RO Water Filtration: Pros and Cons

Reverse osmosis, or RO water filtration, was originally used in desalination plants, where salt is removed from sea water to create usable water. RO filters do a decent job there. Reverse osmosis treatment is also used in the printing industry. RO systems are extremely efficient at removing minerals from water, and they are highly valued in the water purification process for the printing industry, as water that is free of minerals must be used.

How do reverse osmosis water filter systems work and what does it do to water? It is used to remove large particles of dirt and minerals from water sources. RO can remove sand, minerals and stones as well as salt. For the most part, all groundwater contains some form of contaminants that are unhealthy for humans to ingest. What makes it difficult to grasp is that some of the contaminants cannot be smelled or tasted.

On the flip side, reverse osmosis has a laundry list of what it does not do. It does not remove chemicals or disinfect water. Although RO may be one step in a complete process, it should never be the only step if drinking water is to be made safe for human consumption.

Although some companies sell RO water filtration systems for use in the home, they are very expensive and do not provide a satisfactory amount of contaminant filtering. The only homes that truly need RO water filtration are those whose only water option is sea water. So this does supply some demand for reverse osmosis devices, but for most people, they are truly unnecessary.

Another problem with reverse osmosis filtration is wasted water. In this day and age of water being in short supply, reverse osmosis filtering wastes from three to five gallons of water for every one gallon of water that is cleaned. That is a dismal and inefficient record for sure.

As people have slowly begun to learn the truth, reverse osmosis devices are losing their appeal. Manufacturers still try to take advantage of the need for cleaner water by touting the RO water filtration as the most technologically advanced filtration system, but don't buy into the hype. There are many other water purifiers on the market today that are better.

There are many water filters to choose from today, from the Kohler Faucet K-200-NA to the Countertop Superior Water Filter System. Reading water filter reviews will help you choose the best model for your needs.