If you’ve been researching reverse osmosis systems before getting one installed in your home, you may have noticed articles and videos discussing the health and safety of reverse osmosis water. This information may have made you hesitant about getting a reverse osmosis system. The truth is that this information is misleading and inaccurate.
Reverse osmosis doesn’t make your water unhealthy. On the contrary, the benefits of a reverse osmosis system can protect you and your loved ones from water-borne contaminants.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
In simple terms, reverse osmosis is a filtration process that removes impurities from water, leaving fresh, pure drinking water. It uses a semipermeable membrane and carbon filters to remove viruses, chemicals, and other impurities. Then, as high pressure pushes water through the membrane, contaminants are trapped, leaving totally clean water.
Common Misconceptions
Here are some of the common misconceptions people have about reverse osmosis. Knowing these will give you a better understanding of what it is, how it affects the quality of your water, and the impact it has on your health.
Reverse Osmosis Water is Too Acidic To Drink
The pH level of normal water is 7. By removing impurities, reverse osmosis can drop the pH level of your water to around 5.5, which is considered acidic.
While this may sound concerning, it’s important to know that the pH level will return to normal when it comes in contact with food in your stomach. And even if you are drinking water on an empty stomach, your stomach acid is much more acidic, meaning that reverse osmosis water will not have any adverse effects.
Reverse Osmosis Water Removes Healthy Minerals
Although reverse osmosis water doesn’t have many essential nutrients you need to stay healthy, neither does normal tap water. The lack of these minerals aren’t likely to make a difference in your health as the vitamins and minerals from eating a healthy diet are more important.
And while the reverse osmosis process removes minerals from the water, it also eliminates harmful contaminants such as chloride and fluoride, common water-borne contaminants. Here are other water-borne contaminants removed by reverse osmosis:
- Sodium
- Sulfate
- Phosphate
- Lead
- Nickel
- Cyanide
Consuming these contaminants over a long period can cause health issues such as liver, kidney, and reproductive problems.
Reverse Osmosis Water Drains Your Body of Minerals
Contrary to some reports, reverse osmosis water does not and can not leach minerals from your body. The Water Quality Association (WQA) has concluded that water with low amounts of total dissolved solids (TDS) has no adverse effects on a person’s health.
Reverse Osmosis Wastes Water
During reverse osmosis, flushing or backwashing takes place to remove contaminants from the filters, prolonging their life. Since water can’t be destroyed, it’s not a waste. With responsible water management, you can avoid wasting water. While humans and animals shouldn’t consume the water used to flush a reverse osmosis filter, you can use it to clean or water plants.
A Water Softener Is Enough
A water softener’s job is to remove the hardness from the water, not to remove harmful chemicals and minerals. It also doesn’t improve the taste or smell of your water while a reverse osmosis system will.
A Refrigerator Filter is Enough
Water from a refrigerator filter only passes through one stage of filtration. And while refrigerator filters remove a decent amount of contaminants, a reverse osmosis water filter is more effective at removing chlorine and other minerals.
Boiled Water is as Pure as Reverse Osmosis Water
Boiled water does purify water to a certain extent. It kills viruses and bacteria, but it not only leaves, but can increase the concentration of contaminants such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and fluoride that a reverse osmosis system would eliminate.
Trust the Water in Your Home to the Water System Experts!
Reverse osmosis is an excellent filtration system to provide fresh, clean drinking water in your home. And while it may sound complex, realizing that it’s simply a thin film in your water system that only lets pure water pass is much easier to understand.
The water system experts at Independent Water Service, Inc. have been providing drinking water solutions to homes and businesses throughout Central Washington since 1986. We are an EcoWater dealer, we offer a variety of drinking water solutions, and water softeners to provide you with the best-tasting, cleanest water possible.
In addition, our water experts can test your water and give you recommendations on which system best suits your needs. Don’t keep wondering what’s in your water. Instead, schedule your FREE water test today.