Your RO Drinking Water Could be Making you Sick Without Your Knowledge

We all know that water is a fundamental element for human existence. It is essential that the water we consume should be free of harmful elements. However, research shows that the discharge of hazardous industrial wastes and unsafe garbage into our rivers has contaminated our source of water. Moreover, fertilizers and pesticides used by farmers seep underground and mix with water, adding to pollution. That said, using a water purifier safeguards your health against these new-age pollutants by filtering out harmful elements and providing you with safe drinking water.

But how safe is the water we consume from water purifiers?

The pH (potential of hydrogen) reflects how acidic or alkaline the water is. On a scale from 0-14, seven is the ideal value and considered a safe pH level for water that is fit for our consumption. However, recent urbanisation has led to tremendous increase in air and water pollution. Studies show that in today’s environment, the by-products of air and water are more acidic, which also affects the pH level of the water making it more acidic, as well.

Another factor which makes the water acidic is the Reverse Osmosis (RO) process in water purifiers. The popularity of RO has steadily grown since the advent of water purification systems. This method involves forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane which filters out water contaminants. However, along with these, most minerals like sodium, calcium, and iron, which are larger than water molecules, also get removed from the drinking water. This fundamentally defeats the complete purpose of treating water in a water purifier. The filtering out of these essential minerals also causes the water to be more acidic and has a direct impact on our health.

According to the World Health Organisation, health effects are more pronounced when the pH level is extreme. Consuming water with a higher pH level of 11 or a pH level of 4 and below can cause eye, skin and mucous membrane irritation. Lower pH level is also linked to heavy presence of lead. Based on their research, the Water System Council warns that the presence of such toxic metals can lead to severe health damages like reproductive and neurological problems such as seizures, loss of hearing, and miscarriages. Moreover, overexposure to metals, like zinc, which is absorbed from the corroded pipes can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

These realities make it critical to choose a water purifier that safeguards you and your family’s health from new-age pollutants and loss of vital minerals. So, you should choose your water purifier with utmost care and total awareness.

Havells recently launched a range of water purifiers to specifically address the negative effects of RO filtration process on drinking water. These water purifiers not only remove harmful substances but also correct the pH (acidic) level of the water and add back natural minerals which are lost during the RO filtration process.

To know more about Havells Water Purifiers, click here.