Sunday, 12 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Experts have warned against the prevalent belief that Reverse Osmosis (RO) water is the healthiest option, citing health risks such as kidney disorders. The consumption of RO water by residents of Dehradun has increased over time, with many considering it a pure and healthy drink. However, considering this experts pointed out that consuming water that has undergone the RO process can be harmful to human health, and the waste water produced by RO systems can also negatively impact soil health.
The craze for drinking RO water has increased among Dehradun residents for various reasons, including as a status symbol and habit.
Local resident Kiran Tyagi said that she has been using an RO system for drinking water for the past five years. Initially, they were not in favour of drinking RO water, but many of their neighbours started using it, which indirectly pushed them to use it as well. However, despite knowing the negative effects of RO water, she continues to use it because her entire family has become accustomed to it, she added.
“I have become so used to drinking RO water that even one day without it makes me impatient. My family and I have become so accustomed to it that regular tap water no longer satisfies us. However, since switching to RO water, we have noticed that our digestive systems can be disturbed due to the lack of minerals in the water,” said another local resident Sunil Rawat.
The secretary of the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) Brij Mohan Sharma said that the consumption of RO water is detrimental to human health. Water obtained from the RO filtration process has a low pH value and prolonged consumption of RO water can cause gastrointestinal troubles and increase the risk of kidney disorders. He further informed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that long-term RO water use can cause chronic gastritis. People with pre-existing digestive disorders are advised not to consume RO water as it can enhance acid reflux. Sharma further highlighted that the rejected water released from RO filtration directly gets into the soil, impacting the land quality and soil health. He advised people to avoid drinking RO water.
