Reverse Osmosis vs. Distilled Water \xa0 Bothreverse osmosis (RO) systemsandwater distillersare renowned for their ability to reduce a variety of contaminants in water. From chlorine and chloramines to heavy metals and microbiological contaminants, reverse osmosis systems and water distillers offer some of the most comprehensive contaminant reduction on the market. But this is about where their similarities end! RO systems and distillers differ in how they filter water, their efficiency, and their costs. We’ll walk you through the basics of both and help you decide which is the best fit for your home.
Filtration methods:
Reverse osmosis:RO systems contain three stages: a sediment filter, an activated carbon filter, and a semi-permeable membrane. RO uses pressure to push water through the membrane, where tiny pores trap contaminants.
Water distillers:Distillation mimics how water is purified in nature: through evaporation in the atmosphere. Water distillers convert water into steam, eliminating contaminants because they cannot turn into steam as water can. Once the water returns to its liquid form, it is contaminant-free.
Efficiency:
Reverse osmosis:An average home reverse osmosis system can filter about 50 gallons of water per day. RO systems filter enough water to use daily for drinking, cooking, washing the dishes, and other household tasks.
Water distillers:Water distillers purify water much slower than RO systems. An average countertop distiller can produce about six gallons of water per day. While this is enough for a person’s daily water intake, it’s not fast enough to be used for cooking and other home applications.
Cost:
Reverse osmosis:Reverse osmosis systems cost between \\$200 and \\$1,200, depending on the number of filter stages and GPD (gallons per day) rating. The operating costs of an RO system also involve purchasing new filter cartridges twice a year, averaging between \\$50-\\$200.
Water distillers:Home water distillers cost between \\$600 and \\$4,000, depending on the system’s size and efficiency. While there are no filter replacements to consider, electricity takes up most of a distiller’s operating costs – about 30 cents per gallon of distilled water.
Keep reading to learn more about these impressive systems! If you have any further questions, ourwater expertsare always here to help. | 
