What is the primary purpose of reverse osmosis in water treatment?

The primary purpose of reverse osmosis in water treatment is to remove all dissolved solids from water. This process uses a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while blocking a significant percentage of dissolved salts, impurities, and other contaminants. The effectiveness of reverse osmosis in purifying water makes it essential for producing high-quality water for various applications, including drinking water, industrial processes, and wastewater treatment.

In contrast, concentrating dissolved minerals is not the goal of reverse osmosis; it's designed specifically to reduce their concentration in the treated water. Controlling water pressure is a function of the reverse osmosis system itself, but not the primary purpose of the technology. Adjusting pH levels can be a necessary step in water treatment, but it falls outside the scope of reverse osmosis, as this method focuses on solute removal rather than chemical adjustment of the water's pH.