Bottled water has gained popularity in recent decades and it now outsells soda with almost $15 billion spent annually. People like bottled water because it’s convenient and good for their health. But, bottles of mineral water can be expensive and they may not be the best choice for health over some alternatives. In this article, we will take a closer look at the comparison between RO and bottled water to help you make informed choices.
What is RO Water?
Reverse osmosis is a mechanical filtration system that removes a wide variety of contaminants. No chemicals are added and the filtered water is exceptionally clean. There are usually four filtration stages, a sediment prefilter, an initial granular activated (GAC) filter to remove chlorine (to protect the RO filter membrane), the RO filter, and a final GAC filtration stage to give the RO water a final polish.
What is Mineral Water?
Mineral water has an elevated concentration of minerals when compared to tap water. If the water is naturally sourced, it can be very expensive, and there are certain health benefits. But, most mineral water brands filter the water to remove certain contaminants and then they add synthetically sourced minerals to create mineral water. These mineral water brands are more affordable, and they taste good, but they lack any tangible benefits for the drinker.
Which is Best?
In our opinion, RO water is the superior choice to virtually all bottled mineral waters for four very good reasons:
1. Convenience
When you have a point of use (POU) dedicated RO tap at the kitchen sink, you can access RO water at any time. The filtration process takes some time, but the filtered water is stored in a tank, and you can decant it to a bottle or pitcher for the refrigerator. This is far easier than buying bottles of water at the market and bringing them back for storage at home.
2. Cost
Bottled water is expensive in comparison to RO filtered water. Once you get beyond the installation costs, the RO filter will pay for itself in next to no time.
3. Space
Bottled water takes up a lot of storage space, and moving the bottles around can be a real hassle. The bottles need to be placed in the refrigerator, and lugging them around the home is inconvenient.
4. Environment
Most bottled waters use plastic, and despite the claims made on the label, most plastic cannot be recycled. A lot of plastic ends up in landfills, and it’s bad for the environment. If you want a greener lifestyle using disposable plastic bottles is the wrong approach.
In Conclusion
Some people think that mineral water tastes better than RO water. Taste is subjective, but it is true that RO water can taste a little sterile because it’s pure water with no minerals or other contaminants. To get around this problem, you can add a little pink salt or add some fruit juice to create an isotonic drink. These are great options if you want to take a reusable bottle of RO water to the gym for your next workout.
If you want to install a reverse osmosis filtration system in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.
About The Author:
Greg Scott is President of Valparaiso based Miracle/EcoWater Systems, the premier water conditioning company in Northwest Indiana serving the Lake, Porter, and LaPorte County areas. A 3rd generation water treatment professional, Greg grew up in the family owned business started by his grandfather in the late fifties. He has made water treatment his life, and under his direction and high-standards, the company’s water treatment experience, knowledge, and products are unrivaled in the region.