I was reading a thread on RO/DI and it was talking about how good RO water is but it does not recommend drinking RO/DI. Why is this? I have my RO/DI hooked under the sink and plumbed into my ice maker and the cubes area so clear! So why are you not supposed to drink it?
Dont drink DI water????
- Thread starter jbpig
- Start date
I was told the same, no DI for drinking, RO fine. It causes more then a loss of electrolytes if I'm not mistaken. I have a really busy high end water shop in town that carries additives for RO/DI to replace all the important contents. I'll give them a call and get the shpeal from then and post it.
I'd be extremely worried if someone was relying on the water they drink for electrolytes. As far as I'm concerned, it's an old wive's tale. The food you eat should be more than sufficient for that. Stop and think about it for a moment.... Athletes don't drink water for quick electrolyte replacement - they drink Powerade, Gatorade, or something similar.
One of the older reasons for not drinking RO/DI was the lack of flouride you'd get from municipal drinking water, since it would be stripped out. How important that is to you would have to be decided on an individual basis.
Most of the more common sense taboos I've seen about drinking RO or RO/DI are more related to bacterial growth in the unit. Units designed for the aquaria hobby likely do not contain any anti-bacterial agents to prevent growth, hence their labelling "not for drinking water use". Again, I think most of the problem there can be avoided by simply discarding (for drinking water use, at least) the first few gallons that run throught the unit during each usage. Essentially, flushing the remaining water from the last usage.
One of the older reasons for not drinking RO/DI was the lack of flouride you'd get from municipal drinking water, since it would be stripped out. How important that is to you would have to be decided on an individual basis.
Most of the more common sense taboos I've seen about drinking RO or RO/DI are more related to bacterial growth in the unit. Units designed for the aquaria hobby likely do not contain any anti-bacterial agents to prevent growth, hence their labelling "not for drinking water use". Again, I think most of the problem there can be avoided by simply discarding (for drinking water use, at least) the first few gallons that run throught the unit during each usage. Essentially, flushing the remaining water from the last usage.
My RO/DI is a typhoon III from airwaterice and it has a quick flush valve and a RO only valve for those exact reasons, I drink the RO only that comes off of it and I quick flush my filters before each use. These came on the unit already but by looking at it, it wouldn't be very hard to add them to any RO/DI unit.
Chucker":37pipasi said:
Kevin,
I'm very willing to believe that you are right. It's not been explained as "losing an opportunity to ingest electrolytes because the water you are drinking contains no electrolytes". It's explained as "losing electrolytes directly from your body because of the osmotic differential of consuming the purified water". The more you think about it the less sense it makes though.
I can tell you that the stuff tastes crummy because of lack of minerals, and especially the lack of sodium. But it makes really good coffee, tea, Kool-Aid and any powdered drink mix.
This "drinking DI" issue comes up periodically.
Most may have a RO/DI filter under the sink, but for drinking water, only the RO portion is tee off for dispense in a properly installed unit.
Anyway, the issue with drinking DI is that most of the resin is not NSF certified, and therefore, the water is not suitable for human consumption. There are some resin that are certified for potable water, but most people don't use it.
The myth about lack of mineral is nothing but a myth. As I always say, if anyone is worried about the lack of mineral problem in a cup of DI water, just let me spit into the cup, and it will have more minerals than you ever needed. 8O
My point is that you really need to do a lot to keep the purity of the DI water, since even a clean glassware will have enough ion residue that the purity is compromised. As soon as the DI reached your lip, it is not very pure any more.
Most may have a RO/DI filter under the sink, but for drinking water, only the RO portion is tee off for dispense in a properly installed unit.
Anyway, the issue with drinking DI is that most of the resin is not NSF certified, and therefore, the water is not suitable for human consumption. There are some resin that are certified for potable water, but most people don't use it.
The myth about lack of mineral is nothing but a myth. As I always say, if anyone is worried about the lack of mineral problem in a cup of DI water, just let me spit into the cup, and it will have more minerals than you ever needed. 8O
My point is that you really need to do a lot to keep the purity of the DI water, since even a clean glassware will have enough ion residue that the purity is compromised. As soon as the DI reached your lip, it is not very pure any more.
I'd rather filter my water as much as possible than trust the city water 100%. Last month I tested my tap water at over .25ppm ammonia and that lasted for a few weeks before it dropped off...that means for a few weeks people were drinking water that most of us wouldn't want to put in our aquariums. 8O
What ingredients are found in a BRITA Pitcher Filter?
* The BRITA Pitcher Filter contains activated carbon and an ion-exchange resin. All of the ingredients in the filter have been approved by NSF International.
* As you may know, activated carbon is widely used in the food and medical industry. Its function in BRITA Filters is to reduce the following: chlorine (taste and odor), sediment, benzene, tetrachloroethylene, and toluene. The activated carbon utilized is made from coconut shells that have been subjected to a special heating process that produces a large surface area capable of maximum adsorption. The carbon used in BRITA filters is accepted as “food grade” quality by the FDA.
* The ion-exchange resin acts like a magnet and eliminates 98% of lead while reducing the following: mercury, copper, cadmium, and zinc.
The contaminants or other substances removed or reduced by this water treatment device are not necessarily in all users’ water.
http://www.brita.com/227i.html
There are many different type of resin, and ion exchange resin does not mean it is deionization resine. For example, zeolite, a mineral, can be make into an ion exchange resin that often used in water treatment. I knew that you know the distinction between IE and DI, but just want to point it out so that others are aware of it.
Anyway, at one point, Brita did have silver to counteract bacteria film in the water (slimy film almost always form in any water container, even RO/DI bucket). Maybe they change the filter medium, and that would explain the contradiction between us.
Brita has only carbon and small amount of IE, so I don't expect the TDS to be significantly lower than the input water.
Anyway, at one point, Brita did have silver to counteract bacteria film in the water (slimy film almost always form in any water container, even RO/DI bucket). Maybe they change the filter medium, and that would explain the contradiction between us.
Brita has only carbon and small amount of IE, so I don't expect the TDS to be significantly lower than the input water.
In the 1960's, a study found that drinking 'soft' water - that is, water low in calcium and magnesium salts - increases your risk of heart disease. This finding continues to be validated in more recent studies: Masironi 1987 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3792502&dopt=Abstract); Pocock et al 1981 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7233165&dopt=Abstract)
Although many have argued that calcium and magnesium are present in many other dietary sources, there is evidence to suggest that the forms found in 'hard' water are more protective against cardiac disease.
Combined with the issues of bacterial growth in most RO/DI systems, I personally would not choose to drink purified water. Further, if you drink a lot of water, particularly after exercise, I imagine the gut would be exposed to a big osmotic difference - cells lining the gut might be subject to shock, rupture or loss of salts/sugars. The effect probably wouldn't be noticeable most of the time, but I personally avoid drinking RO/DI water.
Although many have argued that calcium and magnesium are present in many other dietary sources, there is evidence to suggest that the forms found in 'hard' water are more protective against cardiac disease.
Combined with the issues of bacterial growth in most RO/DI systems, I personally would not choose to drink purified water. Further, if you drink a lot of water, particularly after exercise, I imagine the gut would be exposed to a big osmotic difference - cells lining the gut might be subject to shock, rupture or loss of salts/sugars. The effect probably wouldn't be noticeable most of the time, but I personally avoid drinking RO/DI water.
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