Point of Use Reverse Osmosis

[Jsmallberries]

Now that I'm operational with the softener, I want to add a reverse osmosis under the kitchen sink to improve the drinking water quality for my family.

Any recommendations? and will it help remove the added sodium ions from the water while removing impurities?

Since it is municipal water would it be helpful?

From the published water quality reports, there all kinds of dangerous chemicals and compounds allowed.

 

[Bannerman]

Our largest concern with our well sourced municipal water is Arsenic. In addition, our town is surrounded by highly sprayed agriculture crops and when we installed our point-of-use RO unit, there was a CCA wood treatment plant within town, close to one of the municipal wells. That treatment plant now produces treated lumber with chemicals that are supposedly safer, but time may prove otherwise.

We do not typically consume non RO water. We usually will take a supply of water with us when away from home. On the odd occasion we purchase bottled water, we always attempt to obtain RO if possible.

The RO membrane will remove sodium and most other elements including minerals and metals. Chemicals such as chlorine or chloramine will be removed by the carbon block filter(s) located prior to the membrane.

There are plenty of low cost units produced offshore, often made with low quality components. Recommend to obtain brands that utilize North America produced components such as Pentek, Omnipure, John Guest, Aquatec etc.

While most systems will utilize inexpensive and commonly available 2.5"X 10" filter cartridges, for ease of filter and membrane replacement, you may wish to consider a system equipped with quick change components such as Omnipure Q series filters. Use of a Pentair GRO membrane will reduce the amount of waste water compared to conventional RO membranes, and as the GRO is supplied in a sealed enclosure, the entire enclosure will be simply and quickly replaced as needed (typically 3-5 years).

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jsmallberries]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[ditttohead]

PM sent, the vast majority of RO's are off shored to the lowest bidder. A good RO will cost double a pile of garbage. The big names tend to sell theirs for about 10X the cost of a good one without a major name brand behind it. Avoid the online guys as they are typically looking for a new lower priced components or company to make theirs. Especially with the recent tariffs, the price has gone up, so these companies just switched to even lower end components...

 

[Jsmallberries]

Meant "Point of Use" updated heading.

So recommendations for an under the sink, point of use RO

 

[Jsmallberries]

I don't want to drill a hole through the countertop with a separate water tap, can I simply connect to the cold water to the kitchen sink?
Any reasons not to?

 

[Reach4]

I don't want to drill a hole through the countertop with a separate water tap, can I simply connect to the cold water to the kitchen sink?
Any reasons not to?

Do not run RO water through metal.

How many countertop holes do you have?

 

[Jsmallberries]

Quartz countertop w/one hole for the main faucet.

1)Since you mentioned not to run RO water through metal, how do you get it into your drinking glass? The marketing I see depicts a separate tap made from metal.

I've been finding statements like the following;

"Water obtained from RO filtration process has a low pH value. Prolonged consumption of low pH water has adverse health effects such as increasing the risk of kidney disorders and gastrointestinal troubles.

2) Does my softened water pose the same problem?

3) Do I need an RO that adds back minerals like some claim?

4) So not a good idea to use one?

What the deal?

 

[Reach4]

1)Since you mentioned not to run RO water through metal, how do you get it into your drinking glass? The marketing I see depicts a separate tap made from metal.

Good point. Maybe I should say not to run RO through your copper and galvanized, and there is some stainless that is safe. Or maybe that spigot is largely chrome-plated plastic.

"Water obtained from RO filtration process has a low pH value. Prolonged consumption of low pH water has adverse health effects such as increasing the risk of kidney disorders and gastrointestinal troubles.

Bull. I know this term will seem weird, but the alkalinity of RO water is very low. It takes very little to turn it to neutral or akalyine when added to the body. It will not raise the pH of your stomach in a measurable way, even when compared to drinking pH 7 water.

2) Does my softened water pose the same problem?

No.

3) Do I need an RO that adds back minerals like some claim?

It's a matter of taste more than health. You get the magnesium and calcium for your diet through food, and water is a small matter.

4) So not a good idea to use one?

I would not say that. If you have the suspicion of chemicals in your water, I think it would be a great idea.

 

[ditttohead]

Most RO spouts are stainless, underneath you will notice brass, but they are typically plastic sleeved or at minimum they are lead free (usually... many importers use unqualified brass in order to save a few $. The internals of the faucets are all plastics and ceramics.

