Will Reverse Osmosis Membranes Remove Odor from Well Water?

A homeowner asked us if their new whole-house reverse osmosis system should be removing odors from their well water. This commercial system had no carbon filters, just pre-filters and the RO system (not supplied by us).

Many homeowners use under-sink reverse osmosis systems, which have carbon filters as part of the system, and those filters remove odor. It may be misleading for some to think that the RO membrane is removing the odors, but the carbon filter is causing the odor.

If an odor exists, you should remove it before installing under-sink or whole-house RO systems. This helps ensure the best results and prevents fouling caused by osmotic pressure and the natural flow of gases through the membrane.

Although H₂S can pass through the membrane as a gas and be removed afterward, it’s best to eliminate it before the RO system.

Often, the odor is a result of a dissolved gas, and gasses pass through the RO membrane.If untreated, hydrogen sulfide odors in well water can cause slime and buildup on RO membranes, especially when hydrogen sulfide oxidizes or sulfur bacteria are present.

RO systems can remove odors if they include an oxidation filter, carbon filter, aeration, or another component that can remove odor. RO membranes do not remove odor by themselves.

We recommended to this customer that they add a Duke Aeration System to remove the sulfur odors prior to the system and this solved the problem.

Introduction

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove impurities from water. It is a popular method for producing clean drinking water and is widely used in various industries, including residential, commercial, and industrial applications. This article will provide an overview of the reverse osmosis process, its components, and how it works.