Aquatec 8800 Permeate Pump for Culligan RO Systems

Aquatec 8800 -- hydraulic energy recovery for RO systems

Standard reverse osmosis storage systems waste 3 to 5 gallons of drain water for every gallon of purified water produced -- the tank pressurization back-pressure reduces membrane driving force and pushes excess water to drain. The Aquatec 8800 permeate pump recovers hydraulic energy from the pressurized drain stream and uses it to push permeate water into the storage tank at higher pressure, maintaining membrane driving force throughout the fill cycle. No electricity is required -- the pump runs entirely on the energy already present in the drain water stream. The result: drain ratio drops from 3:1 to 4:1 to approximately 1:1, and the tank fills faster because the membrane operates at near-peak efficiency until the tank is full.

Installation: four push-fit connections

The 8800 integrates into any standard 1/4-inch push-fit RO system with four connections: FEED IN (from pre-filter output), FEED OUT (to membrane feed), DRAIN IN (from membrane drain port), and PERMEATE OUT (to storage tank). No electrical wiring, no additional valves, and no pump housing -- just four tubing connections made with the standard push-fit collets already present on the RO system. Installation takes 20 to 30 minutes and requires only a tube cutter and the included fittings. Compatible with Culligan-installed systems and all other standard 1/4-inch RO units.

Economics: water savings and filter life

At average US water rates, reducing drain ratio from 3:1 to 1:1 saves approximately $40 to $80 per year in water cost for a family of four using their RO system as the primary drinking water source. The permeate pump also protects the RO membrane from the tank back-pressure cycling that degrades membrane performance over time -- membranes in permeate pump systems typically last 25 to 50 percent longer before TDS rejection declines below the replacement threshold.