Reverse Osmosis is undoubtedly the most popular and effective way to purify drinking water. This method removes impurities like salts and toxic metals ensuring the water is safe to drink. However with RO systems, the concern is if along with toxic metals and minerals, are essential minerals being removed? To answer this let’s first understand what reverse osmosis is and what minerals it removes and how to make sure your drinking water has the essential minerals.
How Does RO Water Purification Work?
Reverse Osmosis (RO) purification is a multi-stage filtration process aimed to remove impurities from water. The various filtration steps involved here include:
- Pre-Filtration: In the first step, water is passed through sediment and carbon filters to remove larger particles like dirt, sand, and chlorine, which could damage the RO membrane.
- Semi-Permeable Membrane: Here, water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that filters out contaminants including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and dissolved salts.
- Post-Filtration: The final carbon filter removes any bad smell or taste.
Does RO Water Have Minerals?
Standard RO systems remove up to 95-99% of minerals. However, many modern RO purifiers include a mineralizer or TDS controller that reintroduces essential minerals into the purified water, balancing safety with health benefits.
What Minerals are Typically Removed by RO Systems?
Here’s a closer look at the minerals typically removed during RO purification and their significance:
Minerals Removed by RO Systems:
- Calcium:
- Plays a vital role in bone health, muscle function, and nerve signaling.
- Magnesium:
- Essential for over 300 biochemical reactions, including energy production and muscle relaxation.
- Fact: Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle cramps and fatigue.
- Potassium:
- Regulates fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals.
- Did You Know? Potassium is critical for heart health and can lower blood pressure naturally.
- Sodium:
- Maintains fluid balance and is essential for nerve and muscle function.
- Excess sodium is harmful, but trace amounts are necessary for hydration.
- Zinc:
- Crucial for immune function, wound healing, and DNA synthesis.
- Zinc deficiency can impair taste and smell!
- Copper:
- Supports iron absorption and contributes to red blood cell formation.
Health Implications of Mineral Removal
While RO water is extremely pure, the lack of these essential minerals can make it less beneficial for health. Minerals like calcium and magnesium contribute to stronger bones, better hydration, and improved metabolic functions.
Drinking demineralized water over time may affect bone density, electrolyte balance, and overall well-being. However, some advanced systems, like Lustral Water's purifiers, reintroduce beneficial minerals post-filtration to ensure the water remains both safe and nutritious.
The Pros and Cons of RO Water
Pros:
- Removes Contaminants
- Improves Taste
- Reduces Health Risks
- Suitable for Varied Sources
Cons:
- Strips Essential Minerals
- Wastes Water
- Requires Maintenance
- Cost
Advanced Technology to the Rescue
Modern RO purifiers, like those from Lustral Water, address these concerns by using smart AI-driven and IoT-enabled systems. These systems reintroduce essential minerals after purification, ensuring a balance between safety and nutrition.
|
Feature |
RO Water |
Mineral Water |
|
Contaminant Removal |
Eliminates heavy metals, chlorine, bacteria |
Varies; may not remove all impurities |
|
Mineral Content |
Stripped of essential minerals |
Retains natural minerals |
|
Taste |
Neutral and clean |
Naturally enhanced |
|
Cost |
Initial setup is high; low ongoing cost |
Higher recurring cost for bottled water |
|
Eco-Impact |
Produces wastewater |
Environmentally unfriendly if bottled |
How to Add Minerals to RO Water
- Use mineral cartridges: These are compatible with most RO systems and gradually release essential minerals like calcium and magnesium into the purified water.
- Add mineral drops: These are concentrated solutions containing trace minerals and can be easily added to drinking water in measured amounts.
- Install remineralization filters: These filters are often integrated with RO systems to add back beneficial minerals during the final stage of filtration.
- Ensure the methods are safe and high-quality, using products tested for health and safety standards to maintain a proper electrolyte balance.
Is RO Water Safe to Drink Without Minerals?
Yes, drinking RO water is generally safe because it effectively removes harmful contaminants like heavy metals and pathogens. However, the absence of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium can be a concern if the diet doesn't compensate for this loss. Over time, long-term consumption of demineralized water might lead to deficiencies, potentially affecting hydration, bone health, and metabolic processes.
To ensure a balance between purity and health, advanced purification systems like Lustral Water’s smart purifiers optimize mineral levels in the water. This eliminates the need for additional remineralization while maintaining the benefits of RO purification. Alternatively, incorporating a mineral-rich diet alongside RO water can naturally address any potential gaps.
What Are the Alternatives to RO Water?
Alternatives to traditional RO systems include UV purifiers, carbon filters, and alkaline filters, each offering distinct benefits. UV purifiers kill harmful microorganisms without affecting mineral content, while carbon filters remove chlorine, pesticides, and some heavy metals but leave minerals intact. Alkaline filters not only purify water but also add minerals like calcium and magnesium, enhancing water’s pH balance for potential health benefits.
While the standalone process of RO filtration can remove essential minerals, with hybrid filters in modern water purifiers essential minerals are added back to the water making sure you are not missing out on the mineral goodness. To ensure this all you need to do is to make sure you are buying the right water purifier that comes with the option of remineralization.
