A reverse osmosis membrane filters the water in the reverse osmosis filtration process. Reverse osmosis systems should be used to treat water for cooking, drinking, and other purposes. However, the reverse osmosis technique has two major drawbacks: it is neither inexpensive nor ecologically friendly. As a result, many people opt for reverse osmosis alternatives.
So, what is the greatest reverse osmosis alternative? Let’s look at some of the greatest alternatives to reverse osmosis water systems in this post.
Do I Really Need Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis systems should only be used to purify water that is used for drinking and cooking, not as a whole-house filter, to save water. It’s crucial to keep in mind when buying a whole-house filtration system or an under-sink filter, that it removes residual chlorine from the whole plumbing system.
Reverse osmosis filters tap or bottled water by pushing it through a semi-permeable membrane with small holes. Pushes impurities through a tiny porous membrane that prevents particles bigger than water molecules, removing them from drinking water.
They are also frequently fitted with a carbon filter, which helps with initial purification and extends the life of the reverse osmosis filter. The carbon filter also lowers the quantities of pollutants that reverse osmosis alone cannot remove, such as disinfection byproducts and volatile organic compounds.
Chemical pollutants that carbon filters cannot adequately remove are reduced by reverse osmosis.
Other dangerous contaminants that can be decreased using a carbon filter, including lead, which damages children’s brain development, and toxic fluorochemicals are known as PFAS, are reduced via reverse osmosis.
Advantages of a RO filter include;
- Water purification technique that has been proven.
- Filtration of high grade for non-potable tap water.
- It’s possible to create tap water with a high mineral concentration.
The Disadvantages of RO Systems
Reverse osmosis is the pinnacle of water purification, but it does have its downsides, as do all things.
- Wastewater – Inefficient opposite osmosis structures will have a wastewater ratio of as much as 1: four or worse. This means that for each gallon of RO water filtered, 4 gallons of water are wasted. A greater surest ratio is 1: 1, and that is done via means of growing the strain of the incoming water to the RO membrane with a permeate or a booster pump.
- Replacement Filter: Before faucet water reaches the RO membrane, it should go through filtration, or the uncooked water will wreak havoc at the opposite osmosis membrane. The drawback is the want to test, replace, and buy substitute filters at exceptional instances.
- Installation – Most human beings can set up an opposite osmosis system, however, the setup should be completed successfully to keep away from viable leaks that might purpose vast damage.
- In up to six instances, the quantity of easy water produced is wasted.
- Eliminates wholesome minerals which include calcium, magnesium, potassium, and bicarbonates.
- Relatively high priced beginning at $ 300 + renovation and replacements.
- The risk of bacteria increases within the water after the clear-out due to the fact that chlorine has been removed.
- Demineralized water is unhealthy. Chlorine, radon, positive insecticides, and diverse risky natural compounds can’t be eliminated. There also are greater filters to test than in different water filtration structures.
Is There Anything Better Than Reverse Osmosis?
If those drawbacks have piqued your interest in reverse osmosis alternatives, have a look at these seven key alternatives to your reverse osmosis filter.
1. Sediment Filters
The basic sediment filter comes first. Remember that while reverse osmosis does not remove silt or particles from your water, reverse osmosis filtration systems do feature pre-filters that do.
Even if you have a reverse osmosis system already, you should add a sediment filter for your home.
These filters contain removable cartridges that filter out particles bigger than five microns. Sediment filters do not remove chemicals and pollutants that are smaller than the micron size of the filter.
The SpringWell Sediment Filter Canister + 5 Micron Filter is a great unit to install on your water system before it gets into the house.
2. Activated Carbon Filters
Activated carbon filters are available in two forms: activated carbon blocks and granular activated carbon.
This filter is also effective in preventing bacterial development. Carbon blocks are inexpensive; they filter out impurities well, eliminate chlorine effectively, have a decent flow rate, and aid in the retention of vital minerals.
Carbon blocks, on the other hand, have no effect on viruses, excess minerals, dissolved solids, or silt in the water. Granular carbon filtration is quite similar, with the exception that it allows for a considerably higher flow rate while filtering out particles even worse.
3. Distillation
Distillation, the act of evaporating water and then re-condensing it into liquid form, is one of the most effective techniques of purifying water.
