RO Water Purifier - Pros and Cons: A Comprehensive Guide

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RO (Reverse Osmosis) water purifiers are a critical part of modern health in India. The increase in concern about water contamination and an increased demand for the best water purifiers with RO technology have made it one of the main solutions to this problem. When selecting the best water purifier for home, there are several factors to consider.

To make an informed decision based on your specific needs and the quality level of the local water supply, it’s better to understand the pros and cons of RO water purifiers.

What is a Reverse Osmosis (RO) System?

The reverse osmosis system is a way of purifying water by passing it through a semipermeable membrane to get rid of any contaminants. It works by using pressure to force water through an extremely fine membrane, leaving behind all the impurities.

The membrane is made up of small holes (micropores) that block the passage of dissolved solids such as heavy metals, salts and other pollutants. After filtering out all of the impurities, the purified water can be collected for drinking; conversely, the contaminants are discharged as waste.

This multi-stage purification system often incorporates other technologies, such as UV water purifiers and UF water purifiers. This provides complete water purification protection from all types of contaminants.

The Advantages of Using an RO Water Purifier (Pros)

1. Effective Removal of Contaminants

One of the best benefits of an RO water purifier is that it is one of the most effective ways to purify water. It will effectively eliminate a wide variety of contaminants that can cause serious health risks.

Heavy Metals—An RO water purifier will effectively remove all heavy metals found in water, including lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, which can cause long-term health issues.

Dissolved Salts—Removes extremely high levels of dissolved salts from water; therefore, the saline or hard water becomes potable.

Microorganisms—An RO water purification system combined with UV purification removes 99.9% of all bacteria, viruses, and cysts. This prevents you from infecting water-related diseases, including cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

Chemical Pollutants—Removes pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals that enter our water supply from agricultural or industrial runoff.

2. Effective for High TDS Water

RO water purifiers are perfectly suited to handle high TDS (Total Dissolved Soluble) contents in many places throughout India. They effectively reduce TDS levels from thousands of ppm to acceptable limits. It makes them the best purification option for areas with hard or extremely mineralized municipal supplies.

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), TDS levels of up to 500 ppm are acceptable in drinking water. The reverse osmosis technology is the only viable means of lowering high TDS levels to that level safely.

3. Better Odor and Taste

The water purification process considerably changes the taste and smell of the drinkable water. After using an RO water purifier, the water will have a clean, crisp, and neutral taste.

4. Comprehensive Multi-Stage Purification

Many of today’s RO water purifiers do not use a single-stage system but have a multi-layered (7 stages) water purification process.

1. Sediment filter: This filter removes visible materials (e.g., sand/dust) found in the water.

2. Pre-activated carbon filter: This filter adsorbs chlorine and organic chemicals.

3. Antiscalant filter: This filter is used to stop the formation of scale on the reverse osmosis membrane.

4. Reverse osmosis membrane: This core stage removes dissolved solids and contaminants from water.

5. UV water purifier chamber: This process kills microorganisms.

6. UF water purifier membrane: This filter acts as an additional physical barrier to the bacteria and cysts.

7. Post-carbon filter and mineral add-on: This filter enhances the taste of the water, as well as adds back the necessary minerals to the water.

Disadvantages of Using an RO Water Purifier (Cons)

1. Water Wastage

One major disadvantage of traditional-style RO water purifiers is their ability to waste huge amounts of water. For every liter of pure water produced, a certain amount of water (reject water) will be wasted.

The newer models have reduced the wastage to 1:1 or lower. The positive thing of reject water is that it can be reused to mop floors, water plants, cars, etc.

2. Demineralisation of Water

RO membranes are designed to remove all contaminants from water, including important minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium. If you drink this “demineralized” water for an extended period of time, you can develop a mineral deficiency in your body. Now, most modern-day RO water purification units have either a TDS controller or a mineral add-back cartridge to help enrich natural mineral levels in the finished product.

The TDS controller allows for a percentage of raw water to bypass the RO membrane and blend with the purified water after the purification process. This blending of some raw water with the purified water provides natural minerals in safe amounts.

3. Need for Electricity

An RO water purifier requires a high-pressure pump, which requires electricity to force the water through a semi-permeable membrane. The RO water purifier may not be appropriate where power cuts are frequent and prolonged. In these cases, a non-electric gravity-based purifier, typically using either ultrafiltration (UF) or activated carbon, may be a more viable solution. However, the level of purification would be less thorough.

4. Cost and Maintenance

An RO water purifier tends to be more expensive than a non-RO water purifier. Additionally, an RO water purifier will require timely and regular maintenance. The filters and RO membrane will only last for a specific time, requiring replacement periodically.

Always guarantee professional service and filter replacements to maintain maximum and effective performance. It is recommended that an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) be purchased with the RO water purifier.

Who Needs an RO Water Purifier?

Homes with High TDS Water: If your percentage of dissolved solids in tap water is over 500 ppm, it is recommended to install an RO system.

Areas with Known Contamination: If the areas where you live have been known to have large amounts of heavy metals such as arsenic or lead.

Users Seeking Maximum Protection: If at least one of the household is a child, a senior citizen, or an individual who has a weakened immune system and requires the best possible filtration process.

Municipal Water with High Chlorine or Salts: In cities, treated municipal water can have chlorine or dissolved salts; using an RO system can remove them.

RO vs. UV vs. UF

Comparing RO water purifiers to other technologies can help determine where they stand.

Feature	RO (Reverse Osmosis)	UV (Ultraviolet)	UF (Ultrafiltration)
Purification	Removes dissolved salts, heavy metals, chemicals, and microorganisms.	Deactivates bacteria and viruses.	Removes bacteria, viruses, cysts, and suspended solids.
Effective on TDS	Yes, reduces high TDS in water.	No, does not affect TDS.	No, does not affect TDS.
Kills Germs	Yes, by physically removing them.	Yes, using UV light.	Yes, by blocking them with a membrane.
Electricity Needed	Yes	Yes	No (in gravity-based models)
Wastewater	Yes	No	No
Best For	Water with high TDS, hardness, and heavy metals.	Water with low TDS but high microbial risk.	Water where TDS is low but bacteria and turbidity are high.

Conclusions

RO water purifiers are one of the best choices for homes in India. It does an exceptional job of filtering out many different kinds of contaminants, especially heavy metals or high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). However, they also have some drawbacks, including wasting water, losing minerals, and relying on electricity to operate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is RO water safe for drinking?

Yes, RO water is safe for consumption. It’s one of the cleanest forms of drinking water and is free from contaminants. However, it is best to get an RO water purifier with a TDS controller or mineral add-on feature so that you can have safe and healthy drinking water.

How much water is wasted in an RO purifier?

Waste from an RO water purification system is determined by how old your RO system is and what type of system you have. Older systems usually waste about 3-4 liters of wastewater for every 1 liter of purified water. Newer, eco-friendly systems can waste as little as 1 liter of water for every 1 liter of purified water. To find out the exact amount of wastewater being produced by your specific model, check the manufacturer’s specifications.

Do RO water purifiers remove essential minerals?

Yes, traditional RO methods of purification will remove important minerals like calcium and magnesium. This is a significant con of the RO method of water purification. To combat this issue, manufacturers have established a method of incorporating mineral add-on cartridges (TDS controllers). This helps in retaining a certain amount of minerals in the purified water.

What is the ideal TDS level for drinking water in India?

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), 500 ppm is the acceptable TDS limit for drinking water. The generally accepted range for taste and health is between 50 and 300 ppm. If your input water has a TDS level greater than 500 ppm, you will need to use an RO water filter.