If you have been looking for ways to purify your home water you have come across reverse osmosis or distilled water methods. These two methods serve the same purpose of cleansing water but the mechanism is pretty different. In case you have been wondering which is which between the two, you just clicked on the right site! Here, you’ll get to know where the difference lies when it comes to these two methods. Besides, you’ll also be able to tell which one will work best for your water system.
Purified Water
As mentioned above, osmosis water and distilled water are used in purifying water. So, how about we begin with getting to know what’s purified water? Purified water is water that’s 99% devoid of all contaminants and minerals as well.
Purification removes all chemicals, metals, protozoa, and minerals that may be present in the water.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
To begin with, reverse osmosis filtration is one of the most used water cleansing method in both homes and industrial settings. As the name suggests, the reverse osmosis principle operates opposite of the osmosis principle.
The method operates through high pressure forcing water through a reverse osmosis membrane. This membrane performs the role of getting rid of all water impurities to microscopic levels.
The method is popularly used in desalination plants to change seawater into freshwater. In agriculture, reverse osmosis is used to control the PH of the soil. Besides, it is also used in the production of pharmaceutical products, foods, and beverages.
Several stages are involved in reverse osmosis and each of these stages removes particular substances from the water. The final stage usually involves a mineral filter that helps in restoring all the healthy minerals into your water. Check out the watersafetylab for more information.
Advantages of Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis comes with several advantages which include:
- It requires quite minimal maintenance.
- There is no use of chemicals while cleansing water with the RO system.
- It is the most popular method for water softening.
- Most reverse osmosis systems are very compact and consume little space.
- It comes with low energy consumption levels.
- RO systems are automated and can switch on and off on their own.
- The semipermeable membrane blocks all ion particles.
Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis
- The installation cost is high
- Hard water can damage a RO system
- If the applied pressure is not more than the osmosis pressure the system won’t work.
- You will require a separate system to disinfect the water.
What is Distilled Water
Distillation involves the process of boiling water until it turns to steam. At this point, all the impurities are left behind in the boiling chamber and then the steam is collected into a condenser where it is cooled off.
Once the water is back into the liquid state, it is passed through a carbon post filter where all chemicals that could have potentially boiled off with the water are removed. The carbon filter comes in handy if your water contains compounds like benzene which have a low boiling point than water.
Distilled water is commonly used in residential settings and also in automotive cooling systems. It is also used in particular types of batteries. Besides, the method is quite effective in removing bacteria, water hardness, and heavy metals.
Small scale distillation units are designed with three chambers; a boiling chamber, condensing chamber, and storage chamber.
Advantages of distilled Water
- Distilled water is potentially free of harmful microorganisms.
- The water has various household uses are the home.
- It is used for laboratory experiments and the manufacture of canned goods.
- It can produce water that’s 100% pure.
- Distilled water is way safer than tap water.
Disadvantages of Distilled water
- The method does not apply to compounds with a lower boiling point than water.
- It gets rid of all the healthy minerals in your water.
- It requires regular maintenance.
- Due to water heating, the energy costs of a distiller are higher compared to other water cleansing systems.
Can I Use Reverse Osmosis Water Instead of Distilled Water?
Now here comes the big question; can I use reverse osmosis water instead of distilled water? Well, it all depends on your needs hence based on your purposes you can choose the one that suits you best.
For drinking water, filtered is preferable because it contains healthy minerals that are vital for the body.
When it comes to humidifiers and batteries, distilled water is what is commonly used because it prevents the growth of bacteria.
For growing plants, both RO and distilled water would be suitable for plants that prefer acidic water.
Frequently asked Questions
1. Can you use RO water instead of distilled?
Sure you can. However, they are not the same thing since reverse osmosis returns the water minerals after purification. If you intend to drink distilled water, make sure to substitute with vegetables that are rich in minerals.
2. Is reverse osmosis as good as distilled water?
RO holds the upper hand in terms of health because it returns the water minerals, unlike distillation which leaves the water flat. However, distilled water would be ideal if you need your water in its purest form.
3. Is reverse
osmosis water the same as distilled
No, this is bearing in mind that the two methods use different water purifying systems. Filtered water retains the minerals while distilled water is 100% pure.
4. Can you use filtered water instead of distilled
Both filtered and distilled water is safe for drinking and other household chores. However, if you need water that’s 100% pure you may want to go for the distilled water because filtered water has minerals.
Conclusion
With the above discussion on RO and distillation, it’s definite that now you know which one would be suitable for your water system. Both methods are effective in water purification but they function differently. However, reverse osmosis water would be a better choice for drinking water because it will purify the water and still give you the minerals that are good for your health.
On the other hand, distillation is quite effective in removing minerals and salts from your water hence a great alternative for anyone in need of 100% pure water.
