The Difference Between Reverse Osmosis and Distilled Water

Reverse osmosis (RO) and distilled water are both highly effective water purification methods, each with its own unique process and set of advantages, particularly for household use. Understanding their differences and the specific benefits of reverse osmosis systems is crucial in determining why they might be a better option for the average household.

Reverse Osmosis: Scientific Process

Principle: Reverse osmosis is based on the principle of osmosis but in reverse. Osmosis is a natural process where water moves across a semi-permeable membrane from a lower-concentration solution to a higher-concentration one. Reverse osmosis applies external pressure to reverse this natural flow.
Membrane Function: The key component of reverse osmosis is the semi-permeable membrane. This membrane has extremely tiny pores, about 0.0001 microns in size. These pores are small enough to allow water molecules to pass through but block larger molecules and ions, such as salts, minerals, and other impurities.
Pressure Application: In reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to the water on one side of the membrane. This pressure must be greater than the naturally occurring osmotic pressure in order to reverse the flow of water. When this happens, water molecules are forced through the membrane to the lower concentration side.
Contaminant Rejection: As water passes through the membrane, contaminants that are too large to fit through the pores are left behind and eventually flushed away. This includes a wide range of contaminants, from bacteria and viruses to chemical impurities like fluoride and nitrates.

Distillation: Scientific Process

Boiling and Evaporation: Distillation begins with boiling the water. When water is heated to its boiling point, it turns into vapor, leaving most impurities behind in the liquid phase. This is because the impurities generally have higher boiling points than water.
Condensation: The water vapor is then directed into a cooling chamber. As the vapor cools, it condenses back into liquid form. Since most contaminants do not evaporate along with the water, the condensed liquid is much purer than the original water.
Separation of Contaminants: The process effectively separates substances based on their boiling points. However, certain chemicals that have lower or similar boiling points to water, like some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can also vaporize and condense along with the water. This can be addressed with additional purification steps, such as carbon filtration.
Energy Requirement: The process of distillation requires a significant amount of energy to heat the water to boiling and then cool the vapor back into liquid. This makes it less energy-efficient compared to reverse osmosis.

Key Differences in Processes

Mechanism: Reverse osmosis relies on a semi-permeable membrane and pressure, whereas distillation relies on phase change (liquid to gas and back to liquid).
Energy Usage: Reverse osmosis is generally more energy-efficient, using pressure to force water through a membrane, while distillation requires a lot of energy to heat and cool water.
Contaminant Removal: While both methods are effective at removing a wide range of contaminants, their efficacy varies depending on the type of impurity. Reverse osmosis is highly effective against a wide range of dissolved solids and larger molecules, while distillation is more effective against impurities with higher boiling points than water.
Time Efficiency: Reverse osmosis can provide purified water more quickly and continuously compared to the slower process of distillation.
Wastewater Generation: Reverse osmosis generates wastewater in the process, while distillation does not, but consumes more energy.

Understanding these fundamental differences in the scientific and chemical processes of reverse osmosis and distillation helps to appreciate why reverse osmosis is often favored for household water purification. Its efficiency, effectiveness in removing a broad spectrum of contaminants, and relative energy efficiency make it a practical and popular choice for many homes.

Contaminant Removal:
- Both methods are effective at removing up to 99.9% of total dissolved solids (TDS) from water, but their efficacy in removing specific contaminants varies. RO systems may struggle with certain VOCs, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, while distilled water might contain traces of chemicals, metals, and particles with high vapor pressure like mercury.
Energy and Time Efficiency:
- RO Systems: Provide near-instant access to purified water, powered by water pressure or an electric pump.
- Distilled Water: Takes significantly longer to produce, typically 5-6 hours for a single gallon, making it less convenient for instant access.
Cost:
- RO Systems: Generally more expensive upfront, ranging from $550 to $1,000 or more, with additional costs for filter changes every 6-24 months.
- Distilled Water Systems: Have a lower upfront cost (around $200-$650) but also incur ongoing costs, including electricity and optional carbon post-filters.
Wastewater Generation:
- RO Systems: Produce wastewater, with some water wasted during the purification process (1-4 gallons of wastewater per gallon of purified water).
- Distilled Water: Does not generate wastewater but consumes more energy due to the boiling process.

Why Reverse Osmosis Systems Are Preferable for Households

Efficiency and Convenience: RO systems provide quick and continuous access to purified water, making them more convenient for regular household use, especially when immediate access to clean water is needed.
Removal of Contaminants: Capable of removing a wide range of contaminants, RO systems are highly effective in ensuring safe drinking water, often exceeding the purification levels of average carbon filters.
Improved Taste and Odor: By removing contaminants that affect the taste and smell of water, RO systems offer better-quality, better-tasting water, which is preferred for drinking and cooking.
Low Maintenance: Once installed, RO systems require minimal maintenance, mainly involving periodic filter changes. Some systems consolidate filtration stages into fewer filters, further reducing maintenance efforts.
Variety and Adaptability: A wide range of RO system types are available, including under-sink, whole-house, and countertop units, each with unique features to suit different needs and preferences.
Health and Hydration: The availability of good-tasting water from RO systems encourages higher water consumption, contributing to better hydration and overall health.
Cost-Effectiveness: Over time, RO systems are more economical compared to buying bottled water, offering high-quality water at a fraction of the cost per gallon.
Better Cooking Quality: Using RO water in cooking can enhance the flavor of food by eliminating the taste of chemicals, metals, and other impurities commonly found in tap water.
Environmental Impact: While RO systems do generate wastewater, newer models are more efficient, and the overall reduction in bottled water usage contributes positively to environmental conservation.

Conclusion

While both reverse osmosis and distilled water systems are effective in purifying water, reverse osmosis systems offer several advantages that make them a more suitable choice for the average household. Their efficiency, convenience, range of options, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness, combined with the added health benefits and environmental considerations, make them a preferable choice for ensuring safe and high-quality water at home.