Question:
I'm considering installing a reverse osmosis water filtration system toboth the kitchen sink and the ice maker in my refrigerator. Myquestions are:

- Does the reverse osmosis process remove desirable material from watersuch as minerals? If so, are there other types of filters which leavethe minerals intact?

- Is there a risk of bacteria (eg legionnaires's disease) building upin the ice maker's feed line if filtered, de-chlorinated water isallowed to sit in it for a few weeks/months?

Answer: I question the desirable, but yes RO reduces/removes minerals etc.. Yesthere are specific I.E. Nitrate and general I.E. chemical, taste/odorfilters that leave minerals. They have the separate faucet the same as anRO.

I suppose the answer is yes (not to include Legionnaire's, which isairborne), but, this is true with ALL carbon/charcoal based filters (toinclude distillers & RO's). Carbon and charcoal is not to be used on waterthat is contaminated or of unknown microbiological content, that's becausebacteria can breed in it. This does not mean that because the water hasbeen chlorinated that it too won't do the same, it depends on the amount offree chlorine still in the water when it is in your lines. This 'bacteriabuildup' is really not a concern but I'm sure some will disagree,predominately water co's, and folks that love chlorine. There has to befree chlorine residual of .2-.5 ppm or bacteria etc. can be present even ifyou smell chlorine. The risk from chlorine by-products (THM's), which ROetc. reduce/remove, is much greater than 'bacteria build up'.