
A standard under sink reverse osmosis system costs as little as $150 and as much as $550 USD. Countertop RO systems can be purchased for less than $100 USD. However, we recommend investing at least $150 USD to get decent quality.
How much does an RO/NF membrane system cost?
When you get into bigger systems, such as a 300 GPM, cost could be $2 to $4 million, depending on what pretreatment type of pretreatment is required. What Now? As you can see, there are a variety of factors that go into estimating the cost of an RO/NF membrane system for your facility.
What is the most expensive RO system to install?
Whole-house RO systems are generally the most costly systems because they offer whole-home benefits, eliminating your need for bottled water, softening your home’s water supply, and removing chlorine. How much does a reverse osmosis system cost if it’s intended for commercial use?
How much does a reverse osmosis system cost?
Typically, under-sink reverse osmosis systems with a tank are the most affordable, costing around $200-$600, depending on the brand. Moving up to a more modern tankless system may contribute an additional $50-$100 to the price. Countertop RO systems come at a similar cost – generally $300-$500, brand depending.
How much does a point-of-use RO water filter cost?
Point-of-use RO water filtration systems are more affordable than whole house systems as they produce purified water at a specific source (usually for clean drinking water only). There are several types of point-of-use systems: countertop, under-sink with tank, and tankless RO water filters. The average cost of a countertop RO filter is $300-$500.

How much does it cost to service an RO system?
How much does reverse osmosis system maintenance cost? Reverse osmosis water treatment repairs cost $150 to $800 on average.
Why pre treatment is required for RO process?
The primary objective of pretreatment is to make the feed water to the RO compatible with the membrane. Pretreatment is required to increase the efficiency and life expectancy of the membrane elements by minimizing fouling, scaling and degradation of the membrane.
How much does it cost to install a UV water treatment system?
Average Cost (First Year)TypePrice TagInstallation Cost RangeWhole House UV$200 – $1,000+$100 to $500 and moreSingle-Point UV$70 – $200$100 – $300Jun 1, 2022
How much does RO water cost?
Whole home reverse osmosis systems usually range from $12,000 - $18,000 as an installed price. The cost depends on a number of factors but is most closely linked to the amount of water that needs to be generated per day.
Is it possible using reverse osmosis without pre treatment?
The pore size of the RO membranes are very small, hence, without adequate pretreatment process extensive fouling can cause damage to the membrane.
What is pre treatment in the water treatment process?
What is Water Pretreatment? Water pretreatment removes suspended impurities, solids, colloids and living organisms from raw water. Water pretreatment processes ensure that your water quality is not influenced by seasonal changes, extreme weather or industrial pollution.
Which is better UV or RO?
UV filter kills all the pathogens present in the water. However, the dead bacteria remain suspended in the water. On the other hand, a RO water purifier kills the bacteria and filters out their dead bodies floating in the water. Hence, RO purified water is more hygienic.
How much does UV light cost?
Coil UV lights have a light cost ranging between $60-$285, an installation cost ranging between $100-$225, a lamp cost between $10-$60 and an energy cost between $15-$30.
Is a whole-house water filtration system worth it?
Whole-house systems with carbon filters are the most economical option, and they also require the least maintenance. These filters generally don't need to be replaced for at least three years, and they remove one of the most common contaminants: chlorine, which reduces the chance of poor-tasting water.
Why is reverse osmosis so expensive?
One common desalination method, reverse osmosis, is expensive because it requires a great deal of electricity to push water through a filter. It's also costly to treat the water to kill microbes and to replace the filters. Researchers are hoping that improved membrane materials could make this process cheaper.
How long do RO systems last?
How long will an RO unit last? Virtually forever if you service it regularly and replace parts that wear out, like the storage tank and the faucet. Typical membrane life is about 2 to 5 years, depending on the nature of the water that it's processing.
Is RO water safe to drink?
Yes, RO water removes negligible amounts of calcium from the water but also removes harmful nitrates along with it and we are preventing diseases when we use RO or other water purifiers. Only when the tap water we are supplied is as good as this purified water, should we think about drinking tap water directly.”
Is the RO system cost worth it?
That's dependent on the quality of the product you buy. But assuming you've purchased a top-of-the-range system, then yes, the investment is worthw...
Where can I buy an RO system?
Your local hardware store will probably have a good selection of these water filtration products, but I would recommend looking online for more cho...
What is the cost of a reverse osmosis system per gallon?
It's hard to give an exact figure for this, as it depends on how efficiently your RO system can filter water and where in your home it's installed....
What type of RO system is for me?
Budget aside, that's a question that's too big to answer here! To keep it short and sweet, if you're only looking to enjoy clean tap water, you pro...
How much does a gallon of reverse osmosis water cost?
The average cost for a gallon of water in the U.S. is 0.006 cents. Because reverse osmosis systems waste approximately four gallons of water for ev...
How much does a reverse osmosis system cost to maintain and operate?
Once installed, yearly maintenance and operation costs of a reverse osmosis system run between $50 and $100 a year. On top of these costs, your wat...
