How the comparison works
Bottled water is a steady, recurring cost: every case, jug or delivery adds up. Under-sink RO is a one-time install plus recurring filter replacements and a small amount of water sent to drain. The comparison is simply: what does each cost you over the same period?
We do not plug in sample numbers, because your spending and your quote are what matter. Enter your own figures below.
Run your numbers
Uses only the numbers you enter. Ask Jorge for an itemized quote and filter schedule to fill in the system fields.
Enter what you spend on bottled water and the figures from your RO quote. The calculator compares the two over the same period, using only the numbers you enter.
Reading your result
The calculator shows how the two costs compare over time, based only on the numbers you enter. If bottled water use is high in your home, the recurring cost adds up over the months; if you buy very little, the comparison may favor staying with bottled water. Either answer is useful. Change the inputs to test different scenarios, such as a bigger household or a different filter schedule, and use the result as one part of your decision along with convenience and taste.
Need the RO side of the numbers? Jorge gives you an itemized quote after the free in-home water test. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
Gathering your bottled-water numbers
- Check recent receipts or delivery invoices for cases, jugs or refills.
- Include bottled water bought for cooking, coffee, pets and ice, not just drinking.
- Count delivery fees, bottle deposits or dispenser rental if you have them.
- Use a typical month, then let the calculator extend it.
Gathering your RO numbers
| Input | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Installed cost | Your itemized quote |
| Filter and membrane replacements | The model's replacement schedule and parts list from your quote |
| Service visits (if any) | Your quote or maintenance plan |
| Drain water | The model's rated efficiency and your water rate |
| Electricity (some models) | Model specifications |
See RO operating costs and RO filter replacement for what each line includes.
Beyond the money
- Convenience: no carrying cases or scheduling deliveries.
- Storage: no stacks of cases in the garage or pantry.
- Plastic: fewer single-use bottles to recycle or throw away.
- Availability: water at the faucet when stores are crowded.
- Taste: alkaline RO adds minerals back, which many people prefer.
RO treats drinking and cooking water at one faucet; it does not treat showers or appliances. See Living Water's alkaline RO.
What the RO numbers do not include
Under-sink RO serves one faucet for drinking and cooking. If you also want better-tasting water in the shower or less scale on fixtures, that is a separate whole-home or softener decision with its own costs. Keep the comparison apples to apples: bottled drinking water vs. RO drinking water. See whole-house vs. under-sink filter.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist