The Pros and Cons of Reverse Osmosis Systems

If you’ve ever thought about improving your home’s drinking water, chances are you’ve heard about reverse osmosis systems.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most effective water filtration methods available, but it comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

In this guide, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about reverse osmosis systems, helping you make the right choice for your home and family.

What Is a Reverse Osmosis System?

Before diving into the pros and cons, it’s helpful to understand what a reverse osmosis system is. Essentially, reverse osmosis is a filtration process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove impurities, contaminants, and unwanted particles from water.

This means the system can filter out everything from chlorine and sediments to harmful pollutants like lead and pesticides.

You might be familiar with countertop water filters or pitcher filters, but a reverse osmosis system is a much more powerful tool in the quest for pure, clean water. Often, these systems are installed under your kitchen sink or connected to your entire home to provide purified water throughout.

Now, let’s explore the pros and cons of using a reverse osmosis system in your home.

Pros of Reverse Osmosis Systems

Superior Water Quality

One of the biggest reasons people choose reverse osmosis is because of the outstanding water quality it delivers.

RO systems are capable of removing up to 99% of dissolved salts, heavy metals, and harmful chemicals from your water, leaving you with pure and clean-tasting water.

This means you can say goodbye to unpleasant chlorine taste or metallic flavors. It’s perfect if you’re tired of dealing with water that just doesn’t taste right.

In terms of everyday convenience, having water as pure as this makes a difference. No more plastic bottled water, no need to boil water to ensure its safety—just turn on your tap, and you’re good to go.

Health Benefits

The removal of harmful contaminants is, of course, directly tied to your health. Reverse osmosis systems are excellent for eliminating substances like lead, arsenic, and nitrates—all of which are known to cause serious health issues if ingested over time.

This makes RO systems particularly attractive for households with vulnerable individuals, like young children or seniors.

For instance, the APEC Water Systems ROES-50 is a highly rated model available on Amazon, and it can remove up to 99% of contaminants such as chlorine, taste, odor, and harmful chemicals. With over 5,000 reviews, it’s evident that this system is popular for ensuring safe drinking water at home.

Eco-Friendly Solution

If you’re concerned about your environmental footprint, a reverse osmosis system can help. By installing an RO system at home, you can reduce your dependence on plastic bottled water. This is not only cost-effective but also significantly reduces plastic waste, helping to protect our planet.

Think about how many plastic water bottles you and your family use in a month. An RO system can make that number plummet, meaning less plastic ending up in landfills or polluting our oceans.

Convenience

There’s no denying the convenience of having purified water right at your fingertips. You don’t need to lug heavy bottles from the store or worry about running out of bottled water.

Plus, reverse osmosis systems like the Express Water RO5DX have easy-to-replace filters and minimal maintenance requirements, making them perfect for busy households.

Multi-Stage Filtration

Many reverse osmosis systems come with multi-stage filters that tackle various contaminants at different stages. For instance, the iSpring RCC7 model—which is another top-rated product on Amazon—has a 5-stage filtration process. It removes sediments, chlorine, and other chemicals, as well as smaller impurities, to give you pure drinking water.

This level of filtration is simply not achievable with other standard home filtration methods.

Cons of Reverse Osmosis Systems

Water Waste

Unfortunately, one of the biggest downsides of reverse osmosis systems is the amount of water wasted during the filtration process. Typically, an RO system will waste between 3-4 gallons of water for every gallon of purified water produced. This ratio might be concerning, particularly if you live in a region where water is a precious resource.

However, newer models are becoming more efficient, and some brands have introduced water-saving technologies. If water waste is a concern for you, look for systems that are specifically designed to minimize this, such as the Waterdrop WD-G3-W, which boasts a 1:1 ratio of purified to waste water, significantly cutting down on the wasted water.

Cost of Installation and Maintenance

Reverse osmosis systems can be relatively costly to purchase and install. Compared to a simple pitcher or faucet filter, an RO system can be quite an investment, both in terms of initial cost and ongoing maintenance.

You will need to replace the pre-filters and post-filters periodically (usually every 6-12 months) and the RO membrane every 2-3 years, depending on your water usage and quality. For instance, the Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact system is a premium model that has additional features like remineralization, but also requires you to keep up with its maintenance, which can add to the overall cost.

Slow Water Production

RO systems often take a bit of time to produce purified water, especially if you opt for a model that does not have a built-in storage tank. The filtration process is thorough, which means it can be slower compared to just turning on a tap. Systems with storage tanks like the APEC Top Tier Supreme RO-PH90 tend to mitigate this problem by storing water for immediate use, but this may not be ideal if you prefer something more compact.

Potential for Removing Beneficial Minerals

While reverse osmosis systems excel at removing contaminants, they also strip out some of the beneficial minerals naturally found in water, such as calcium and magnesium. For people who rely on these trace minerals for their daily intake, this can be a downside.

To counter this, some RO systems come with a remineralization stage that adds healthy minerals back into the water. For instance, the iSpring RCC7AK adds calcium and magnesium back into the water after filtration, giving you both pure and mineral-rich water.

Space Requirements

Reverse osmosis systems require a significant amount of space for installation. Typically, these systems are installed under the kitchen sink, which means they can take up much of your cabinet space. If you have a small kitchen or limited cabinet space, you may find it challenging to install a traditional RO system.

If space is a concern, consider a more compact design, such as the Waterdrop RO Compact RO System, which takes up less space while still delivering excellent filtration.

Should You Get a Reverse Osmosis System?

Ultimately, whether a reverse osmosis system is right for you depends on your water quality needs, budget, and home setup.

Health Conscious Individuals: If you’re worried about pollutants like lead, fluoride, or nitrates in your drinking water, an RO system is one of the most effective options for removing these harmful substances.
Families with Vulnerable Members: If you have young children, seniors, or anyone with a weak immune system in your household, having an RO system can bring peace of mind by ensuring that the drinking water is as pure and free of contaminants as possible.
Environmental Concerns: While reverse osmosis can save on bottled water, it does waste water during the filtration process. If you live in an area with water scarcity, you may want to consider whether this is the best option for your home.
Budget and Space: Consider your budget and space requirements. RO systems require an initial investment and some maintenance costs over time. Plus, you’ll need to ensure you have adequate space under your sink for installation.

Top Reverse Osmosis Systems to Consider

APEC Water Systems ROES-50: One of the most popular and reliable choices for under-sink RO systems, known for its thorough filtration and affordable price.
iSpring RCC7AK: This model adds beneficial minerals back into the water, making it a great option if you’re worried about demineralized water.
Express Water RO5DX: An affordable and easy-to-install system that offers great filtration capabilities.
Waterdrop WD-G3-W: If you want to minimize water waste, this system has an efficient 1:1 ratio and a sleek design that fits well in most kitchens.

Final Thoughts

Reverse osmosis systems are an excellent way to ensure that your drinking water is pure and free from harmful contaminants. They offer superior water quality, a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to bottled water, and clear health benefits.

However, they do come with certain drawbacks, such as water waste, cost, and maintenance requirements.

If you’re ready to make the investment and have the space, an RO system can be an excellent addition to your home.

Just be sure to do your research and pick the system that best matches your household’s needs—whether it’s minimizing water waste, adding minerals back, or fitting into a compact space.