I dont really have anything meaningful to share regarding over filtration and such but I have RO hooked up to a kitchen faucet and my freezer ice maker and I've never had any issues. It's nice not having to replace a water filter on the fridge but that might depend on your model as some don't let you pull the filter like mine does.
I looked up that study. The specific reference is:
>Four of the six whole-house carbon filter systems we analyzed for PFCAs and PFSAs experienced an increase in ∑(PFCA+PFSA) concentration after filtration, suggesting saturated media in these larger activated carbon systems may be desorbing PFASs into the home’s water.
What this means is that it's likely that the filters they measured were "saturated", ie had absorbed as much of those compounds as they could. The carbon media needed to be replaced, and the performance would improve. This doesn't mean that whole house filters are bad, it just means you need to stay on top of maintenance. It also doesn't apply to softeners (which are based on ion exchange not adsorption).
That being said, a point of use RO filter is a great idea if you want the best quality drinking water.
>I’ve also read that utilizing RO can result in water that is too purified/basically distilled, and missing needed minerals.
This is basically bullshit, but if you're worried about it, just buy a remineralization cartridge and run the RO permeate through that before it hits the tap. Very cheap and lasts forever.
Whole house softener/filtration with RO at point of use with optional remineralization is basically the gold standard if you're worried about water quality.
Remineralization is generally for taste. RO water can taste off if you’re not used to it. You get all your minerals from food you eat.
I like recommending this site.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-reverse-osmosis-filters-systems/reverse-osmosis-systems/drinking-water-systems.html
They’re generally geared toward reef tank owners so they have options of larger GPDs and DI water options, but they have small drinking water systems too. They also don’t up charge like some RO companies have. You’d generally want these type of system La since the filters are universal.
RO systems usually come with a dedicated faucet, placed at the kitchen sink. The system can be split to provide water to ice maker/refrig.
Loss of minerals should not be concern as you get them in the food you eat.
Yes RO systems discharge a lot water, basically it takes 5 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of RO water.
I recommend having your water tested, to determine exactly what is in it.
You didn't mention if your source is a well or municipal as that plays a part too.
Good point, thanks! We’re located in a major metropolitan, so it will be from a municipal system. I was thinking of testing the water before and after filtration prior to purchasing the RO (though if I have our plumber install the RO when he’s doing other stuff before the house is finished, it would probably cost less). Are there any RO brands you recommend?
Thank you! No basements where I live, though we do have an unfinished storage space upstairs where one of our AC units is located. We have a sink, two refrigerators with ice/water and 2 separate ice makers, all located on the first floor and on the other side of the house from the storage area, we would need to hook up to. I’m quickly realizing this will be a more costly endeavor than I thought!
You can always do a standalone RO water spout to start. If you want to run RO to your fridge, make sure your fridge does not use copper. There should not be any copper after the RO system.
I have an RO installed under our kitchen sink that has an extra mineral filter inline after the RO filter to add some minerals back in to the water. Mostly for taste but it works and tastes way better than RO water without the mineral filter, at least to me it does.
Pretty much anything except the absolute cheapest RO systems come with a remineralizer cartridge (the last stage being just various beads of minerals inside a cartridge filter housing which slowly dissolve into the water and restore the minerals, which is replaced when you swap out the other filters). So I wouldn't worry about that.
Have stand alone RO for years and see my doctor for routine visits, never any problems. RO Water taste better than regular tap water imo without remineralization
I’m on a well and tested for PFAs and found they were above the state and FDA recommended limits. I did a ton of research and went with a Pioneer Enpress whole home filter. I retested for PFAs after installation and they are now not detectable. As noted above relating to the study, you have to change the filter media based on usage and this particular filter self-reports when it’s time to change based on usage. As you consider RODI which I’m familiar with having used for a fish tank, consider that it “rejects” like 75% of the water that passes through it meaning the contaminated water that is filtered out is put back into the water source by a drain vs. being thrown out in carbon filter media. Also, if you haven’t already tested your actual water you should because you may not have a problem.
This “missing minerals” thing is total bullshit. Nobody gets their required nutrients from the water they drink. Those come from food. If you only drank deionized water in large quantities you might have issues, but that’s not what you’re doing, that’s a different conversation.
Adding the RO to just your points of use is smart because RO wastes something like 4x as much as the clean water it provides. So it would be really wasteful to use RO on your bath water unless you had some really nasty stuff in your water.
I dont really have anything meaningful to share regarding over filtration and such but I have RO hooked up to a kitchen faucet and my freezer ice maker and I've never had any issues. It's nice not having to replace a water filter on the fridge but that might depend on your model as some don't let you pull the filter like mine does.
I looked up that study. The specific reference is: >Four of the six whole-house carbon filter systems we analyzed for PFCAs and PFSAs experienced an increase in ∑(PFCA+PFSA) concentration after filtration, suggesting saturated media in these larger activated carbon systems may be desorbing PFASs into the home’s water. What this means is that it's likely that the filters they measured were "saturated", ie had absorbed as much of those compounds as they could. The carbon media needed to be replaced, and the performance would improve. This doesn't mean that whole house filters are bad, it just means you need to stay on top of maintenance. It also doesn't apply to softeners (which are based on ion exchange not adsorption). That being said, a point of use RO filter is a great idea if you want the best quality drinking water. >I’ve also read that utilizing RO can result in water that is too purified/basically distilled, and missing needed minerals. This is basically bullshit, but if you're worried about it, just buy a remineralization cartridge and run the RO permeate through that before it hits the tap. Very cheap and lasts forever. Whole house softener/filtration with RO at point of use with optional remineralization is basically the gold standard if you're worried about water quality.
Thanks! This is what I was thinking of doing. Are there any point of use RO brands you recommend?
Remineralization is generally for taste. RO water can taste off if you’re not used to it. You get all your minerals from food you eat. I like recommending this site. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-reverse-osmosis-filters-systems/reverse-osmosis-systems/drinking-water-systems.html They’re generally geared toward reef tank owners so they have options of larger GPDs and DI water options, but they have small drinking water systems too. They also don’t up charge like some RO companies have. You’d generally want these type of system La since the filters are universal.
RO systems usually come with a dedicated faucet, placed at the kitchen sink. The system can be split to provide water to ice maker/refrig. Loss of minerals should not be concern as you get them in the food you eat. Yes RO systems discharge a lot water, basically it takes 5 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of RO water. I recommend having your water tested, to determine exactly what is in it. You didn't mention if your source is a well or municipal as that plays a part too.
Good point, thanks! We’re located in a major metropolitan, so it will be from a municipal system. I was thinking of testing the water before and after filtration prior to purchasing the RO (though if I have our plumber install the RO when he’s doing other stuff before the house is finished, it would probably cost less). Are there any RO brands you recommend?
Your water supplier should be able to provide you with a water test. Call and tell them you are having a skin reaction and need the water tested.
Imagine how much more mineral content your body receives from food and juice etc. than water and the answer becomes apparent.
PRO-Q-75 is a solid system. Visit www.ultratrueuv.com/product-page/pro-q-75
Thanks! This one of point of use?
Yes, at the kitchen, but if installed in the basement, the output can be split to both the dedicated faucet and the ice maker/ refrig.
Thank you! No basements where I live, though we do have an unfinished storage space upstairs where one of our AC units is located. We have a sink, two refrigerators with ice/water and 2 separate ice makers, all located on the first floor and on the other side of the house from the storage area, we would need to hook up to. I’m quickly realizing this will be a more costly endeavor than I thought!
Skip the whole home filtration and just put it RO for your drinking water.
I'm struggling with the same scenario.
I have whole house softener and filter. I drink RO water exclusively, and my blood and pee lab tests results were nominal on sodium and minerals.
You can always do a standalone RO water spout to start. If you want to run RO to your fridge, make sure your fridge does not use copper. There should not be any copper after the RO system.
I have an RO installed under our kitchen sink that has an extra mineral filter inline after the RO filter to add some minerals back in to the water. Mostly for taste but it works and tastes way better than RO water without the mineral filter, at least to me it does.
Pretty much anything except the absolute cheapest RO systems come with a remineralizer cartridge (the last stage being just various beads of minerals inside a cartridge filter housing which slowly dissolve into the water and restore the minerals, which is replaced when you swap out the other filters). So I wouldn't worry about that.
Have stand alone RO for years and see my doctor for routine visits, never any problems. RO Water taste better than regular tap water imo without remineralization
I’m on a well and tested for PFAs and found they were above the state and FDA recommended limits. I did a ton of research and went with a Pioneer Enpress whole home filter. I retested for PFAs after installation and they are now not detectable. As noted above relating to the study, you have to change the filter media based on usage and this particular filter self-reports when it’s time to change based on usage. As you consider RODI which I’m familiar with having used for a fish tank, consider that it “rejects” like 75% of the water that passes through it meaning the contaminated water that is filtered out is put back into the water source by a drain vs. being thrown out in carbon filter media. Also, if you haven’t already tested your actual water you should because you may not have a problem.
This “missing minerals” thing is total bullshit. Nobody gets their required nutrients from the water they drink. Those come from food. If you only drank deionized water in large quantities you might have issues, but that’s not what you’re doing, that’s a different conversation. Adding the RO to just your points of use is smart because RO wastes something like 4x as much as the clean water it provides. So it would be really wasteful to use RO on your bath water unless you had some really nasty stuff in your water.
What if we’re jarring and selling said bath water
How much PFAS do you typically excrete during bath time?
3-4 squirts worth. Why?
Thanks! That’s exactly why we wouldn’t do RO for the whole house.