Never Buy Bottled Water Again.
The average Central Ohio family spends $600–$1,200 a year on bottled water. An under-sink RO system delivers better water — at a fraction of the cost — from every tap in your kitchen.
The real cost of bottled water
Bottled water costs between $1 and $3 per gallon at retail. Your Columbus tap water costs about $0.004 per gallon. That's a markup of 250 to 750 times — for water that independent testing has repeatedly shown is often no better than filtered tap water.
A family of four buying a case of water per week spends roughly $700–$900 per year. Over five years, that's $3,500–$4,500 — enough to install a whole-home water softener and an under-sink RO system with money left over.
And that's before counting the inconvenience: hauling cases from the store, running out at the wrong time, storing empties, and the environmental cost of single-use plastic.
Calculate your bottled water cost
See exactly what you're spending — and what you'd save.
Over 5 years, an RO system saves you approximately $365 compared to buying bottled water.
Signs it's time to stop buying bottled water
You spend more than $50/month on bottled water
At that rate, an RO system pays for itself in under 18 months — then saves you money every year after.
You have a Brita or pitcher filter that you refill constantly
Pitcher filters are inconvenient and only partially effective. An under-sink RO system delivers unlimited filtered water on demand.
You use bottled water for cooking, not just drinking
If you're boiling pasta or making rice with bottled water, your costs are even higher than you think.
You have a refrigerator filter but still buy bottled water
Refrigerator filters improve taste but don't remove chloramine, PFAS, or nitrates. Many people buy bottled water even with a fridge filter.
You're tired of hauling cases from the store
The convenience factor alone is worth it for many families — unlimited filtered water, always available, no trips to the store.
You're concerned about plastic leaching into your water
Plastic bottles can leach BPA and microplastics, especially when stored in warm conditions. An RO system eliminates this concern entirely.
Bottled water vs. reverse osmosis — the real comparison
| Factor | Bottled water | Reverse osmosis |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per gallon | $1.00–$3.00 | $0.05–$0.10 |
| Annual cost (family of 4) | $700–$1,200 | $50–$80 (filters only) |
| Water quality | Varies — often unregulated | 99% contaminant removal, consistent |
| Convenience | Store trips, heavy cases, storage | Unlimited, on-demand, from your tap |
| Plastic waste | 156+ bottles/person/year | Zero |
| Taste | Varies by brand and storage | Consistent, clean, alkaline |
Frequently asked questions
Is reverse osmosis water better than bottled water?
How much does an under-sink RO system cost?
How long until an RO system pays for itself?
Does RO water taste different from bottled water?
Can I use RO water for my coffee maker and ice maker?
More from the Drinking Water Center
Ready to stop buying bottled water for good?
We'll install an under-sink alkaline RO system that delivers unlimited filtered water from your kitchen tap — better than bottled, at a fraction of the cost.
Free · No obligation · Central Ohio homeowners