Fact Check: Is RO Water Purifier Needed In Cuttack & Bhubaneswar?

Bhubaneswar: Reverse Osmosis or RO water purifiers are a popular choice in homes and offices today. Often marketed as a provider of the purest water, RO purifiers cost double of UV ones and 5 times that of a candle-based one. RO purifiers have, in recent years, faced the brunt of environmentalists who have pointed out how much water they waste and questioned whether they are actually required.

Last year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had approached the Supreme Court seeking a ban on RO filters in Delhi’s areas where the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) values are less than 500 per litre.

Experts also agree that RO filters are not required in places where TDS is low. Typically, RO is recommended for use in borewell water, and normal UV and other filtration systems are fine for municipal water.

However, it is best if you can test the TDS value of the water using a simple meter. Many-a-times, the TDS value of borewell water is also within the safe range (below 500 mg per litre). You can also ask most water purifier agents to do the test for you.

How much water do RO purifiers waste?

The water rejected by RO systems can be as high as 80 per cent. The NGT had demanded to keep the level under 60 per cent.

Is RO required in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar? 

Municipal water in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar has TDS values ranging between 70-120 according to our tests. You do not need RO purifiers if you are using municipal water. If you are using borewell water, then you need to test it. If the value is above 300-500, then you need to use RO filters.

Isn’t RO water ‘sabse sudh‘?

No, reverse osmosis can remove essential minerals as well. Plus, RO systems waste water by rejection and are hence damaging to the environment. The maintenance cost of RO filters is also greater than UV & candle ones, which has become an incentive for sellers to push them.

If not RO, then what?

It is recommended to use normal UV based water purifiers or BIS approved candle based ones if your TDS value is less than 500.