How Much Does a Commercial Reverse Osmosis System Cost? (2023)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Aug 25, 2023
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While point-of-use reverse osmosis systems for the home come in at a very affordable price point, what if you need one for some bigger purpose, such as commercial use?
The great news is commercial systems are readily available and can improve the quality of water in your business. Great if you have a restaurant or coffee shop and questionable municipal water flavors coming through in your dishes. The bad news? They can be a little pricey.
Let’s take a look at the kind of costs you can expect for a commercial reverse osmosis system.
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Key Takeaways
- Various factors will influence the cost of a commercial reverse osmosis system, such as size, water filtration capacity, and extra features.
- Small setups without additional pre & post-filtration or storage tank may start at $500. $1,500 to $2,000 is far more realistic, though.
- Bigger systems with higher daily filtration capacities can easily cost $10,000 and more.
Commercial Reverse Osmosis System Cost | Price List 2023
So, how much does a commercial reverse osmosis system cost?
For a commercial reverse osmosis system, you are looking at an absolute minimum of $500, which will be for something small that is not very high quality and without extras – think atmospheric water storage tank and delivery pump. A more realistic price point is $1,500 to $2,000. If you are looking at an extensive system including pre and post-filtration, then the costs can get up to $10,000 plus, even up to $100,000 if you need an industrial system with a high flow rate.
With that said, here is a list of real-life commercial RO systems and their current price tags:
| Model | Price Tag |
|---|---|
| Crystal Quest Low-Flow Reverse Osmosis System – 200 GPD | $1,599.65 |
| Crystal Quest High-Flow Reverse Osmosis System – 15,000 GPD | $20,164.15 |
| US Water Systems Maverick Lite Commercial RO System – 350 GPD | $629.00 |
| US Water Systems Craft-RO-Master Commercial Floor-Mount Reverse Osmosis System – 2,000 GPD with 500-Gallon Atmospheric Tank | $10,736.09 |
| iSpring RCS5T Commercial Tankless RO Water Filter System – 500 GPD | $560.99 |
| WECO HydroSense 0500GAC Light Commercial Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System | $1,363.00 |
*Last updated: February 2023
Commercial Reverse Osmosis System Cost Factors
There are various factors to consider that will influence the price of any commercial reverse osmosis system. Let’s break down what they are.
System Size
In a nutshell, the bigger the daily filtration capacity your system has, the higher the price. The capacity is indicated in GPD (gallons per day). To determine your requirements, it’s good to figure out how many gallons of filtered water per day you will require for your business.
For example, if you are using RO water for your coffee machine, and you usually use 100 gallons of water per day on your busiest day, then you need a system with a filtration capacity of 200 GPD to make sure the water is always available and does not run out. This consideration is particularly important if you are installing a tankless system.
Water Storage Tank?
If you are installing a system with a water storage tank, this will be more expensive than a tankless one but will ensure you always have filtered water on hand. A lot of available commercial systems are tankless, though. If you go with a system with a tank, ensure that the tank capacity holds enough water that you will use in one day.
Complexity (Pre and Post-Treatment + Additional Features)
Pre and post-filtration are essential components of an RO system; without them, you may soon have a damaged RO membrane incapable of proper filtration. Additional filters and features you might add to your setup will increase the cost.
For example, if your feed water is high in iron, you may want an extra pre-filtration step to remove it. Depending on what you want to add, these extra stages could add a couple of thousand to your overall costs.
NSF Certifications
If you choose parts for your system that are NSF-certified, they will be more expensive than those that are not, but they come with peace of mind that they will perform how they are supposed to.
Product Brand
It goes without saying that some brands of systems come at a higher price point than others. Often this is an indicator of quality, but other times it could just be that one brand is more well-established than a lesser-known one.
Commercial Reverse Osmosis System Installation Costs
Outsourcing to a Contractor vs Installing Yourself
This really depends on the system and your level of plumbing knowledge. While the smaller point-of-use systems can be installed quickly enough with little plumbing knowledge, more extensive commercial systems may need a specialist and several hours.
If you are using a small system for, say, just your coffee machine, you may be able to set that up yourself.
If you need or want to hire a professional, the costs will, of course, vary, but a good average is around $100 an hour; and ~$1,000 total.
RO Maintenance + Operation
New Filter Elements
Your filter elements will need to be replaced periodically, and that time will depend on the level of use and the condition of your feed water. Generally, pre-filters should be replaced every 6-12 months, RO membranes every 3-5 years, and post-filters every 12 months. Filters usually cost $150-$200 per year, and the RO membrane(s) is between $150-$300.
Further Reading:
Water Wastage
Wastewater will always be a factor in reverse osmosis filtration. You cannot avoid it but may be able to reduce it with booster pumps or even by recirculating your wastewater.
As such, the ratio of wastewater will depend on the system and various factors. Let’s say your system wastes 1 gallon of water for every 1 gallon filtered; it means if you use 200 gallons of water a day for your coffee shop, it will be an extra 200 gallons that are wasted.
If your tap water is $0.002 per gallon, then the daily water cost to run your coffee machine will be $0.8c, or $292 per year.
Electricity
Due to the variation in electricity costs over different states, it is hard to make an estimate, but the main components of the system using electricity are the pumps, so the more you have of them, the higher your costs will be.
If you have any questions about commercial RO system cost please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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