# Reverse osmosis filter and static electricity
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 22, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005 "2005-01-22T00:25:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005/1 "2005-01-22T00:25:02Z")
I was filling up a five gallon plastic bucket with water from a reverse osmosis filter a few days ago, and when I touched the water I received a large static shock. This has happened a few times before, though it doesn’t happen every time I use the filter. What is the cause of this? Is the RO filter related?
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### Author:  [@CrazyFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyFoo)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005/2 "2005-01-22T01:42:50Z")
> [@quelquechose](#):
>
> I was filling up a five gallon plastic bucket with water from a reverse osmosis filter a few days ago, and when I touched the water I received a large static shock. This has happened a few times before, though it doesn’t happen every time I use the filter. What is the cause of this? Is the RO filter related?
The RO unit / filter itself will not give you a shock because it works on water pressure, unless you also have a booster pump (which works off electricity, but even then, all the booster pump does is take the water and push it through.
I require more details to your situation.
Explain exactly the steps you are taking when getting the water, and also explain your RO set up.
Do you have a metered tap with lights that operate off battery power?
I need more details.
Regards
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### Author:  [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005/3 "2005-01-22T21:04:37Z")
There is no electricity involved in the setup. I just have the RO unit connected to the tap, and the filtered water draining into a bucket.
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### Author:  [@CrazyFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyFoo)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005/4 "2005-01-22T22:34:47Z")
> [@quelquechose](#):
>
> There is no electricity involved in the setup. I just have the RO unit connected to the tap, and the filtered water draining into a bucket.
My buddy specializes in RO units (He installed mine)
He operates a RainSoft franchise and stated that if you would like to talk to him, feel free to give him a call and he will be happy to try to diagnose your problem.
Albert Leger
RainSoft Water Treatment
613-384-6464
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### Author:  [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005/5 "2005-01-22T22:55:30Z")
Was the plastic bucket sitting on a conductive surface? A non-conductive fluid running through a plastic or rubber hose is going to build up a charge, that’s why you should never fill a gas can on a plastic truck bed liner. Always set it on the ground, so the charge can dissipate.
RO water is usually a pretty good dielectric. I remember Millipore bragging on the 18 megaohm resistance. Try grounding the bucket.
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### Author:  [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-osmosis-filter-and-static-electricity/286005/6 "2005-01-22T23:54:11Z")
> [@Bill Door](#):
>
> Was the plastic bucket sitting on a conductive surface? A non-conductive fluid running through a plastic or rubber hose is going to build up a charge, that’s why you should never fill a gas can on a plastic truck bed liner. Always set it on the ground, so the charge can dissipate.
This sounds right. The output hoses are plastic, and the bucket sits on concrete, which I doubt is very conductive. I hadn’t thought about grounding the water, but it sounds like a good idea.