Clean drinking water should be simple. Yet in the 21st century, we are surrounded by a confusing landscape of technologies that all promise the purest water possible. From carbon block filters and ionisers to distillers and reverse osmosis systems, each one is marketed as the gold standard. I have had countless conversations with clients on the matter and so in this article I will run through the wonderful world of water filters.
As a nutritionist and founder of ELIVIDE, my focus is on how water interacts with human biology. It is not enough for water to be low in contaminants. It also needs to be mineral balanced, hydrating, and physiologically compatible.
This is the philosophy behind our Clear Spiral Water Filtration System. In this article, I will explain why we do not recommend reverse osmosis water filters for everyday drinking, what the research and physiology tell us about very low TDS water, and why mineral retaining spiral filtration is the approach we stand behind.
Which Water Filter Should You Get?
There are many types of under sink water filters available today, and each one has a different mechanism and outcome. Here is a simple overview of the main categories you will encounter.
Simple Carbon Block Filters
Carbon block filters are often the first step into water filtration for most households. They use a carbon substrate with a very large surface area. As water passes through, contaminants adsorb onto the surface of the carbon.
What carbon block filters tend to do well:
- Reduce chlorine
- Reduce many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) & some PFAS
- Improve taste and odour
- Reduce some organic chemicals
The total dissolved solids (TDS) after carbon filtration usually remain high. That means minerals are still present, which is positive, but many modern contaminants will still be in your glass. Carbon is a helpful foundation, but it is not a complete solution.
Water Ionisers
Water ionisers use electrolysis. Water passes over positive and negative electrodes and is separated into alkaline and acidic fractions. Most units combine this with a basic carbon block filter.
Potential upsides:
- Some reduction in chlorine and organic compounds via the carbon stage
- Alkaline water marketing appeal
The TDS with ionisers may be medium to low depending on the starting water, but from a nutrition perspective, they do not resolve the key issue of modern contamination. You are often paying for electrical novelty rather than a meaningful functional improvement.
Water Distillers
Distillers work by heating water into vapor and then condensing that vapor back into liquid form. The idea is that non volatile contaminants are left behind, while the steam forms very pure water.
Strengths of distillation:
- Removes many bacteria and pathogens
- Removes many heavy metals including arsenic
- Produces very low TDS water
The TDS of distilled water is extremely low. From a lab or appliance point of view, that can be desirable. From a human physiology point of view, it is far from ideal as a daily hydration source.
Reverse Osmosis Filters
Reverse osmosis (RO) filters use pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane with extremely small pores. Nearly all dissolved solids, including beneficial minerals, are rejected.
What reverse osmosis water filters are good at:
- Removing most dissolved solids and lowering TDS
- Removing fluoride
- Removing many bacteria and parasites
- Removing many pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals
Key problems with reverse osmosis as a daily drinking water solution:
- Removes magnesium, calcium, bicarbonate and trace minerals
- Produces acidic water in many cases
- Creates very low TDS water that is chemically unstable
- Can increase urinary excretion of minerals as the water pulls ions from the body
- Often requires remineralisation cartridges that use inexpensive or synthetic mineral blends
- Produces large amounts of wastewater with each litre of drinking water made
At first glance, the purity looks amazing. The problem is that purity measured on a lab report does not automatically equal biological compatibility in a human body. That distinction is at the centre of why we do not recommend reverse osmosis water filters for long term, everyday hydration.
The Problem With Very Low TDS Water
When water drops below roughly 10 to 20 ppm TDS, it becomes chemically very aggressive. With so few dissolved ions in it, this water is more likely to pull minerals from whatever it comes into contact with, including metals, pipes and, importantly, your own tissues.
We want to retain some of the natural minerals found in water, especially magnesium bicarbonate and calcium bicarbonate. These compounds play a role in buffering acid, supporting nerve conduction and maintaining muscular relaxation.
A number of scientific and public health reports, including work referenced by the World Health Organisation, have highlighted that demineralised water such as distilled and untreated RO water can:
- Increase urinary loss of electrolytes
- Reduce magnesium and calcium retention
- Alter gastrointestinal function and motility
- Increase diuresis and potentially promote dehydration
- Reduce the body's buffering capacity, especially for acid load
In practice, I often see clients who switch to reverse osmosis water reporting:
- More frequent urination
- Muscle tightness or cramps
- Electrolyte imbalance symptoms
- Headaches and dizziness
- Changes in digestion and stomach acid balance
By contrast, when they move back to a mineral retaining filtration system, hydration improves, night time urination often reduces, and they describe their water as feeling more "satisfying" and easier to drink.
Why Minerals In Water Matter For Human Physiology
Water is not just H2O. The minerals dissolved in water significantly influence how it behaves in the body.
1. Electrolytes regulate hydration
Sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride are essential for transporting water into cells. If you drink water with no minerals, it will not be absorbed as efficiently. It can simply pass through the digestive tract and kidneys more rapidly, which contributes to extra urination without deep hydration.
