Wait, doesn't Hollywood already use RO?
Partly. According to the city's 2025 Water Quality Report, Hollywood treats Floridan Aquifer water with reverse osmosis and Biscayne Aquifer water with lime softening and membrane filtration. After that, everything is disinfected with chloramines and sent through miles of city and building pipes.
A home RO system works at the other end of that journey. It treats the water right before you drink it, after it has passed through your own plumbing, and its carbon stages address chloramine taste and odor.
Who it suits in Hollywood
- Beach condos and apartments along Hollywood Beach and the Intracoastal, where you cannot treat the building's main line.
- Families who buy bottled water or fill jugs and want to stop hauling them.
- Homes with a whole-home system that want drinking water polished one step further.
- Offices and gyms that want a dedicated drinking water tap.
How the system works
- Sediment and carbon prefilters catch particles and reduce chlorine and chloramine.
- The RO membrane separates most dissolved solids from the water.
- A storage tank or on-demand design keeps water ready at the faucet.
- An alkaline remineralization stage adds minerals back for taste.
- A dedicated faucet sits beside your main kitchen faucet.
Read the alkaline vs. standard RO comparison and see the compact alkaline RO system.
Install notes for local homes
Most installs fit under a standard kitchen sink. Jorge checks cabinet space, the drain connection, a spot for the faucet on the sink or countertop, and whether you want a line to the fridge. In older Hollywood homes, the condition of the shutoff valve under the sink is worth a look before any work starts.
Living with an RO system
Day to day, an RO system is simple: you fill glasses, pots, coffee makers and pet bowls from the dedicated faucet, and use the regular faucet for washing. A few habits help:
- Let a tank system refill after you draw a large amount, such as a stockpot.
- Replace prefilters on schedule; in chloramine-treated water like Hollywood's, the carbon stages do real work.
- Keep the space under the sink dry and check fittings occasionally.
Hurricane season is worth a thought too. If a precautionary boil water notice is ever issued, follow the city's instructions; a home RO system does not replace those directions. The city explains what to do on its Public Utilities page.
Certifications and expectations
RO is one of the most thorough home treatment methods, but claims must match certifications. If you are targeting a specific contaminant, check that the exact model is certified for it under NSF/ANSI 58. Hollywood water already meets standards; RO is about taste and choosing what is in your glass. For pricing factors see reverse osmosis cost in Hollywood.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist