Filtration Technology

10 Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Systems

5 min read

Out with the bad and in with the good!

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems protect your health and home from bad water.

The great ones also add electrolytes and balance pH.

Let’s take a closer look at why reverse osmosis is the Cadillac of water filtration systems...

ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAYS

Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filtration systems offer arguably the most effective filtration available in your home.


RO systems have multiple stages that remove hundreds of toxins and contaminants found in your water, including nuclear waste, arsenic, chlorine and even lead.


The filtration process leaves you with crystal clean water.


The best RO systems have a 'remineralization' stage that adds essential minerals, and raises the water's pH making it alkaline.

What Is a Reverse Osmosis System?

Reverse osmosis uses concentrated pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane.

This membrane has teeny-tiny pores, so tiny that even micro-sized water contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides can’t pass through.

When it’s all said and done, you’re left with nothing but clean water on one side and pollutants on the other. 

The clean water travels to a storage tank and the filthy water exits out the waste drain. 

But RO systems use more than just reverse osmosis…

The stages of filtration include:

  • Sediment filter for big debris and discoloration
  • Carbon filters for chlorine and other disinfectants
  • Ion exchange for excess minerals 
  • Reverse osmosis for the hardest-to-remove contaminants
  • Remineralization to add healthy minerals and balance pH

Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Systems

What can reverse osmosis do for you and your home?

As it turns out, there are at least ten big benefits: 

  1. Removes sediment and discoloration
  2. Filters chemical disinfectants, like chlorine
  3. Removes contaminants like lead, arsenic, pesticides and nuclear waste
  4. Protects your pipes from “hard” water
  5. Remineralizes with magnesium, calcium and other electrolytes
  6. Alkalizes and balances pH
  7. Improves taste
  8. Limits plastic water bottle consumption 
  9. Makes local waste treatment more efficient
  10. Easy to maintain and fits under the kitchen sink

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of RO systems in action...

1. Removes Sediment and Discoloration

The first step of an RO system is a sediment filter to remove the big stuff like rust, dirt and other solid particles. 

This step alone makes a huge difference because it clears up the cloudiness and discoloration. 

At the same time, the sediment filter extends the lifespan of the system by protecting it from damaging debris. 

2. Removes Chemical Disinfectants

After the sediment filter, the carbon filter kicks some serious chlorine booty.

Municipal treatment centers love adding chlorine and other chemical disinfectants to their water. These chemicals were found in the water supplies serving over 250 Million households.

Sure, it prevents disease outbreaks and destroys harmful bacteria, but it also damages your body’s cells. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Long-term chlorine consumption has been linked to increased risk of cancer. When mixed with other chemicals found in tap water chlorine can create "disinfectant byproducts" which have strong ties to kidney, bladder, liver and intestinal cancers, and may harm fetal development.

Thanks, but no thanks!

Plus, chlorine leaves behind a bitter taste, unpleasant smell, and can irritate the skin. 

3. Removes Dangerous Pollutants

The public water system is a minefield of dangerous pollutants like arsenic, pesticides, lead and nuclear waste.

These compounds have no place in your family’s drinking water, yet they’re flowing through taps across the country.

Texas is one of the worst states for nuclear waste---roughly 80% of their water supply is contaminated with radon, uranium and other nuclear particles!

Ion exchange resins are the third phase of most RO systems, and they help to remove polyfluorinated substances (PFAs), heavy metals and hard minerals.

The RO filter, however, does the real heavy lifting. 

After the ion exchange stage, the RO membrane removes:

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Nuclear particles
  • Herbicides
  • Pesticides
  • Fluoride
  • Bacteria
  • Arsenic 
  • Radium
  • Lead

It also nabs any chlorine and PFAs that may have snuck by the carbon filter.

Check the toxins in your tap

Did you know all of these nasty toxins could be floating around in your tap water? Check out the cloud water quality score to see how your municipal tap water stacks up.

5. Remineralizes Your Water

Not all RO systems are a slam dunk, but the ones that are go the extra mile and remineralize your water. 

Although excess calcium and magnesium are bad for pipes, a certain amount is essential to human health. 

In fact, every cell in the body depends on minerals to produce energy and expel waste. 

You need them to grow, think, feel and function. 

Drinking water that’s low in magnesium and calcium has been shown to increase the risk of premature birth, heart disease and bone fractures.

Some RO systems skip remineralization, but Cloud Filters add the perfect amount of calcium and magnesium to fuel your cells. 

6. Alkalizes Your Water

The remineralization process also alkalizes the water and balances pH

Although more research is needed, early studies suggest that alkaline water (pH 8.5-9) may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, acid reflux and diabetes. 

As a frame of reference, pure water without any minerals or chemicals has a pH of 7. 

However, the disinfection process used in treatment plants pushes it towards the acidic end (below pH 7). 

Thankfully, remineralization leaves your water perfectly alkaline. 

7. Improves Taste

By the time water exits an RO system, it tastes mmmm, mmmm good!

The sediment filter removes discoloration, the carbon filter removes stanky chlorine, the ion exchange resins soften the water, and the RO membrane removes nuclear waste. 

When it’s all said and done, all that’s left is nutritious, drink-a-licious agua. 

Bottoms up!

8. Limits Plastic Water Bottle Consumption

Compared to bottled water, reverse osmosis water straight from the tap is a lot more environmentally-friendly. 

The bottom line is, bottled water is bad for you and the environment. 

Although most bottled water is purified through reverse osmosis, it’s packaged in plastic that leaches bisphenol-a (BPAs). 

BPAs disrupt hormone production and don’t have any business being in your body.

Plus, when plastic bottles break down they leave behind microplastics that can never be removed from waterways and oceans. 

To make matters worse, you have to burn fossil fuels in order to ship water bottles to the store. 

By the time that bottle reaches your hand, it’s left behind one nasty carbon footprint.  

9. Makes Local Waste Treatment More Efficient

In-home reverse osmosis systems lighten the load on treatment plants. 

When reverse osmosis water drains from your house, it’s already free of certain chemicals, and the leftover brine water contains a more manageable concentration of dissolved inorganics. 

Ultimately, this helps speed up the municipal recycling process.

10. Easy to Maintain and Fits Under the Kitchen Sink

Reverse osmosis systems have come a long way over the years. 

Now they fit right under the kitchen sink and are easy to maintain. 

Cloud Water Filters use an app that allows you to monitor your water quality in real time. 

When it’s time to replace a membrane, a new one is automatically sent right to your door. 

Studies show that polluted drinking water can unleash hell on your child’s developing brain, not to mention wreak havoc on your home. 

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution. 

Click here to learn more. 

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