No, RO water is not 100% pure, although it is very close. Reverse osmosis (RO) filtration systems are highly effective at removing contaminants, achieving purity levels between 95% and 99%. This level of purity is comparable to that of distilled water.
While RO systems remove a vast majority of dissolved solids, minerals, and microorganisms, achieving absolute (100%) purity is extremely difficult and generally not necessary for most applications.
Here's a breakdown:
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What RO Removes: RO systems effectively eliminate a wide range of contaminants, including:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Heavy metals (lead, mercury)
- Salts
- Minerals (calcium, magnesium)
- Sediment
- Chemicals (chlorine, pesticides)
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Why Not 100% Pure? Despite its efficiency, RO may not remove trace amounts of certain very small or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), depending on the specific RO system and its maintenance. Achieving absolute purity requires specialized and often cost-prohibitive processes.
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Purity Comparison:
- RO Water: 95-99% pure.
- Distilled Water: Also very high purity, typically comparable to RO water.
- Tap Water: Varies greatly depending on the source and treatment process, often containing detectable levels of minerals, chemicals, and microorganisms.
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Is it Safe to Drink? RO water is generally safe to drink. Some argue that the removal of beneficial minerals is a drawback, but this can be addressed by consuming a balanced diet or remineralizing the water after filtration.
In conclusion, while RO water is exceptionally pure, it's technically not 100% pure due to the potential presence of trace contaminants. However, its high level of purity makes it a safe and often preferred choice for drinking and other applications.
