What drives the price
- Number of points of use: kitchen, butler's pantry, bar, cabana.
- System type: tank or tankless; see tankless vs. tank.
- Stages, including alkaline remineralization.
- Faucet: drilling marble, quartzite or granite takes care; matching finishes may matter to you.
- Lines to refrigerators, ice makers and coffee machines.
The number of units is usually the biggest single factor. A condo kitchen needs one. A large home may want RO at the main kitchen, a catering or butler's pantry, a bar and a pool cabana. It is worth asking whether every location needs its own unit or whether one well-placed unit with lines to nearby appliances covers the real use.
Your water's part in it
The island's water is lime-softened and filtered on the mainland, then chloraminated. Pre-filters have to handle the chloramine, which protects the membrane. With dissolved solids of 243 ppm in the 2025 report, membrane load is moderate; filter changes, not membrane wear, usually drive ownership cost.
Ownership costs
- Filter and membrane schedule for each unit.
- Water sent to drain per gallon made.
- Service visits, and access when the home is closed.
See RO maintenance and operating costs.
A unit that sits idle for months should have its first water run to drain on your return, and some owners schedule a filter change for the start of each season. That timing belongs in the service plan, not just the filter interval.
Condo installs
Associations may require insurance certificates or set work hours. Get those details early. Compact units suit narrow sink bases.
Ask the building manager whether drain connections under the sink need any approval, and whether there are restrictions on when water to your unit can be shut off.
Compared with bottled and delivered water
Many households on the island use delivered water. Compare your monthly use against filter changes with the bottled water vs. RO calculator.
Questions to ask
- What did you measure at my tap?
- Which stages are included at each sink?
- How long do filters last on this water?
- Who services the units while I am away?
Living Water offers financing through its financing partners; you apply with a credit application, and a co-applicant can apply with you. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist