RO water safe to drink?

[miPapareef]

I like to split out the RO line, not only to drink, but because it helps me flush the system before sending water to the DI stage. There is more breakthrough of contaminate in the first few minutes running the RO stage, so if I fill my drinking water first, my DI resin last longer.

 

[saltyhog]

The amount trace elements we get from drinking water is negligible. If you eat anything like a healthy diet you could drink RO/DI for a long, long time without any problem. I don't understand the fear of drinking absolutely pure H2O.

 

[Susan Edwards]

I use the rodi water for drinking. I tend to add flavoring as I don't like plain water. I always make my drinking water in separate containers that are never used for fish water, whether fresh or salt.

 

[sghera64]

It is not what it has "in it" that is the problem. It is what is "not" in it, minerals. For the average person this poses zero threat as they eat and drink other sources of minerals. However as we don't know every persons body chemistry or dietary habits or to what extremes they take them it is not recommended. In extreme cases it can cause issues. If even one person gets a negative response then we have an issue.

If you are concerned about what has been removed from RO/DI water, then 95-99% of the problem (things removed) occurs from the Reverse Osmosis process. The DI part only removes much of the remaining 1-5%.

 

[sghera64]

If anyone is losing sleep over this, I might recommend this guy [Randy Johnson]. He did a lot of research to find a fact-based assessment to definitively answer the question. He could not find it. However, he does debunk the W.H.O.'s research based on faulty science lacking cause for a slight difference.

All the references I've ever heard of regarding water intoxication (dilutional hyponatremia), involve a patient consuming an over abundance of water (even tap water) in a very short time (< 1 hr) and often after losing electrolytes from perspiration. This is an acute problem and not a chronic one. It is mostly related to sodium / potassium depletion.

As I understand it, our bodies (most mammals for that matter), are sophisticated enough to regulate the excretion of needed nutrients to "help" keep things in balance. But there are limitations. Assuming one is getting magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium through some means (food, milk, . . . beer), then consuming water (or 'other' food - - say junk-food) deplete in these is of no matter as the body's renal system will work to retain those nutrients which enter from other sources. NOTE: I am not saying you can eat potato chips all day so long as you eat a bunch of vitamins too.

 

[BigJohnny]

The amount trace elements we get from drinking water is negligible. If you eat anything like a healthy diet you could drink RO/DI for a long, long time without any problem. I don't understand the fear of drinking absolutely pure H2O.

This^

 

[JoshH]

Actually you're going to need two valves this is what mine looks like

Still only need one valve

 

[gfox]

Probably what i fear the most is the storage container that has been set up for over 10 years.

 

[JDtimk]

I plumbed a line after the RO and before the DI cartridge. this line goes to a pressurized drinking water bladder under the kitchen sink. That is what I use for drinking water and coffee making water. I made a point of asking my primary care doctor a couple of years ago about the safety or side effects of drinking RO/DI water.
He told me he absolutely recommends anyone that can filter their water using carbon blocks and an RO membrane do so. He actually recommended going a step further and using a home water distilling device, which is what he uses at his house. I asked about any issues I could think of such as the depleted mineral content or the pH of RO water versus tap water.
He said there was absolutely no concern of either of those issues causing problems because our bodies are not closed systems like a test tube where there is a small amount of a dense mineral concentration that is introduced to a mineral free solution which then "leaches" the minerals out. As others have said above, we are drinking water that is absent of minerals and our food is full of minerals and we have way more mineral intake already than our body can use.
In my opinion the DI portion of the filtration is overkill for drinking water anyway. I get either 0 to 1 or 2 ppm TDS out of my membrane as is, so I just opted to forgo the DI portion.

 

[McPikie]

The lack of minerals really changes the taste and it can be a turn off for a majority of people.

Surely water is the only drink where it's flavor is purely based on its temperature?

 

[sghera64]

Surely water is the only drink where it's flavor is purely based on its temperature?

Beer?

 

[sghera64]

In my opinion the DI portion of the filtration is overkill for drinking water anyway. I get either 0 to 1 or 2 ppm TDS out of my membrane as is, so I just opted to forgo the DI portion.

+1 on that.

I’m in such agreement that I stopped using DI for my reef tanks too. I have 1 PPM exiting my RO.

What I found wasteful is purifying my water to zero TDS and then running it through caustic (e.g. Ca(OH)2 reactor) and now I have to dose into the tank on a daily basis phosphate, nitrate, iron while others (RHF) are dosing in silica. Even if a small amount of ammonia was coming through, well, my fish liberate that from their gills, and my macro algae need it anyway. Seems silly to take everything out of the water only to have to add it in later.

Is anyone else already doing down this road?

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

https://www.buckeyehydro.com/reef-residential-rodi/

https://www.buckeyehydro.com/add-on-drinking-water-kit/

 

[vetteguy53081]

RO - yes. As long as it takes to make up gallons and resin used, like I do, grab water from the RO units at the grocery store. Under $ .40 per gallon

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

You can probably modify it allowing you to create RO water only, by running a line out before the DI stage (which is usually the last one). You'll be able to plumb it so you can choose RO or RODI water depending on what you're up to.

Yep. Place a snap-fit T on the line w/a snap-fit valve after the T. Then all you have to do to make R/O is close the valve.

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

Yep. Place a snap-fit T on the line w/a snap-fit valve after the T. Then all you have to do to make R/O is close the valve.

But if you want a ready made supply of RO water always at the ready, you'll also want a pressure tank, tank fitting, inline taste and odor filter with fittings, a valve or faucet for the outlet, and some other fittings to make sure you never get RO water from the pressure tank reaching the DI stage(s).

Russ

 

[sbash]

The WHO report on this is an interesting read:

https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientschap12.pdf

TL/DR, The third paragraph in the Conclusion (V) section states it is "is not considered ideal drinking water", thus regular consumption could cause a lack of calcium intake into the body apparently. (There's a bit more to it, I am grossly summarizing)...

So drink your RO/DI water with a slice of cheese?

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

But what percent of your daily calcium intake do you suppose comes from the little bit of water you drink daily?

 

[Servillius]

If you are simultaneously (i) on the World Health Organization list because you are at risk of malnutrition, and (ii) setting up a salt water mixing station for your 300g sps heavy mixed reef and “Conspiculatus Sanctiary,” you may need to address your priorities.

For everyone else, it’s just a bit wasteful to run it through expensive resin just to make it taste like poop and ruin perfectly good coffee.