What a dialysis centre RO water system actually needs
Water quality standards, sizing, and the maintenance that keeps a dialysis unit compliant.
Water is the single most critical input in haemodialysis. A patient undergoing three sessions per week is exposed to approximately 300–400 litres of dialysis-grade water per session. Contaminants that would be harmless in drinking water — bacteria, endotoxins, chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals — can cause serious harm when dialysed directly into the bloodstream.
Philippine regulatory standards
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) require dialysis centres to maintain water quality within AAMI/ANSI or ISO 23500 standards:
- Chemical contaminants: maximum allowable concentrations per AAMI RD62
- Microbial count: < 100 CFU/mL (action level < 50 CFU/mL)
- Endotoxins: < 0.25 EU/mL (action level < 0.125 EU/mL)
RO system sizing
Size your RO system to produce at least 1.5× the peak dialysis water demand — your dialysis machine's water consumption rate × number of stations × safety factor. A 4-station centre typically needs a 200–300 LPH RO unit; a 12-station centre typically 600–900 LPH.
The pre-treatment train matters
An RO membrane alone cannot protect against all contaminants. A compliant pre-treatment train typically includes: sediment pre-filters → carbon filters (chloramine removal) → water softener (scale prevention) → RO membranes → DI polishing or UV disinfection.
Maintenance schedule
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Filter cartridge replacement | Monthly or per pressure differential |
| Carbon filter replacement | Quarterly or per chloramine test |
| RO membrane cleaning | Per manufacturer schedule |
| Water culture sampling | Monthly |
| Full water quality report | Quarterly |
MCVSIX (via TMD Dialysis) supplies, installs, and maintains complete RO water systems for dialysis centres nationwide. Contact us for a sizing consultation.