The difference between RO water and mineral water lies in how each is made and how many minerals remain. RO water is forced through a reverse osmosis membrane that strips most dissolved substances, minerals included. Mineral water keeps its own minerals, with none added.
Both can be safe when they meet their standard. For source and label checks, see how to pick the best mineral water in Indonesia.
What You Need to Know
- Packaged RO water counts as demineralized water in Indonesia, under SNI 6241:2023 (Permenperin 62/2024).
- Mineral water has no added minerals and follows SNI 3553:2023.
- General drinking-water rules (Permenkes 2/2023) set TDS below 300 mg/L.
- Most people get enough minerals from varied food (MedlinePlus, 2024).
What Is RO Water?
RO water is water treated by reverse osmosis, which uses pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane and leave unwanted materials behind (US EPA, 2024). Indonesia classes bottled water made this way as demineralized water, together with distilled and deionized water (BPK, 2024).
The membrane does not pick and choose: it holds back contaminants, calcium and magnesium alike. Household RO units with the WaterSense label must cut total dissolved solids (TDS) by at least 75% in EPA's test.
RO also makes wastewater. At the EPA specification's minimum efficiency of 30%, about 2.3 liters go down the drain for every liter treated. These figures describe labeled home units, not bottling plants, so read them as a picture of how RO behaves.
What Counts as Mineral Water in Indonesia?
Under Permenperin 62/2024, mineral water is packaged drinking water that holds minerals in defined amounts, none of them added. Its quality must follow SNI 3553:2023, which replaced the 2015 edition. Natural mineral water, collected directly from a natural water source or a drilled deep well through a controlled process that prevents contamination, has its own standard, SNI 6242:2023 (BPK, 2024).
The rule has applied since 18 April 2025, and its 18-month window for adjusting older SNI certificates closed on 18 October 2026 (BPK, 2024).
Mineral levels also differ between sources. A 2025 review in the journal Nutrients notes that the magnesium content of drinking water varies widely with local geology and treatment (Matek Sarić et al., 2025).
Also read: Where Does AQUA Water Come From? Deep Aquifers and 19 Mountain Water Sources
Difference Between RO Water and Mineral Water at a Glance
Side by side, the two waters part ways on their official definition, mandatory SNI and the minerals left in the bottle. For drinking water in general, the Lampiran of Permenkes 2/2023 lists 19 mandatory parameters, including zero E. coli per 100 ml (BPK, 2023).
That regulation gives drinking water in general a TDS ceiling (below 300 mg/L) but no floor, so even water stripped of most minerals can sit within the limit. What sets the two waters apart is mineral content, not whether they can pass that general limit. Each bottled type must also meet its own SNI, whose numeric limits sit in paid standard documents, so check for the SNI mark on the label rather than comparing figures.
| Aspect | RO water (demineralized) | Mineral water |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Packaged water purified, for example by RO | Packaged water with minerals, none added |
| Mandatory SNI | SNI 6241:2023 | SNI 3553:2023 |
| Minerals | Much reduced (labeled home RO units: TDS cut of at least 75%) | From the source; levels vary |
Source: Permenperin 62/2024, US EPA (2024), Matek Sarić et al. (2025).
Which Is Better, RO Water or Mineral Water?
Neither is better for everyone. Both are fit to drink when they meet their standard, so the right pick depends on your needs. According to MedlinePlus (2024), most people get the minerals they need by eating a wide variety of foods.
The 2025 Nutrients review calls drinking water an often overlooked extra source of magnesium and, citing earlier studies, links magnesium-rich mineral water with better magnesium status (Matek Sarić et al., 2025). That evidence concerns mineral water, not RO water.
A 2005 World Health Organization report, Nutrients in drinking-water, also weighed the long-term health effects of drinking demineralized water.
If RO water is your daily drink, cover minerals through meals, such as foods that contain magnesium. People with kidney disease should ask their doctor which water suits them.
Checking RO Refill Water in Indonesia
In Indonesia, "galon RO" usually means depot refill water treated by reverse osmosis. Permenkes 2/2023 lists RO as one depot sterilization option, next to ultraviolet and ozonation (BPK, 2023). Its Lampiran also requires depots to rinse each gallon for at least 10 seconds before filling, keep filled gallons on site no longer than 24 hours, and have the water lab-tested every 3 months for E. coli and every 6 months for all parameters.
"Galon RO" can mean two differently supervised products. Branded bottled RO water must meet SNI 6241:2023, while depot RO water falls under the Ministry of Health's hygiene rules. On a bottle, look for the SNI mark; at a depot, ask for its hygiene sanitation certificate (SLHS) and latest lab result.
Also read: Is Refillable Gallon Water Safe? Find Out the Risks and Facts
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is RO water safe to drink every day?
Yes, if it meets drinking-water standards such as zero E. coli per 100 ml and TDS below 300 mg/L (Permenkes 2/2023). Get minerals from varied meals, and if you have kidney disease, check with a doctor.
Is RO water the same as demineralized water?
For packaged products in Indonesia, yes. Permenperin 62/2024 puts RO-purified water in the demineralized group with distilled and deionized water, under SNI 6241:2023.
Does RO water have minerals?
Some, but much less than before treatment. WaterSense-labeled home RO units must cut TDS by at least 75% (US EPA, 2024), so calcium and magnesium drop too.
Choosing Water Without the Worry
The difference between RO water and mineral water is process and mineral content; both must meet their own safety standard.
For Kaum Adem, people who keep calm and cool day to day (adem is Indonesian for cool), that choice can start with a glance at the label.
Whichever water you settle on for daily drinking, the smallest AQUA Botol fits a bag and the largest suits a shared table, and AQUA adem tanpa didinginkan means it is ready to drink at room temperature.
Why AQUA? Because not all water is AQUA. AQUA comes from 19 selected, protected mountain water sources, chosen through 9 selection criteria, 5 stages and at least 1 year of research.
Dingin Alaminya AQUA, Ademin Kamu