A modern water treatment system is a multi-barrier process, where each component targets specific contaminants. The typical sequence includes:

1. Sediment Filters: The first line of defense, removing particulate matter like rust, sand, and dirt.

2. Water Softener: Uses ion exchange resin to remove calcium and magnesium, which cause water "hardness." This prevents scaling and damage to downstream components.

3. Carbon Tanks: Contain activated carbon that adsorbs chlorine and chloramine. These disinfectants are highly toxic to blood cells and must be completely removed.

4. Reverse Osmosis (RO) System: The heart of the purification process. RO forces water through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure, removing over 90-99% of all remaining contaminants, including ions, viruses, and bacteria.

5. Ultrafilters/Deionizers (Optional): These may be added after the RO as a final "polishing" step to remove any remaining ions or endotoxins, providing an extra layer of safety.

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