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Let’s face it: The water quality in our public water systems has deteriorated in many areas of the US in the last decades. Some causes being soil pollution from agricultural fertilizers that trickle into the groundwater, the increasing use of everyday pharmaceuticals and others chemicals, and the disposal of waste into surface waters which brings pathogenic organic contamination.
The simplest way of protecting yourself from possible health issues caused by drinking water contamination is to install a reverse osmosis system in your home.
Which is the best reverse osmosis system for home use? This page is all about reverse osmosis system reviews. Also, you will learn what to look for in a quality ro system and what to avoid.
Best Reverse Osmosis Systems for Home Use – Comparison
| System | Image | Price | Our Rating | Filter Stages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEC Essence ROES-50 |  | $$ | 4.8 | 5 | Check Price |
| iSpring RCC7AK |  | $$ | 4.6 | 6 | Check Price |
| Home Master TMAFC-ERP |  | $$$$ | 4.9 | 7 | Check Price |
| APEC Supreme Ultimate RO-90 |  | $$$ | 4.7 | 5 | Check Price |
| iSpring RCC7 |  | $$ | 4.7 | 5 | Check Price |
| Watts Premier RO-Pure |  | $$$ | 3.9 | 4 | Check Price |
| Home Master TMHP HydroPerfection |  | $$$$ | 4.8 | 9 | Check Price |
| Express Water ROALK5D |  | $$ | 4.9 | 10 | Check Price |
| APEC Essence ROES-PH75 |  | $$$ | 4.7 | 6 | Check Price |
| Ecosoft Premium |  | $$ | 4.9 | 5 | Check Price |
What to Know Before You Buy
While the price of a product is often correlated with its quality, there’s more to choosing the right reverse osmosis system than just buying the most expensive model. There are a few things to look out for when you’re examining your options.
NSF-Certified Filtration
NSF certifications are one thing not to ignore. The FDA also tests certain reverse osmosis filters, but NSF certifications are considered the standard in the water filtration arena. Of all the certifications possible, these are the ones to look out for:
- NSF Standard 53 (the most important): Have you ever heard of VOCs? Short for volatile organic compounds, Standard 53 ensures that water filters remove these and other contaminants, like certain heavy metals, that can harm you.
- NSF Standard 58: A standard made especially for reverse osmosis systems. RO systems are expected to generate unprecedented levels of purity in comparison to other types of filters, so Standard 58 checks to make sure each model meets the minimum requirements for contaminant reduction. This includes lead, nitrates, fluoride, radium, TDS, …
- NSF Standard 42: Covers the reduction of chlorine that isn’t necessarily detrimental to health, but negatively impacts the flavor and scent of your water.
- NSF Standard 401: Some chemicals are present in our water supplies but the EPA hasn’t had a chance to evaluate them yet. Standard 401 evaluates the reduction of these compounds – better safe than sorry!
All of the above standards except Standard 401 also cover the structural integrity and safety of the materials used in a water filter.
The Number of Filtration Stages
In many reverse osmosis systems, you’ll notice labels like “4-stage filtration”. This just refers to how many layers of treatment the water passes through. Five is even better! In practice, that will look something like this:
- Sediment pre-filter: To get rid of the largest particles of dirt and debris.
- Carbon pre-filter: Rids water of contaminants like chlorine and some heavy metals, plus improving flavor.
- Carbon pre-filter: Catches any of the larger contaminants that were missed in Stage 2.
- RO membrane: Rejects up to 99% of all impurities – even the smallest ones!
- Carbon post-filter: Finishes off the process by leaving a fresh taste.
This list is just an example, and the exact filtration process used will vary slightly by model. All will have the ro membrane, however.
Installation and Maintenance Expenses
If you’re comfortable with basic plumbing tasks, ro systems are simple enough to install yourself. While we don’t recommend choosing a unit purely based on the ease of installation, it’s always a pro if you can save a little by avoiding a plumber.
