What method of water treatment is used during RO failure and is part of the alternate water supply plan?

The method of water treatment that is utilized during reverse osmosis (RO) failure and is part of the alternate water supply plan is deionization. Deionization involves the removal of ions and impurities from water, making it suitable for various applications, particularly in medical and dialysis settings where water quality is critical.

During an RO system failure, deionization can provide a reliable alternative source of purified water that meets the stringent quality standards required for patient safety. This is particularly important in healthcare settings, where the absence of suitable water can impact treatment and patient outcomes. The process typically utilizes ion exchange resins to adsorb positively and negatively charged ions, effectively reducing the presence of contaminants.

In contrast, while filtration, chlorination, and distillation are also common water treatment methods, they serve different purposes and might not fully replace the quality provided by deionization in the context of an emergency back-up system during RO failure. For example, filtration may remove particulate matter but not dissolved salts or chemical contaminants, chlorination is primarily a disinfection method, and distillation is effective for certain contaminants but may not be practical as an immediate alternative to the quick processing needs in a facility reliant on RO.