Businesses around the UK have reverse osmosis systems installed to improve the taste and odour of drinking water and to maintain safety and quality in the production of food, drinks, chemicals, and more. With a rising concern over contaminants in water, it’s more important than ever to ensure the water used in your business or during industrial applications is as pure as possible. In this guide, we will discuss the things to consider when buying an RO system.
Water Quality
The first step when you own a business is to understand what’s in your water. Different industries and applications have different standards, and understanding this helps you determine what level of water purity your operation actually requires.
Food & Beverage
In food and beverage production or the hospitality industry, water needs to taste good and have no odours – consistently. Chlorine is the main contributor to an off-taste, and reverse osmosis systems can combat this effectively. Additionally, hardness in water can mean scale builds up on appliances like coffee machines, so an RO solution is required for a consistent mineral profile and product consistency.
Laboratories
Labs need very low total dissolved solids (TDS), and reverse osmosis removes 95-99% of them, including salts, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contaminants. Because of the different applications of water in laboratories, infection control and contamination risks need to be absolute minimum to comply with ISO or clinical standards.
Manufacturing
In manufacturing, whether that’s cosmetics, paints, or other products, stable water quality is needed for repeatable processes and to prevent corrosion and fouling. Contaminants like minerals, bacteria, and dissolved solids can affect the quality of products and can also lead to scaling in machinery.
Getting a Water Quality Analysis
Before choosing an RO system, it’s important that you choose one based on the incoming water quality and the required output quality. You can determine this through a professional water analysis that includes:
A detailed water analysis typically includes:
- TDS and conductivity
- Hardness (calcium and magnesium)
- Chlorine/chloramine levels
- Iron, manganese, and silica
- pH and alkalinity
This data determines:
- Whether RO is suitable
- How many membranes are required
- What pre-treatment is essential
- Expected membrane lifespan
Type of RO System
Commercial and industrial systems are not one-size-fits-all. The system design you choose must reflect usage patterns, operating environment, and criticality of supply.
Compact/Light Commercial RO Systems
Ideal for businesses with moderate water demand, such as cafes, restaurants, small offices, dental practices, hair salons, or smaller manufacturing processes.
Mid-Range Commercial/Small Industrial RO Systems
Mid-range commercial RO systems are great for businesses that need continuous daily production but without huge industrial throughput, such as breweries and wineries, chain café shops, manufacturing, and dental practices. These types of systems, like Fileder’s SPECTRUM RO Systems, are designed specifically for commercial and industrial operations and are available in multiple sizes.
High-Capacity Industrial RO Systems
Ideal when the water demand is high, or the quality requirements are stringent, like in pharmaceutical processing, large-scale beverage production, or boiler feed water. High-capacity systems are built for industrial throughput and resilience and are great for applications like large-scale manufacturing, hospitals and labs, and industrial boiler feed water production.
Capacity & Water Output
The capacity and water output determine whether production runs smoothly, equipment operates safely, and regulatory obligations are met. Reverse osmosis system capacity is typically measured in:
- Litres per hour (LPH) or cubic meters per day (m³/day)
- Recovery rate — the percentage of feed water converted into purified water
- Flow rate stability — ensuring a constant supply during peak demand
It’s essential that you calculate the right capacity, as an undersized system could lead to downtime, reduced water quality, and put a strain on pre-treatment equipment.
Many RO systems incorporate storage tanks that buffer any peaks in demand and allow the system to operate at a steady rate.
Maintenance, Compliance, & Regulations
Maintenance keeps industrial RO systems performing consistently to avoid costly failures. Maintenance tasks can prevent fouling, scaling, and equipment damage, such as:
- Filter and membrane replacement
- Pump and valve inspections
- Cleaning-in-place (CIP)
However, many systems are automated to monitor things like flow, pressure, and TDS levels, and can help operators detect issues early and schedule maintenance, which can prolong the system’s life.
Regulatory compliance must also be taken into consideration, with ISO standards, HACCP requirements for food and beverage, and proper health and safety practices. Documented maintenance logs and water quality records are also often needed for inspections. By ensuring your reverse osmosis systems are compliant and up to date with maintenance, you will safeguard the quality and safety of your products, as well as protect equipment and the overall processes.
Cost
Costs are a huge factor when it comes to choosing an RO system. However, it’s important to understand that the upfront cost is a small part of the financial picture. There are many cost factors over the lifespan of a reverse osmosis system, including:
- Energy consumption
- Water waste and recovery rate
- Filter and membrane replacement frequency
- Labour and servicing costs
- Downtime and production loss
- System lifespan and depreciation
If businesses try to cut costs with a cheaper system, they could end up spending more in the long run due to lower quality membranes, systems that consume more energy, higher rejection rates, and more frequent repairs. It’s therefore important to choose a well-designed system, even if it means a higher initial investment.
Looking for Quality RO Systems?
If you’re looking for a reverse osmosis system for your application, Fileder can help. We have a range of small to large systems that are perfect for commercial and industrial uses. Browse our range online or contact us to discuss your requirements, and we can recommend the best solution for your application.