The second expense to consider before purchasing a reverse osmosis system is the pricing of filter cartridge and ro membrane replacements. The prices vary by model, and some cartridges are easier to replace than others. A few under sink reverse osmosis systems built with a modular design allow you to throw out the entire housing when it’s time to replace the filters; much easier, more convenient, and a bit cleaner, but also more expensive.
Wasted Water
This one is less something to look out for and more something to be aware of. The unfortunate reality is that all reverse osmosis water filter systems waste water.
Under Sink Reverse Osmosis System Reviews – Everything You Need to Know About Our Favorite Models
To save you some of the headache of painstakingly picking through filtration options and reviews, we’ve put together a list of some of the best. The following reviews cover ro systems to fit every need and budget.
1. APEC Reverse Osmosis Reviews: Top Tier Essence ROES-50 5-Stage System
The Good
APEC or Advanced Purification Engineering Corp. is one of the leading manufacturers of residential reverse osmosis drinking water filtration systems in the US. The company is WQA certified, based in California, and looks back at more than 20 years of industry experience.
Like all other ro models sold by APEC Water Systems, the Top Tier Essence ROES-50 removes up to 99% of water contaminants such as arsenic, lead, and chlorine. When drinking the filtered water, you’ll notice that there is no aftertaste at all! The 3 filter elements need replacement about every 6 months, at affordable cost. The ro membrane lasts 2-3 years.
The overall quality is good. And most importantly the system is Made in USA.
The installation instructions are easy to follow. However, if you experience any problems during the setup process or while running the reverse osmosis system, feel free to call APEC’s customer support with real US technicians on the other end of the line. This alone makes handling any occurring problems so much easier and time saving.
The not so Good
We read about leaks due to cheap plastic fittings which might require replacement at additional costs.
Another concern is that we couldn’t find a single NSF certification. While this doesn’t necessarily mean the manufacturer’s claims are inaccurate, we would be happier if this model had been tested to more rigorous standards.
Bottom Line
The APEC Essence ROES-50 reverse osmosis system is difficult to beat for such a low price. While it can’t touch higher end filters, it still provides excellent filtration and is our favorite budget option.
Check Price on Amazon
2. iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage RO Drinking Water System with Alkaline Remineralization
The Good
iSpring Water Systems LLC is a family-owned company located in Alpharetta, Georgia. For over a decade, iSpring has specialized in designing the best reverse osmosis systems available on the market.
The RCC7AK 6-stage under sink system filters water fast before remineralizing it by adding calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium to balance pH-levels. Thus, the processed water not only tastes great, it also benefits your health.
Written DIY installation instructions come with quick fitting connections and color-coordinated tubing, and even a video. All you need are tools including a wrench, scissors and some Teflon sealer. If that is not enough, you can always rely on iSpring’s superb customer support readily available if needed.
The inexpensive replacement filter elements are standardized and can be purchased directly from factory. By the way, if you notice a trace of water inside your newly acquired system, this only proves that iSpring has tested it for quality control before shipping it to you.
The not so Good
- This time we found an NSF Standard 58 certification, but it only covers VOC and TDS reduction. Other than that, the seller provides a partial list of impurities that all iSpring reverse osmosis systems are supposed to remove. Included are aluminum (97-98%), fluoride (94-96%), protozoa (99%), giardia (99%), asbestos (99%), herbicides (97%), lead (96-98%), cadmium (96-98%), nitrate (93-96%), sulphite (96-98%), and chromium (96-98%) among others.
- Occasionally, customers have reported products arriving damaged and issues with leakage.
- Depending on the amount of water you use every day, filter replacement needs to be done more frequently. Some customers say they need to replace the filters every quarter to ensure proper system functionality.
Bottom Line
The iSpring RCC7 is another good choice for those on a budget, especially considering the affordable filter replacements. It’s not the best on our list, but it still gets the job done with an impressively low price tag.
Check Price on Amazon
3. Top Rated Reverse Osmosis System: Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian Full Contact
The Good
It’s hard not to like the Home Master TMAFC-ERP under sink ro system with its 7 stages of filtration removing up to 99% of water contaminants and adding healthy minerals after the purification process.
