I-Reverse osmosis yitekhnoloji yokwahlula i-membrane eyaphuhliswa kwiminyaka yoo-1980, esetyenziswa ikakhulu umgaqo-siseko we-membrane we-semipermeable, usebenzisa uxinzelelo kwisisombululo esigxininisiweyo kwinkqubo ye-osmosis, ngaloo ndlela iphazamisa ukuhamba kwe-osmotic yendalo. Ngenxa yoko, amanzi aqala ukuqukuqela ukusuka kwindawo egxininiswe kakhulu ukuya kwisisombululo esincinci. I-RO ifanelekile kwiindawo ezinobutyuwa obuphezulu bamanzi akrwada kwaye zisuse ngempumelelo zonke iintlobo zeetyuwa kunye nokungcola emanzini.