Reverse Osmosis
According to the United Nations, a billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. Worldwide, one in three people cannot access safe drinking water.
Most of the running water comes from desalinated seawater in Malta. The water supply comprises extracted water from the groundwater aquifer and desalinated seawater.
The quality of Malta’s groundwater has been worsening over the years due to over-extraction and pollution from farms. Groundwater deterioration is a combination of saltwater leaking from the sea and nitrates resulting from livestock farms and using fertilisers.
The tap water is safe to drink; however, potential issues include corrosion from pipes, chlorine by-products and microplastics.
The taste of the tap water is salty mixed with the chlorine disinfection taste… not great if you ask me! That is why most of the population and tourists drink bottled water.
Chlorine by-products usually are not considered a significant risk. Still, in a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, the research identified Malta’s tap water is linked to a fifth of bladder cancer cases due to chemical exposure. And suppose you are thinking about boiling tap water to help the situation; well, it does not remove the minerals or chlorine by-products.
Most supermarkets offer complimentary bottled water if you spend a specific amount shopping. But then you end up with a massive amount of plastic waste. Most ended up dumping in landfills, way below the EU standards.
According to a report by the National Audit Office, only 1% of Malta’s plastic waste was recycled in 2019.
In 2021 I reached my breaking point and decided it could not go on like this anymore. We produced 32 plastic bottles weekly in a three-person household. I felt heartbroken every time I took out the garbage.
I decided I must get the Reverse Osmosis system.
“The Reverse Osmosis system removes sediment and chlorine from water with a pre-filter before it forces water through a semipermeable membrane to remove dissolved solids.”
Fresh Water Systems
After water exits the membrane, it passes through a postfilter to polish the drinking water before entering a special faucet.
It is one of the most extensive methods of filtration. It removes 98% of dissolved solids, making it healthier to drink.
Reverse osmosis systems usually last between 10 and 15 years.
While the system has a long lifespan, the RO membrane and filters must occasionally be replaced.
The pre-filters and post-filters should be changed every 6 months to 1 year. Depending on your water conditions, the RO membrane should be replaced every 2-4 years.
Many shops provide this system with special taps since your old kitchen tap needs to be changed or an extra fixture must be installed for the Reverse Osmosis system. I bought mine from BridgePoint since I already bought items from them and was happy with their online shop system and customer care.
Since the system was installed 2 years ago, this is the number of water bottles we had in our recycling bag: 0.
The only plastic item we throw out is the cooking oil bottle.
I tried the electric water filter jug for years, but that did not give the same quality at all. So, if you are thinking about getting this system, I would highly recommend it.