Reverse Osmosis in New Braunfels: Sink or Whole House
RO is the finishing step for drinking water. At one faucet it's affordable and simple; across a whole house it's a bigger commitment.
An under-sink reverse osmosis system typically costs $150–$1,300 installed, and whole-house RO $1,000–$4,800 (This Old House). RO removes most dissolved minerals, the sodium a softener adds, and much of the nitrate and fluoride. On NBU water it's typically paired with a softener, which protects the membrane.
What RO changes in NBU water
A membrane rejects most dissolved salts and minerals. In New Braunfels that means the calcium and magnesium behind the hardness, the sodium an ion-exchange softener adds, and trace items in NBU's report such as nitrate, measured at 0.61 to 2.67 ppm against a 10 ppm limit, and fluoride, highest at 0.49 ppm against a 4 ppm limit (NBU 2025 report). Some households want fluoride kept; decide before you buy.
One faucet or every faucet
An under-sink unit has pre-filters, a membrane, a small tank and its own faucet, and it can supply the refrigerator. This Old House puts point-of-use install labor at about $150–$300. A whole-house system treats everything, including showers and laundry, but needs a large storage tank, a repressurizing pump and a softener in front. It also sends much more water to the drain, which matters during drought restrictions.
Most kitchens handle an under-sink unit fine; the questions are cabinet space, a spot for the faucet and a drain connection. A permeate pump can cut the water sent to the drain on smaller systems.
Who can install it
TCEQ splits the Water Treatment Specialist license into Classes I, II and III. Only the Class III wording names reverse osmosis and deionization equipment outright. Licensed plumbers are exempt. Asking which class an installer holds is a quick check.
Running costs and comparisons
This Old House estimates about $400 a year to run an RO system, including water and replacement filters, with the membrane itself replaced every three to five years for $50–$100. Compare units on NSF/ANSI Standard 58 testing, the drain-to-product ratio, tank size and the listed contaminants. The water softener cost page for New Braunfels shows how RO fits with softening.
Questions homeowners ask
Is RO worth it if NBU water already meets standards?
It's a preference. NBU reported no violations for 2025. People choose RO for taste, for clearer ice and coffee, or to remove softener sodium from drinking water, not because the tap water fails a standard.
Does RO work without a softener?
Yes at one faucet, though hard water shortens membrane life. Whole-house RO on water this hard nearly always needs softening first.
Get your New Braunfels water tested free
A sentence or two is plenty: hard-water spots, a chlorine taste, an old softener. A New Braunfels water treatment specialist will phone you to follow up.