See what your household spends on bottled water each year and how it compares with the filter upkeep of an under-sink reverse osmosis system.
Enter how many people drink water in your home, how many ounces each drinks per day, and what you pay for bottled water, either by the case or by the gallon for delivery. The calculator totals your yearly bottled water spending and bottle count, then compares it with the yearly filter upkeep of an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system. Every default can be changed to match your habits.
Change any number to match your household. Results are estimates.
LVVWD tap (tier 1 rate)
$0.0016
Store-brand case (example)
$1.25
U.S. average bottled (2025)
$3.07
LVVWD residential tier 1 rate $1.61 per 1,000 gallons (before filter costs); Walmart Great Value 24 x 16.9 oz at $3.97 (Oct 2026); IBWA/Beverage Marketing Corp. average 2.4 cents per ounce for 2025. Example figures; prices vary.
This is an illustration using the defaults. Four people drinking 44 ounces a day use about 1.4 gallons daily, or roughly 500 gallons a year. At the $1.25 store-brand price that is about $630 a year; at the $3.07 national average it is about $1,540. That is also about 3,800 single-serve bottles a year.
The same 500 gallons from the tap costs well under a dollar at LVVWD’s first-tier rate, before filter upkeep. RO systems do send some water to the drain, and This Old House estimates total running costs of about $400 a year including water and filters (This Old House), so results vary by system. Compare options in reverse osmosis vs. bottled water.
Cost is not the only factor. EPA data show the recycling rate for PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and only 8.7% for plastics overall (EPA). Reusable 3- and 5-gallon cooler jugs are better: IBWA says they are cleaned and reused 35 or more times before recycling (IBWA). Filtering at the tap avoids most of that packaging. This is the idea behind our motto, “Why Pay For Water Twice?”
Utilities test against EPA standards and publish the results each year in their water quality reports. Many residents filter for taste, chlorine and minerals. See can you drink tap water in Las Vegas.
Yes. RO forces water through a semi-permeable membrane (NSF), which holds back most dissolved minerals. Learn more about our reverse osmosis systems.
Equipment and installation cost, delivery fees and your own time spent hauling cases. Ask about monthly plans and financing to compare like for like.
Not sure what is in your water or what equipment fits your home? Water Quality of Las Vegas offers a free water analysis and free estimates across the valley, from Henderson to Pahrump. Call or text 702-623-2724 any time, or request your free water analysis online.
