Reverse osmosis drinking water systems in Austin
Reverse osmosis, or RO, is the go to for drinking water. A compact system fits under your kitchen sink and feeds its own small faucet. It's what you fill glasses, coffee makers, and pasta pots from.
RO pushes water through a very fine membrane that holds back most dissolved minerals and a long list of contaminants. Pair it with carbon stages and most people find the water tastes cleaner and more consistent.
Typical installed price
$600 to $1,500
Your exact price comes in writing after the free test. What changes the price
How an RO system works
Water runs through a sediment filter, then carbon to take out chlorine or chloramine, then the RO membrane. The clean water goes to a small storage tank or straight to the faucet, depending on the model. A final carbon filter polishes the taste.
The membrane is what does the heavy lifting. It reduces total dissolved solids, which is the minerals and salts that make Hill Country water taste the way it does, along with many other contaminants listed on each system's certification.
- Reduces dissolved solids, which you can measure before and after
- Look for systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58, the standard for RO
- Better tasting ice, coffee, and tea
- Some systems add a remineralization stage for taste
RO vs a pitcher or fridge filter
Pitcher and fridge filters are mostly carbon. They help with taste and chlorine, and that's about it. They don't touch dissolved minerals, and they need frequent cartridge changes to keep working.
An RO system reduces a lot more and usually costs less per gallon over time, especially if you're buying bottled water every week.
Things to know before you buy
Traditional RO systems send some water down the drain as part of how they clean the membrane. Newer designs waste much less. Ask about the drain ratio of any system you're quoted.
If your water is very hard, a softener or whole house filter ahead of the RO helps the membrane last longer. Your test results should drive the recommendation.
Request a free water test
What happens next
- We pass your request to a local water treatment installer.
- They call you to pick a time for the free test.
- At your home they test the water and give you a written quote. You decide from there.
Reverse osmosis systems near you
Water is different from one utility to the next. Pick your city to see what your local water report says.
Related services
- Whole house water filtrationFiltered water at every tap, shower, and appliance in the house.Typical price$2,000 to $4,000
- Water softenersStops white scale, spots, and crust on fixtures caused by hard water.Typical price$1,500 to $3,500
- Free in home water testA local pro tests your water at the tap and explains the results in plain English.Typical priceFree
Common questions
What does reverse osmosis remove?
RO reduces dissolved solids and many contaminants. Exactly what a system is certified to reduce is listed in its NSF/ANSI certification, so ask to see it for the specific system you're quoted.
Does RO waste water?
All RO systems send some water to the drain to flush the membrane. How much varies a lot by design. Newer systems are far more efficient than older ones.
Can RO feed my refrigerator?
Yes. Most systems can be tied into the fridge water and ice line so everything you drink comes from the same filtered water.
How often do the filters need changing?
Prefilters are usually changed every 6 to 12 months and the membrane every few years. It depends on your water and how much you use. Your installer should give you a simple schedule.
Find out what's in your water
Request a free in home water test. A local installer checks hardness, chlorine or chloramine, and dissolved solids at your tap, then gives you a written quote.