Systems and methods for enhancing output of self-mediated saltless whole home water treatment systems

A water treatment system, comprising:

• a prefiltration unit for filtering untreated water in fluid communication with a source of the untreated water, wherein the untreated water enters the prefiltration unit and the prefiltration unit produces a prefiltered water that exits the prefiltration unit;
• a pump in fluid communication with the prefiltration unit;
• a membrane element in fluid communication with the pump, wherein the membrane element produces a permeate stream and a retentate stream;
• a retentate recirculation line designed to recirculate a portion of the retentate stream to the membrane element for further processing;
• one or more valves designed to regulate a flow of the prefiltered water, the permeate stream, and the retentate stream;
• a first sensor positioned upstream of the membrane element that is adapted to measure a first characteristic of the prefiltered water;
• and
• a second sensor positioned downstream of the membrane element that is adapted to measure a second characteristic of the permeate stream.

A method of treating water, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an untreated water via an inlet of a water treatment system;
• filtering the untreated water via a prefiltration unit to produce a prefiltered water;
• storing at least a portion of the prefiltered water in a bottom portion of a tank;
• filtering the prefiltered water using a membrane element to produce a permeate imparted with a first concentration of solutes and a retentate imparted with a second concentration of solutes, wherein the first concentration of solutes is less than the second concentration of solutes;
• recirculating a portion of the retentate through the membrane element;
• storing the permeate produced by the membrane element in a top portion of the tank;
• and
• providing the permeate stored in the top portion of the tank to a point-of-use application via an outlet of the water treatment system.