Reverse Osmosis systems were originally created to remove salt from water. The series of filters and the membrane which lies horizontally atop the filter canisters are highly effective in removing salt and most contaminants from your source water. The only downside to drinking Reverse Osmosis water is that it makes water acidic and it removes minerals that your body requires from the water. If you use a reverse osmosis system, it is important to replenish the lost minerals through your diet, or by taking supplements. I recommend a consultation with a nutritionist or naturopath to review your dietary intake if you are drinking reverse osmosis water.
Some Good News
At one time, I recommended that people should remove their Reverse Osmosis systems unless they had to use the system to remove salt from the water generated by a water softener. My opionion changed when Antioxidant Filters were introduced to the market in 2010.
When you use an Antioxidant Filter in-line with a Reverse Osmosis system, you get the best of both worlds. By that, I mean you get the brilliant decontamination benefits of the RO system and you get the wonderful remineralization benefits of the Antioxidant Filter. It is easy to understand the benefits of getting the bad stuff out of the water, but not so easy to understand the benefits of drinking mineral rich alkaline water. The bottom line is that water that has been filtered through an Antioxidant Filter is rich in free hydrogen, the ultimate antioxidant and the the building block of every cell in our bodies.
An Antioxidant Filter, with its ability to remove chlorine, chloramines, fluoride, and many other contaminants can be used on its own for many source water conditions. However, to get the “best of the best”, or when your source water has a heavy volume of contaminants or pesky “difficult to remove” contaminants, a combination of a RO system and an Antioxidant Filter would be my choice.
interesting stuff! care to post a link to the filter you are mentioning? I already bought a system on ebay but if I ever replace the remineralization filter I want to get the best one possible!
I was referring to the antioxidant filters. Right now, the Alkastream seems to be way out in front of the limited number of entries, but by the time you need something new, I expect there will be plenty to choose from.
The R.O system I have is a 5 stage, with a T33 filter for deoderising the water and correcting taste. The system as it stands claims to remove: Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Aluminium, Ammonium, Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Strontium, Cadmium, Silver, Mercury, Barium, Chromium, Lead, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Nitrate, Fluoride, Silicate, Thiosulfate, Ferro Cyanide, Bromide, Borate, Arsenic, Selenium.
AND Biological & Particulate Contaminants: Bacteria, Protozoa, Amoebic Cysts, Guardia, Asbestos & any Sediment
Are you saying that the antioxidant filter will remove additional compounds/bacteria etc?
Hi Gary:
The RO membrane removes all of the listed contaminants. The units typically have a “finishing filter” which is filled with GAC which removes taste and odour which can be picked up by the acidic water sitting in the holding tank. If you install a remin filter between the membrane and the tank, the water in the tank will be alkaline and will not likely develope the taste and odor like it would if the water was acidic.
Your water system should leave these vital minerals in your water,
Sodium,potassium,calcium and magnesium. If you don not get those minerals your body them takes from your system and your bones, which can lead to many medical problems. I highly suggest trying Kangen water.
Hi Gina:
The Kangen systems don’t add any of the Alkali metals that you noted into the water
Is an alkaline system still necessary with a re-min (antioxidant) filter?
Thanks
Hi Soamer:
The remin filter creates the ionization that allows for the formation of alkaline water. Therefore, you don’t need an electric water ionizer if you add a remineralization filter to any filter system.
Do you have any info or preference between the “iSpring 75GPD 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Alkaline Mineral Water Filter System” or the “Aquapurion Premium 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis System With Re-Mineralization Filter and 50 GPD Membrane”. All this RO and alkaline water is new to me and I feel a bit overwhelmed by all this info.
Thanks
Hi Soamer:
Although I like low prices, I wouldn’t buy either unit for myself. The fact that they charge under $40 for their remin filters tells me that they are using calcite or corosex remin filters which I believe can lead to the formation of kidney stones. They are also combining their remin filters with 5 stage RO systems that sell for $159. Dealers who buy cheap Chinese made 5 stage RO systems pay those prices. Once again, I would rather pay up and get something American made that uses quality materials.
If you are trying to get the best possible deal on a RO system that remineralizes properly, I would pick up a 5 stage RO system at a place like Home Depot where you can take it back if there is a problem and I would add a Vitev remin filter between the membrane and the holding tank. The filter costs $249 and lasts 2 years or about $10 per month. Being able to drink virtually an unlimited amount of clean healthy water that is safe has to be worth that much don’t you think?
Thanks for the insight and taking your time to look at those systems. I will check out both Home Depot and Lowes. Any systems that I can buy online that you would recommend?
Hi Soamer:
I really haven’t spent any significant amount of time investigating RO systems. They seem to fall in 4 categories. The first is the Chinese stuff available for about $150 that I wouldn’t buy myself. Another is the American made stuff that seems to sell in the $200 to $300 range (you will pay more if you hire a company to install it). The third is the specialty systems which range in price from Vitev’s $995 Ultra (my favorite in the category) to units that are in the $1,800 to $2,000 range. There is also a forth category that I would strongly recommend staying away from at that is the group of units that are sold by door to door salesmen for $3,000 to $4,000 which is insane because they are clearly not worth it.