 

[Taylorjm]

You don't want to run your RO system to your cold water faucet. You would end up doing dishes with RO water, filling pots with RO water, etc and unless you have a big tank you would run out of water in a hurry. Plus you would be lucky to get 0.5gpm from an RO system which is a trickle compared to your current cold water faucet. You need a separate faucet for RO water.

 

[Reach4]

You don't want to run your RO system to your cold water faucet. You would end up doing dishes with RO water, filling pots with RO water, etc and unless you have a big tank you would run out of water in a hurry. Plus you would be lucky to get 0.5gpm from an RO system which is a trickle compared to your current cold water faucet. You need a separate faucet for RO water.

Almost everybody runs only hot water to the dishwasher.

Filling pots with RO water doesn't seem like a problem, whether it is cooking pots or flower pots.

I agree, however, that a separate spigot would be better. What if this faucet had one of those flex hose sprays for everything? Not so good for filling a water bottle, I would not think.

Getting somebody to drill a hole for a combination dispenser faucet and air gap would be a good move. And then you know that the materials are RO-compatible. I wonder if somebody does a 3-way: RO spigot, RO air gap, and dishwasher air gap.

 

[Jsmallberries]

Thanks for the information. Dishwashers here are high looped, but air gap would be better. Just don't like drilling into a quartz countertop, seems sacrilegious. Back to the drawing board......

 

[Reach4]

https://qb-res.cloudinary.com/f_auto,q_auto/blog/2017/03/wsi-imageoptim-Elkay-Quartz-Classic-33″-Single-Bowl-Kitchen-Sink.png
Looks bad? You would be using a combination RO dispenser faucet and air gap rather than that lotion dispenser.

You would probably hire that drilling out, but not necessarily.

You understand that your countertop is a composite, rather than being cut from a mined slab.

 

[Jsmallberries]

Thanks again R4, yeah I know, it was just so expensive, but with the correct drill bit, and that photo looks good

 

[Bannerman]

To reduce the potential of chipping the countertop, adhere masking tape on the intended location to mark on and to drill through. Use a smaller drill bit than required to slowly drill from the top to the bottom so you will know exactly where the faucet stem will be located below the counter. Use the final larger size drill bit to slowly drill 1/2 way from below upward, then drill from above downward the other 1/2 distance.

 

[ditttohead]

If all you are wanting to do is drill a granite or other similar material countertop for an RO faucet it is much easier than you would expect. Slow and lots of water and you will be fine. I use plumbers putty to make a donut around where I want my hole. Use a cordless drill with this bit from Lowes and you will have a perfect hole in 5 minutes max. https://www.lowes.com/pd/LENOX-1-2-in-Diamond-Arbored-Hole-Saw/1000683505

I keep wanting to do a quick video on how to DIY this, but no time.

 

[Taylorjm]

Almost everybody runs only hot water to the dishwasher.

Filling pots with RO water doesn't seem like a problem, whether it is cooking pots or flower pots.

I agree, however, that a separate spigot would be better. What if this faucet had one of those flex hose sprays for everything? Not so good for filling a water bottle, I would not think.

Getting somebody to drill a hole for a combination dispenser faucet and air gap would be a good move. And then you know that the materials are RO-compatible. I wonder if somebody does a 3-way: RO spigot, RO air gap, and dishwasher air gap.

I was actually thinking about that occasional pot or pan that you wash by hand and have to put soapy water in the sink and rinsing, not hooking up a dishwasher to RO. I knew what I meant, just didn't word it correctly!

 

[Jsmallberries]

Can't see adding a hole for the water tap due to the sink area configuration (See sink area photo) IMHO too open an area.

Maybe tap into the main supply before the softener and add a Pex supply to the cold water side of the kitchen faucet. Then add a basic filter to remove chlorine and arsenic? I prefer drinking the hard water

What type of filter?
Can Pex go up through attic and down inside a wall?

I have cabinets and tiled backsplash, not sure I have a way to get there. RO may be the best bet

What about a tap that is run through the wall into a free standing countertop tap? Any other suggestions appreciated

 

[Bannerman]

Can't see adding a hole for the water tap due to the sink area configuration IMHO too open an area.

It's a shame someone placed a sink and faucet in that open area of your new countertop.

• Is your kitchen equipped with a separate pantry sink where the RO faucet might be mounted?
• Run the RO line to your fridge ice & water dispenser. Water used for cooking will be unnecessarily refrigerated but ...
• Freestanding water cooler?
• Mount the RO faucet to a wall bracket, but you would still need to make a hole for the water line to pass through.