Divide your estimated daily water consumption (in litres) by 8–10 hours of operation to get the required LPH capacity. As a general guide: a 100 LPH plant suits 80 –100 people; a 500 LPH plant suits a small factory or large office; a 1,000 –2,000 LPH plant suits hospitals or industrial operations; and 5,000 –10,000 LPH plants are for large manufacturers, textile units or municipal supply.

Commercial RO plants are designed for businesses like hotels, hospitals, offices and schools that need purified drinking water at moderate scale (100–2,000 LPH). Industrial RO plants operate at higher capacities (2,000–20,000+ LPH) and are built for continuous 24/7 operation in manufacturing environments where water is used as a process input — such as in textiles, power plants and pharmaceuticals. Industrial plants typically have heavier builds, more pre-treatment stages and greater automation.

Traditional RO plants have a recovery rate of 60–75%, meaning 25–40% of feed water is discharged as brine (reject water). Modern commercial RO plants from reputable manufacturers include energy-recovery systems and high-recovery membranes that improve this ratio. The reject water can also be reused for gardening, cooling towers or floor cleaning — making the overall system more water-efficient.

Regular maintenance includes: replacing pre-filters every 6–12 months; cleaning or replacing RO membranes every 1–2 years; checking and topping up anti-scalant dosing chemicals; inspecting high-pressure pumps, valves and fittings; and sanitising storage tanks. Most manufacturers offer Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC) that cover scheduled servicing, emergency callouts and spare parts, ensuring your plant operates at peak performance.