RO machines are needed when water salinity is high and there is need to reduce salt levels ( drinking water salinity should be less than 500ppm).
Normal RO machines can reduce raw water salinity from 1500 – 2000 ppm. The water salinity can be brought down to 100 ppm (which is good for drinking). RO machines also remove high concentration of fluorides from water as well as harmful heavy metals. High fluoride levels damages the bones of people.
RO machines require electricity to operate. There is need for high pressure of input water flowing into RO machine for the unit to work properly. It is important to have large overhead tank of water so that there is sufficient water pressure at input of the RO machine.
RO machine typically gives 25% of the input water volume as drinking water. Remaining 75% water goes as waste water which is highly saline. As water wastage is high one needs to be very careful while using the machine. The reject water can be used for cleaning floor and in toilets.
Nearly 70 RO machines have been installed in many Resorts and Ranger camps in National Parks of Kenya & Tanzania. Recently two RO machines were installed in Mozambique, Africa. The use of these machines have brough great relief to Rangers as they do not need to buy water bottles from markets (or drink salty water) .
Work is going on to design low cost RO machines which can handle water salinity uptil 6000 ppm.
RO machine comes in different sizes.
25 lt/hr, 50 lt/hr, 100 lt/hr and 150 lt/hr
There are larger units but so far we have installed the above sizes only.
