Reverse Osmosis Systems: Pros and Cons
Water Filtration
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the gold standard for drinking water purification. It forces water through a semi-permeable membrane so tight that only pure water molecules can pass through.
The Pros
- Ultimate Purity: Removes up to 99% of contaminants, including lead, fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, and bacteria.
- Better Taste: Produces water that tastes crisp and clean, perfect for coffee, tea, and cooking.
- Cost Savings: Eliminates the need to buy bottled water, saving the average family hundreds of dollars a year.
The Cons
- Water Waste: For every gallon of purified water produced, an RO system sends 3-4 gallons of 'brine' (waste water) down the drain.
- Slow Flow: The filtration process is slow, so it relies on a storage tank. If you drain the tank, you have to wait for it to refill.
- Mineral Removal: It removes everything, including healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium (though some modern systems add these back in).