Thinking about buying a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filter? Want to know how RO works? Is there a better alternative? Is it healthy to drink water from a RO filter? Show
In this article we clarify the basics that you need to know about RO filter, the pros and cons and the best alternatives to RO water filters. What is Reverse Osmosis?The technology was originally invented as a solution to
RO is a process through which water pressure pushes the tap water through a semipermeable membrane that allows relatively small water molecules, but not larger molecules such as dissolved minerals (e.g. Salt) to pass through. Thanks to the process the pure tap water is separated from all other substances found in the water. Here’s what a typical RO installation looks like along with some of the maintenance requirements. Fast forward to 13:35 to see if RO operation and troubleshooting. What does Reverse Osmosis filters remove?RO systems remove contaminants from water including bacteria, viruses, nitrates, sulfates, fluoride, arsenic and much more. But they also removes healthy minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium. Overall RO filters can remove 100s of substances from tap water with a 99% or higher filtration efficiency rate. Some high pressure professional RO filters such as Blue Water even claim 99.99%. Low cost RO filters on the other hand generally have a much lower efficiency. Therefore it’s really important that you look at the independent lab tests and certifications of each specific brand and product. RO does not remove chlorine or soften the water very efficiently. Therefore activated carbon filters are almost always required in combination of RO. The activated carbon also helps remove 70+ other contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, chlorine bi-products, pharmaceuticals and more. RO filters reduce TDS“The sales guy used a TDS tester to justify the need for a RO system” TDS measures the amount of dissolved substances in the water. Often the sales technicians use this as an argument for needing a water filter. The problem is that TDS is not a good measurement of clean water. The main components of TDS are typically calcium, magnesium and bicarbonates that the human body needs. A TDS of 250 ppm for example normally just means that the tap water is high in minerals which is good. Read more about TDS as a water quality measure. Do I need a RO filter to get clean drinking water at home?Over the past 10-15 years RO systems combined with activated carbon have been marketed as the only solution for household drinking water. In some cases households can really benefit from a RO filters. However, for public tap water in Europe and North America RO filters are generally a waste of money and water. Before purchasing an RO unit or any other water treatment equipment check the quality of your local tap water and what is required to make it safe and tasty. Don’t listen to the sales guy. What are the advantages (pros) of RO filters?
What are the disadvantages (cons) of RO filtration?
In 2020 the government of India banned the use of Reverse Osmosis water filters for all water with TDS less than 500 to reduce water and energy waste. Check out our comparison of reverse osmosis vs TAPP water filters. Is demineralized water from reverse osmosis filters good for you?No, it’s actually not. According to the World Health Organization, low mineral (TDS) drinking water produced by reverse osmosis or distillation is not suitable for long term human consumption and in fact, can create negative health effects to those consuming it. This lack of minerals may also impact the taste negatively for many people. With a good diet the minerals from tap water is not critical for you however so therefore drinking demineralised water will not be an issue. Read more about minerals in tap water. What are the alternatives to RO filters?Most of the tap water in Europe and North America is already potable (drinkable according to strict WHO, EPA and EU standards). Therefore the first priority is usually improving taste and reducing risk of possible contaminants such as THMs, microplastics and heavy metals. A high quality activated carbon filter will take care of this with the following advantages
Examples activated carbon filters include TAPP EcoPro. For tap water with bacteria issues there are also affordable ultrafiltration filters such as Ultra by TAPP Water that will remove 99.99% of bacteria and 100+ other contaminants.Other alternatives to reverse osmosis include Ion Exchange, UV purifier, Ozone and distillation. Read more in this water filter guide. Conclusion
Questions, comments or feedback? Please comment below and we will try to reply within 3-5 days. If you need a faster answer then please e-mail our support on [email protected] Sources:How does RO Water filters work (from How Stuff Works) Disadvantages of RO filters WHO report on Demineralised water Water waste and other disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis Are there any disadvantages to drinking reverse osmosis water?Wastes Significantly More Water Than It Produces
One of the biggest disadvantages to reverse osmosis water systems is wasted water. Studies show various reverse osmosis systems can waste between 3 and 20 times as much water as they produce.
What are 2 advantages of reverse osmosis?Advantages of Reverse Osmosis. It is the best method for water softening.. The semipermeable membrane will block all ion particles.. The maintenance of the system is very simple.. It gives us clean and pure water by blocking all contaminants.. The available RO systems are very compact, and it requires little space.. What are some negative effects of the reverse osmosis process?One of the major disadvantages of RO systems for the home is that they remove most of the minerals from the water leaving it with an acidic pH. Also, during the purification process, up to 20 gal of water is flushed down the drain for every gallon of filtered water produced.
Is reverse osmosis water better for you?' Reverse osmosis systems produce cleaner water, save you money, and are better for the environment. The only downsides are minor; reverse osmosis systems will reduce some good minerals from your water along with the contaminants. However, you'll have no problem replacing these minerals with a healthy diet.
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