my parents even thought shorts, no shirts, and flip flops were perfectly fine attire to ride our bikes as kids. How we all survived I'll never know.

[Cheechako]

Maybe ... too cautious... but frankly , there is only some home water I can drink, a lot of it tastes bad to me. I always loved my RO water. Oh... and I know 2 people living aboard in Mexico that got very ill from the water, amoeba I think ! If you look at videos of what much of the third world lives with regarding water, you'll understand the OP's thoughts. just sayin'... :>)