Big cities like Toronto rely heavily on reverse osmosis systems because RO systems remove 99% of contaminants at an unbelievably lower cost. Therefore, it’s the best investment for safe and pure drinking water in towns and cities.
However, when it comes to the reverse osmosis system, there are contradictory views regarding the safety of its use.
Like any other water treatment system, there are both pros and cons of reverse osmosis water systems that we will discuss later in the article today.
Read on!
What Is Reverse Osmosis Filtration?
Reverse osmosis water filtration systems have been around for over 300 years now. It’s one of the most effective ways to filter water without using chemical or carbon filtration systems.
RO filtration systems use a semi-permeable membrane to extract the contaminants, including chlorine, lead, and arsenic from your tap water, leaving behind clean water safe for drinking, cooking, and cleaning purposes.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration
As opposed to other water filtration methods, a reverse osmosis system relies on a pressure system that filters out all the contaminants, saving you energy.
Some other benefits include:
Reverse Osmosis Filters Nearly All Contaminants
According to the EPA, Many high-efficiency reverse osmosis systems remove around 99% of contaminants and other harmful toxins, such as Fluoride, Arsenic, Chlorine, and lead.
This is more than any water filtration system in the market, leaving consumers safe and pure drinking water.
For example, the reverse osmosis systems at Watermart remove contaminants and other harmful substances from your tap water, including pesticides, hormones, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hexavalent, chromium, radium, and barium.
Environment Friendly And Safer Than Bottled Water
Since RO water works on a pressure system, it requires no electricity and saves energy costs.
Furthermore, in regions where consumers rely on plastic water bottles for safe drinking water, the RO water system reduces plastic waste and eliminates the need for constant water bottle purchases.
Overall, using RO water saves energy, and the environment by reducing the use of plastic bottled water.
Mineral-Less Water May Be Necessary For Certain Uses
RO water removes the most harmful and beneficial minerals from your tap water. While the deficiency of such minerals may cause problems and decrease water pH, it can be beneficial in some cases.
For example, in kidney dialysis, RO water better controls patients’ electrolyte balance. Also, in many laboratory applications, RO water comes in handy to prepare solutions for cell cultures.
Improved Taste And On-Demand Supply
According to the National Library of Medicine, 16% of the adult population in the USA enjoy drinking RO water followed by coffee and tea.
The fact that RO water removes 99% of the contaminants and minerals from your tap water affects the overall taste and odor of water and other beverages. In general, RO water is free from bitterness and metallic taste and the lack of minerals allows the true essence and flavors of the food and beverages, including coffee and tea.
As far as the supply is concerned, many RO water systems can be installed under your sink for the constant supply of water 24/7. It also helps to eliminate the need for plastic bottles and reduce plastic waste.
Save Money With A Reverse Osmosis System
RO water not only helps to save the costs of bottled water but also extends the lifespan of your appliances.
Hard water or water with a lot of contaminants and toxins can potentially harm your appliances and affect their lifespan adversely. The lower mineral content in RO water prevents mineral buildup in your appliances to keep them running for long.
Reverse Osmosis Is More Convenient Than Pitchers
As compared to water filter pitchers, reverse osmosis filtration systems are more convenient because they provide:
- Constant supply of water
- Automatic filtration process
- Faster filtration without waiting for the slow drip of a pitcher filter
Reverse Osmosis Provides Better Water For Cooking
Since RO water removes 99% of the contaminants and minerals, it’s ideal for cooking. That’s because it provides enhanced taste, clearer appearance, and consistent mineral content, especially for baking.
Cons of Using Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Like any other water filtration system, there are some cons of using RO water as well.
Wastes More Water
RO water filtration systems use three times more water than they treat, producing a lot of wastewater.
To help mitigate this issue, choose an RO water system that is highly efficient, such as Watermart.
Removes Healthy Minerals & Decreases pH
While RO water removes a lot of harmful bacteria and minerals from your water, it also eliminates the beneficial ones, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
The absence of mineral content in RO water makes it slightly acidic.
Costly Installation and Maintenance
RO water provides immense benefits, however, it comes with a hefty cost compared to other filtration systems.
They are not only expensive to install, but the ongoing costs of RO water systems are also too high.
Watermart offers RO water systems for rent or purchase for your convenience.
Pressure Drops
Clogged filters, clogged membranes, leaks, and other faulty components may lead to pressure drop. Pressure drops may affect the overall performance of your RO system adversely.
Is Reverse Osmosis Water Good for Health?
Yes, drinking RO water is good for health. However, it has its own set of disadvantages.
One of the biggest advantages of RO water is its lack of minerals, impurities, and contaminants, including harmful bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals. As a result, RO water is especially beneficial for people with kidney issues.
The absence of lead, chlorine, and other harmful substances improves your blood pressure and circulation and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, drinking RO water can result in shiny, beautiful, and smooth hair with healthy and stronger nails.
How Much Does an RO Water System Cost?
The average RO system cost depends on many factors, including the type of RO system. Usually, small, under-sink water filters cost less, and large setups, such as a whole-house water filter system cost more.
On average, the cost of an RO water system starts from $400 to $5000.
At Watermart, we offer reverse osmosis water filtration systems for rent or purchase.
Is a Whole-House Reverse Osmosis System Necessary?
The importance of a whole house reverse osmosis system depends on many things, such as the quality of your water, your daily water consumption, and water needs.
The whole house reverse osmosis system is ideal for you if you have severe water contamination and hard water issues.
However, if you have safe drinking water free from contaminants and other harmful toxins or live in areas with water restrictions, the whole house RO system is not the right choice.
We recommend testing your water for contaminants to decide whether you need a whole-house water filter system.
Watermart provides advanced technology whole house RO filter systems that remove contaminants and provide safe drinking water for your loved ones.
Conclusion
Reverse osmosis systems are one of the most effective water treatment methods to remove 99% of contaminants from your tap water. The effectiveness in removing impurities of tap water has no match for other water filtration methods. Besides removing contaminants, RO water offers improved taste and odor and reduces the need for plastic bottles, promoting sustainability.
However, like any other water filtration method, there are some disadvantages of RO water, including the removal of beneficial minerals and water waste. Also, the initial RO installation cost and ongoing costs are much higher than other counterparts.
All in all, RO water is an ideal choice for you if:
- You want pure drinking water with little to no contaminants and minerals
- You suffer from kidney issues
- Installation and ongoing costs are not an issue for you
- You take multivitamins and mineral supplements to make up for the lack of minerals.
FAQS
Is RO Water Good for Health?
Mostly, yes; RO water is safe to drink as it removes 99% of contaminants. However, people with special health concerns should consult a doctor before investing in a reverse osmosis water filter system.
What’s better; a Whole-House RO Water System or an Under-the-Sink RO Water System?
It depends on your needs and water quality. If you want pure water for drinking or cooking purposes only, an under-the-sink filter system is ideal and cost-friendly.
However, if you want pure water in your whole house, a whole-house water system is good for you. Nonetheless, whole-house water systems are costlier than under-sink water filter systems.
