Is RO/DI waste safe to drink?

[Justin1997]

Just wondering what I can do with some of my waste water rather than down the drain

 

[twilliard]

Water your indoor plants!

 

[Justin1997]

I don't have any, just moved into small condo so had to leave them behind no room for them

 

[twilliard]

Oh dang it!
Uhh let me think..

Gosh not much you can do with it at the moment.
As in drinking safely I wouldn't.
I wish I had a better answer!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wouldn't drink it either. Once dechlorinated, bacteria can grow in it.

If you are really an eager beaver, you could wash dishes with it, or fill the back of a toilet.

 

[Justin1997]

Yea not that eager was just looking at some of my 5 gallon water jugs thinking maybe it's a good idea to fill one of those up rather than hiking to the grocery store to buy water lol, would I be safe in say a britta filter?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yea not that eager was just looking at some of my 5 gallon water jugs thinking maybe it's a good idea to fill one of those up rather than hiking to the grocery store to buy water lol, would I be safe in say a britta filter?

Not sure. It is likely safe anyway, but bacteria are known to grow on RO membranes and I just wouldn't risk it.

 

[TheEngineer]

That's interesting because a company I was looking at for my water softener said I should buy a 6 stage filter for drinking water to pull the sodium out. Now I know the sodium bit is a bunch of bull, but I didn't think about bacterial issues....

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Many home systems for drinking water incorporate a UV to kill bacteria, and/or they recommend frequent cleaning of the system.

 

[twilliard]

I would stick with washing th dishes!
Love that Randy!

 

[Kali]

Depending on how much you have at a time, how about filling up the washing machine?

 

[acolotto]

have your drain line go in your washer! I plan my ro/di water making around my laundry lol

 

[rppvt]

I doubled up the membrane (to diminish the waste) and ran the drain out into the garden where it 'auto-tops off' a small pond full of mosquito fish and hardy aquatic plants. It then makes the grass in that area much nicer than my LA-brown lawn.

 

[don_chuwish]

In summer I'll definitely have use for it watering plants outside. In winter, not much use for it and no good storage option. I plan to use valves to redirect - either to foundation drain pipes around the house or to a drip irrigation setup of some kind - switch with the seasons.

 

[Zenpandadiver]

I do all my laundry with my ro/di waste and since I'm in the Caribbean I fill up a 55gal drum for the toilets during hurricane season. After the season passes I spend the drum in washing, planting and dishes. Also good for mopping. Just get creative. Ps I teed my system to have the options of using the di filter or not and without the di filter is the water I use for drinking.

 

[saltykisses]

Rodi no!

It's the di resin apparently it continues working which doesn't do you any immediate harm but over a long period of times (I'm talking decades) can cause harm.

Because actually your body needs the minerals...

A bit like how rodi water is too pure for freshwater fish and the reason you have to use remineralised salts..[emoji52]

 

[saltykisses]

Ooh eck just read title properly my dyslexia lol....

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

It's high in elements you don't need, nor will be able to break down. Keep it for plants or washing stuff, but only drink ro.

 

[AZDesertRat]

If the tap water was potable or EPA drinking water quality to begin with and you properly maintain your RO/DI system including annual disinfections, the waste should also be safe to consume as long as it has been stored in a clean sealed container. But, would I do so? Probably not. The brine or waste will be 20-25% or more higher TDS (depending on your exact waste ratio) than the tap water was to begin with and I prefer to lower the waste in my drinking water not raise it.

 

[saltykisses]

You can drink rodi but it has health implications , because it's pure and in actual fact humans need the impurities minerals etc, I read somewhere this the do part of the water carries on...and that ro water is ok but rodi no don't do it.. Now I could be wrong [emoji33]

New bit just scrolled up and read properly :

Waste water feed plants ... Wash Windows wash dishes ,ect consumption not really full of tds....

I just stick mine down the plug hole [emoji52]