Reverse Osmosis and Drinking Water Systems in Phoenix

Phoenix water carries a high level of total dissolved solids, the minerals that make it taste flat or minerally even when it is perfectly safe. RO is the most effective way to remove those for clean, crisp drinking water, which is exactly why it is so popular here.

The Valley's water comes from a mix of Colorado River supply through the Central Arizona Project, Salt River Project water, and groundwater, and the blend and mineral content vary by area. That variation affects taste and what an RO system is removing, and we account for your local water when we set it up.

Because our water is so hard and mineral-heavy, the pre-filters and membrane in an RO system work harder here than in a soft-water region. That is one reason pairing RO with a softener, or at least staying on top of filter changes, keeps the system performing and the membrane lasting.

Valley water is treated with disinfectants, and where chloramine is used it can affect an RO membrane over time without the right pre-filtration. We set the system up with appropriate pre-treatment so the membrane is protected and lasts.

Valley homeowners increasingly want clean water and clear ice at the refrigerator, not just the sink. We can run an RO line to the fridge and ice maker so you get filtered water and better ice, a popular add-on with an RO install.

In seasonal homes, an RO system that sits unused for months should be flushed and serviced when the home reopens for the best water. We can include that when getting a snowbird home ready.

Parts of Cave Creek, Carefree, and other outlying areas are on well water, which can carry different minerals and contaminants than city water. RO is often part of the answer there, and well water takes its own assessment, which we are glad to do.

The membrane and the filter stages

An RO system runs water through several stages: sediment and carbon pre-filters that protect the membrane, the reverse-osmosis membrane itself that does the fine filtering, and often a post-filter that polishes the taste. Each stage has a job, and understanding the sequence is what makes a system both effective and long-lasting.

Total dissolved solids and what RO removes

RO is measured by how much it lowers total dissolved solids, the dissolved minerals and impurities in the water. A working system dramatically reduces TDS, which is what produces that clean, crisp taste. We can check your TDS so you see the before-and-after difference rather than just taking it on faith.

The wastewater ratio

RO works by sending some water to drain along with the purified water, and modern systems are far more efficient at this than older ones. It is worth understanding so the system is sized sensibly for your use, and newer high-efficiency units waste much less than the RO systems of years past.

Remineralization for taste

Because RO removes nearly everything, some homeowners prefer a remineralization stage that adds back a small amount of beneficial minerals for taste. Whether you want that is a personal preference, and we can include it so the water tastes the way you like.

Under-sink vs. whole-home RO

An under-sink system purifies drinking water at one tap and is the right fit for most homes, while whole-home RO treats all the water and is a larger, more specialized system suited to specific needs. We help you decide which actually fits, rather than defaulting to the bigger, more expensive option.

Pairing RO with a softener

In hard Valley water, a softener upstream of an RO system protects the membrane and extends its life, while the RO handles drinking-water taste the softener cannot. The two complement each other, and pairing them is often the most sensible whole-water plan for a Phoenix home.

Maintenance that keeps it clean

An RO system needs its pre-filters changed about yearly and the membrane replaced less often, plus an occasional sanitizing. Skip the maintenance and flow drops and taste suffers. We set up a realistic schedule and handle the service so the water stays clean for years.

“Highly recommend Pavel! Very reliable and honest. He showed up on time, explained everything clearly, and did excellent work. It’s hard to find a plumber you can truly trust, and he’s definitely one I’d recommend to friends and family.”

“Pavel works very professionally and does a very good job. He finished the job very quickly and did it very professionally, very well. He has very good prices as well.”