Reverse-osmosis Drinking Stations
Reverse-osmosis Drinking Stations | Water Purification | Plumbing | Sharps Chapel
Enjoy the crisp, refreshing taste of truly clean water right from your tap with HEP’s reverse-osmosis drinking stations in Sharps Chapel. Our licensed plumbers integrate cutting-edge membranes, carbon filtration, and remineralization cartridges into a compact unit that tucks neatly beneath your sink. From the first glass, you’ll notice the difference—no chlorine bite, no metallic aftertaste, just pure hydration you can trust for cooking, coffee, or filling the dog’s bowl.
We take care of everything, from customizing the system for your home’s specific flow rate to painless annual filter changes and emergency support. By stripping out up to 99% of contaminants while preserving essential minerals, this solution elevates everyday wellness and protects appliances from scale buildup. Discover how easy and affordable high-performance water purification can be when it’s installed and serviced by local experts who treat you like a neighbor, because in Sharps Chapel, you are.
FAQs
How does a reverse-osmosis (RO) drinking station work?
A residential RO system pushes incoming tap or well water through a semipermeable membrane at pressures between 40–100 psi. Before reaching the membrane, the water passes through one or two pre-filters that capture sediment, chlorine, and organic fouling agents. The membrane then rejects dissolved salts, heavy metals, fluoride, nitrates, and many other contaminants, allowing only purified water (permeate) to pass. Finally, a carbon post-filter polishes the taste and stores the water in a pressurized tank so it is instantly available at the dedicated RO faucet. The entire process is automatic, stopping when the storage tank is full and restarting when you dispense water.
What contaminants does an RO system remove from Sharps Chapel’s water supply?
Sharps Chapel homeowners rely on a mix of Powell-Clinch utility water and private wells. Lab tests commonly show hardness minerals, iron, sulfur, agricultural nitrates, trace pharmaceuticals, and disinfection by-products. A properly designed RO unit removes 95–99 % of total dissolved solids, including calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, lead, arsenic, chromium-6, fluoride, nitrate/nitrite, sodium, PFAS, and micro-organics responsible for taste and odor. While bacteria and viruses are too large to pass through the membrane, we still recommend a UV post-sanitizer for households on untreated well water to provide an additional microbiological barrier.
How often do the filters and membrane need service or replacement?
Most residential RO stations have three pre-filters (sediment + two carbon), one RO membrane, and one post-filter. In Sharps Chapel, sediment and carbon cartridges should be changed every 6–12 months, depending on water quality and usage (about 2,000 gallons). The RO membrane typically lasts 3–5 years, but high hardness or iron may shorten its life; adding a softener or iron filter upstream extends durability. The tank’s air pressure should be checked annually, and the system should be sanitized during each filter change. Our service plans include reminders, parts, on-site labor, and disposal of used cartridges.
Will an RO station reduce water pressure or waste a lot of water?
An RO unit produces water slowly—about 50–75 gallons per day—then stores it in a 2–4 gallon pressure tank, so normal drinking and cooking draws feel instantaneous. The dedicated RO faucet delivers 0.5–0.8 gpm, which is ideal for filling glasses, kettles, or ice makers but not for whole-house demand. Regarding waste, standard RO ratios are 3:1 (three gallons to drain per gallon of purified water). We offer high-efficiency membranes and permeate pumps that cut waste to 1:1 and improve tank refill speed without adding electricity. Reject water can also be routed to a garden or non-potable holding tank if local plumbing codes permit.
Can an RO system be integrated with my existing plumbing—even if I have a well softener or a refrigerator dispenser?
Yes. The RO manifold mounts under the kitchen sink, in a basement, or in a utility room up to 25 ft away. We tee into the cold-water supply, install a drain saddle on the sink’s tailpiece or floor drain, and run a ¼-inch line to a dedicated RO faucet. Optional connections let you feed your refrigerator’s ice maker, coffee station, or pot-filler. If you already have a water softener or iron filter on a well supply, we plumb the RO unit after those devices; softened water protects the RO membrane and increases production rates. All installations comply with Tennessee building code and incorporate backflow prevention.
What does an RO drinking station cost, and what is the long-term value?
A professionally installed, 4-stage RO station in Sharps Chapel runs $650–$950, including the faucet, storage tank, and first-year service. Annual filter replacements average $100–$150, and the membrane costs about $80 every 3–5 years. Spread over five years, that’s roughly 30–40 ¢ per gallon—far less than bottled water and without the plastic waste. Added benefits include improved taste for beverages, reduced scale in coffee makers and kettles, and peace of mind about heavy-metal exposure. Many homeowners see ROI within 18 months by eliminating the purchase, storage, and disposal of single-use water bottles.