Bryan Johnson's Water Protocol

Why He Uses Reverse Osmosis, Deionization, and Remineralization

Bryan Johnson treats water as a foundational input, just like nutrients, light, and sleep.
He consumes around 100 ounces (12.5 cups) a day, so he optimizes the quality of every molecule he drinks.
His approach focuses on removing contaminants first, then adding back what the body needs.

Johnson has publicly shared that he uses a multi-stage purification system including reverse osmosis (RO), carbon filtration, deionization, and remineralization.

Why He Filters Water So Aggressively

Johnson is concerned about invisible exposures, especially:

Microplastics
Heavy metals
Industrial chemicals (PFAS, VOCs)
Byproducts of municipal water treatment

His philosophy:

If you consume something every day, the quality of that input compounds, for better or for worse.

Water is one of the highest-frequency inputs, so he applies maximal control to it.

The Core of His Setup: Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO is the foundation of Johnson's water protocol.
It forces water through a semi-permeable membrane that removes:

dissolved solids
contaminants down to molecular levels
microplastics
most heavy metals
chlorine and chloramine (via pre-carbon filters)

RO produces extremely low-TDS water, similar in purity to laboratory water.

Johnson's system includes:

Carbon block filtration to remove VOCs, chlorine, and major chemicals
Reverse osmosis membrane to remove the majority of dissolved impurities
Mixed-bed deionization (DI) to further polish the water to near-zero TDS

This multi-stage approach delivers what he calls "clean baseline water."

Why He Remineralizes the Water

Pure RO water has nearly all minerals removed.
Johnson considers remineralization essential because:

mineral balance influences hydration
water without minerals tastes "flat"
electrolytes support cellular function
long-term consumption of demineralized water may disrupt mineral intake

His system adds back:

magnesium
calcium
alkalizing minerals
trace electrolytes

Johnson's philosophy: Remove all unknowns, then add back the known essentials.

This yields water that is both pure and biologically useful.

Why Not Just Drink Tap or Bottled Water?

According to Johnson's public statements, several issues exist:

Tap Water

Even in developed cities, municipal water may contain:

residual PFAS
heavy metals from pipes
microplastics
disinfection byproducts

Bottled Water

Often comes with:

microplastic shedding from plastic bottles
higher environmental footprint
inconsistent filtration standards

Johnson's protocol aims for controlled, repeatable purity, independent of source water.

Cost and Equipment

Public reporting suggests Johnson uses a system in the ~$1,300 range that includes:

RO membrane
Carbon filtration
DI resin
Alkaline & remineralization cartridge
Post-carbon taste filter

This is in line with high-end home RO systems designed for lab-grade purification.

Hydration Timing: The 4 PM Cutoff

Johnson stops all liquid intake after 4 PM to protect his sleep quality.
Since sleep is a core pillar of his longevity protocol, he eliminates anything that could cause nighttime interruptions, including bathroom trips.

By front-loading hydration earlier in the day, he maintains optimal fluid balance without compromising rest.

Johnson's Broader Philosophy Around Water

Water fits into Johnson's larger framework:

Eliminate harmful inputs like contaminants and microplastics
Optimize beneficial inputs through quality hydration and minerals
Apply compounding logic
Design for consistency

In his words, daily exposures, even small ones, accumulate:

You drink water every day. The quality of that water is one of the most important decisions you make repeatedly.