How to Remineralize Reverse Osmosis Water Using Sea Salt?
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Apr 26, 2023
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Not all kinds of salt are created equal. Gone are the days when everyone used the bright white iodized table salt; now, you can find salt in every color, and from some fascinating locations!
Like sea salts, for example. These salts tend to contain a lot more beneficial nutrients and plenty of trace minerals considered essential for human health.
Does that mean we can use them to remineralize our reverse osmosis water? It seems like a simple solution, so let’s see how it is done and weigh the pros and cons.
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Key Takeaways
Here is how to remineralize reverse osmosis water using sea salt:
- Check the mineral content of the sea salt you are purchasing.
- Ensure the salt is finely ground.
- Extract the water from your RO faucet into a gallon storage container.
- Add ¼ to ½ a teaspoon of the salt and stir.
- Let it sit a little while to ensure it is dissolved, and then use the water as needed.
How to Remineralize Reverse Osmosis Water Using Sea Salt?
So, how to remineralize reverse osmosis water using sea salt?
The suggested way to remineralize your reverse osmosis water with sea salt will depend on the mineral content of the sea salt you are using as well as your desired remineralization outcomes. A general guideline is to use ¼ to ½ a teaspoon of sea salt per gallon of reverse osmosis water.
There are different seas and salts; some are much more nutrient dense than others. For example, dead sea salt is more mineral-rich than other sea salts but has a higher sodium content than Himalayan salt.
Besides, ensure you purchase the finely ground salt, as the rock forms are hard for the water to dissolve. Once you have added the salt to the gallon container of RO water, let it sit for a little while so it can adequately disperse into the water. Preparing the gallon container in advance is best, so you always have some on hand.
Where to Buy Mineral-Rich Sea Salt
You can buy sea salt at specialty supermarkets and health stores, but your best bet for variety and price is to order it online.
The most important thing is to check the salt’s mineral content. Some will be much better than others, and you need to find a good source that supplies all the important minerals (more on this below). Dead sea salt and Mediterranean sea salt are often good ones from unpolluted sources.
Other Ways to Remineralize RO Water
- Pink Himalayan salt is an alternative salt to remineralize RO water with. It can contain over 80 trace minerals and is widely available, though the jury is out on whether or not the small amount you use can effectively remineralize a gallon of water.
- Adding a remineralization step to your existing water filtration system is possible, provided that your system is compatible with customizations. The post-filter will add essential nutrients back into the reverse osmosis water, and you don’t have to worry about adding them in yourself manually.
- Mineral drops are another option to add electrolytes back into your water. These are specially formulated with a blend of minerals to help you avoid adding too much of something and not enough of something else. It is important not to add excessive amounts and follow the instructions on the label.
- Alkaline filter pitchers are an easy way to adjust your RO water’s pH and add some minerals back in. Simply fill the pitcher from the RO faucet and let the water move through the filtration steps, and you are ready to go. The only downside is ensuring it is always full so you can always have water on hand.
Further Reading:
Pros & Cons of Remineralizing RO Water with Sea Salt
Using sea salt to remineralize reverse osmosis water does have some drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that you must be careful if you have too much sodium in your diet, as adding salt to water can further increase this.
The other disadvantage is that there is no conclusive evidence that this method is effective, and you may need 30 grams or more salt to remineralize water properly. This is far too much sodium not only for your health but for taste!
The pros of remineralizing RO water with sea salt are that it is an accessible, cheap, and easy way to balance the flavor of your water and add some minerals back in, as opposed to other, more expensive methods like mineral drops and filter pitchers.
How Does RO Water Purification Remove Minerals?
RO systems removes minerals by pushing feed water through various filters. The first filter is typically a sediment filter which removes large particles like rust and dirt. The next stage is an activated carbon filter, eliminating things like chlorine, and the third is the reverse osmosis membrane, where most minerals are filtered out.
The reverse osmosis membrane has tiny pores 0.0001 microns in size, which is too small for most minerals to fit through, so when the water is moving through the membrane, the minerals get stuck and cannot pass through with the H2O. They are then flushed away with waste water and other impurities.
An RO membrane is not discriminatory, and it works on size exclusion. It does not know that it is removing minerals that might be good for you. It simply blocks any dissolved solids, which include both harmful contaminants and beneficial ones.
Minerals Naturally Found in Drinking Water
According to the WHO, the essential minerals most commonly found in water supplies are:
- Chlorine
- Phosphorus
- Molybdenum
- Fluorine
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Ferrous iron
- Copper
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Iodine
- Selenium
- Iodothyronine
- Selenocysteine
- Boron
- Chromium
- Nickel
- Silicon
- Vanadium
If you have any questions about remineralizing reverse osmosis water with sea salt please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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