Do RO purifiers remove the minerals from your water?

Many households rely on RO water purifiers to get clean drinking water. Reverse Osmosis (RO) purifiers are one of the most popular choices due to their powerful filtration process. But do RO purifiers remove minerals from the water we drink?  

These purifiers use a semi-permeable membrane that effectively removes contaminants, bacteria, and excess salts, leaving behind cleaner, safer water. This process has lots of benefits, like better taste and smell, plus it removes harmful chemicals.  

However, the question of mineral removal remains. So, in this guide, we’ll look at whether RO purifiers remove minerals and help you figure out if an RO system is the right choice for your home. 

Do RO purifiers remove minerals?

Yes, RO purifiers remove all minerals from water irrespective of whether they are good or bad because the filters do not recognize particle types but size. The Indian water purifier industry itself acknowledges this limitation.  

ALSO READ: What is reverse osmosis in water purifiers? 

According to the Water Quality Association India (WQIA), “RO cannot be universally applicable for all water types due to key technology limitations. Since RO works on very tiny pore-sized membranes molecularly separating out dissolved chemical contaminants it cannot, by design, discriminate between so-called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ chemicals.” 

As mentioned earlier, these use a semi-permeable membrane to filter out impurities, bacteria, and even some minerals. This results in purer water that often tastes better due to the removal of minerals that can contribute to unpleasant tastes.  

While this can be beneficial if your water source is high in unwanted minerals like nitrates or fluoride, arsenic, and chromium, RO purifiers also remove potentially good minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium.  

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that most of the healthy minerals our bodies need come from food or supplements and not from drinking water. In fact, some minerals found in water can even be harmful to our health. While calcium and magnesium are essential for our bodies, relying on water consumption to make up for any deficiencies is not well-supported. 

But is the removal of minerals necessarily a bad thing? Well, it depends. If your water test shows high levels of unwanted minerals like nitrates or heavy metals, an RO system can help.  

But if your water is already good and your diet provides enough minerals, you might not need extra filtration. Plus, there also are some RO systems that include a remineralisation stage that adds minerals back into the water after filtration. 

Is an RO water purifier right for you?

Ultimately, the decision of whether an RO system is right for you depends on your water quality and priorities. Consider getting a water test done to understand the specific mineral content of your tap water.  

ALSO READ: 5 common water purifier issues and how to tackle them 

Weigh the benefits of cleaner, potentially tastier water against the removal of some minerals. If you’re unsure, consulting a water treatment specialist can help you make an informed decision.