Why remineralization? Because ro water is naturally a little acidic and lacking in essential minerals, so the TMAFC-ERP includes a stage boosting your water with calcium and magnesium.
Home Master (former Tap Master) is a brand owned by Perfect Water Technologies, an American manufacturing company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, which was found in 2002. The company is known for its fantastic customer service.
The TMAFC-ERP reverse osmosis system comes with a built-in non-electric permeate pump to reduce water wastage by up to 80% (1-1.5 gallons wasted instead of the average 3-5 gallons per one gallon of purified water produced) and increase water production by up to 50%. So yes, the pump saves you money and makes the system more efficient with a faster flow rate to the faucet.
Further advantages:
- This ro system generates enough water for families of all sizes, and it makes water taste great!
- Maintenance is only required once a year. The TMAFC-ERP also has a modular design, so when it’s time for filter replacement it’s easy as pie. This also avoids the buildup of unwanted bacteria and other germs.
- When you buy it, everything needed for setup comes in the box, including all required adapters. You’ll also receive a simplified user manual, and there are additional video tutorials on YouTube if you run into any challenges during installation.
- The ro system is Made in USA.
The not so Good
It’s hard to find something to complain about on this one, but we always like to see more NSF certifications.
Bottom Line
If you’re ready to buy and don’t want to spend much time browsing, you can’t go wrong with the Home Master TMAFC-ERP reverse osmosis system. Expect outstanding quality and an efficient filtration unit backed by 5 years limited warranty. The Home Master TMAFC-ERP might very well be the best ro system for home use in the upper price class.
Check Price on Amazon
4. APEC Supreme Ultimate RO-90 High Flow Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System
The Good
It’s hard for us to imagine needing this many gallons of water in a single day, but if high water flow is your primary concern, APEC’s Supreme Ultimate RO-90 high flow reverse osmosis water filter system – 100% Made in USA – is the way to go.
It produces fresh, clean drinking water about twice as quickly as most reverse osmosis systems. What will the different filter elements and ro membrane take out of your water? 99% of the overall contaminants, although details remain unspecified (one lab test has shown that the system removes fluoride at 97.7 percent).
The first filter stage features a polypropylene sediment cartridge that removes dust, particles and rust. Second and third stage use an extruded carbon block to remove chemicals like chlorine, tastes, odors and cloudiness. The following forth stage is the reverse osmosis membrane where the majority of impurities are rejected. Stage five uses coconut shell refining carbon to eliminate residual tastes from the water tank.
Under sink system installation is a breeze and doesn’t require help from a professional. Filter replacement costs are quite affordable, and should only need changing about once a year unless you have very hard water.
The not so Good
- Some customers mentioned an unpleasant taste, and the system has occasionally stopped working out of the blue.
- System lacks important NSF certifications.
Bottom Line
APEC’s Ultimate RO-90 is great at one thing: speed. Aside from that, this product stands out for being exceptionally well received by Amazon customers.
Check Price on Amazon
5. iSpring RCC7 75 GPD Reverse Osmosis System
The Good
The iSpring RCC7 reverse osmosis system is identical to the RCC7AK above, only that it lacks the additional remineralization stage.
We have sufficient permeate output even for larger households. Thereby the system removes more than 1,000 pollutants, says iSpring.
In a test conducted in Las Vegas, the iSpring RCC7 was able to reduce TDS in tap water by 95%, from 506 to 25 parts per million, showing that it works effectively under real-life conditions.
The installation process is easy to follow with additional videos and technical support readily available.
Replacement filter elements are inexpensive.
The not so Good
- iSpring has written only one instruction manual for both UV- and non UV-systems. Keep that in mind when installing to not get confused on where the hoses connect.
- Again, no NSF certifications, only a general list of rejected contaminants included in the product manual – check the first iSpring review at the top.
- Occasionally, customers have reported products arriving damaged and issues with leakage.
- Depending on the amount of water you use every day, filter replacement needs to be done more frequently. Some customers say they need to replace every quarter to ensure proper system functionality.
