Reverse Osmosis Units (RO) – Maintenance and Monitoring Regime
What is the RO Water System?
Reverse Osmosis is a simple and straightforward water filtration process. The RO water system produces a source of clean/purified water, which can then be used to supply water to your dental practice autoclaves and other dental equipment (Dental Unit Water Lines DUWLs)
HTM01-05: 2013 NOTE:
The self-contained water supplies used with dental care systems should be distilled or RO water.
How to Maintain my RO System?
The fitting and plumbing of the RO Water System must comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fitting) Regulations 1999. Once the system installation is fully completed and commissioned, it is important to ensure that the system is serviced and maintained in line with the manufacturers recommendations.
Typical monitoring and maintenance regime should include:
1. Monitor Total Dissolvable Solids TDS - Recommended Weekly
2. Replace the pre-filtration and post-filtration filters periodically to ensure maximum performance.
When to replace the filters:
When Total Dissolvable Solids TDS Reading Exceeds manufacturers recommended limit (Usually every 6 – 12 months depending on the water condition)*refer to manufacturers instructions
Decrease in water production indicates that the pre-filter should be changed.
Following microbiological contamination such as in Boil-Water Advisory (BWA)
2. Check and replace the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane
When to change the membrane:
Usually, every 18 months to 3years (depending on manufacturers instructions)
Below 80% TDS reduction – monitor TDS (Total Dissolvable Solids) using TDS meter.
Click HERE to download FREE Reverse Osmosis (RO) Form
Do I need to notify my water supplier about my new RO Unit?
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws require, for most types of work the designer, installer, owner or occupier to obtain the local water supplier’s consent before starting any work. This means sending to your local water supplier a Notice and other information relating to the proposed work.
Water suppliers are required by the Regulations and Byelaws not to withhold consent unreasonably, and allow consent to be granted subject to conditions, which must be followed.
If consent is not given within the ten working days, then the Regulations and Byelaws deem the water suppliers’ consent to have been granted. This does not alter the obligation upon the, designer, installer and owner or occupier to see that the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws are fully met.
Read more HERE
Sample Section 5 Notification letter is now available in our Dental Compliance Hub/Publications/Water Supplier Section 5 Notification - Click Here
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