Does RO remove bacteria and viruses? Can bacteria grow in the RO system?
Yes, RO removes bacteria and viruses The hole size in an RO membrane is of the order of 0.0001 microns. Bacteria size ranges between 1 and 5 microns and there is no way they can get through. Cryptosporidia and giardia would be like giant gray whales staring at a 1 inch mesh fish net. Protozoas are even larger than bacteria and will not get through. Viruses are in the range between 0.02 and 0.5 microns. They are still 100 to 2,500 times larger than the holes in the RO membrane and cannot get through. Yes, bacteria can grow in the RO system Modern filter materials are designed to discourage bacterial growth, such as synthetic polypropylene and silver activated carbon. However, bacteria sometimes do grow in the RO system, especially in warm climate, and can pose potential health risk. Bacteria in locations preceding RO cannot come through, but those past the RO stage will. To insure the system is indeed free from bacteria and slime, we recommend that you disinfect an RO unit every year in