2. Bicarbonate buffers acidity
Magnesium and calcium bicarbonate in natural waters help buffer acidity. They support:
- Stomach acid production and regulation
- Enzyme activation
- Acid base balance in the blood
- Overall metabolic resilience
Reverse osmosis strips all of this away. What you are left with is low TDS water that is not aligned with the type of water humans evolved drinking from natural springs, rivers and aquifers.
From both a research and clinical perspective, I consider the ideal TDS range for everyday drinking water to be around 120 to 150 ppm. This is similar to many high altitude and mountain spring waters that people naturally gravitate towards for their hydration quality.
At this level:
- You still have meaningful amounts of electrolytes and bicarbonate
- Water is not chemically aggressive or stripping
- The taste remains clean and fresh
- You avoid the very high TDS found in some hard waters that can cause limescale and appliance issues
This is what we hand in mind when we designed the Clear Spiral Water Filtration System. We want water that is low in contaminants, but still naturally mineralised and supportive of health.
There is a place for reverse osmosis in very specific settings, such as desalination or certain industrial and laboratory environments. For long term daily hydration, especially for families, children and those with existing mineral imbalances, we believe there is a better way.
The Clear Spiral Water Filtration System - Our Alternative To RO
At ELIVIDE, we developed the Clear Spiral Water Filtration System with one goal in mind remove the harmful contaminants of modern life while preserving the natural mineral structure and balance of water. Rather than trying to emulate distilled or RO water, we want to emulate clean, mineral rich spring water.
Stage 1 - Multi Spiral Filtration
The first stage is a multi spiral filter originally derived from technology used to clean radioactive waste. It combines mechanical filtration with electrostatic and ion exchange properties.
This stage:
- Uses a very fine pore size in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 microns
- Removes bacteria, viruses and parasites
- Removes heavy metals including lead, mercury and copper
- Removes PFAS and many industrial pollutants
- Removes nanoplastics
- Preserves essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium in ionic form
The filter media is positively charged. This means negatively charged contaminants are attracted and trapped, while mineral ions are allowed to pass through. Silver is incorporated into the structure to inhibit microbial growth on the filter itself, without leaching into the water.
The result is water that is free from key contaminants, but still retains a healthy TDS in the range we want for long term hydration.
Stage 2 - Activated Carbon Polishing
The second stage is an activated carbon block specifically tuned for taste, odour and chemical polishing.
This stage:
- Removes chlorine and chloramine
- Reduces pesticide and herbicide residues
- Reduces many pharmaceutical residues
- Further reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Improves taste and creates a clean, spring like flavour
Together, the two stages deliver water that is:
- Clear of modern contaminants
- Mineral balanced, not stripped
- Stable in terms of pH and TDS
- Hydrating and physiologically compatible
The system is also more efficient than reverse osmosis in terms of water usage. There is no waste stream required to flush away concentrated contaminants, which makes it a more sustainable choice for everyday home use.
Testing And Validation
The Clear Spiral Water Filtration System has been tested by independent accredited laboratories in Sweden and in the UK. These tests show:
- Over 99.9 percent removal of many heavy metals
- Near complete removal of PFAS
- Non detectable microplastics after filtration
- Significant reduction of radioactive alpha and beta particles
- Broad reduction of VOCs and synthetic contaminants
- Chlorine and pesticide removal
Crucially, these results are achieved while retaining mineral ions. That is the key difference between spiral filtration and reverse osmosis.
Why Mineral Retaining Filtration Is Better For Daily Hydration
From a nutritional and functional perspective, mineral retaining filtration offers several advantages over RO:
- Supports electrolyte balance and cellular hydration
- Maintains bicarbonate buffering for acid base balance
- Reduces diuresis compared with demineralised water
- Aligns more closely with natural spring water profiles
- Provides better subjective hydration and taste
- Supports overall metabolic and cardiovascular health more effectively over the long term
I have seen this repeatedly in practice when working with clients on hydration, energy, cardiovascular health and mineral balance. The water you drink every single day becomes a background input for your entire physiology. Choosing a more biologically aligned filtration method can make a meaningful difference over years and decades.
Final Thoughts
Water is more than a solvent that needs to be stripped to the lowest possible TDS. It is a carrier of minerals, ions and information that interacts with every part of your biology.
Modern pollution means we have to filter our water, but we do not have to accept biologically empty water as a side effect. By choosing technologies that remove contaminants while preserving minerals, we can drink water that is closer in spirit to natural mountain springs, rather than something produced for a laboratory.
Our Clear Spiral Water Filtration System was created out of frustration with the compromises of reverse osmosis and distillation. My aim was simple remove what harms, preserve what heals, and keep water within that sweet spot of TDS that supports real world, long term health.
If you are currently using an RO filter and you feel your hydration is not where it should be, or you are dealing with mineral imbalance, muscle tightness, low energy or cardiovascular concerns, it may be worth reconsidering how your water is being treated. Switching to a mineral retaining system is one of the quiet but powerful changes you can make in your daily environment to support better health over the long term.
For more on our approach to health, minerals and modern living, you can explore the rest of the ELIVIDE range, including our magnesium formulations such as Magnesium Bisglycinate Food and Magnesium Malate Food, which pair naturally with high quality, mineral balanced water.
