Water softening and reverse osmosis system

A water softening and reverse osmosis treatment system comprising:

• a pressure tank;
• a closure for the pressure tank having an access opening therethrough;
• an inlet line for conveying raw water to the pressure tank;
• an outlet line for conveying softened water from the tank;
• a treatment material held within the pressure tank;
• a plurality of tubular membrane elements embedded within the treatment material, each membrane element including a perforated membrane carrier having a hollow core and a semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane covering the external surface of the membrane carrier, each membrane element having a diameter less than the diameter of the access opening;
• a plug sealing the access opening and having an upper recess and a plurality of passages communicating with the recess;
• a plurality of flexible tubes, each communicating with a hollow core and extending to a passage so that water may pass from the membrane carrier to the plug;
• a holding tank;
• and
• a water line attached to an end to the recess of the plug and at an opposite end to the holding tank.

In a water softening system of the type having a pressure tank, a closure for the pressure tank having an access opening, an inlet line, an outlet having a mouth located proximate the bottom of the tank, and a treatment material located within the treatment tank, a reverse osmosis treatment system comprising:

• a plurality of tubular membrane elements embedded within the treatment material, each membrane element including a perforated membrane carrier having a hollow core and a semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane covering the exterior surface of the membrane carrier, each membrane element having a diameter less than the diamter of the access opening;
• a plug sealing the access opening and having an upper recess and a plurality of passages communicating with the recess;
• a plurality of flexible tubes, each extending between one of the membrane carriers and one of the passages so that water may pass from the membrane carriers to the plug;
• a holding tank for receiving water;
• and
• a water line attached at an end to the recess of the plug and at an opposite end to the holding tank.