Reverse osmosis drinking water in Hobbs
An RO system gives you a separate tap for drinking and cooking. Here's what it does and what to ask before you buy one.
Reverse osmosis forces water through a very fine membrane, with pre-filters ahead of it and a polishing filter after. The treated water collects in a small storage tank and feeds its own faucet at the kitchen sink, sometimes with a line to the refrigerator too. RO reduces dissolved solids, including sodium and many other substances.
Why do people in Hobbs ask about RO?
The City of Hobbs' 2024 water quality report shows arsenic at 5 to 7 parts per billion against a federal limit of 10, uranium at 4 to 8 micrograms per liter against a limit of 30, and nitrate up to 4.92 parts per million against a limit of 10. None of those were violations. Still, some households would rather have a drinking tap with less of them. If that's you, ask which systems are independently certified to reduce the specific contaminant you care about, and test the water before and after installation.
Why pair RO with a softener?
A salt-based softener adds sodium as it removes hardness, about 8 mg/L for each grain removed, according to NDSU Extension, which suggests keeping one kitchen tap unsoftened for drinking and cooking. An RO faucet covers that need while the rest of the house stays soft. Softened water feeding the RO also keeps hardness from scaling the membrane.
What about wells?
The New Mexico Environment Department recommends that private well owners test yearly for bacteria, nitrate and arsenic, and every five years for uranium. Bring those results when you call. Bacteria problems need disinfection, not just RO, and hardness, iron or sediment may need treatment ahead of the membrane.
What about the wastewater?
Home RO units send part of the water they treat down the drain, which is why RO is sized for drinking and cooking rather than the whole house. Ask how much water the model you're considering rejects and how its drain line will connect.
What upkeep does it need?
- Pre-filters and post-filters changed on a schedule
- The membrane replaced less often
- An occasional check of the storage tank pressure
The water treatment company sets the price after it has tested your water, looked at your plumbing and worked out what equipment fits. We don't quote prices. Treat any figure you hear over the phone, before anyone has tested the water or seen where the unit would go, as a rough starting point only.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is reverse osmosis the same thing as a softener?
No. A softener treats all the water in the house for hardness. RO is a drinking-water system for one or two taps.
Can RO help with arsenic?
Some point-of-use systems are certified to reduce arsenic. Ask for the certification for that contaminant and test the water before and after.
Related services
More background: Hobbs hard water guide.
Scale on the shower head or a softener that quit on you?
Call the number above and we'll connect you with a water treatment company that works in Hobbs and Lea County.