Reverse Osmosis Water: Pros & Cons (2023 Guide)

With nearly two million Americans living without basic access to safe drinking water and another 40% of Americans further filtering tap water at home, water filtration systems have become an important part of many U.S. households.

Though a massive number of cities and towns already use reverse osmosis systems for municipal water and in most places in the U.S. tap water is safe to drink, many homeowners seek additional water purification to make sure the water they drink is safe. Some of the benefits of a reverse osmosis water filtration system include:

1. Reverse Osmosis Filters Nearly All Contaminants

Unlike other forms of water filtration, reverse osmosis is considered one of the most all-around effective ways of eliminating water contaminants. Even residential-grade reverse osmosis filters can remove up to 99% of lead, asbestos and 82 other additional contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems have ended boil water advisories in communities across the world by safely treating the drinking water where traditional water filtration systems did not work.

The microscopic nature of a reverse osmosis filter membrane can filter out not only the larger contaminants most water filtration systems catch, but it can actually remove dissolved substances and minerals from within the water. This is because the membrane essentially strips the water down to basic molecules as it passes through.

2. Significantly Better for the Environment and Safer than Bottled Water

For communities for which the only other option for drinking water comes from disposable plastic bottles, reverse osmosis may be a safer and more environmentally friendly option. Though reverse osmosis wastes a lot of water (see disadvantages below), piling plastic water bottles up in landfills and polluting during the production of plastic may not be any better.

The quality of water in bottled water has been put into question in the last few years because while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strictly regulates and supervises the quality of tap water, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has much lighter restrictions on bottled water.

3. Mineral-Less Water May Be Necessary for Certain Uses

While the ultra-purified reverse osmosis water may be more than necessary for households already provided with clean tap water, certain water uses may benefit from water filtered through reverse osmosis. For example, chefs have noticed water filtered with reverse osmosis make cooking taste better since it lacks the presence of minerals, including municipally-added fluoride.

Pet owners who raise fish and/or coral in home aquariums may want to invest in reverse osmosis systems to only give aquatic pets the purest water, free of human contaminants or added minerals.

Do you know where your home’s water comes from? Most properties in the U.S. rely on either a well water system or city water. If you’re on a well water system, more maintenance may be required to keep your precious H2O clean.

More than 15 million homes rely on wells for their drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of these households are in rural areas using their own systems, but some get their well water through municipalities that use wells as a public water source, according to David Henrich, a certified drilling expert and former president of the National Ground Water Association.

Being on a well system means all of the water you pump is free. Score, right? However, the maintenance and quality of that water system is entirely up to you.

But like any other feature in your home—from the heating and cooling system to your major appliances—you can keep everything running smoothly with a bit of preventive care and careful attention.

Here are five things you need to be doing if your home happens to have a well water system.

1. Get your water tested annually

Wells are prone to contamination, so regular testing of your water quality is tantamount to your health.

Home expert Dan DiClerico of HomeAdvisor recommends having a water test done once a year to check for coliform bacteria, nitrates, iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides, and any other potential contaminants in your area.

If you’re in an area prone to flooding, you might need to have your water tested more frequently or after flooding, says Henrich.

You can also test your own water with kits from most hardware stores after a flooding incident. These kits ($34.95, Amazon) allow you to take a sample, which you mail into a testing facility. The facility will contact you with the results.

2. Get your system inspected each year, too

While you’re testing your water quality, it’s usually easiest to have your whole system checked. These maintenance checks are also recommended annually to ensure your well and, more importantly, your well pump are working flawlessly.

An annual inspection will cost about $100 to $200 and will involve an inspection of the visible components of these systems.

“A professional is going to be looking for any signs of settling or cracking, which is going to expose the well to contaminants that are out there, from fertilizer to stormwater, which carries harmful bacteria,” DiClerico says.

And while an inspection might sound pricey, a full-system replacement and even a minor repair can cost much more.

“It can cost between $500 and $1,000 for the average repair,” he says. “And for a replacement, it’s probably twice as much.”

A well can last for decades if it’s not compromised by flooding, and a well water pump has about a 25-year life span, so regular maintenance can save you from having to replace it prematurely.

3. Check your water softener

Hard water is a broad term used for any water with a high mineral content. These minerals can easily sit on porous surfaces and soak in, leaving behind a colored build-up.

Your water softener is what helps to combat that mineral content, which in turn helps you to avoid mineral build-up and hard water stains. It includes a brine tank that uses regular salt to maintain a good mineral content in the water. You’ll have to check the salt level and replace it each month depending on your water usage.

4. Avoid hard water stains

If you have hard water, you’ve likely noticed unsightly orange or yellow water stains in your porcelain sink, your toilets, or your shower tile.

Some home improvement experts recommend using a squeegee after each shower to remove water from your tile before stains can set in, but DiClerico and Henrich agree it’s not the best option.

Rather than spending that kind of time to prevent stains, DiClerico suggests improving your water with a water softening system, which will significantly reduce or eliminate those stains. Plus, soft water is easier on your appliances.

“If you don’t have one already, it can be a few thousand dollars to have one installed,” he said. “Some companies will lease them, which makes it more affordable.”

If you’re trying to treat hard water stains left by a previous homeowner, you can always opt for the proven method of scrubbing with white vinegar and baking soda.

5. Improve your drinking water

Does your drinking water ever smell like rotten eggs? It could indicate the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas with an unpleasant odor. Installing an affordable under-cabinet or countertop filter will usually do the trick, DiClerico says.

But if you find that a filter isn’t cutting it, contact a well water system contractor to get to the root of the problem.