So, does an RO filter remove everything? Almost. It won’t remove dissolved gases (like the carbon dioxide that makes soda fizzy—though that’s harmless). It also doesn’t remove 100% of viruses—it takes about 99.9%, but if you’re the unluckiest person alive, that 0.1% might be the one that gives you a sniffle. Usually, combined with a UV light, it’s a fortress.
In plain English: if you want water so pure it’s basically a blank slate—free of lead, chlorine, pesticides, and the ghost of your neighbor’s prescription—RO is your guy. It’s the overachiever of the water world. It’s a little wasteful, a little high-maintenance, and it makes your water taste like a existential void until you fix that. But hey, at least you know what it’s not removing: your peace of mind.
Now go drink a glass of science. Cheers!