TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE BIG PRO (PLAIN ENGLISH)
An under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) water system with carbon filters takes out the stuff you don't want to drink.
- Reduces dissolved salts (TDS), metals like lead and arsenic, nitrate, fluoride
- Tackles PFAS "forever chemicals"
- Carbon stages cut chlorine taste/odor and chlorine by-products
- Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification—the RO performance standard backed by EPA
WHAT "FOREVER CHEMICALS" AND CHLORINE BY-PRODUCTS MEAN
PFAS (FOREVER CHEMICALS)
Man-made chemicals used in non-stick pans, stain-resistant fabrics, and water-proof coatings. They don't break down easily.
Health concerns linked to PFAS:
- • Some cancers
- • Fertility and development concerns
- • Thyroid and cholesterol changes
- • Lower vaccine response
2024 EPA Action: Set first national PFAS limits (4-10 ppt). But EPA's database lists 14,000+ PFAS compounds—that's why families add home barriers like RO.
CHLORINE & BY-PRODUCTS (DBPs)
Your utility adds chlorine (bleach) to keep water sterile through miles of pipe. Effective—but creates disinfection by-products.
What forms:
- • TTHMs (trihalomethanes)
- • HAA5 (haloacetic acids)
EPA limits: 80 ppb TTHMs / 60 ppb HAA5 for long-term exposure. Utilities work hard to stay under—but families want extra reduction with carbon + RO.
National: The 2024 PFAS rule is law, but treatment is expensive. Industry estimates $37–48B in new equipment and $2.7–3.5B/year to operate nationwide.
Local (Middle TN): Recent water reports from Nashville (MWS), Franklin, and HVUD show PFAS as not detected in plant-level tests, and chlorine by-products within EPA legal limits.
Bottom line: Your utilities deliver bacteria-free water under strict rules. RO at the sink is the polish—turning "good" into "great."
BOOK YOUR 15-MIN WATER DISCOVERY CALL
We'll have a quick 15 minute call to go over any questions you have and see if we are a fit. Serving Nashville • Franklin • Brentwood • Williamson & Davidson Counties.
COMMON CONCERNS
Minerals, pH, electrolytes—here's the real science on "Is RO water healthy/safe?"
Remineralization & Taste Tuning
Inline Filter
Adds calcium carbonate (and sometimes magnesium) back in. Smooths taste, nudges pH up.
Mineral Drops
Portable option if you want to tweak a glass at a time.
Target Range
Most families enjoy pH 6.5–8.5 with TDS around 15–20 ppm (from ~300 ppm untreated tap).
QUICK PROS & CONS
Pros
Cons (And How We Handle Them)
Lower minerals / slightly lower pH
If you want a "spring‑like" finish, we add a remineralization cartridge (calcite or calcite/magnesium).
Concentrate line (waste)
We choose high‑efficiency designs and maintain filters to keep the ratio in check.
Maintenance matters
RO performance depends on timely filter changes. We handle the schedule and can sell you filters if you want to DIY.
- Nashville: Chlorine‑disinfected, moderately hard (~100.5 mg/L)—RO polishes taste at the sink; softening helps whole‑home scale.
- Franklin (plus HVUD blend): Plant hardness avg ~188 mg/L; HVUD ~103 mg/L—many families combine softening for appliances with RO for drinking.
WATER EFFICIENCY
DO REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS WASTE WATER?
Home RO sends a concentrate stream to the drain as it purifies your drinking water. The key number is the waste‑to‑treated ratio.
EPA WaterSense® Benchmark (Nov 2024):
- ≥30% efficiency (≤2.3:1 waste‑to‑treated ratio)
- ≥75% TDS reduction
- Membrane‑life test for high‑efficiency systems
- Labeled products print ratio right on materials
HOW WE SET YOU UP EFFICIENTLY
- We spec WaterSense‑labeled RO when available (≤2.3:1 ratio disclosed)
- We protect the membrane with carbon pre‑filter (free chlorine damages thin‑film RO)
- Keep you on a filter schedule so efficiency stays high
- Prefer tankless? Many tankless RO designs now meet WaterSense requirements
Respect For Your Local Utilities
Your water providers deliver microbiologically safe water every day under the Safe Drinking Water Act with rigorous testing. Nashville alone averages ~109 million gallons/day through 3,000+ miles of mains.
RO at the sink is simply the next step—from good to exactly what your family wants at the glass.
CLEAN, GREAT-TASTING WATER—INSTALLED NEAR YOU
Nashville • Franklin • Brentwood • Williamson & Davidson Counties
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Real questions from Nashville homeowners about RO water health and safety.
READY FOR BETTER WATER?
Book a 15-minute discovery call to discuss your water quality concerns and explore solutions—or call (615) 212-8488 for the fastest install.