Distillation is a potent water filtration method that can remove virtually all impurities from water, including dissolved solids, excess minerals, bacteria, and more. The best part is that you will never need to replace a filter cartridge.
Water distillation, on the other hand, has some drawbacks, including a low flow rate, time consumption, rigorous maintenance, high power intensity, and high running expenses; distilled water also has a bad flavor.
There’s also the problem that organic molecules with a lower boiling point than water aren’t removed by distillation.
4. Ion Exchange
The ion exchange water filters are next. The water is filtered by a unique resin filter. This resin is intended to replace undesirable dissolved ions in water with other ions.
Ion exchange filtration removes inorganic pollutants such as arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, sulfates, uranium, and other negatively charged substances from water. Many minerals may be removed from the water using this kind of filtering.
The inability to remove silt, organic chemicals, and microbes is one of the drawbacks of ion exchange. Furthermore, the resin used in these filtering systems is susceptible to bacterial development.
5. Activated Alumina Filter
This filter removes a range of pollutants from the water using porous aluminum oxide adsorbent. In reality, these filters filter out four dangerous heavy metals: fluoride, arsenic, selenium, and thallium.
Keep in mind that these filters only remove the four items listed above from the water. It can also leach aluminum into the water if not properly handled or maintained.
6. Alkaline Filter
Technically, this may not be the type of water filter that you would use to filter your family’s water against various contaminants. However, alkaline filters are closely related in one respect to reverse osmosis water filters. Reverse osmosis systems remove dissolved minerals from water, while alkaline filters do the exact opposite, they return the minerals to the water and create alkaline water. Most reverse osmosis filtration systems come with a remineralization system, usually alkaline filters. Minerals are added back to the water after being removed by reverse osmosis, giving you safe, mineral-rich drinking water.
6 Best Alternatives to Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems
Sediment Filter Canister + 5 Micron Filter
Dirt, silt, sand, and other particles that are trapped in your water could be filtered by a sediment filter. Before the water softening system, an inline sediment prefilter should be placed near the point where the water service line enters the residence.
SpringWell’s whole house sediment filter is the ideal answer for casting off large contaminants and sediment out of your water. This sediment filter may be positioned earlier than or after your filtration system. We endorse you put this in the front of your water softeners or UV systems.
Because sediment filters are very affordable than RO water filter systems, they are frequently used in filtered water pitchers. Easy replacement with sediment filters, and they come in a variety of micron levels, which is the size measurement for the filtered particles.
Soft Water System
To remove hardness-causing minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, a water softener is used. A water softener uses an ion exchange mechanism and, is considered as a whole house filtering system. One of the most common and dangerous water issues is hard water and a solution for this is a water softener.
A soft water system can provide you with the following advantages:
- Fewer clogs in the pipes.
- Skin and hair that is softer
- Laundry with more color
- Dishes that are spotless and gleaming
- Appliances that last longer
- Water with a natural flavor
Using a soft water system has more advantages when compared to a RO water filter system but, it’s best recommended to use both a soft water system and a RO water filter system together.
MegaHome Water Distiller
- YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST: This Megahome distiller is UL (Underwriters Laboratory) approved. UL is the trusted independent global safety science company for US products, and determines product compliance with stringent safety standards. PLEASE NOTE: For fire safety, many home insurance policies require that electrical products installed in the home be UL certified. Megahome distillers are one of the only UL approved water distillers available.
- PUREST WATER: Distills 1 gallon every 5.5 hours. Distills the water at 212 degrees Fahrenheit which is the proper temperature for removing unwanted toxins and contaminants. It also includes 6 (optional use) high quality activated charcoal filters. The optional filters are used when VOCs like chlorine or other toxins that can form into a vapor are present. The filters capture and remove these toxins during the distillation process.
- BEST QUALITY: Full 304 stainless steel interior, including the boil chamber, upper steam dome, and stainless condensing coils. Water does not touch plastic.
- GLASS COLLECTION: This distiller includes a durable Glass collection bottle. This ensures the purest and safest distilled water for all of your needs.
- BEST SERVICE INCLUDED: Every Megahome distiller is backed by a 1 year warranty against defects in manufacture. A detailed description of warranty coverage can be obtained in the Owner's Manual or by reaching out to Nutriteam Support. The service and support is what you would expect from a top quality appliance company. Customer service is provided for the lifetime of the unit. Megahome distillers have been on the market for over 22 years and are the top selling distiller in the world.
Due to the high cost of operating and the sluggish pace of treated water production, distillers are often only used to produce modest volumes of water for drinking and cooking. A reverse osmosis (RO) system is frequently more suited when bigger volumes of treated water are required.
Water distillers function by heating water to a high temperature, then trapping and condensing the steam to produce pure water. As the steam rises, it releases all of the minerals and impurities it previously contained. The high boiling temperature also aids in the destruction of any bacteria or other hazardous germs present in the water, particularly well water.
The simplicity of a water distiller appeals to me the most. Multiple filters, such as UV disinfectants, reverse osmosis membranes, carbon filters, KDF filters, and others, are not required. There isn’t any hard setup or maintenance to deal with.
For a more complicated installation, you don’t need to crawl into a basement or contact a plumber. Fill the distiller with standing water on the counter, press a button, and wait for the pure distilled water to flow into the glass collecting bottle.
ZeroWater Water Dispensers
- Check Your TDS: The 40 Cup 5-Stage Ready-Pour Water Filter Dispenser has a TDS Meter to check the levels of dissolved solids before dispensing or pouring water – always know when it is time to change your filter!
- Advanced Filtration: Our 5-Stage Ion Exchange Filter removes virtually all dissolved solids (TDS) for the purest tasting water; Total Dissolved Solids are organic and inorganic materials, such as metals, minerals, salts, and ions dissolved in water.
- IAPMO Certified & BPA-Free: Our 5-Stage filter is IAPMO Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS, lead, chromium, and mercury. All Culligan ZeroWater products are made from BPA-Free plastic.
- Your New Water Filter System: Your purchase includes a 40 Cup water filter dispenser, 5-Stage Ion Exchange Water Filter, and a TDS meter that read TDS level. Compatible with ZeroWater & Culligan ZeroWater systems and filters.
- Less Plastic, More Hydration: You can save up to 110 single-use plastic bottles per filter or up to 660 bottles a year while enjoying the purest tasting water with your Culligan Zero Water Filter System.
A water dispenser system provides a limitless supply of filtered, safe drinking water to any place.
The ZeroWater dispenser is one of the most user-friendly and low-maintenance. If the idea of having 0 TDS water on tap in your house appeals to you, the ZeroWater 40-Cup Water Dispenser is the answer.
- 40-Cup Ready-Pour Dispenser
- 5-Stage ion exchange filtration removes 99.6% of total dissolved solids
- Dispense filtered water as the reservoir filters
- The best ZeroWater filter for families and larger households
- BPA-Free
- Includes TDS meter
Conclusion
As you can see, reverse osmosis water filtration systems are not the only option. To catch any remaining pollutants and viruses that have passed through sediment, charcoal, and other whole-house water filters, we propose employing reverse osmosis.
It’s critical to think about your goal before deciding on the finest reverse osmosis alternative. Water may still be a better alternative for you than a reverse osmosis installation beneath the sink if you simply need filtered drinking water for 1-3 persons per day. This isn’t for you if you require on-demand water for a larger household or want to employ a whole-house reverse osmosis system to power your plumbing.
FAQs:
Are RO Systems More Expensive Than The Alternatives?
The overall cost of a household RO water filtration system is $ 1,500 and prices range from $ 500 to $ 2,800. The cost of a point-of-use RO system ranges from $ 150 to $ 1,300. Commercial systems can cost between $ 1,000 and $ 20,000 or more, making them significantly more expensive than other reverse osmosis systems.
Does RO Water Taste Better Than The Alternatives?
Water with high hardness and high TDS levels responds well to RO water filtration technologies. It’s the only method of purification that softens and enhances the flavor of cleansed water.
You could taste a difference and favor one over the other. Pure water is, in essence, pure water. Distillation produces pure water by condensing boiling water vapor, whereas reverse osmosis produces pure water by forcing water to flow through a semipermeable membrane.
