I know that  reverse osmosis systems can be confusing, because there's a lot of different information and varying opinions. But, if you read the Environmental Protection Agency's recommendations, you will see that residential reverse osmosis systems are only suggested as one option for cyst removal.


Cysts are microscopic organisms that cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting, loss of appetite and other unpleasant symptoms. A strong person may only be sick for a few days, but a person with a weakened immune system or a small child can die from the infection.


For chlorine removal, the EPA recommends activated carbon. Now, some residential reverse osmosis systems include a carbon granule step, but many do not. It is typically an "additional option."


There are a number of contaminants that the EPA is not particularly concerned with, primarily, because they don't cause "immediate" illness. If you want to protect your long- term health, however, you should be concerned about those contaminants.


Consider the heavy metal lead, for example. The EPA has created a "federal action level" for lead content, which simply means that if a facility determines that the levels have risen above the action level, steps must be taken to correct the problem.


Reverse osmosis systems residential products only reduce lead to the federal action level, but there is really no safe level for lead consumption. The metal builds up in the body overtime, causing heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and other long-term health problems. Not to mention the effect that it has on the human brain.