Reverse osmosis drinking water systems
RO gives you a dedicated faucet for drinking and cooking. Here's what it does well and what to ask before you buy.
A reverse osmosis system forces water through a very fine membrane, with pre-filters ahead of it and a polishing filter after it, and stores the result in a small tank that feeds its own faucet at the sink. It cuts dissolved solids, including sodium and many other substances. Most go under the kitchen sink, and some also feed the refrigerator's ice maker.
Why pair RO with a softener?
Salt-based softeners add sodium as they take out hardness. The Minnesota Department of Health notes that for most people drinking softened water poses no known health hazard, but people on sodium-restricted diets should talk to a doctor before drinking it regularly. An RO faucet gives the household lower-sodium water for drinking and cooking while the rest of the house stays soft. Softened water feeding the RO also spares the membrane from hardness scale.
Does RO make sense in Clifton?
It's worth a look. Clifton Water District's 2022 report listed sodium at 81.6 ppm, far higher than the City of Grand Junction's 9.52 ppm in its 2025 report. A softener would add to that. If sodium matters to you, an RO tap is one way to bring it down at the faucet you drink from.
What about the water that goes down the drain?
Home RO units send part of the water they process to the drain to carry away what the membrane rejects. That's why RO is sized for drinking and cooking, not the whole house. Ask the installer how much reject water the model produces and whether it has features that reduce it.
What upkeep does RO need?
- Pre-filters and post-filters changed on a schedule
- The membrane replaced less often
- An occasional check of the storage tank pressure
Ask for the replacement schedule that fits your water before you buy.
The water treatment company sets its price once it knows your water, your plumbing and which equipment fits. We don't quote prices, and any figure given over the phone before someone has tested your water or seen where the unit will go is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is reverse osmosis the same as a softener?
No. A softener treats all the water in the house for hardness. RO is a drinking-water filter for one or two taps.
Can RO work without a softener?
Yes, but hard water scales the membrane faster. Many installers recommend softening or pre-treating first so the membrane lasts longer.
Related services
More background: Grand Junction hard water guide.
Scale on the faucets or a softener that stopped working?
Call and we'll connect you with a water treatment company that works in your part of the Grand Valley.