Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
- Reverse Osmosis
- Point of use
- City water
- Well water
- Complete system
- Listed
$449.99as of 2026-08-25
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official
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Our verdict on the Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
The Brondell Circle RC100 is a non-electric, 40 GPD under-sink reverse-osmosis system with a live WQA listing under NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, and NSF/ANSI 58 as of 2026-08-25. It requires a drain connection and 40–120 psi feed pressure.[1][2][3][4][5]
Best for
- Buyers who want a non-electric, 40 GPD point-of-use reverse-osmosis system and have 40–120 psi feed pressure plus a usable under-sink drain connection.
Not for
- Homes below 40 psi or without a usable drain connection.
- Microbiologically unsafe or unknown-quality water without adequate disinfection, or arsenic concerns that may include trivalent or otherwise unconfirmed forms.
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25WQA listingManufacturer datasheetBrand official
Certification check: Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
Listed by WQA under NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, and NSF/ANSI 58, checked in the certifier directories as of 2026-08-25.
- WQA
- NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58
IAPMO R&T and WQA certify products against the same NSF/ANSI standards as NSF, so a listing from either one is an equivalent third-party certification, not a lesser one.
| Directory | Result | Listing |
|---|---|---|
| NSF | No listing found (checked 2026-08-25) | View listing |
| IAPMO R&T | No listing found (checked 2026-08-25) | View listing |
| WQA | Listing found (checked 2026-08-25) | View listing |
Claimed vs. certified: Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
| Contaminant | Status | Third-party listing | What the brand says |
|---|---|---|---|
| industrial chemicals, heavy metals, VOCs, dissolved solids, bad tastes, odors | Marketed only | No entry |
|
| lead, chlorine, volatile organic compounds | Marketed only | No entry |
|
| wastewater efficiency | Marketed only | No entry |
|
| Aesthetic Chlorine | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Arsenic (V) (50 ppb influent level) | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Barium | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Cadmium | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Copper | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Cyst | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Fluoride | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Hexavalent Chromium | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Lead | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Radium 226/228 | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Selenium | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Taste and Odor | Certified only |
| No entry |
| TDS | Certified only |
| No entry |
| Trivalent Chromium | Certified only |
| No entry |
| VOC (as chloroform) | Certified only |
| No entry |
What the Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis does not do
Do not use with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the system. The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis's recorded operating limits are turbidity up to 1 NTU, chlorine up to 2 mg/L, iron up to 2 mg/L, hardness up to 1,000 mg/L, pentavalent arsenic concentration up to 0.05 mg/L, verified 2026-08-25.
Do not use with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the system.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet
This system reduces pentavalent arsenic, but may not remove other forms of arsenic.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet
The RC100 system is designed to remove pentavalent arsenic. It will not convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet
Operating limits
| Parameter | Limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| turbidity | up to 1 NTU[1] | Exclusive upper limit: the source says turbidity must be less than 1 NTU. Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| chlorine | up to 2 mg/L[1] | Exclusive upper limit: the source says chlorine must be less than 2 mg/L. Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| iron | up to 2 mg/L[1] | Exclusive upper limit: the source says iron must be less than 2 mg/L. Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| hardness | up to 1,000 mg/L[1] | Exclusive upper limit: the source says hardness must be less than 1,000 mg/L. Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| pentavalent arsenic concentration | up to 0.05 mg/L[1] | The performance sheet says testing covered pentavalent arsenic at 0.050 mg/L or less. Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
Do not buy it for these situations
DrainInstallation needs a suitable wastewater drain connection; creating one may require drilling a 1/4-inch hole in the drain pipe, for which the manual says to seek professional help.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official
Water pressureFeed pressure must stay within 40–120 psi; the manual says pressure below 40 psi can cause noise or water shortage.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official
Well waterFor well-water arsenic concerns, establish the arsenic form and disinfectant first: the sheet says RC100 targets pentavalent arsenic, does not convert trivalent arsenic, and chloramine may not complete that conversion.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet
How the Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis works
The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis treats water in four stages: Sediment filtration, then Activated carbon, then Reverse osmosis, then Activated carbon, verified 2026-08-25.[1]
| Stage | Method | Media | Micron rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sediment filtration | Sediment Filter | Not recorded |
| 2 | Activated carbon | Pre-Carbon Plus Filter | Not recorded |
| 3 | Reverse osmosis | RO Membrane Filter | Not recorded |
| 4 | Activated carbon | Post Carbon Block Filter | Not recorded |
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official
Fit and sizing: Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis is a reverse osmosis unit installed at the point of use, for city water and well water. It is rated for 0.07 gpm of service flow and 40 GPD of membrane output, verified 2026-08-25.
| Form factor | Reverse Osmosis |
|---|---|
| Installed at | Point of use (one fixture) |
| Water source | City water and Well water |
| Service flow | 0.07 gpm[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| Membrane output | 40 GPD[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| Storage tank | 1.6 gallons[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official |
| Dimensions | 16.5 in H × 9.25 in W × 13.8 in D[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| Operating pressure | 40–120 psi[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| Operating temperature | 41–95 °F[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet |
| Needs electricity | No[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official |
| Needs a drain | Yes[1] Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official |
What the Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis really costs
The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis costs $449.99 as of 2026-08-25. Over ten years, including installation and replacement elements, the recorded total is $2,499.74.
