Reverse osmosis water filter has rapidly become a buzzword in the bottled industry. It is so popular that many companies producing drinking water employ the byword as a corporate tagline.

Question number one: How much do you really know about reverse osmosis filter?

Question number two: Is it really effective in giving us balance and ideally clean water?

Let us try to evaluate these questions and try to provide you the seemingly elusive answers.

What is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis is a filtration technique where water is forced by extreme pressure to pass through a permeable membrane. First, apparently dirty source water is treated. Later, the still unclean particles is mechanically forced to pass through a membrane whereas the solvents are trapped by the membrane and the solute, in the form of ultra clean water, passes through.

Technically, there are varying stages required before the product output is certified as fit for human consumption. A sediment filter is initially used to eliminate dissolved solids in the untreated water. A secondary sediment filter may be used to further get rid particles with smaller sizes. Activated carbon filter and ultraviolet lamp are subsequently used to eradicate organic chemicals, elements and microorganisms.

Reverse osmosis produces completely demineralized water. Many companies call this as pure drinking water. But is this the ideal drinking water we genuinely aspire and need?

The answer is no.

Our body has been designed to take in trace elements naturally found in normal drinking sources. Drinking water must be able to retain the calcium, magnesium and phosphorus elements naturally dissolved in our drinking water. Unfortunately, reverse osmosis water filter is so effective that it completely gets rid of everything in the water. It produces thoroughly demineralized water. What are then the risks involved with this technique?

Why reverse osmosis does not serve its purpose in providing us quality and safe water?

Continued consumption of demineralized drinking water will eventually lead to mineral deficiencies. Reverse osmosis water filter deprives us of the many elements nature has intended us to acquire from drinking water. Likewise, water produced using reverse osmosis has a much higher acidity level, with ph level normally reaching below seven. This is because the water output contains more hydrogen.

Having realized that, the next move now is to find the right kind of water filter that answers not just this issue but all other issues confronting any practical and wise consumer like you.

When buying a water filter, consider its optimal performance. You can find this in the Performance Data Sheet. It tells you what specific contaminants it is certified to remove. It also informs you the extent these contaminants are actually removed. This also explains why water filters are far better than bottled water type since the latter is not highly regulated. In fact, the US Food and Drugs Administration only requires that bottled water should be of the same quality as your tap water.

You also need to consider the price, installation costs, convenience to operate and maintenance.

Every one needs to have easy and convenient access to a water filtering system that delivers the highest performance rating. We should all strive to acquire that. Meantime, you better stop utilizing reverse osmosis water filter.