Efektivitas Reverse Osmosis Dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Air Kondensat Pendingin Ruangan Sebagai Air Minum Alternatif

Abstrak

The increasing scarcity of clean water has encouraged the exploration of alternative water sources, one of which is air conditioner condensate water. Although it generally meets physical and chemical standards, condensate water still poses potential microbiological contamination, making it unsuitable for direct consumption. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of Reverse Osmosis technology in improving the quality of condensate water as an alternative drinking water source. An experimental method with a quantitative approach was employed by examining physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters before and after the filtration process. The results showed a significant reduction in turbidity (from 0.38 to 0.05 NTU) and color (from 11 to 4 TCU), as well as a decrease in nitrate levels (from 1.74 to 0.65 mg/L). Although there were slight increases in total dissolved solids (TDS), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn), all parameters remained within acceptable drinking water standards. In terms of microbiological quality, total coliform decreased from 11 to 0 CFU/100 mL, while Escherichia coli was not detected in all samples. Therefore, Reverse Osmosis technology is proven effective in improving condensate water quality to meet drinking water standards. The treated water has strong potential as an alternative drinking water source, provided that proper system maintenance is ensured to prevent secondary contamination.

Kata kunci

• Kondensat
• Kualitas
• Reverse osmosis
• filtrasi