Every so often you hear a report about problems with the water quality in your community. It seems that the important elements involved in sustaining human life are constantly under attack. The big three are what we EAT, BREATH and DRINK. This article is not going to grind on you about what you eat, other news sources are in charge of that one. Al Gore is in charge of attempting to halt the damage we are doing to our air. My goal is to get you to do something about the water you drink. You do drink lots of water, right?

My favorite option is reverse osmosis (RO) for purifying drinking water in the home. You can recognize an RO system by its tank usually located beneath the kitchen sink. Historically, RO has been used extensively in desalination projects (turning seawater into drinking water) but it is also very effective for treating water quality problems on a smaller scale. The levels of many dissolved compounds and suspended matter present in water can be efficiently reduced by RO treatment, including: organics, inorganics, bacteria and particulates. RO is based on the process of osmosis. Osmosis involves the movement of water from one side of a membrane (a plastic film) to the other. To make the process work, pressure is applied to the contaminated water, forcing water through the membrane. Since contaminants are separated from the water as it moves across the membrane, purer water collects on the other side of the membrane. The purified water that accumulates can then be stored in the tank for use as needed.

Basic components of an RO system should include a filter to remove larger matter and an activated carbon filter to remove residual taste and odor; an RO module containing the membrane; piping and valves to connect the system. To continually perform well, RO systems, like other home water treatment devices, require ongoing maintenance. Filters need to be replaced on a regular basis. The length of time between changing filters will depend on the incoming water quality, especially the concentration of solids. The membrane typically lasts for several years, depending on operating conditions, membrane type and filter performance. As a rule, your RO system should be serviced every six months to a year without fail.

One disadvantage of RO is the large amount of contaminated wastewater generated. This wastewater is routed to your drain line so you don’t even know the waste is occurring. The amount of wastewater can be as much as 50 to 90 percent of the incoming water. However, since the amount of drinking water used in a home is relatively small, a high percentage of wasted water is not a big concern to most people. Continuing to drink poor quality water year after year is what we should be most concerned about. Now about that tainted food and air…

During a home inspection, a competent inspector will measure and report on the water delivery pressure. Water pressure is determined by the water supplier and can fluctuate. Sometimes the pressure is elevated to serve an eventual demand on the supplier’s system when all the homes in an area are completed. In any case, high water pressure is not a good thing.

Most people think of water pressure as what they experience when they use the sink or take a shower. This is not an accurate use of the term water pressure. What you experience at a fixture is actually called flow rate. Flow rate is a combination of the water pressure, the interior condition and diameter of the piping, the length of the piping run and the number/type of elbows. All these factors determine what you experience at each tap. Water pressure, by contrast, is static. Water pressure is the same throughout the building piping system.

By code, a home MUST have a regulator installed if the delivery pressure is above 80 psi. Based on my experience in the field, I do not think the municipal inspectors use a pressure gauge when they inspect a home during construction. Excessive water pressure is epidemic in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Homeowners often think that they don’t have a problem because the flow rate seems very normal or maybe even low. That is often because modern fixtures have flow restrictors on them that regulate the flow. Most homeowners are shocked to hear that they have excessive water pressure.

What is the effect of excessive water pressure (anything over 80 psi)? Elevated risk of leaking anywhere in the system. That may include piping under the slab, piping inside walls, the clothes washer hoses, etc. — does the term “moisture damage” come to mind.

What can be done about the problem? Check the water pressure. A gauge can be purchased at many hardware stores. If the pressure exceeds 80 psi, contact a competent plumber to install a pressure regulator. The cost will likely be $200 to $250 but may save many times that later. Also, it is a good idea to install reinforced (braided stainless steel) flex lines at the clothes washer, toilets and sinks. Low quality flex lines are the weak link in a home’s plumbing system. Be proactive – check your pressure.