Although there are other water purifications methods, reverse osmosis and distillation are the most widely recognized. The 2 purification processes share the same goal and ensure that your household has access to safe and drinkable water.
However, even if these methods aim at making water safe and healthy for drinking, they have differences that set them apart.
And since it might be inconvenient to use the 2 at the same time in your home, we’ve included this article to help you know whether you can have one instead of the other.
We’ll help you understand the similarities and differences between the 2 and give you the factors to consider if you intend to use one as a substitute for the other.
Reverse Osmosis and How it is Used
Reverse osmosis is a water filtration method that uses high pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane has fine pores (only about 0.0001 microns) that let water molecules pass through, leaving other contaminants out.
RO effectively removes up to 99% impurities from the water, including heavy metals like lead, magnesium, and copper. It also reduces the amount of radium, sulfate, and arsenic from your water supply.
This water filtration system also removes pesticides, fluorides, and herbicides from the water. If your water has a lot of chlorine, RO comes in handy as well.
Reverse osmosis water is free from volatile compounds responsible for bad taste and odor in the water.
RO is used in an industrial setting to produce medicines and pharmaceuticals, control soil Ph, and in the production of food and beverages.
So, how are RO Systems Used?
RO systems come in 2 configurations: point of use (POU) and point of entry (POE)/whole house RO system. The point of use systems are designed to offer filtered water at a single tap (can be at your kitchen sink or any other place in your household).
These systems are ideal for single taps since they are small enough to install in tight spaces like under a kitchen sink. And although tiny, they are powerful enough to provide sufficient clean and safe drinking water for everyone in your family.
The point of entry RO system is designed to provide filtered water to your entire home. It’s actually the best for you if looking for a filtration system to provide healthy water throughout your household.
What is the Best RO System?
You need the Best RO system to improve the quality of your home’s water. With the many options in the market today, you might find it challenging to get the right one for your household. Check out the product below.
Frizzlife PD600-TAM3
The Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 boasts excellent features and a reasonable price. It comes in a tankless design and has an alkaline remineralization filter that helps to add essential minerals back to the water. Check Latest Price on Amazon
The unit features filtered water to waste water ratio of 1.5:1, an internal booster pump, and an integrated TDS meter that continuously tests and reports your water quality. It is also extremely easy to install and maintain.
Distillation and How It is Used
Distillation is a very specific method of purifying water. It involves boiling the water and turning it into steam.
After boiling, contaminants and impurities get left behind when steam is collected in a condenser where it’s cooled off. And as the temperature drops, the steam turns back to a liquid state.
Distillation is highly effective at removing dissolved solids present in the water, such as salts and minerals. It is also excellent at neutralizing microbes such as legionella and giardia from water.
Distillation also helps remove heavy metals like lead and arsenic from water. It targets a wide range of herbicides and pesticides as well hence highly effective.
Unlike reverse osmosis, this water purification helps to remove water hardness to a certain extent. It ensures that you always receive pure water that is free of additives.
How is Distillation Used?
Distilled water is used in residential settings for drinking and in specific equipment that mineral deposits may damage. You can use it in steam mops, electric iron, and also in automotive cooling systems.
In commercial settings, distilled water is used in low-volume humidifiers and lead-acid batteries.
What is the Best Water Distiller?
Choosing the best water distiller for your water distiller can be challenging since there are plenty of options to consider. How about trying out the water distiller included herein?
Megahome Countertop Water Distiller
The Megahome water distiller is UL approved for safety and features a full 304 stainless steel construction. It distills a gallon of water every 5.5 hours at 212 degrees F, the proper temperature for removing toxins. Check Latest Price on Amazon
The distiller comes with 6 quality activated charcoal filters that capture and remove VOCs during the distillation process. It is easy to use and features an auto-shutoff for safe overnight distilling.
It also comes with a one-year warranty.
Similarities of Reverse Osmosis and Distillation
The two processes provide clean and healthy drinking water. Either method offers extensive water contaminants removal and cleans water production.
The 2 water purification methods produce water ideal for water plants since they have a pH near 7.0. Both are also not ideal for aquariums as pure water can cause salts in the fish to diffuse to the water.
Both systems give you a lower level of control over the impurities to remove out of the water. As a result, the good, the bad, and the necessary are all removed.
In terms of health, RO and distillation methods are both excellent. Drinking RO water or distilled water eliminates the need for bottled water since you’ll have access to a safe and clean drinking water supply in your home.
So, Can I Use RO Water in Place of Distilled Water?
The answer to this question depends on what you need and how you’ll be using the water. Sometimes, you can use RO water in place of distilled and vice versa. The similarities listed above are proof of this.
It would help if you kept in mind that although reverse osmosis and distillation processes work differently, their functions are pretty similar. They have their separate pros and cons, and should you feel that one method will benefit you more than the other, go for it.
As you can see, reverse osmosis and distillation feature distinct advantages and disadvantages. They are designed to remove almost the same range of impurities, including VOCs(1), natural elements, microorganisms, chemical substances, and copper. There isn’t one that is superior to the other.
And depending on your needs and purposes, you can reverse osmosis water in place of distilled water.