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The human body is composed of 60% water. It is therefore no surprise that the quality of drinking water is very important for our health. There are countless water filtration and treatment systems on the market, some of which are at least controversial. One such system is the so-called reverse osmosis, also known as nanofiltration or membrane filtration. Find out what these filters are used for, why the water produced in this way is definitely not drinkable, and what are the correct methods of treating drinking water.
Reverse osmosis, as the name of this device suggests, is a water filter that works on the principle of reversing the physical phenomenon of osmosis. These filters have an extremely fine membrane, with pore sizes of only 0.0001 microns, which is smaller than a millionth of a millimetre. Such a membrane allows only water molecules to pass through, while all other substances are trapped by the membrane.
So how does reverse osmosis work? During normal osmosis, demineralised water (i.e., pure H2O) would tend to move across the membrane into regular water, i.e., water with a higher concentration of substances. The reverse osmosis system applies pressure to the water with dissolved substances, causing the water to flow in the opposite direction. Thus, regular water containing a wide range of substances flows under pressure to the membrane, and only H2O without any impurities is left behind the membrane.
Sellers of reverse osmosis often offer these devices to households, promising them "absolutely pure water" or a "universal filter that solves all problems." Yes, reverse osmosis does indeed remove absolutely all substances from the water, which may sound great to laypeople. However, drinking water does not only contain harmful substances but also a number of minerals that are vital for humans. Drinking water deprived of these substances is therefore a proven health risk and is not recommended at all – water produced by reverse osmosis is not drinkable, and it does not even meet the legally established limits for the minimum content of certain substances in drinking water, as evidenced by the position of the National Institute of Public Health and other experts.
Moreover, when cooking with such treated water, many more minerals are "boiled out" of the food, further reducing the daily intake of these substances. Water from reverse osmosis is therefore not suitable even for food preparation.
Some devices operating on the basis of reverse osmosis also have an additional "remineralisation" function for osmotic water, but replenishing minerals in this way is more symbolic and cannot replace drinking regular water.
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Consumption of water from reverse osmosis causes a number of very serious health problems. This water is not drinkable.
Demineralised water is essentially distilled water, i.e., pure H2O. With its long-term consumption, the human body suffers from a lack of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other substances, which negatively manifests in a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.
Additionally, water from reverse osmosis damages the intestinal lining and depletes bones of calcium, disrupts human metabolism, and leads to an increased risk of toxic effects from heavy metals. This water poses an extreme risk to pregnant women, where it can severely harm the fetus and cause neurodegenerative disorders and other pregnancy complications.
If you have doubts about the quality of your water, the first step is to have a professional analysis conducted. Only this will tell you the whole truth about what contaminants your water contains. With the results of the analysis, consult an expert who will propose a suitable solution for water filtration and treatment. Never rely on sellers who offer you a solution without knowing the water analysis. There is no universal solution, and home drinking water filtration must always be custom-designed.
In general, contaminants in water can be divided into 3 categories:
Mechanical impurities, such as sand, rust fragments, and other particles. These impurities do not pose a risk to your health but clog pipes and appliances. It is therefore advisable to remove them with a water filter with a sieve. Mechanical impurity filters are an integral part of home water systems if you draw water from your own sources.
Dissolved chemical and organic substances, such as chlorine and other disinfectants, as well as fertilizers, chemicals from industry and transport, drug residues, heavy metals, etc. In the case of such contamination, it is really necessary to focus on a water treatment plant that can handle the specific type of impurities. Most often (but not always), an activated carbon filter is used, which removes most dissolved substances, odour, and turbidity from the water, in addition to disinfectants. Unlike reverse osmosis, activated carbon does not trap minerals, so the water is crystal clear and has the ideal ratio of all vital elements.
Biological contamination in the form of bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms poses a health risk to humans and is commonly found in water from private sources. In the case of water from waterworks, the risk of contamination is minimal but not completely excluded. The solution is water disinfection. If you do not want to worsen the quality of the water with chemical disinfection, you can choose a much healthier and more ecological disinfection using special UV lamps.
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The method of water filtration and treatment must be designed by an expert based on an independent analysis of water from an accredited laboratory.
In conclusion, it must be said that reverse osmosis has its practical uses, but not in households. This system was originally developed for desalinating seawater in areas with a shortage of fresh water sources. Reverse osmosis is still used for these purposes today.
Water filtered by reverse osmosis is also used in industry as technical water or as laboratory water in chemical laboratories and in the production of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, this water can be used, for example, in car radiators and some appliances, such as humidifiers and steam irons, where it prevents the formation of limescale. Reverse osmosis is sometimes used in aquaristics and in the treatment of industrial wastewater.
Water produced by so-called reverse osmosis has the properties of distilled water and is not drinkable. However, it finds use in some industrial sectors. To improve water quality at home, use only filters and water treatment systems recommended by an expert based on an independent analysis of drinking water.
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