RO is a word you would have come across so many times. Every water purifier brand, and water purification in general, is associated with RO.
It is generally preferred to have an RO purifier at home to make sure we are drinking safe, clean and pure water. It is imperative that a purifier includes RO as a stage because RO is capable of removing all the dissolved solids, but more on that later.
In this guide, we will see what RO is, what it does, and how you can maintain your RO membrane and your filters.
What is RO? How does it purify your water?
To put it simply, RO stands for Reverse Osmosis. RO uses a high pressure membrane to remove dissolved salts, nitrates and heavy metals such as arsenic. RO can bring down your water’s TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) significantly because it removes the dissolved solids present in your water. TDS is measured in parts per million (ppm).
RO is not capable of removing biological contaminants like bacteria and viruses, which a UV lamp can do. RO also usually removes the ‘good’ minerals present in your water during the purification because it cannot distinguish a good solid from a bad one. Naturally occurring water is known to contain minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Some purifiers let part of your tap water skip RO purification to adjust TDS. This may leave some impurities behind. DrinkPrime’s RO purifiers don’t do this. DrinkPrime’s purifiers make sure every drop of your water goes through 100% RO purification. Because RO removes the essential minerals, there is a separate mineraliser cartridge that adds back calcium and magnesium before your drinking water reaches your glass.
DrinkPrime’s 100% RO
DrinkPrime offers a range of purifiers with 100% RO on rent. All of DrinkPrime’s purifiers (except for UV, which has the UV lamp and not RO) have the high-reject RO membrane, which purifies your water to the last drop.
These purifiers are available on a subscription basis where you can pay a monthly rental and use the product.
Apart from the RO membrane, these purifiers have the dual filter (sediment & pre-carbon), a UV lamp, the combined cartridge (post-carbon & mineral), a copper cartridge (in the case of a copper purifier) and an alkaline filter (in the case of an alkaline purifier).
DrinkPrime’s purifiers are IoT (Internet of Things) powered, which means, they use the smart technology to track your purifier’s health, the filter health and your water consumption. As a customer, you can also recharge through the DrinkPrime app.
One of the biggest benefits of choosing DrinkPrime is hassle-free maintenance the company offers.
Why does RO maintenance matter?
RO maintenance matters. This cannot be stressed enough. If you’re living in one of the metro cities in India, there is a high chance your water has high TDS. To give you context, high TDS is generally in the range of 600-1000 ppm. Excessive environmental pollution can make impurities leach into your drinking water source. The water that comes out of your tap will have a high TDS which requires RO.
Because the RO membrane blocks all the solid impurities in the water, impurities can build up in your filters, membrane or cartridges. In the case of DrinkPrime, the purifiers are designed to stop dispensing water so that you don’t consume impure or unfiltered water. If your filters or your RO membrane is blocked, then it is a sign that your purifier is working well.
If annual maintenance is skipped, your filters or cartridges can clog, which reduces water flow. This would also affect your purification quality, and the impurities can end up in your drinking water.
Parts that need replacement: Filters, membrane and others
A water purifier has multiple stages, with multiple filters and cartridges. For your water purifier to dispense clean drinking water, all of the filters, membranes and cartridges need to be working perfectly. Every purification stage has a lifespan. Listed below are the purification and replacement stages.
a) Dual filter (sediment & pre-carbon)
What it does: Removes traps sand, silt, rust and visible particles before they reach the later stages.
Replace when: Water flow drops, or the filter looks visibly dirty or discoloured.
b) RO membrane
What it does: It removes dissolved salts, heavy metals and many contaminants.
Replace when: TDS in purified water rises, output slows, or wastage increases.
c) UV Lamp
What it does: Inactivates bacteria and viruses.
Replace when: The lamp reaches the end of its rated life. UV output fades gradually.
d) Combined Cartridge (Post-Carbon & Mineral)
What it does: Post-carbon filter provides a final polish by removing residual odours, and improving taste and clarity. Mineral cartridge adds back essential minerals such as calcium & magnesium.
Replace when: When the flow rate drops.
Other components:
Antiscalant (in DrinkPrime’s Chennai variant): Reduces scale buildup on the membrane. Replace when visible scale buildup appears.
Iron remover (In DrinkPrime’s Kolkata variant): It removes the excess iron.
Mineral or copper/alkaline cartridge (in models that have one): Adds minerals back after RO.
They can be checked for replacement during a general inspection.
How does DrinkPrime handle maintenance?
Usually, a general inspection for any purifier is carried out annually. A general inspection is advised when there is an evident drop in your output water flow.
If you own a water purifier, one of the major drawbacks is that you need to pay extra for the annual maintenance that is carried out. You also need to track your purifier’s health by yourself and call a technician when there is an issue. With DrinkPrime, however, your purifier is tracked remotely and a technician visit is arranged when needed.
If you feel there is something wrong with your purifier, you can check your app to track your filter health. You can also raise a service request on the app and a technician will visit you at your convenience.
You can request a general service if your water consumption crosses 6,000 litres or you have completed one year, whichever comes first. You can track your water usage on the DrinkPrime app.
Even in the harshest water conditions, your water purifier is built to handle 6,000 litres of water. With lower TDS water, it tends to last longer than that. A regular inspection, regardless, helps keep your purifier in check.
At DrinkPrime, a general service typically covers backwashing of sediment and carbon filters, cleaning the storage tank, wiping internal and external surfaces, checking flow rate and checking output water quality.
Even though general service doesn’t automatically include filter replacements, filters are changed if a filter or a cartridge has reached the end of its useful life.
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Conclusion
Your RO water purifier works on its own. Because it doesn’t draw your attention on a daily basis, it is easy to forget it needs servicing at least once a year. If you forget to do that, you and your family may not get the purified water you deserve.
Replacing filters and cartridges and staying on top of your purifier health are small habits that will make a big difference to your daily life. If tracking your purifier’s health seems like a big to-do list, DrinkPrime handles it for you. At DrinkPrime, your purifier’s maintenance is taken care of, for free, included in a monthly subscription that starts at ₹349/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I service my RO purifier?
At least once a year. With DrinkPrime, you can request a general service at 6,000 litres or one year, whichever comes first.
2. How do I know my filters or membrane need replacing?
Look for a drop in water flow, a change in taste or smell, rising TDS, or visible dirt or scale. DrinkPrime customers can check filter health in the app.
3. What happens if I don’t service my RO purifier?
Filters and cartridges clog, flow drops and purification quality can suffer. DrinkPrime purifiers stop dispensing water when blocked.
4. How long does an RO purifier last before service?
It depends on your water’s TDS. DrinkPrime purifiers are built to handle 6,000 litres even in harsh water conditions, and last longer with lower-TDS water.
5. Can I clean my RO purifier at home?
Wiping the outside is fine, but filters, the membrane and the tank are best left to a technician.
6. Does DrinkPrime’s general service include filter replacement?
Not automatically, but filters are changed if they’ve reached the end of their life. Filter replacements are included in the monthly rental.
7. What is the difference between RO and UV purification?
RO removes dissolved solids and heavy metals, while UV inactivates bacteria and viruses. DrinkPrime combines both.
8. Does RO remove essential minerals?
Usually yes. DrinkPrime’s mineral cartridge adds calcium and magnesium back.
9. How do I raise a service request with DrinkPrime?
Through the app; a technician visits at your convenience.
10. How much does a DrinkPrime purifier cost?
Plans start at ₹349/month. The rental includes the device, delivery, installation, maintenance and relocation.
