No. The system uses quick-connect fittings and comes with everything you need for a DIY install. Most people have it running in about 30 minutes. We also include video guides, and if you'd prefer help, we can provide you with trusted installation support.

- ½" drill bit (for the countertop faucet hole)

- ¼" drill bit

-Power drill

-Pliers

Everything else you need comes in the box. You'll also need an open outlet under the sink — the one for your dishwasher or disposal works fine.

Not a DIYer? We can connect you with a preferred local installer.

Three filters on different schedules:

Pre-filter — every 500 gallons (about 6 months): $22

RO membrane — every 2,000 gallons (about 2 years): $80

Post-filter + Alkaline Remineralization — every 1,000 gallons (about 1 year): $30

That works out to roughly $0.11 per gallon of filtered water — compared to around $1.22 per gallon for bulk bottled water, or $7+ per gallon for individual bottles.

The front panel tracks your usage so you'll know exactly when each filter is due.

Yes! With one additional part (~$20) you can also run filtered water to your refrigerator!

Yes. The system plugs in to a standard 110v outlet.

Absolutely — and it's arguably even more important for well users. Private wells in Iowa are unregulated, meaning no one is monitoring your water for nitrates or other contaminants. This system gives you control over your water quality regardless of your source.

Yes. The system features an NSF/ANSI 58 certified reverse osmosis membrane — the same standard used to certify RO systems for contaminant reduction. We also sent our system to an independent Iowa lab (Foundation Analytical) for nitrate testing. It reduced nitrate from 7.39 ppm to 0.463 ppm — a 93.7% reduction.

No. This system has a 2:1 pure-to-drain ratio, which means for every 2 gallons of clean water, only 1 gallon goes to drain. That's much more efficient than conventional RO systems.

Reverse osmosis is one of the most effective filtration methods available. Our system reduces nitrate, PFAS ("forever chemicals"), lead, arsenic, chlorine and chlorine byproducts, total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride, plus hundreds of other contaminants RO is known to address. Boiling and standard pitcher/fridge filters do not remove nitrate. RO does.

Returns: Unopened, unused systems can be returned within 30 days.
Warranty: 1 year on parts (filters not included — those are consumables). If something goes wrong, reach out to us directly. We're based in Iowa, not a call center overseas.

If you're on city water, your utility is required to publish an annual water quality report — a quick search for "[your city] water quality report" will pull it up. If you're on a private well, we recommend testing. Iowa has one of the highest rates of well contamination in the country, especially for nitrate. The State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa offers affordable test kits. Either way, our system is designed to handle the contaminants most common in Iowa water.

Brita pitchers and refrigerator filters use carbon filtration. They improve taste and remove chlorine, but they do not remove nitrate, PFAS, arsenic, or most heavy metals. Boiling water doesn't remove these either — in fact, boiling can actually concentrate nitrate. Reverse osmosis is a different category of filtration. It's the same technology municipal treatment plants use to remove nitrate.

Yes. Shipping is free to Iowa addresses. Out-of-state orders ship for $25+ depending on location.

Safe Water Iowa was founded by Isaiah Petersen, a seventh-generation Iowan and Ankeny-based chiropractor. After years of watching Iowa's water quality crisis worsen — and seeing families priced out of quality filtration — he built SWI to offer certified RO systems at a fair price, with 5% of every sale going to Iowa water quality initiatives. We're based in Ankeny. Not a dropshipper, not a franchise.