Residential Reverse Osmosis
Residential reverse osmosis systems reduce dissolved solids, heavy metals, nitrates, chlorine, and most contaminants that pass through standard carbon filters. AMPAC's residential RO line covers both under-sink point-of-use (POU) systems for drinking and cooking water and whole-house point-of-entry (POE) systems for full-home coverage.
Under-Sink vs Whole-House RO
Most households start with an under-sink system — it installs in 1-2 hours under the kitchen sink, connects to a dedicated faucet, and produces 50-200 GPD of purified water stored in a pressure tank. That is enough for drinking, cooking, and a refrigerator ice line. Whole-house RO makes sense when source TDS is high enough to affect appliances and fixtures, or when the water source (well, agricultural-area aquifer) has contamination that should not contact skin during bathing.
What TDS Reduction Means in Practice
TDS (total dissolved solids) is measured in mg/L or ppm. The EPA secondary standard for drinking water is 500 mg/L; WHO guidance suggests 300 mg/L or lower for taste. Most tap water in the American Southwest runs 400-800 mg/L. A quality RO system with FILMTEC membranes will reduce TDS by up to 99%, delivering product water typically in the 10-50 mg/L range. That is water that tastes different enough that most people notice within a week.
When to Upgrade from a Pitcher Filter
Pitcher filters (activated carbon) reduce chlorine taste and some volatile organics — they do not meaningfully reduce TDS, nitrates, heavy metals, fluoride, or dissolved salts. If your tap water TDS is above 300 mg/L, or if a water test shows nitrates above 5 mg/L or lead above 5 ppb, a pitcher is not adequate. Under-sink RO is the next step up.
Pitcher Filter vs Under-Sink RO vs Whole House RO
| Feature | Pitcher Filter | Under-Sink RO | Whole House RO |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS Reduction | Minimal (<15%) | Up to 99% | Up to 99% |
| Chlorine Removal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nitrate / Heavy Metal Removal | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flow Rate | ~0.5 GPH (fill time) | 50-200 GPD stored | 300-1,500+ GPD |
| Covers Showers / Laundry | No | No | Yes |
| Installation Required | None | Under-sink plumbing | Whole-house plumbing |
| Typical Cost Range | $25-$60 | $300-$1,200 | $1,500-$5,000+ |
AMPAC residential systems use FILMTEC membranes and are manufactured in the USA with a 2-year parts warranty. If you are choosing between system types or need help sizing based on a water test, contact AMPAC directly — system selection takes about five minutes with a recent water report in hand.