Replacement schedule
| Element | Replace | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| RF-20 | every 6 months | $159.98 |
| RF-40 | every 24 months | $45.00 |
EstimatedVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheetBrand official
Ten-year cost of ownership
| Purchase price (as of 2026-08-25) | $449.99 |
|---|---|
| Replacement elements, 10 × $204.98/year | $2,049.75 |
| Sum of the lines above (as of 2026-08-25) | $2,499.74 |
| Recorded ten-year total | $2,499.74 |
Waste ratio: 1.99:1 (water sent to drain per unit of filtered water)[1]
EstimatedVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet
Warranty: One-year limited warranty; the manual states 100% parts and labor coverage during the first year, excluding consumable filters. (1 years)[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official
Installing the Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
DIY install, verified 2026-08-25.
Tools required
- Phillips screwdriver
- adjustable wrench
- drill with 1/4-inch drill bit
- thin screwdriver, straw, or similar item under 1/4 inch in diameter
- towel and bucket
- safety glasses
- scissors for cutting zip ties
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Brand official
Manufacturer documentation
- Install manual: https://www.brondell.com/content/Circle_RC100_User_Manual_2024.PDF (accessed 2026-08-25)
- Install video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0SXjK_sdk (accessed 2026-08-25)
Ongoing maintenance
- Replace the RF-20 sediment, pre-carbon plus, and post-carbon block filters. — every 6 months
- Replace the RF-40 reverse-osmosis membrane. — every 24 months
- Test product water to confirm contaminants are being reduced effectively. — every 6 months
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Manufacturer datasheet
Track record: Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
Amazon shows 4 out of 5 from 583 reviews as of 2026-08-25.
| Source | Rating | Reviews | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 4 out of 5 | 583 | 2026-08-25 |
What owners complain about
In the r/water thread “Brondell R.O. Water filter.. slows to a trickle,” multiple Circle RC100 owners reported persistent slow or trickling faucet flow, often after filter changes; proposed remedies varied by drain alignment, valve cleaning, or shell replacement.[1]
Secondary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Reddit thread
In the r/Costco thread “Brondell H2O+ - Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System. A good system?”, a multi-year owner described replacement filters as expensive and said flow declines over time; another participant noted the apparent lack of generic-filter compatibility.[1]
Secondary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Reddit thread
Recalls and litigation
None found as of 2026-08-25 in the sources cited below.[1]
Primary sourceVerified 2026-08-25Government agency
The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis against its family and its rivals
The Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis has one sibling in its family: Capella RC250.
The rest of the family
| Model | What differs |
|---|---|
| Capella RC250 | Separate Brondell under-sink reverse-osmosis model with an external steel storage tank; RC250 is not a Circle RC100 alias. |
Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis questions, answered
Is the Brondell Circle RC100 certified for contaminant reduction?
How much wastewater does the Brondell Circle produce?
About 2 gallons go to waste for each gallon of treated water under the sheet's test conditions. The 1.99:1 estimate is derived from Brondell's published 33.5% efficiency rating, and the sheet warns that actual performance may vary.
Sources: [1]
How often do Brondell Circle filters need replacement?
Replace the RF-20 filter set every 6 months and the RF-40 reverse-osmosis membrane every 24 months. Brondell notes that poor water quality or heavier use can shorten the cycle.
Sources: [1]
Does the Brondell Circle require electricity?
No. The Circle operates without electricity, but it still needs a cold-water connection and a suitable wastewater drain connection.
Sources: [1]
Sources and data report: Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis
Every figure above is taken from the highest-trust source that carries it and re-derived from that source by a separate check. How we verify product data.
What we could not establish, and why
| Field | Why it is blank |
|---|---|
| certified.certIndexKey | No local certification-index corpus was present in this checkout, so a manufacturer/model join key could not be confirmed; the live WQA listing was checked independently. |
| fit.bathroomsServed | Brondell's current product page, specification sheet, performance data sheet, and owner manual do not publish a bathroom-count rating for this point-of-use system. |
| fit.householdSize | Brondell's current product page, specification sheet, performance data sheet, and owner manual do not publish a supported household-size range; retailer estimates were not used for sizing. |
| fit.connectionSize | The manual identifies 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch supply adapters plus separate 1/4-inch tubes; the schema permits only one connection-size quantity, so no single value would faithfully represent the installation. |
| cost.msrp | Brondell's live page labels $449.99 as the current price but does not separately identify an MSRP; older dealer materials were not used as a current MSRP. |
| cost.moneyBackGuarantee | Brondell's official policy describes a conditional return with unused-product, timing, restocking-fee, and return-shipping terms, not a separately stated money-back guarantee. |
| install.difficulty | The product page calls the standard installation DIY and the manual gives detailed steps, but neither assigns the easy, moderate, or hard label required by the schema. |
| install.estimatedHours | The current manual, product page, and official installation video do not publish an installation-time estimate. |
| comparisons.familyCertNote | The live directory checks support the RC100 itself but do not support extending its certification evidence across the wider H2O+ family. |
| seo.verification | The independent verify loop has not run; this research stage must leave the verification stamp null. |
Every source behind this page
- Brand officialaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.brondell.com/circle-reverse-osmosis-water-filter-system/
- Brondell's live product page offered the Circle RC100 for sale at capture time.
