Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water in Glendale

A reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink pushes water through a fine membrane that removes most dissolved solids. That matters in Glendale, where tap water averaged 565 ppm total dissolved solids and 130 ppm sodium in 2024 (City of Glendale). RO is for drinking and cooking water; a softener protects the rest of the house.

How a home RO system works

1. A sediment filter catches grit.
2. A carbon filter removes disinfectant, which would damage the membrane.
3. The membrane lets water through and holds back most dissolved salts and minerals, which rinse to the drain.
4. A small storage tank holds filtered water under the sink.
5. A final carbon stage polishes taste on the way to a dedicated faucet.

Why Glendale households add it

Glendale's 2024 report lists total dissolved solids averaging 565 ppm, with readings from 330 to 792, and sodium averaging 130 ppm (City of Glendale). Those minerals are what you taste, and what leaves film in coffee makers and white crust in ice trays. If you soften the house, RO also takes back out most of the sodium the softener adds, which makes the two a common pairing.

What to check before you buy

• Testing to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, the standard for home RO systems.
• The waste ratio: how many gallons go down the drain for each gallon you keep.
• Room under the sink, and whether your counter has a hole for the RO faucet.
• A line to the refrigerator's ice maker and water dispenser, if you want one.

RO units are quoted after the water test; see the water softener cost guide for Glendale for pricing on the whole-house systems that often go in alongside one.