BajaNomad

home reverse osmosis system

vandenberg - 10-16-2008 at 04:59 PM

Any body has one of these systems ? Do they work satisfactory and how much trouble to keep up the maintenance ? What cost for replacement filters and how often ? And getting them here in Baja ? Besides removing what their ads claim, do they also remove salts, so I won't slowly kill my plants ?

losfrailes - 10-16-2008 at 05:04 PM

They work fine and depending on the filter remove all from the water.

Only problem is, they require about 60 PSI to work properly and they use about 5 gals of water to make 1 gallon of RO water.

Tough on our limited water supply here in Baja.

shari - 10-16-2008 at 05:46 PM

Tiomiguel has one and it seems to work really well...U2U him for details.

Skipjack Joe - 10-16-2008 at 06:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by losfrailes
Only problem is, they require about 60 PSI to work properly and they use about 5 gals of water to make 1 gallon of RO water.

Tough on our limited water supply here in Baja.


Los Frailes, why not run the remaining 4 gals through the filter again?

BajaWarrior - 10-16-2008 at 07:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Quote:
Originally posted by losfrailes
Only problem is, they require about 60 PSI to work properly and they use about 5 gals of water to make 1 gallon of RO water.

Tough on our limited water supply here in Baja.


Los Frailes, why not run the remaining 4 gals through the filter again?


That's not a bad idea, instead of it "going down the drain"...Or possibly store the water for anything else. With our system the spoil or waste water is simply hooked up to the drain to the sink and away it goes...

We have an under the counter reverse osmosis system here in San Diego and are very happy with the taste of the water but still get the "fridge tasting ice cubes" through the ice maker.

We lack the water pressure to have one in our Baja home otherwise we would have one. We don't mind bringing 2,3,or 5 gallon bottles down for drinking, and our well water is pretty good so showers aren't a problem.

Pescador - 10-16-2008 at 08:54 PM

The filtrate bypass would clog up your osmosis filter very rapidly if you chose to do that. It basically carries off the filtrate with enough water to effectively act as a carrier. Most people who use one of thes use the water for other things like plants or laundry but they do waste a lot of water. I installed one in a hotel in Santa Rosalia last year and it has worked perfectly and the owner uses the bypass water for laundry.
There are some real state of the art pressed carbon block filters that do almost as well concerning taste and dissolved solids and do not produce bypass. While they need to have the main filter changed frequently, they do not need nearly as much maintence as a RO system.

LOSARIPES - 10-17-2008 at 03:01 AM

I installed one -under the sink- RO type which also uses a UV lamp. I've had the water tested in a lab and it has passed all test with A+.
It comes with its hydro-pneumatic system, which creates its own pressure. I dont know if it makes a difference but the entire house water system uses a hydro-pneumatic pump, so the filter gets the water at 35psi minimum.
It has been installed since May and has worked just fine. It feeds the ice maker water/ice dispenser fridge and a little spout on the sink.
Cost?... about 400.00US installed/guaranteed.I have not had to buy anymore bottled water since.
Sold and installed by Catarino Villa in El Centenario. Ph. 124-6085

Bob and Susan - 10-17-2008 at 05:04 AM

remember that with these filters you get very little water all at once...

example: you can't wash the car with it...or water the lawn

the water just kinda flows out slowly even if your system has a small holding tank

a cermic filter will filter the water so you can drink it
much better but still not much water

but remember...

where is that FIRST water comming from....
a tank under your house full of bugs and bacteria???
an above ground plastic tank you have NEVER opened???
city water from rusted pipes and filthy holding tanks???

you may be giving the filter ALOT of work to do to make you safe...
for 8 pesos (about 65 cents usa)
5 gallons of drinking water is a bargain

Russ - 10-17-2008 at 06:06 AM

I'm thinking that a RO system needs regular service. Something that I have a hard time doing with regular house hold needs. So for 8 pesos for 5 gal. of water I buy it. In Mulége they have two for one on Thursdays if you're worried about cost.

ncampion - 10-17-2008 at 09:14 AM

Quote:
Quote:

but remember...

where is that FIRST water comming from....
a tank under your house full of bugs and bacteria???
an above ground plastic tank you have NEVER opened???
city water from rusted pipes and filthy holding tanks???

you may be giving the filter ALOT of work to do to make you safe...
for 8 pesos (about 65 cents usa)
5 gallons of drinking water is a bargain


Where do you think the bottled water comes from? Some magic mountain spring in the middle of Baja? :?:It comes from an RO system is some little shop using the water from those rusted old pipes and filthy holding tanks. :)

Bob and Susan - 10-17-2008 at 04:59 PM

thats correct!!!
but i dont have to change the filters or worry about the pipes

Pescador - 10-17-2008 at 05:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ncampion

Where do you think the bottled water comes from? Some magic mountain spring in the middle of Baja? :?:It comes from an RO system is some little shop using the water from those rusted old pipes and filthy holding tanks. :)


For the most part it does not really matter about the source of the raw water. Since I am a certified water treatment plant operator in Colorado, I found it fascinating to visit several of the treatment facilities that sell bottled water in Baja with one from Mulege and the other from a friend in Santa Rosalia. They started out wih a chlorine shock to kill anything that might be growing, then ran the treated water through a RO system that was close to the same standards as Desalinization, followed by a large pressed carbon block which takes out all taste and chlorine residual, then through a double filter which removed the dissolved limestone and other impurities, followed by Ultra-Violet light to assure complete disinfection, and a final filtration with charcoal and several other things to completely rid the water of any objectionable taste. Most of the places make sure to clean and sterilize the bottle you are bringing in to trade, and they do it for a few pesos. This is pretty state of the art stuff here and I could not really fault the process in any way.