Bottom Line
Although the iSpring RCC7 has its flaws, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. Plenty of reviews show that the reverse osmosis system is reliable and of good quality.
Check Price on Amazon
6. Watts Premier 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Purification Unit
The Good
We want to offer you the best under sink reverse osmosis water filter reviews. Thus we check a wide range of models from many different manufacturers. So let’s take a look at the 4-stage ro system from Watts Premier, a manufacturer we haven’t had the chance to examine yet:
Premier was founded in 1989 and later acquired by Watts Water Technologies, Inc.. Watts Premier is now just one of Watts multiple brands with headquarters located in Peoria, Arizona.
Most importantly, the RO-Pure 4-stage system is NSF certified for a change. It has been tested according to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for the reduction of these substances and others:
- Arsenic (pentavalent) 99.6%
- Chromium (pentavalent) 99.0%
- Fluoride 97.0%
- Lead 98.8%
- Cysts 99.99%
- Perchlorate 97.9%
- Radium 226/228 80.0%
The 5-micron sediment and carbon block pre-filters and the reverse osmosis membrane also filter out chemicals and solids that make your water taste and smell unnatural.
A faucet with a built-in electronic monitor lets you know when it’s time to change the filters, a convenient solution for the forgetful folks. When replacing, there is no need to turn off the water supply due to the built-in shut-off valve.
The not so Good
Problems with leaks have caused dissatisfaction among customers. The Watts Premier support offers a wide range of possible solutions, making you go through many different steps even though it might be obvious that the water filtration system has simply failed. Then the 3-year warranty doesn’t help either.
Bottom Line
Watts Premier’s RO-Pure reverse osmosis system would be a frontrunner, if there wasn’t the permanent danger of leakage. We have no other choice but to recommend you opt for a different water filter that is guaranteed to run smoothly.
Check Price on Amazon
7. Home Master TMHP HydroPerfection – Best RO System for Well Water, Price: Expensive
The Good
The Home Master TMHP HydroPerfection under sink reverse osmosis system is very similar to the Home Master TMAFC, with the exception of a few very useful upgrades.
It includes an iron pre-filter and, more excitingly, it comes with UV purification sterilizing 99.99% of microorganisms – both a big plus for treating well water. In total, water has to pass through 9 different stages of filtration before it’s ready to come out of the faucet.
The TMHP HydroPerfection also comes with the non-electric permeate pump for higher water flow and reduced wastage, disposable filter housings for fast replacements and less risk of leakage, and clear installation instructions.
The warranty is great, and so are the customer reviews. NSF Standard: 42.
The not so Good
Again, we would love to see more NSF certifications. The unit is also slightly more costly to keep up because of the additional filtration stages to replace.
Bottom Line
Of all the ro systems on our list, this is as close as it gets to all inclusivity. It suits both city and well water, and it includes about everything there is to include in a reverse osmosis system. The Home Master TMHP HydroPerfection is highly recommended, as long as you don’t mind shelling out a pretty penny for it.
Check Price on Amazon
8. Express Water ROALK5D 10-Stage Reverse Osmosis Filtration System with Remineralization Water Filter
The Good
Express Water headquarters are based in southern California. The company has been in the water treatment industry for more than 25 years. All Express Water products are backed and supported by professional technical support also based in the US.
The Express Water ROALK5D reverse osmosis system is the only 10-stage filtration unit we’ve come across. 99% removal of water contaminants is what the manufacturer claims on the website. In a test from April 2017, the ROALK5D was able to reduce total dissolved solids from 245 ppm to 24 ppm. The test shows that the unit not only works efficiently, but also effectively.
All parts are 100% lead-free. Additional filter stages add essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium benefiting your health.
Labeled quick connections and colored caps support you in assembling the system. Labeled housings make filter replacements straightforward.
An emergency leak detector is included.
The not so Good
Leaks can occur, so take care when you first begin using the system. You’ll likely need to spend some time sealing off problem areas. Filters also need to be replaced more often than some other models, but they’re inexpensive so we don’t consider this a deal-breaker.