Is reverse osmosis worth the cost?
For homes with unsafe tap water, reverse osmosis is absolutely worth the cost. High quality filtration can be worthwhile when it’s actually protect...
What’s better, a whole-house reverse osmosis system or a point of use system?
Whether a whole-house system or a point of use system is better depends on what the reverse osmosis system is being installed to treat. For homes w...
How much does a RO system cost?
Countertop RO systems come at a similar cost – generally $300-$500, brand depending. A whole house reverse osmosis system will generally be the most costly, costing thousands, rather than hundreds.
How efficient is reverse osmosis?
The efficiency of a reverse osmosis system is a measurement of two things: how quickly the system can produce filtered water, and how much water has been lost in the process. All reverse osmosis systems waste water during the water treatment process.
How much does an under sink reverse osmosis filter cost?
Under-sink reverse osmosis water filters with a storage tank are the traditional type of point-of-use RO filter. An under-sink system costs between $200 and $600 when it comes with a tank. You can find plenty of high-quality systems at the lower end of this price range.
What is reverse osmosis system?
System Type. The type of reverse osmosis system determines its size, and the bigger the size, the more costly it’ll be. For instance, a whole-house reverse osmosis system will cost significantly more than a smaller under-sink model or a countertop unit. Typically, under-sink reverse osmosis systems with a tank are the most affordable, ...
Why is reverse osmosis certification important?
On the subject of certifications, certified reverse osmosis systems cost more money because customers know immediately that they’re reliable. The most sought-after certification for reverse osmosis units is NSF/ANSI 58, which is the national standard for RO systems and indicates that a system has been tested and deemed effective in terms of efficiency, structural integrity, contaminants removed, and materials used.
How much does a water filter cost?
A pack of 3 filters will usually cost around $50-$70, depending on the brand, and a single RO membrane will cost between $30 and $70.
How many stages of reverse osmosis?
However, some under-sink and whole house reverse osmosis systems feature more than double this amount – sometimes even up to 10 or 12 stages. Having extra filtration stages means that the water that’s produced will be about as clean and pure as it gets.
How much does a RO system cost?
Countertop RO systems can be purchased for less than $100 USD. However, we recommend investing at least $150 USD to get decent quality.
How much does a whole house RO system cost?
A whole house RO system rated at 1,000 gallons per day including atmospheric tank and delivery pumps costs roundabout $5,000.
How much does it cost to install a whole house reverse osmosis system?
Here, you’re likely to pay $300, $400, or $500 USD and more !
What is reverse osmosis water filtration?
Reverse osmosis water filtration is among the most effective methods of removing contaminants from (drinking) water.
Why do reverse osmosis systems use multiple filters?
Another factor is the specific filtration process used, because reverse osmosis systems not only apply RO water purification. Rather, they use multiple filter stages in order to remove a wide range of contaminants. The more filter stages, the higher the cost.
How to estimate reverse osmosis cost?
To estimate reverse osmosis system cost you need to take into account a filter’s purchase price, installation expenses, and spending on replacement filters.
How long do RO filters last?
That said, most manufacturers claim that their pre- and post-filters last between six to twelve months, which we can verify from experience. RO membranes usually last two to three years.
How much does reverse osmosis cost?
With this in mind, both under sink and countertop reverse osmosis systems can cost anywhere from $150 to $450 USD. Now, with so many factors and so many models to choose from, you may find it difficult deciding on what to buy. It’s easy to choose a poor quality reverse osmosis system (one that leaks, does not filter well, overall poor quality).
How much does it cost to install a whole house reverse osmosis system?
Lastly, when it comes to whole house reverse osmosis systems, you’ll require professional help and as a result can pay close to $350 USD for just installation.
What is reverse osmosis water?
In the process of filtering water, the reverse osmosis system produces filtered water and “wastewater” that contains, well pretty much all the bad stuff.
Is reverse osmosis confusing?
Navigating the world of reverse osmosis systems can be very confusing.
Do counter top reverse osmosis systems require plumbing?
Countertop reverse osmosis systems are simple, you can attach them in seconds since they do not require any plumbing work.
Does reverse osmosis take space?
It doesn’t take space, ruin the look of your kitchen, and most importantly provides you fresh and healthy water to put inside your body. Since the reverse osmosis system is continuously filtering water and keeping your tank full, you’ll have access to enough water for all your cooking and drinking needs.
Do quality and price vary from one thing to another?
Just like anything, quality and price vary from one thing to another.
How Much Does a Reverse Osmosis System Cost?
Here are some of the main factors that determine the final cost of a reverse osmosis water filtration system:
How Much Do Whole-House Reverse Osmosis Systems Cost?
We have already discussed that the most widely used types of reverse osmosis water purification systems are those that are made to install under your kitchen sink or be placed directly on your kitchen countertop.
Are Reverse Osmosis Systems Worth the Price?
This is a hard question for me to answer for you. I won’t pretend to know your budget concerns or what else is important to you when it comes to your tap water quality.
