Can a reverse osmosis system filter softened water?

I am planning to soften my water for all round benifit in the home.

I also want to purify my drinking water through a reverse osmosis system.

Can these 2 things be used together or can only 1 system be used?

If they can be used together can a reverse osmosis system purify softened water safely for drinking?


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3 Responses to “Can a reverse osmosis system filter softened water?”

  • Mark G:

    Short answer is Yes

    You can use the RO to filter the softened water. A decent RO system will also have pre and post filters.

    A 5 to 10 micron prefilter protects the RO filter membrane from being plugged up by particulate matter in the water. An activated carbon post filter improves taste and polishes the RO water.

    Treated RO water is then stored in a small accumulator (pressure tank with a bladder in it) .

    Treating water with an RO filter tacks some time and uses water in roughly a 5:1 ratio. Send 5 gallons of water to the RO to get 1 gallon of treated water the remaining water is then sent to a drain.

    As a result you use RO water for drinking and maybe supplying water to an Ice maker. The unit will treat a gallon or two and store it for use once the accumulator is topped off the RO unit stops treating water. So no water is used when the RO is in standby.

  • sparky_dy:

    Softened water is unsuitable for drinking, as it is too rich in K+ and Na+. Normally, the water softener just feeds the cistern serving the hot water heater and upstairs cold taps; though there may be a side branch for the washing machine, to save running a 22mm. pipe all the way back down from the cistern. (The kitchen cold tap is fed straight from the mains, of course, as water that has stood in a cistern is not considered safe to drink.)

    Reverse osmosis may remove the group I ions, but it’d be just as good at removing the group II ions in hard water. And you wouldn’t need to regenerate the softener so often. Just feed the RO purifier straight from the mains.

  • jet3mu2:

    Abosolutely, in fact the softened water will prolong the life of your reverse osmosis system’s sediment prefilter and membrane(s). You will also gain the benefit of up to 95% reduction in sodium from the softened water.

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