💧 What is RO Water?

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Water pushed through a semipermeable membrane to remove salts, hardness, metals, chlorine by-products, odors, and most microbes.

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Beverage targets:
📉 TDS < 30–50 ppm 

🧱 Hardness < 5 ppm as CaCO₃ 

🧪 Alkalinity < 10–20 ppm
🚫 Free chlorine ≈ 0 (carbon prefilter) 

⚖️ pH ~ 6.0–7.5

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🥤 Why RO Water Matters for Cordial

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🎯 Consistent taste & Brix – No metallic notes; accurate refractometer readings; clean, repeatable flavor.

🛡️ Preservatives work better – Low alkalinity helps hit pH 3.7–3.9, the sweet spot for sorbate/benzoate.

🍊 Vitamin C stays fresher – Less Fe/Cu → slower ascorbic-acid oxidation and browning; no chlorine off-flavors.

✨ Clear & stable – Minimal Ca/Mg prevents haze/sediment/gel with pectin/xanthan/guar; avoids crystal fallout.

📆 Longer shelf life – Lower starting bioburden + tighter pH control = robust stability at legal preservative levels

🧰 Protects equipment – Low hardness = less scale; CIP is easier and more effective.