Reverse osmosis water also referred to as RO water has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. The main reason behind its wide usage in both households and commercial areas is that RO water is free from 99% of contaminants and impurities.
However, it is essential to note that, you should not blindly start using this special water without understanding its broader implications.
In this Frizzlife blog, we are going to explain five of the major reasons that you should before starting the consumption of reverse osmosis water. So, without any delay, let’s get down to the details.
Also, read our blog post All You Need to Know about Alkaline Filters
5 Reasons to Know Before Drinking RO Water
However, there are numerous things that people should understand before incorporating reverse osmosis water into their diet. Some of the major ones are discussed in this section.
Reason 1 - Nutrition Removal
As we all know, the primary function of RO water is to eliminate a wide range of contaminants and impurities from the water. However, filtration is not intelligent enough till now, which means it can not spot the difference between water nutrients and impurities.
So, during filtration good minerals are also removed from the RO water, making it completely neutral. The most commonly removed minerals are:
· Calcium: It is considered essential for bone health, and nerve signaling.
· Magnesium: This one is useful in supporting over 300 biochemical reactions in the human body, including energy production and muscle functioning.
· Potassium: It is useful for maintaining fluid balance and muscle contraction in humans.
So, these are some of the most essential nutrients that RO water does not contain.
What’s the solution?
The good thing is that there are some advanced reverse osmosis systems available that are equipped with remineralization filters to add essential minerals or nutrients back to the RO-filtered water. This way, you can enjoy clean, safe, yet healthy water which will ultimately lead to improved health and well-being.
Reason 2 - Acidic pH Levels
Do you know? reverse osmosis water usually has a lower pH, which makes it more acidic as compared to regular water. It is also true that a high acidity can have several health implications.
For instance, drinking acidic RO water can contribute to a decrease in bone density with the passage of time. Besides this, water with high acidity can also cause digestive issues by irritating the esophagus, stomach lining, etc. which will ultimately to lead significant discomfort.
What’s the solution?
To effectively address the high acidity of reverse osmosis water, there are multiple ways that you can take in this regard. One is by using an alkaline remineralization filter that will add essential minerals back to alkaline water.
Additionally, you can also mix some alkaline or mineral water with RO water in order to lessen its overall acidity.
Reason 3 – Environmental Impact
Due to the issue of global warming, environmental impact is now everyone’s issue. So you should also consider it before consuming reverse osmosis water. Thinking about how? Let us explain to you.
The filtration process of reverse osmosis is no doubt good at removing contaminants, but it also produces a significant amount of water as a waste which is surely damaging for our earth because water is an essential natural resource. It is said that, for every gallon of purified water produced, almost 2 to 10 gallons are wasted.
Read our special blog about Solutions for Reducing Wastewater in RO System
Moreover, RO systems also require a significant amount of energy to operate – which is also considered as a water of energy resources. This energy consumption can contribute to a larger carbon footprint. This can be especially true if the energy is being obtained from fossil fuels.
What’s the solution?
Due to the continuous advancements in technology, there are now energy-efficient RO filtration systems that not only save energy but also produce less wastewater as compared to traditional systems.
So, you can go for such systems and enjoy purified water without damaging the overall environment.
Reason 4 – Taste Considerations
The heading is already everything. The taste of has an important role in deciding how much water should be consumed. The better the taste, the better the hydration. So, while RO filtration removes a wide range of contaminants and impurities, it also eliminates essential minerals that make water tasty.
Due to this, there are chances that some individuals may find RO water less appealing as compared to mineral-rich water. This increases the chances of a lack of water in the body, ultimately leading to dehydration.
What’s the solution?
Here the solution is the same as explained in reasons 1 and 2 above. You can invest in an RO system that contains a remineralization stage. It will add essential minerals back to the purified making it tastier and healthier to drink.
Reason 5 – Cost
The final reason you should consider before consuming reverse osmosis water is cost. Usually, RO filtration systems cost more than other types of filters. Only the purchase costs range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.
And this doesn’t stop here. After purchasing, you may have to spend some more cash on the installation, although this doesn’t apply to every system, as some are easy to install. Next comes the maintenance cost – an ongoing cost.
You will definitely have to replace or change filters of RO system every 6 or 12 months to keep it functional. So, combining all these costs will result in a large number of costs.
What’s the solution?
There is none! It's your personal choice to purchase a reverse osmosis system or not. But we would love to highlight long-term benefits here. By installing a filter, you can save valuable cash spent on purchasing bottled water, while enjoying the health perks.
Wrapping Up
Reverse osmosis water is no doubt the safest and purest type of water. It is free from 99% of contaminants and impurities. However, before deciding to incorporate it into your diet, there are multiple reasons that you should understand. In this blog post, we have explained 5 major reasons in detail, hope you will find them valuable.