It says “Certified by an independent laboratory to NSF standard 58”, but that’s about as much information as we get.
Bottom Line
The Express Water ROALK5D 10-stage ro water filter system is another cheap option that does offer adequate filtration, but don’t expect a perfect product at this price point.
Check Price on Amazon
9. APEC Essence ROES-PH75 Alkaline Mineral 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis System
The Good
The APEC Essence ROES-PH75 reverse osmosis system shares its features with the Essence ROES-50 with one exception; instead of 5 filter stages, the Essence ROES-PH75 features a 6th stage, balancing pH-levels and improving alkalinity.
The extra stage adds calcium carbonate to the filtered water. APEC uses US-made food-grade minerals from trusted sources only.
Sharing features means that the ro system
- Is assembled in the United States
- Makes more than enough water for large families
- Removes up to 99% of contaminants providing crystal clear drinking water
- Is DIY-friendly to install, and APEC is happy to help if you run into any roadblocks
Once installed, be careful to not start using the water right away. Follow the manual telling you how long water needs to flow through the system to allow for proper flushing.
The not so Good
What’s the deal with great filters missing NSF certifications? We hope they’ll add this later on. Not everyone loves the taste of alkaline water, either.
Bottom Line
As far as our experience goes, there is not much to be criticized about the APEC Essence ROES-PH75. So instead let us give credit where it is due: The reviews for this reverse osmosis filter system are awesome, and it’s easy to see why. Though it’s not perfect, it’s a solid, middle of the road choice.
Check Price on Amazon
10. Cheap Reverse Osmosis System: Ecosoft Premium 5-Stage
The Good
If you are on the hunt for a cheap reverse osmosis system, the Ecosoft Premium 5-Stage might be just the right choice.
Ecosoft Water Professionals was established in 1991 and is now based in the Ukraine and Germany. Over the last decade, the enterprise has become one of the leading players for water purification technology production in Europe.
Ecosoft is best known for their unbeatable customer service that helps you out if you experience any problems installing one of their reverse osmosis systems. To guarantee trouble-free operation, all Ecosoft systems are put through a quality test before they’re sent to the customer. Also, filter material is BPA-free to protect your health.
The Ecosoft Premium 5-Stage ro system utilizes a US made and NSF certified Dow reverse osmosis membrane that removes up to 99% of water contaminants, such as lead, fluoride, copper and a large range of microorganisms. At the same time, calcium, magnesium and other healthy minerals are kept in the water. The unit provides you with pure H2O, saving you from having to buy bottled water which oftentimes contains plasticizers and other harmful substances.
The system comes with a chrome faucet, a 3.2-gallon water tank, and additional installation hardware. All of that and the system itself are backed up by a 30-day money back guarantee in case you are not satisfied, a 1-year full warranty, and a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
A recent test on a freshly installed Ecosoft Premium ro water filter unit showed TDS reduction from 250 to as low as 5 ppm. We also want to point out that installation instructions are straightforward and can be followed by any non-professional.
The not so Good
Mainly parts missing and leaks due to poor manufacturing.
Bottom Line
The Ecosoft Premium might not be the best ro system for home use. However, for a budget ro system the price is almost unbeatable.
Check Price on Amazon
If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, more detailed product reviews are awaiting you here:
The following guide addresses frequently asked questions and provides detailed information about reverse osmosis water filtration technology.
What Is Reverse Osmosis Water?
Before we discuss more complicated topics in our buying guide, let us begin with answering the simplest of all questions, What is reverse osmosis water?
Let’s recap. Osmosis describes the natural flow of a liquid or gas, for example water, through a semipermeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration. To illustrate:
Let’s say we have a tank with 2 solutions inside, separated by a semipermeable membrane – semipermeable meaning not all but only some substances, in our case water, can pass through it. Solution 1 has 3 ounces of table salt dissolved in it. Solution 2 contains 1 ounce. Water molecules will pass through the semipermeable membrane from solution 2 to solution 1 in order to balance salt concentrations in both liquids.
