Pure Drinking Water at Every Tap in Your Columbus Home
City water is treated, not purified. The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station holds more NSF certifications than any reverse osmosis system on the market and removes 99%+ of the contaminants your municipal water report doesn't cover.
What's actually in your Columbus tap water?
Columbus's municipal water system meets EPA standards. That is a meaningful baseline, but it is not the same as clean. Meeting standards means staying below legal limits for regulated contaminants. It does not mean the water is free of everything you would want to filter out.
Columbus water is treated with chlorine and chloramines to kill bacteria before it reaches your home. Those disinfectants do their job, but they also create disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids as they react with organic matter in the water. Both are regulated, but both remain present at varying levels.
The pipe from the treatment plant to your kitchen tap matters too. Older Columbus-area neighborhoods may have plumbing that introduces trace lead into the water at the point of use, even when the source water tests clean. PFAS compounds, sometimes called "forever chemicals," have been detected in Ohio water systems, and some pharmaceuticals pass through municipal treatment processes at trace levels.
A whole-house water softener handles hardness. A dedicated drinking water system handles what is left. The two systems address different problems and are designed to work together.
"The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station carries more NSF certifications than any other reverse osmosis system available on the market today."
Contaminants of concern in Columbus area water:
- • Chlorine and chloramine disinfectants
- • Disinfection byproducts (trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids)
- • Lead from aging residential plumbing
- • PFAS and PFOA compounds
- • Trace pharmaceuticals and hormones
- • Arsenic in some groundwater sources
Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station
The K5 is Kinetico's most advanced under-sink reverse osmosis system. It installs beneath your kitchen sink and delivers purified water through a dedicated faucet at your counter. No countertop clutter, no heavy pitchers, no refill delays.
- Removes 99%+ of contaminants from your drinking water
- Under-sink installation with dedicated counter faucet
- MACguard filter technology prevents incorrect filter installation
- Continuous purified water, no wait for a tank to refill
- Works with or without a Kinetico water softener
What the K5 removes from your water
The K5's multi-stage filtration covers the contaminants most likely to be present in Columbus-area water.
Lead
Older homes and service lines can introduce lead at the tap even when the source water is clean. The K5 is NSF 53-certified for lead reduction, protecting children and adults alike from one of the most serious residential water contaminants.
Arsenic
Arsenic occurs naturally in some Ohio groundwater and can also enter water from industrial sources. The K5 removes arsenic to levels far below the EPA's maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion.
Chlorine and Chloramines
Columbus water is disinfected with chlorine or chloramines. These compounds are effective disinfectants but create byproducts over time and affect taste and odor. The K5 eliminates both from your drinking water and the ice your freezer makes.
Pharmaceuticals
Hormones, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical compounds pass through municipal treatment plants at trace levels. The K5 is NSF 401-certified to reduce these emerging contaminants, which standard RO systems may not address.
PFAS and PFOA
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in the body. The K5 is certified to NSF P473 for PFOA and PFOS reduction. These compounds are under increasing regulatory scrutiny across Ohio.
Sediment
Particles, sand, rust, and other suspended solids are captured by the K5's pre-filter stage before reaching the RO membrane. This protects the membrane and keeps your water visibly clear and clean.
K5 vs. other drinking water options
Compare the real cost and performance of the K5 against what most families use instead.
| Comparison | Kinetico K5 | Pitcher Filter | Standard RO | Bottled Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost over 5 years | Low (filter changes only) | Moderate | Low-Moderate | Very High ($500-$2,000+) |
| Contaminants removed | Broadest: 5 NSF certifications | Limited | Good, fewer certs | Varies, unregulated |
| Convenience | On-demand at your tap | Slow, refill required | Good | Heavy, storage needed |
| Taste | Excellent, clean | Improved | Good | Varies by brand |
| Environmental impact | Minimal, no plastic waste | Low | Minimal | High plastic waste |
| PFAS removal | NSF P473 certified | No | Often no | No guarantee |
Kinetico Mach Series Drinking Water Systems
The Mach Series offers Kinetico-quality reverse osmosis filtration at a more accessible price point. These under-sink systems deliver significantly cleaner water than pitcher filters or faucet attachments, with the reliability and build quality that Kinetico is known for.
If your primary concern is chlorine taste and general water quality rather than specific contaminants like PFAS or pharmaceuticals, a Mach Series system may be the right fit. Our water analysis will help identify which system matches your actual water and your priorities.
Both the K5 and Mach Series install under the kitchen sink with a dedicated faucet. Cardinal Water Solutions carries both and can walk you through the differences at no charge during your free water consultation.
Schedule a Free Water Analysis
Drinking water system FAQs
Stop buying bottled water.
Get the real thing.
A Kinetico K5 delivers better water than most bottled brands, at your kitchen tap, for a fraction of the long-term cost. Schedule your free water analysis and we'll show you exactly what's in your water and what the K5 removes.