Is It Better to Drink Tap Water or Reverse Osmosis Water?

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Reverse osmosis (RO) water is considered to be purer than regular tap water because it has had all the impurities removed. However, most experts agree that drinking RO water doesn’t make any difference in terms of health benefits.

While drinking RO water may seem like a healthier option, it’s not necessarily true. In fact, drinking RO water might even be worse for you than drinking regular tap water.

If you’re wondering whether it’s better to drink reverse osmosed water or tap water, here’s everything you need to know.

Is It Better to Drink Tap Water or Reverse Osmosis Water

What Is Tap Water?

Water that flows through pipes and is pumped into your home from the tap is called tap water. It’s the potable water that everyone uses to wash dishes, brush their teeth, cook food, etc.


Is Tap Water Safe?

Tap water is generally considered safe to consume. However, there are lots of contaminants in tap water, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceutical drugs, and industrial chemicals.

These contaminants may cause health problems, especially for children and pregnant women.


Guidelines for Safe Tap Water

Tap water should be clear, free of contaminants, and safe to drink. You can tell if your tap water meets those standards by checking its PH level.

A pH level between six and eight means that your tap water is safe to drink. Anything lower than six is considered acidic, and anything higher than eight is considered basic.


What Is Reverse Osmosis Water?

Reverse osmosis is a method for removing impurities from water. It works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure. The result is pure drinking water.

Reverse osmosis is a great option for those who live in places where the tap water isn’t clean enough. You can find reverse osmosis systems at home improvement stores.

There are two types of reverse osmosis systems: point of entry and the whole house. Point-of-entry systems work well for smaller homes and offices. Whole house systems are ideal for larger homes.

Whole house systems are usually installed by professionals. However, you can install a point-of-entry system yourself. Just make sure you know how to properly maintain it.


Is it safe to drink water from reverse osmosis treatment?

Reverse osmosis systems remove harmful substances from water, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, metals, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and radioactive materials.

But if you’re concerned about losing certain nutrients, you should know that reverse osmosis doesn’t affect the levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, electrolytes, and antioxidants.


Tap Water vs. Reverse Osmosis Water

There are two types of water filtration systems available today: tap water treatment and reverse osmosis. Tap water treatment uses chemicals and various physical processes to make water safe to consume. Reverse osmosis filters rely on semipermeable membrane technology to remove contaminants from water. Both methods work well, but there are pros and cons to using either method.

Tap water treatment is typically cheaper than reverse osmosis, but it doesn’t filter out all impurities. Some contaminants may pass through the process, including heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, and chemical additives.

Reverse osmosis removes almost all impurities from water, leaving behind only minerals and trace elements. However, reverse osmosis requires a lot of energy to operate, and it costs more than tap water treatment.

So if you’re looking for the best option between tap water treatment and reverse osmosis, consider how important water purity is to you. You might find that tap water treatment works fine for you, or you might prefer the taste of reverse osmosis water. Either way, you’ll be happy with the results!”


Why do we prefer to drink reverse osmosis water than tap water?

We prefer drinking reverse osmosis water because it tastes better than regular tap water. We know that there are trace amounts of contaminants in our tap water, but we still prefer to drink it. And we think that it’s safer to drink reverse osmosis water instead of regular tap water.

Tap water has traces of sulfuric acid, lead, nitrates, chlorine, and other chemicals that make it unpalatably bitter. But reverse osmosis removes those molecules from the water, allowing us to enjoy clean, fresh-tasting water.

In addition, reverse osmosis produces purer water than any other filtration method. Because it uses pressure to force water through membranes, it doesn’t allow anything else to pass through. As a result, reverse osmosis filters remove impurities from the water, leaving only pure water behind.


Is reverse osmosis water healthier than tap water?

There’s nothing wrong with drinking water that comes straight from the faucet. But if you’re concerned about the safety of your drinking water, then you might consider getting a reverse osmosis system installed.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), low mineral (TDS – Total Dissolved Solids) drinking water produced by either reverse osmosis or distilled water is not suitable for long-term human consumption. And in fact, it can cause negative health effects to those who consume it.

So if you’re worried about the safety of your tap water, then you should probably invest in a reverse osmosis water purification system. You’ll find that it makes your drinking water safer and tastier.


FAQs

Is tap water safe to be consumed directly?

Drinking straight from the tap isn’t safe for your health. You could get sick if you drink untreated tap water.

Why does RO water taste bitter?

If your water tastes bitter, it may be because it contains too much-chlorinated water.

What happens if you drink too much reverse osmosis water?

Drinking water obtained through reverse osmosis (RO) filtration has a lower pH than tap water. Long-term consumption of low-pH water may cause adverse side effects including increasing the risk of kidney diseases and gastrointestinal issues.


Conclusion

Reverse osmosis (RO) water is considered by many to be superior to regular tap water because it has been purified using an advanced filtration system. However, RO water does require a bit more maintenance than regular tap water. It must be stored properly and treated regularly.

This means that it requires a little extra planning and preparation when compared to regular tap water. In addition, it costs more than regular tap water. So, while RO water is definitely better than regular tap water, it isn’t always the best option.

Ultimately, it depends on what kind of water you already have access to. If you live in an area where you have access to both types of water, then you might consider switching between the two depending on your mood.

Joanna G. Lackey

Hi, I'm Joanna, a writer freelance writer who specializes in topics about health and nutrition. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and three children. I'm a mom to two dogs and a cat. I love reading, writing, and taking photos.