In today’s unpredictable world, emergencies such as natural disasters, power outages, or civil unrest can happen anytime. Preparing for these scenarios requires thoughtful consideration and planning, including stocking up on essential prepping supplies like food, water, medical equipment, and various other prepping supplies.
In particular, having access to clean drinking water is essential for survival during these times of crisis. While there are many ways to obtain clean water, water filters are vital for preppers.
I recently had the opportunity to review the SimPure Y7P Reverse Osmosis countertop water filter. It’s an excellent option for preppers who want to get more contaminants out of their water than the basic Sawyer Mini will.
Is Reverse Osmosis a Good Filter for Preppers?
In all my years of prepping, I have never considered a reverse osmosis water filter. This is probably because the typical RO system is bulky, wastes a lot of water, and needs to be installed in the home. This makes it less than ideal from a preparedness perspective.
When SimPure contacted me about their countertop reverse osmosis water filter, it looked like a viable option for prepping because it is portable enough to take on the go, can be powered by just 30 watts, and removes many more contaminants than a typical water filter. On top of that, the wastewater produced is far less than the typical RO system.
I have used the Y7P for over a month, and it still works great. We use it to fill the water bottle in the refrigerator and cook. I’ve used this so much in the first month that it’s almost time to buy new filters. Although, the filters do last six months or 528 gallons, so I probably have a little life left in these.
The RO filter is $35, and the CF (composite filter) is $23. For just over $100 a year, you can get bottled water quality (and better) straight from the tap. I plan on having an extra set that remains unused and ready to go in an emergency.
SimPure Y7P Countertop RO Water Filter Review
The video below is a detailed review of the SimPure Reverse Osmosis water filter. In the video, I went over how to set it up (super easy) and how to operate the filter. I tested the filtered water with a total dissolved solids meter to see how it faired. If you have any further questions, you can visit the SimPure website here.
As I said earlier, this is an excellent option for preppers because it can be powered on 30 watts in a grid-down situation. Suppose you have a Jackery power bank or a battery and an inverter like the video below. In that case, you can filter all the clean water you need daily in an emergency.
While this water filter isn’t ideal for a bug-out scenario, it is the same as something like a Big Berkey, whose credibility has come into question recently. It is however, portable enough to take with you if you have the time and space to do so.
SimPure Y7P Off Grid Power
Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering Information
Below is some general information about Reverse Osmosis that will give you a better idea about how it works and what you can expect. While the countertop Y7P is not an entire RO system, it gets the job done from a preparedness perspective.
Here are some of the most common questions people have about RO systems. If you have any other questions, leave a comment below.
Is a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter Healthy?
Reverse osmosis (RO) water filters are a good option for providing clean and safe drinking water. These filters use a semipermeable membrane to remove contaminants such as heavy metals, minerals, bacteria, and viruses from the water.
The resulting water is a good source of clean drinking water. However, it is important to note that RO filters can also remove minerals and trace elements that are beneficial to your health, such as calcium and magnesium.
Therefore, if you rely solely on RO water for your daily water intake, consider supplementing with minerals or drinking water that contains some naturally occurring minerals.
Overall, RO water filters can be a healthy option for providing clean and safe drinking water. Still, it’s important to consider the potential loss of beneficial minerals.
Will a Reverse Osmosis Filter Remove Chemicals?
Reverse osmosis (RO) water filters can effectively remove a wide range of chemicals from water, including but not limited to:
- Chlorine and chloramine
- Fluoride
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Mercury
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Pharmaceuticals
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Additionally, some RO systems may have additional filters, such as activated carbon filters, which can help to remove other chemicals and impurities from the water.
How Many Microns Will a Reverse Osmosis Filter Down to?
Reverse osmosis (RO) filters use a semipermeable membrane to filter out contaminants from water. The pore size of the membrane determines the size of particles that can be filtered out, and the typical pore size of an RO membrane is between 0.0001 and 0.001 microns.
While the pore size of an RO membrane is extremely small, it’s important to note that not all contaminants are removed solely by size exclusion. Some contaminants, such as dissolved minerals and chemicals, are removed by adsorption or ion exchange processes, which are not exclusively dependent on pore size.
What Does Ultraviolet Water Filtration Remove?
The SimPure Y7P also includes a UV filter. UV water filtration can be highly effective in inactivating many viruses but may not kill all viruses.
UV water filtration works by using a UV lamp to emit ultraviolet light, which damages the DNA or RNA of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, preventing them from replicating and rendering them inactive.
While UV water filtration can effectively inactivate many types of viruses, some viruses may be more resistant to UV light and require longer exposure times or higher UV doses to be effectively inactivated.
Additionally, UV water filtration may not effectively remove other contaminants such as chemicals, heavy metals, or sediment. Therefore, combining filtration systems such as activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis filters, and UV water filtration is essential to achieve comprehensive water treatment.
Why Does Reverse Osmosis Produce Waste Water?
Reverse osmosis systems generate wastewater, also known as concentrate or brine, because not all the water pushed through the membrane can pass through it. The wastewater contains the impurities and contaminants that were removed from the clean water, and it must be disposed of properly.
The amount of wastewater produced by a reverse osmosis system depends on various factors, such as the quality of the feed water, the efficiency of the membrane, and the system’s design. Typically, for every gallon of purified water produced, two to three gallons of wastewater are generated.
This is where the SimPure Y7P stands out. No one wants to waste half or 3/4 of our emergency water storage. This is one of the main reasons most preppers steer clear of Reverse Osmosis.
While the Y7P does produce wastewater, it’s only around 20%. As I said in the video, the wastewater becomes gray water, which is not drinkable but can be used for flushing toilets and many other uses.
SimPure Y7P Closing Thoughts & Impressions
I have been very impressed with the SimPure water filter and feel comfortable that this is an excellent option to ensure I have clean drinking water in any disaster or emergency.
On top of that, it looks good on the counter and is a well put together machine. This can (and will) be used daily, and if you store a couple of extra filters, it will be ready to go in a water crisis.