Risks of Reverse Osmosis Systems

Reverse osmosis is the process of using pressure to force water through a membrane, thereby separating certain compounds, such as salt and minerals, from the water. This process can successfully desalinate water, and create mineral-free and pathogen-free water. Reverse osmosis is sometimes used to remove contaminants from water in areas where the water isn't treated. However, there are risks to reverse osmosis that are important for people to be aware of.

Dangerous Chemicals Remain

• Some dangerous chemicals are molecularly smaller than water, so they pass through the membrane, contaminating the water. Examples of common contaminants that are not removed through reverse osmosis include pesticides, herbicides and chlorine. In order to ensure that water is safe, it is necessary to use an additional carbon filter to remove these chemicals.

Natural Minerals Removed

• The reverse osmosis process also removes healthy natural minerals that are present in water. These minerals not only make water taste more appealing, but also provide nutrients such as calcium and potassium that are vital to the body. Without these nutrients, the water is more acidic, which can have a harmful effect on bones and teeth.

Water Wasted

• For every gallon of water that is purified using reverse osmosis, three gallons of water are wasted. That wasted water also contains dangerous contaminants, so it must be disposed of properly. If the waste water is released back into a drinking water source, people may be at risk of becoming sick from drinking contaminated water.

Length of Time

• Since reverse osmosis cannot be relied on for purifying water for drinking, an alternate use might be to use it for industrial purposes. However, the process is a very expensive, slow way of purifying water, making it inefficient for use in an industrial setting.