Over the past few decades, we have seen an increase in the popularity of bottled water and it now competes with soda in many areas. Annual sales of bottled water are nearly $15 billion, and this may not be the best choice for our health or bank balance. Staying hydrated is important, but the advertised benefits of bottled water tend to be restricted to very highly priced brands. Many bottled waters offer no more than the water that you receive from a faucet in your home, and they are a waste of money. In this article, we will take a closer look at reverse osmosis (RO) water which we believe to be a better option.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
RO filtration is a multi-stage and mechanical filter process that cleans incoming water to a very high standard. No chemicals are added during this process, and there are usually four filter stages: a pre-filter, a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter, the RO filter membrane, and a final GAC filter stage to make the water palatable. At the heart of this system is the RO semi-permeable filter membrane, which has very tiny pores. The incoming water is placed under pressure and forced through the membrane filter. The contaminants are left behind on the surface, and the water molecules pass through. This process takes some time, so the cleaned water is stored in a tank for later use. Many people install a point-of-use RO filter at their kitchen sink to get cleaner water for drinking, making beverages, cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, and other tasks. RO filtration removes a wide range of contaminants, including chlorine, lead, arsenic, and much more.
Why is RO Water Superior to Bottle Water?
The main reason that people buy bottled water is the convenience, but this comes at a price because a lot of plastic is used to make the bottles. As we mentioned earlier, the health benefits of most popular bottled water are insignificant, and this makes RO superior. Why? Well, RO water is filtered at home, it’s much cheaper than bottled water, and there is no need to store bottles of water. Another key advantage is that RO water can be used for other tasks to improve your health. The main drawback is convenience when you need to hydrate on the go, but this problem is easy to solve. Investing in one or two reusable water bottles means that you can decant RO water into them and carry them with you.
Does RO Water Taste Stale?
This is a matter of taste. It is true that some people don’t like the taste of RO water. But, what they are tasting is the actual water molecules and not the salts and other minerals found in tap and bottled water. This is easy to overcome if you add a little pink salt or fruit juice, or other flavors to the water to make RO taste better.
If you want to install a RO filtration system in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.
By EcoWater Systems.
EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is the largest water treatment company in the state and is a member of Water Quality Association.