Comparison of Two Top Reverse Osmosis Filter Brands
Here are some of the costs associated with two of the best reverse osmosis systems that are available:
Where Do You Buy a Reverse Osmosis System?
There are two main ways that you can go about buying a reverse osmosis water purification system. That’s by shopping for them online or by searching for them in a store that sells these types of products.
Why is pretreatment important in RO?
Pretreatment is important when working with RO and nanofiltration (NF) membranes due to the nature of their spiral wound design. The material is engineered in such a fashion as to allow only one-way flow through the system. As such, the spiral wound design does not allow for back pulsing with water or air agitation to scour its surface and remove solids. Since accumulated material cannot be removed from the membrane surface systems, they are highly susceptible to fouling (loss of production capacity). Therefore, pretreatment is a necessity for any RO or NF system.
What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a filtration method that removes many types of large molecules and ions from solutions by applying pressure to the solution when it is on one side of a selective membrane. The result is that the solute is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and the pure solvent is allowed to pass to the other side.
What is prefiltration antiscalant?
Prefiltration antiscalants: Scale inhibitors (also known as antiscalants) prevent formation of all scales compared to acid, which can only prevent formation of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scales. In addition to inhibiting carbonate and phosphate scales, antiscalants inhibit sulfate and fluoride scales, disperse colloids and metal oxides, and specialty products can be to inhibit silica formation.
What is the process of applying pressure to reverse the natural flow of pure solvent?
Applying an external pressure to reverse the natural flow of pure solvent, thus, is reverse osmosis. The process is similar to membrane filtration.
Can reverse osmosis damage the membrane?
That being said, it is vital to the preservation of the quality of your reverse osmosis membrane to pre-treat any materials that could harm reduce the effectiveness of the membrane itself. These materials may simply cause damage over time, or some may destroy a membrane outright. Reverse Osmosis.
Is reverse osmosis the same as membrane filtration?
The process is similar to membrane filtration. However, there are key differences between reverse osmosis and filtration. The predominant removal mechanism in membrane filtration is straining, or size exclusion, so the process can theoretically achieve perfect exclusion of particles regardless of operational parameters such as influent pressure and concentration. Reverse osmosis, however involves a diffusive mechanism so that separation efficiency is dependent on solute concentration, pressure and water flux rate.
How much does it cost to install a RO system?
A single tap or point-of-use RO system installation costs $150 to $1,300. Materials alone run $50 to $1,000. These systems get installed under sinks, behind refrigerators and near washing machines, depending on where you need them. They eliminate wasted water for things like showers and lawn care.
How much does reverse osmosis cost?
Commercial or large reverse osmosis systems cost $500 to $20,000, not including installation which can range from $500 to $2,000 or more. They’re used heavily in the restaurant, hotel and brewery industries.
How much does it cost to install a reverse osmosis filter?
Labor costs to install a reverse osmosis filter system runs $300 to $700 on average. Complex installs or those with minimal space or accessibility issues might reach $1,500. Point of use systems only cost $100 to $300 to install. Countertop and under sink installs often come with easy to follow DIY instructions. However, doing it yourself means you’re responsible for any water damage caused by improper installation.
How much does it cost to install a whole house water filtration system?
Installing a whole home reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration system costs $1,500 on average or typically between $500 and $2,800. Point of use RO systems run $150 to $1,300. Commercial grade systems typically run $1,000 to $20,000 or more. Main pricing factors includes how many stages you need for your water and how much water you need filtered.
What is a POU in water softener?
Point of Use (POU): Also sometimes called “point-of-service” or “single tap” located at the faucet, treats only that tap, such as a kitchen sink, shower, washer and fridge.
Do you need a whole house reverse osmosis system?
A whole house reverse osmosis system is necessary for some water conditions. Contact a plumber or water filtration specialist to find out if you water and home need it.

What’s Included in A Basic RO/NF Membrane System?
The Main Factors of RO/NF Membrane System Cost
- Water characterization
The main factor that will drive up and down RO/NF membrane system cost is the characterization of the water—whether it’s surface or well water, and how dirty it is (is there algae, organics, or a lot of metals to cause scaling and fouling?). With RO/NF, there is usually pretreatment required, but … - Flow rates
On both the UF pretreatment and RO/NF devices, there is a linear “scaling up” based on flow (how many are stacked up depend on the flow rate). You can often estimate the cost of the membrane rack by flow rate and the flux rate you’re designing it to. There are two functions that will affect t…
Other Important Factors to Consider When Pricing A RO/NF Membrane System
- Up-front planning. Developing the concepts, designs, and regulatory requirements for your project is the first step to planning your RO/NF membrane system. The cost of engineering for this type of...
What Now?
- As you can see, there are a variety of factors that go into estimating the cost of an RO/NF membrane system for your facility. SAMCO has over 40 years’ experience custom-designing and manufacturing these types of systems, so please feel free to reach out to us with your questions. For more information or to get in touch, contact us here to set up a consultation with an enginee…