No. Domestic R/O systems are designed to take small amounts of minerals and
salts out of municipal water. They typically reduce the salt levels from
150 ppm to 5 or 6 ppm. Tapwater has an osmotic pressure around 10 PSI.
Tapwater R/O systems work on supply water pressure at 40 to 80 PSI (4 to 8
times the osmotic pressure) and recover from 25 to 50% of the flow. As the
total salts increase the osmotic pressure increases. The salt in seawater
averages 36,000 ppm and has an osmotic pressure around 376 PSI. Typically a
seawater R/O system operates between 700 and 850 PSI (2 to 2.5 times the
osmotic pressure) and recovers between 12 and 18% of the flow. Also the
membranes are a different material and constructed to handle the higher
pressures. Tapwater membranes can tolerate chlorine. Seawater membranes
can't.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message
...


Wandering around the local Hardware, I came across a sink/faucet
filter system billed as reverse osmosis. Cost is $200 operating
pressure 40 to 80 psi.
What's the scoop on this: can it handle salt water?
[it carries a warning to avoid water of unknown quality, unless pre
filtered with salt? - sounds doubtful ]

Thanks for insights

Brian Whatcott Altus OK