Sizing a commercial reverse osmosis system means matching membrane output to your real demand and feed-water quality. Undersize it and you run dry at peak; oversize it and you waste capital. Here's the framework.
1. Required gallons per day (GPD)
Add up daily use across all points (kitchen, ice, humidification, process) and add a safety margin. Remember rated GPD is at ideal conditions — cold feed water lowers output.
2. Feed water TDS & temperature
Higher TDS and colder water reduce production and recovery. Get a feed-water test so the system is rated for your actual conditions, not lab ideals.
3. Recovery rate
Commercial RO typically recovers 50–75%. Higher recovery saves water but needs good pretreatment to avoid scaling the membranes.
4. Pretreatment (critical)
Always protect membranes with sediment and carbon prefilters, and a water softener ahead of the RO to prevent hardness scaling. This is the #1 driver of membrane life.
Send us your GPD, feed TDS/temperature and application and we'll size the system, recovery and pretreatment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I size a commercial RO system?
Total your required gallons per day with a safety margin, then adjust for feed-water TDS and temperature (cold water lowers output). Add pretreatment. We'll spec the exact system.
Why does my RO need a softener in front of it?
Hardness scales RO membranes and destroys recovery and lifespan. A softener (plus sediment/carbon prefilters) ahead of the membranes dramatically extends membrane life.
What recovery rate should a commercial RO run?
Most commercial systems run 50–75% recovery. Higher recovery saves water but requires solid pretreatment to prevent membrane scaling.