Reverse Osmosis describes the movement of molecules in the opposite direction. This can be achieved by applying external pressure on the high solute concentration side. What remains is purified water with little to no solutes on one side of the membrane and water with a high solute concentration on the other.
What is reverse osmosis (drinking) water? As the name suggests, ro water is water that was purified through reverse osmosis. Depending on the feed water and the filtration process, the filtered water may or may not be safe for human consumption. Some water that comes out of an ro system is suitable for gardening or to fill your fish tank, but that’s about it.
Where to Buy Reverse Osmosis Water
The best place to buy reverse osmosis water depends on the intended use. If you want to fill a fish tank, it’s probably best to go to your local aquatics retailer or some LFS. 1 gallon costs about 30 cents depending on how much water you need.
If you are looking for bottled drinking water, just go to Walmart or any other supermarket. They will have a broad range of brands selling tap water purified by reverse osmosis. Two examples are Aquafina and Dasani.
If your demand for filtered water is higher, it’s always an option to install a reverse osmosis purification system under your kitchen sink and do the filtration yourself. It is also more convenient than doing all the hauling, and you protect the environment since you are producing less plastic waste.
What Is a Reverse Osmosis Water System?
You know about osmosis and reverse osmosis. But what exactly is a reverse osmosis system and how does one work?
To reverse the natural flow of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane you need to apply external pressure. This is what a residential ro under sink system does. It utilizes the pressure in your home’s water system to push water molecules through the membrane, leaving up to 99 percent of all contaminants behind.
But the membrane at the heart of an ro unit is not the only filtration stage the water has to pass through. All residential ro filtration systems that we know of feature at least 1 additional pre-filter stage and usually 1 post-filter. These stages eliminate rust, sand, dirt and other coarse impurities, remove taste and odors, filter out chemicals and some heavy metals, and may even add minerals back into the water for improved flavor and optimal pH. Long story short, a reverse osmosis system is much more than just a membrane and a tank.
What Does Reverse Osmosis Remove from Water
What does reverse osmosis remove from water? This question is asked time and time again. The correct answer would be that it depends. It depends on the ro system you’ve purchased and on which additional filtration stages it has and how well they work. It also depends on the age and condition of the filter elements and the membrane. It even depends on the water fed to the system. Some pollutants are simply harder to remove than others.
Some substances that can be removed by reverse osmosis alone*
Ions and Metals:
- Arsenic, Aluminum
- Barium
- Cadmium, Calcium, Chloride, Chromium, Copper
- Fluoride
- Iron
- Lead
- Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury
- Nitrate
- Potassium
- Radium
- Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Sulfate
- Zinc
Particles:
- Asbestos
- Protozoan Cysts
- Cryptosporidium
Pesticides:
- Endrin
- Heptachlor
- Lindane
- Pentachlorophenol
Substances that cannot be removed by reverse osmosis alone*
Dissolved Gases:
- Hydrogen Sulfide
Other Pesticides and Solvents and Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
The following is a list of contaminants that activated carbon filters, which are commonly used in conjunction with an ro membrane, help to remove.
Some substances that activated carbon filters can remove*
Ions and Metals:
- Chlorine
- Radon
Organic Chemicals:
- Benzen1
- Carbon Tetrachloride
- Dichlorobenzene
- Toluene, Trichloroethylene, Total Trihalomethanes (THMs)
Pesticides:
- 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
- 2,4-D, Atrazine
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Fluoride?
As part of their experiment, Bruce Dvorak and Sharon Skipton from the University of Nebraska analyzed the ability of an ro system to remove fluoride from water. They found that reverse osmosis systems do remove fluoride. Unfortunately Dvorak and Skipton did not specify to what extent fluoride was removed in their testing. What they pointed out was that a system’s ability to remove contaminants always depends on its condition.
If you want to remove fluoride from your water at home but don’t know how, this will help:
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Chlorine?
As a gas, chlorine is so small that it simply passes through a semipermeable reverse osmosis membrane. If you still want to remove it from your water, make sure to buy an ro system that features activated carbon. The Dvorak/Skipton experiment has proven that activated carbon eliminates chlorine effectively.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Sodium (Salt)?
