Osmosis system: Pure water from the kitchen faucet

Tap water in Germany is well controlled and of drinking water quality. Nevertheless, it can contain multiple pollutants. Our groundwater is contaminated with residues from pesticides, nitrates, and heavy metals. Bacteria and drug residues can also survive the filtering process in local waterworks.

An osmosis system is the most effective filtration system for removing these contaminants from tap water. That way, you know that you are drinking and cooking with the purest water possible.

An osmosis water filter uses the principle of reverse osmosis. In nature, osmosis refers to the natural process in which substances are evenly distributed in water. Reverse osmosis reverses this process: At the heart of the system is an extremely fine membrane that allows only water molecules to pass through. Pre-filters remove coarse impurities from the tap water.

Investing in osmosis water in the kitchen pays off several times over:

• A water filter in the kitchen guarantees that your family consumes only the purest water.
• Osmosis water eliminates the need to buy mineral water and thus saves money.
• It protects the environment, as it eliminates the production, transport, and recycling of water bottles.

Filtered water increases your quality of life, as you no longer have to lug boxes of water bottles around.

With osmosis water, it all comes down to the details

There’s a large range of osmosis filters, and each system uses the principle of reverse osmosis. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the details. The filter equipment determines how durable the membrane will be. For that reason, pay attention to the manufacturer’s specifications about the quality of the installed filters.

Ideal placement for the osmosis water filter

The filter system is usually connected directly to the fresh and waste water connection under the sink. This means that the dimensions of the osmosis water filter play an important role when choosing a model. Ideally, you can have the device installed in the base cabinet under the sink. An additional faucet for the osmosis water will be mounted at your sink.

If this is a problem, you can choose a model without direct water connection; these so-called countertop units don’t require installation. However, in this case, you need to regularly fill the device and dispose of filtered waste water.

Water tank or direct flow?

They are available with water tank or with direct flow. A unit with a tank filters water and stores it. This offers the advantage direct access with no waits. The water you take out is replaced immediately, which means older and fresher water will mix. To avoid formation of germs, the tank must be emptied completely and regularly. In addition, a system with a tank requires much more space.

Direct flow systems filter the water only when it is actually needed. In this case, a booster pump transports the water through a particularly powerful membrane. However, this means you’ll have to wait a bit. Depending on the system performance, it can take a few minutes to filter a liter of water. For that reason, pay attention to the manufacturer's specifications on the speed of a system.

Important: Automatic rinses and wastewater

It is important that all reverse osmosis systems be rinsed regularly. This cleans the filters, so we advise choosing a model with an automatic rinsing function. 

The ratio of osmosis water to wastewater also needs be taken into account. Modern systems have a ratio of 1:1. 

Filters and vitalization

A good system will offer at least one activated carbon filter for pre-cleaning. This extends the service life of the membranes and thus reduces operating costs. 

This kind of osmosis system also filters minerals out of the water. Some manufacturers there offer so-called vitalization cartridges, which enrich the osmosis water with minerals. However, this is not really necessary for a healthy diet.

The filters and the membrane of each system need to be replaced regularly. So before making a purchase decision, you should check what follow-up costs you will be dealing with.

Healthy water from the tap

​​​​​​​An osmosis system in the kitchen reliably filters out pollutants from tap water. However, it depends on the details. A system with a tank will have to be emptied regularly, but you get filter water immediately. With a system with a direct connection, you always get freshly filtered water, but you have to wait a bit. Filter quality and operating costs are also important to consider.