Nowadays, almost every household has a water filter—after all, who doesn’t want to drink clean, safe water? But with that comes a growing number of rumors, and the most troubling one is the claim that “water filters remove all the minerals from the water, and drinking it long-term is bad for your health.” 🚰
Many of my friends have been worried sick by this claim. Some have simply given up on installing water purifiers and continue to drink tap water; others, after installing one, spend every day fretting, constantly worrying, “If I’m not getting minerals, will I become calcium-deficient or develop osteoporosis?” Others come across all sorts of conflicting “scientific” explanations—one moment claiming that “filtering out minerals is like drinking ‘bone-scraping water,’” and the next saying “you don’t need to get minerals from water at all.” The more they read, the more confused they get. Who should they believe?
Today, we’re setting aside all the exaggerated rumors and breaking this down in the simplest terms possible. No jargon—just practical, easy-to-understand information for everyone. We’ll help you sort out the facts so you’ll never be misled again and can drink clean water with peace of mind.
First, let’s establish a key point: Water purifiers do filter out some minerals, but that doesn’t mean “drinking it is harmful to your health.” The crux of the matter boils down to two things—which minerals the purifiers remove, and where our bodies primarily get the minerals they need.
Let’s start by discussing how water purifiers work. There are two common types on the market: ultrafiltration systems and RO (reverse osmosis) systems, and there’s a huge difference in how much minerals they remove 🧽
Ultrafiltration systems have a lower filtration precision, around 0.01 microns, and can only trap larger particles like rust, silt, and bacteria. They generally do not filter out minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water, retaining most of the natural minerals.
The real concern about “filtering out minerals” primarily refers to RO reverse osmosis systems. These water purifiers have an extremely high filtration precision, reaching 0.0001 microns—roughly one-millionth the width of a human hair. They can trap almost all impurities in the water, such as heavy metals, viruses, and pesticide residues. At the same time, most soluble minerals like calcium and magnesium are also filtered out, resulting in water that is nearly pure.
This is the source of the rumor—many people believe that calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for the human body, and that filtering them out makes drinking water akin to drinking “nutrient-free tap water,” leading to mineral deficiencies over time. However, this claim overlooks a key fact: the primary source of the minerals our bodies need is not water at all.
Here’s a very simple example: an adult needs about 800 milligrams of calcium daily. A single 250-milliliter glass of milk contains roughly 300 milligrams of calcium, while a 500-milliliter bottle of mineral water contains at most 25 milligrams. In other words, to get your daily calcium intake from water alone, you’d have to drink over ten liters—which is simply unrealistic ✨
Let’s talk about magnesium. We need about 330 milligrams daily. A 30-gram serving of almonds provides 80 milligrams of magnesium, whereas a liter of mineral water typically contains only 10–50 milligrams. Ultimately, over 90% of the minerals our bodies need come from food—such as vegetables, fruits, meat, and soy products. The trace minerals in water serve, at most, as a “supplemental source”; they’re nice to have, but their absence doesn’t cause any harm.
Experts have explicitly stated that for healthy individuals with a balanced diet, long-term consumption of water filtered by a reverse osmosis (RO) system will not lead to mineral deficiency. Only in extreme cases—such as drinking only purified water for an extended period while maintaining a particularly monotonous diet and suffering from malnutrition—might a mild mineral deficiency occur. For most people who eat regularly, this is virtually impossible.
Think about it this way: the core purpose of installing a water purifier is to remove harmful substances from the water, not to rely on water as a source of minerals. Tap water in many areas today contains potential contaminants such as heavy metals, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The harm these substances cause to the body far outweighs the potential harm of “getting a little less minerals from water” 🛡️
For example, aging pipes in older neighborhoods may cause tap water to contain lead; in industrially developed areas, water sources may contain pesticide residues; and even the residual chlorine produced during the disinfection of our everyday tap water can place a burden on the body with long-term consumption. RO reverse osmosis systems can effectively block these harmful substances—this is where their true value lies.
Of course, some might ask: since ultrafiltration systems retain minerals, isn’t choosing one always better? Actually, that’s not necessarily the case—it really depends on your local water quality. If the water in your area is good, free of heavy metal contamination, and you simply want to filter out sediment and bacteria, an ultrafiltration system is perfectly sufficient. It retains minerals while ensuring safe drinking water.
However, in northern regions with high levels of scale buildup, or in older neighborhoods and areas near industrial zones where the risk of water contamination is higher, it is safer to prioritize an RO reverse osmosis system. After all, compared to the negligible minerals in the water, removing clearly harmful substances like heavy metals and bacteria is the most responsible choice for the health of yourself and your family.
Another common misconception is that “drinking purified water over the long term will ‘leach’ minerals from the body,” with some even calling it “bone-scraping water.” In reality, this is a misunderstanding. Purified water itself has no ability to “leach” minerals; the body’s mineral metabolism is primarily self-regulating and will not result in mineral loss simply because you drink purified water.
Additionally, many people worry that long-term consumption of RO-filtered water might affect the health of the elderly or children in their households. In reality, there is absolutely no need for such unfounded anxiety. The mineral needs of the elderly and children can be fully met through their daily diet. As long as they maintain a balanced diet and consume more calcium- and magnesium-rich foods, drinking purified water has no adverse effects whatsoever.
To summarize, the online claim that “water purifiers remove minerals and harm health” has been greatly exaggerated. The core function of a water purifier is to purify water and remove harmful substances; the contribution of minerals in water to the human body is minimal, so there’s no need to worry excessively.
When choosing a water purifier, there’s no need to specifically seek out models that “retain minerals.” Simply select the type that best suits your household’s water quality. As long as your diet is balanced, you’ll get all the minerals your body needs regardless of the type of filtered water you drink. Rather than worrying about minerals, it’s more practical to choose a reliable water purifier and enjoy clean, safe water—that’s what really matters 💧
