Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 How Much Does Reverse Osmosis Installation Usually Cost in Tampa?
- 2 What Are the Most Common Water Contaminants in Tampa?
- 3 Can Residents in Tampa Benefit From Reverse Osmosis Treatment?
- 4 How Often Should Residents in Tampa Replace Reverse Osmosis Prefilters?
- 5 Do You Need a Water Softener With Your Reverse Osmosis System in Tampa?
How Much Does Reverse Osmosis Installation Usually Cost in Tampa?
It’s not really possible for us to say how much it will cost to have a reverse osmosis system installed in your home without knowing your exact situation. We’d have to talk to you directly to give you an exact quote. However, it’s possible to pay more than $3,000 for a residential reverse osmosis system and installation. Your costs will depend upon a few factors including:
Cost of the Reverse Osmosis Unit
One of the biggest costs associated with installing a reverse osmosis unit is the system itself. The cost of a reverse osmosis system can vary widely from one manufacturer to the next, so you may want to shop around for the best deal. On average, people pay between $1,000 and $2,000 for the reverse osmosis unit in Tampa. Keep in mind, however, that this only takes into account the cost of the actual unit, but does not factor in the installation or other expenses.
Type of Reverse Osmosis System
You’ll need to choose from a whole-house reverse osmosis unit or a point of use system. Point of use systems are installed to serve a specific sink, shower, or water appliance and are relatively inexpensive. You can expect to spend a couple of hundred dollars on one of these units. If you’re having a whole-house reverse osmosis system installed, you can expect the bill to be ten times higher.
Incidental Expenses
In addition to the cost of purchasing a reverse osmosis system for your Tampa home and the cost of labor, there are other expenses to consider. For example, it may be wise to have a water softener installed, in addition to the reverse osmosis system. This can easily double the cost. You may also need to pay for building permits and inspections to ensure your system is up to code.
What Are the Most Common Water Contaminants in Tampa?
The Tampa Bay area gets its drinking water from a unique blend of groundwater, river water, and desalinated seawater. This is the only municipal water system in the country to use these three distinct sources. Tampa Bay Water is generally safe to drink as the water is processed through a network of water treatment plants. However, that doesn’t mean there’s no risk. Some common drinking water contaminants in Tampa include:
Bacteria
These single-celled organisms are common in water, and many of them cause no harm to humans. However, some bacteria can be extremely harmful, causing diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, chills, headache, and a host of other complications. Incubation periods for bacteria range from a few hours to several days so it can be difficult to pinpoint where the bacteria came from. The most common bacteria in Tampa water include E. Coli and salmonella.
Viruses
While the Tampa water system is carefully monitored and the water is tested and treated, there is still a possibility that a virus can make its way into your home. The most common waterborne viruses include norovirus and Hepatitis A. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system are most susceptible to these viruses.
Protozoa
Similar to bacteria, these single-celled organisms can cause a host of symptoms including gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and chills. The most common protozoa in Tampa’s drinking water system are Cryptosporidium and Giardia. They’re extremely hardy and can even survive chlorine disinfection, making them difficult to control.
Nitrates
The level of nitrates in Tampa’s water supply is generally safe for people. However, if you have well water and live near a food processing plant or another source of industrial waste, your water may contain high levels of nitrates which can be especially harmful to infants and pregnant women.
Lead
While there are no lead pipes in the Tampa water delivery system, you may still be exposed to lead if your home’s pipes haven’t been upgraded. Lead exposure is of particular danger to infants in the womb. It can cause low birth weight and even miscarriage. Lead can cause developmental delays and learning difficulties in children as well as abdominal pain, irritability, and other health complications for adults.
Total Trihalomethanes
Water treatment facilities, including Tampa’s water treatment system, often use disinfectants to clean the water. The byproducts of water treatment with chlorine and other disinfectants are called Total Trihalomethanes. Although colorless and odorless, these compounds are far from harmless. In fact, several studies have shown a link between bladder, colon, and rectum cancers and Total Trihalomethanes.
Arsenic
Agriculture and manufacturing produce significant amounts of pollution. One of the chemicals that’s released into Tampa’s drinking water is arsenic. Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water can cause a variety of health issues from high blood pressure, heart disease, numbness, and pain, to cancer. This is true even when the level of exposure is relatively low.
Most, if not all, of the drinking water contaminants listed above, are nearly undetectable because they’re colorless and odorless. We highly recommend that you have your home’s water tested, especially if you live near manufacturing plants, food processing plants, or other industrial areas.
Can Residents in Tampa Benefit From Reverse Osmosis Treatment?
If you’re concerned about the quality of your drinking water or if you’re just looking for a way to improve your family’s health and quality of life, a reverse osmosis system may be a good fit for you. In fact, most Tampa residents would benefit from installing a reverse osmosis system. Some of the ways your life will improve include:
- Better tasting water encourages your family to drink more.
- Improved water quality makes food taste better.
- Save money on bottled water, reverse osmosis literally costs pennies per gallon.
- Fewer contaminants in the water mean you’ll have softer, smoother skin.
- Washing your hair in water that’s been filtered results in fewer bad hair days.
- Removing contaminants from your water means cleaner clothes to wear.
- Peace of mind knowing your family’s water is safe to drink.
In addition, you may also qualify for a tax rebate for installing a reverse osmosis system in your home. In general, this type of deduction can only be taken if you or one of your family members suffers from eczema or psoriasis. You may also qualify for a tax credit if someone in your household uses a CPAP machine. Not sure if you qualify or not? Talk to your tax professional about deducting home improvement costs due to medical reasons. They’ll help you determine whether or not you qualify to take a deduction on your taxes and provide you with the appropriate forms to do so.
How Often Should Residents in Tampa Replace Reverse Osmosis Prefilters?
Maintaining your reverse osmosis system is incredibly important. But, don’t worry, it’s not all that hard to do. In fact, it’s quite simple. If you don’t use a lot of water, it’s a good idea to drain the storage tank every couple of weeks to maintain a high quality of water. Also, keep in mind that the prefilter needs to be replaced at least once a year. If the water has a high sediment content, is very hard, or has been treated with a high level of chlorine, you may need to change it every six months or so.
To get adequate filtration, it’s also important to change the system’s post filter at least once a year. You’ll also need to change the reverse osmosis membrane on occasion. In general, a membrane will last around 7 years if you’ve got soft water and somewhere between 2 and 4 years if you have hard water.
Do You Need a Water Softener With Your Reverse Osmosis System in Tampa?
The short answer is, yes. Hard water can cause a variety of problems including mineral deposits inside plumbing pipes and fixtures, hard water stains on glassware, damage to your water appliances, and even dry skin and hair. Tampa’s water is considered hard due to the sources, including the Hillsborough River. The hardness of the water is subject to the season, which leads to extreme fluctuations in the hardness of the water. During the rainy season, the hardness of the water is reduced due to the volume of water. In the dry season, the hardness levels rise again.
Softening your water before it goes through your home’s point of service reverse osmosis system will help it filter the water more efficiently. The water softener will help manage the hardest minerals in your water like calcium and magnesium. Without these minerals being present, your reverse osmosis system won’t work as hard. A water softener, in our opinion, is an essential component of a good home water filtration system.