Yes, it does. Compared to other substances sodium gets removed to an exceptional high degree, too.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Lead?
The experiment has also shown that a reverse osmosis filtration unit is able to remove lead.
If you need help with removing lead from your water, read this:
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Bacteria?
RO systems remove fluoride, chlorine, sodium, lead and so much more, but do they also remove bacteria? Yes! Obviously there are many different bacterial strains that can be found in our waters, but since bacteria is much, much larger than chlorine or fluoride, it’s easily rejected by an ro membrane, standing no chance of passing through to the other side.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Iron?
It does, although reverse osmosis is not intended to remove iron at high concentrations. This is because the delicate membrane would clog in a second when used on raw well water. Pre-treated well water can be processed with a reverse osmosis system, though.
If you need help with removing iron from well water, read this:
Reverse Osmosis and Water Wastage
The standard reverse osmosis system for home use wastes quite a lot of water. To be precise, an average of 75-80% goes down the drain. It’s possible to repurpose the water and use it for gardening or cleaning, but be aware that it holds an even higher concentration of impurities – make sure to not drink it!
Why so Much Waste?
We have to remember that reverse osmosis depends on external pressure. The pressure forces the water to pass through the ro membrane, leaving all impurities behind. But lead, fluoride and pesticides don’t just vanish. They are flushed out of the system via a second water line usually connected to the kitchen drain. This is how water is wasted.
The good news, the higher the pressure, the more water will make it through the membrane to the other side. The amount of wastewater decreases. If the pressure in your home is insufficient, you may want to purchase a small pump for up to 80+ percent higher efficiency. The Home Master TMAFC-ERP is a great example for a reverse osmosis system that has a pump included in the package.
Is Reverse Osmosis Water Safe to Drink?
Why RO Water Is Good for You
- Most importantly, ro water is free from contaminants that pollute our water supplies. Even in the United States, tap and well water quality has deteriorated in the last decades. Soil pollution, increased use of pharmaceuticals, and waste disposal are only three of many reasons why the quality is not as it used to be.
- RO water tastes fresh, and it’s far more likely that you drink more of it and stay hydrated.
- As soon as you have a water purification system installed in your home, there’s no need to buy bottled water ever again. It’s an easy way to save money and all upfront costs will be covered fast.
- Buying no more bottled water also means using less plastic bottles. If you rely 100% on filtered tap/well water, you can reduce your ecological footprint.
- Reverse osmosis is an established technology. The food industry has been using it for years and years. Many bottled water companies also use the technology to process their water.
- RO is 100% mechanical, meaning no artificial chemicals are used. No chemicals, no potential harm.
- Ice cubes made with purified ro water are crystal clear. How about surprising your friends with a delicious cocktail this weekend?
Also check out the following infographic summarizing The 7 Benefits Of Residential RO Water Purifiers:
Why RO Water Is Bad for Your Health
- There’s one adverse aspect about ro filtered water and that is the lack of essential minerals and ions which are lost during filtration. Calcium is one of these minerals. Our daily requirement is covered by drinking water by up to 20%. The remaining 80% we obtain through our food. If you want to make sure that you compensate those 20%, you can simply add calcium and other minerals back into your water by using an electrolyte blend for example. However, some systems like the iSpring RCC7AK already have a built-in remineralization stage that provides calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium.
The Takeaway
Reverse osmosis systems are among the best out there for providing your home with safe, tasty water to cook with and drink. You usually get what you pay for, with the higher end options doing a significantly better job of filtration than the cheapest available. The middle of the road options strike a good balance between affordability and quality, and even the low-priced options on our list are well-worth purchasing until you can save up for your dream filter.
Questions? If you want to know more about a specific model, need installation tips, or have a favorite reverse osmosis system you’d like to share with us, please comment below!
If your thirst for knowledge is still not quenched, you might want to do some further reading:
*Source: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5348&context=extensionhist
