Reverse osmosis systems sound really complicated to the average person, but they use relatively simple procedures to purify water for national, residential, and personal use. Reverse osmosis systems are largely used for the desalination of water, as many people have become concerned about the amount of potable water, and Perth, Australia, gets more than fifteen percent of their drinking water from such a water purification system. Reverse osmosis systems are also used for residential water softening, as the process can filter out certain minerals that wreak havoc on human skin.
Large scale purification plants provide this water to homes, but they also use chlorine to maintain the cleanliness of the water that travels through their pipes. These plants must add a small amount of chlorine to keep the water free from bacteria and other dangers as it travels through the pipes, but tap water is generally safe to drink. In many cases, the elimination of fluoride by the water purification systems causes dental problems for some. However, many people prefer to use home water purification systems to eradicate the last traces of dangerous chemicals.