Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems (Under-Sink RO)

Pure water on tap, all year long

• Up to 33 gallons a day of fresh, great-tasting water, right from its own faucet at your kitchen sink.
• No more hauling cases of bottled water or refilling jugs at the store. That saves time and plastic, and delivered water can cost a typical family a few hundred dollars a year (HomeGuide).
• Less plastic in your water, too. A 2024 study found about 240,000 plastic particles per liter in bottled water (PNAS). RO reduces lead, arsenic and TDS, and helps reduce microplastics and BPA in the water you drink.
• Better coffee, tea, ice, soups and baby formula, plus clean water for pets, plants and aquariums.
• A streak-free, all-purpose cleaner. RO water has almost no minerals, so it leaves windows, mirrors, glass and stainless steel with almost no water spots, much like a store-bought glass cleaner. Want extra cleaning power? Mix in rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl helps disinfect) or white vinegar. Add a few drops of natural essential oil for fragrance. You save money, skip harsh chemicals, and never run out mid-cleaning.
• Quick, sanitary filter changes with sealed cartridges, and we track the schedule for you.

We confirm what your water needs with testing and check your results after installation.

Does RO water have minerals? What about alkaline water?

Very few. The RO membrane takes out most dissolved minerals along with the contaminants, which is a big part of why RO water tastes so clean and crisp. It also means you’re drinking the same consistent water every day, instead of whatever minerals happen to be in the supply that week.

If you’d like some minerals back, we offer an optional remineralization (alkaline) add-on we can install after the RO membrane. It’s a separate cartridge, not part of the PureGen Pro Q+ system itself. It adds back a small, controlled amount of calcium and magnesium, minerals your body uses. They’re electrolytes, which is nice for people who work out or sweat a lot. Many people like the taste, and it raises the water’s pH so it’s slightly alkaline.

It’s about taste and adding minerals back. It isn’t a medical treatment, and we don’t claim alkaline water treats or prevents anything. Ask about it at your free water test.

How an RO system works

A typical under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system has three parts working in stages:

1. Pre-filters (sediment and carbon) catch dirt and reduce chlorine, which protects the membrane.
2. The RO membrane separates water from dissolved salts, metals and other contaminants. The rejected water carries them down the drain.
3. Post-filter and storage. The finished water is polished for taste and stored in a small tank (or sent straight to the faucet on tankless models) until you open your RO faucet.

The most thorough drinking water filtration for your home

Reverse osmosis is the gold standard for home drinking water. Our AquaShield 5500, built on the PureGen Pro Q+, uses a 4-filter, 5-stage design with a thin-film composite (TFC) membrane that filters particles down to 0.0002 microns, far smaller than bacteria and viruses. Its stages are designed to reduce a long list of contaminants:

• Nitrates, a top concern for Central Valley wells
• Arsenic, lead, copper, mercury, barium and uranium
• Can potentially reject bacteria, viruses and cysts. RO isn't a replacement for UV disinfection on contaminated well water. If a test shows bacteria, see bacteria, E. coli & Giardia in well water
• Pesticides, DDT and PCBs
• VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and THMs (byproducts of chlorine disinfection)
• Sodium, total dissolved solids (TDS, the minerals and salts you can taste) and fluoride
• Reduces chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium). According to the California State Water Board, "RO is a mature and viable technology for hexavalent chromium removal" (State Water Board, Hexavalent Chromium MCL Initial Statement of Reasons). Ask us about a free water test.
• Reduces PFAS ("forever chemicals"). According to the U.S. EPA, "High-pressure membranes, such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, have been extremely effective at removing PFAS" (EPA: Reducing PFAS in Drinking Water with Treatment Technologies). See PFAS in Central Valley water
• Chlorine taste and odor, algae, asbestos, radon and more

Contaminants listed are not necessarily present in your water.

Why Central Valley homeowners add RO

Our cities' water reports describe a few common reasons people want a dedicated drinking-water tap:

• Manteca has a documented history of 1,2,3-TCP (trichloropropane, a contaminant linked to past farm fumigant use) in its wells. Municipal treatment has improved, and many residents still choose RO at the kitchen tap. Manteca
• Hughson city wells have had arsenic and TCP notices. Hughson
• Patterson has had chromium notices, along with very hard water. Patterson
• Stockton uses chloramine (chlorine plus ammonia) for disinfection, and Turlock's water report highlights its chlorine residual. Some people can taste both. Stockton Turlock
• Private wells around Ripon, Hughson, Patterson and Turlock can carry nitrate from farm runoff and septic systems. Nitrate removal

Cities report compliance with drinking water standards. RO is for families who want an extra layer at the tap, matched to their own test results.

RO with a softener, salt-free system, or whole-house filter

RO treats the water you drink. Whole-home systems treat everything else. Pairing them helps both: soft or conditioned water protects the RO membrane, and RO polishes the drinking water. Common setups:

• Water softener + RO
• salt-free water conditioner + RO
• Whole-house chlorine filter + RO

What to expect at your free water test

We come to your home and test your water at the tap. The free in-home test includes hardness, precipitation, chlorine and soap testing, and more. We explain the results in plain language and tell you whether RO makes sense for your home. For private wells, we also offer specialized well testing on site and through state-certified labs for contaminants like nitrate and arsenic. You get a written, no-pressure estimate, and we only recommend what your results call for. Water testing

Filter changes and service

RO systems need regular pre-filter, post-filter, and membrane changes to keep performing. We install it, set your filter schedule, and service the systems we install. If your RO water starts tasting off or flowing slowly, call us.

Related reading: TCP in Manteca water: what it means for your kitchen tap · Chromium-6 in Patterson: plain-English answers