- The product page lists a 1.6-gallon storage capacity.
- The product page states that the Circle operates without electricity.
- Brondell's product page displayed a current price of $449.99.
- The product page describes the included hardware as supporting a standard DIY installation.
- WQA listingaccessed: 2026-08-25https://find.wqa.org/find-products/ctl/detail/mid/1054/cid/brondell_inc/sid/5/keyword/rc100
- WQA's live directory lists RC100 under NSF/ANSI 58 with a 40 GPD production rate.
- WQA's live directory lists RC100 under NSF/ANSI 58.
- WQA listingaccessed: 2026-08-25https://find.wqa.org/find-products/ctl/detail/mid/1054/cid/brondell_inc/sid/1/keyword/rc100
- WQA's live directory lists RC100 under NSF/ANSI 42.
- WQA's live directory lists RC100 under NSF/ANSI 42 for Aesthetic Chlorine, Taste and Odor.
- WQA listingaccessed: 2026-08-25https://find.wqa.org/find-products/ctl/detail/mid/1054/cid/brondell_inc/sid/3/keyword/rc100
- WQA's live directory lists RC100 under NSF/ANSI 53.
- WQA's live directory lists RC100 under NSF/ANSI 53 for VOC (as chloroform).
- Manufacturer datasheetaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.brondell.com/content/1580665846_RC100_Circle_PDS_Update_Web_012225.pdf
- The performance data sheet states 40 GPD, 40–120 psi, the microbiological safety warning, and the arsenic-form limitation.
- The performance data sheet prints this microbiological safety warning verbatim.
- The performance data sheet states this arsenic-form limitation verbatim.
- The arsenic facts section states this limitation verbatim.
- The influent-water table specifies turbidity below 1 NTU.
- The influent-water table specifies chlorine below 2 mg/L.
- The influent-water table specifies iron below 2 mg/L.
- The influent-water table specifies hardness below 1,000 mg/L.
- The sheet bounds its pentavalent-arsenic treatment test at 0.050 mg/L or less.
- The arsenic facts section distinguishes pentavalent and trivalent arsenic in well water and states the free-chlorine/chloramine conditions.
- The performance data sheet lists a rated service flow of 0.07 gallons per minute.
- The performance data sheet lists a daily water production rate of 40 GPD.
- The performance data sheet lists a 40–120 psi operating range.
- The performance data sheet lists a 41–95 °F feed-water temperature range.
- The performance data sheet gives six-month RF-20 and 24-month RF-40 replacement intervals.
- The 1.99:1 waste-to-product estimate is derived as (100 - 33.5) / 33.5 from the sheet's 33.5% efficiency rating.
- The sheet gives RF-20 and RF-40 replacement intervals and calls for product-water testing every six months.
- The sheet publishes 33.5% efficiency and notes that actual performance may vary; 1.99:1 is (100 - 33.5) / 33.5.
- The performance sheet gives six-month RF-20 and 24-month RF-40 intervals and says poor water quality or greater use may shorten them.
- Brand officialaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.brondell.com/content/Circle_RC100_User_Manual_2024.PDF
- The manual shows a wastewater drain connection and states that the system operates without electricity.
- The manual names and orders the four filtration stages as sediment, pre-carbon plus, RO membrane, and post carbon block.
- The manual's drain-clamp section requires a suitable drain connection and describes the possible 1/4-inch drilling step and professional-help warning.
- The manual gives the 40–120 psi range and the consequence of inlet pressure below 40 psi.
- The installation manual includes a mandatory wastewater drain-clamp connection.
- The manual supplies homeowner installation steps but recommends professional help if the drain pipe must be drilled.
- The manual states the one-year parts-and-labor term and exclusion for consumable filters.
- The manual's Tools Needed section lists these items.
- Current Circle RC100 owner, installation, maintenance, and warranty instructions.
- The manual identifies the non-electric design and the water-supply and drain connections.
- Manufacturer datasheetaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.brondell.com/content/RC100_Circle_Spec_Sheet_Update_Web_012225.pdf
- The specification sheet lists dimensions of 9.25 inches wide, 16.5 inches high, and 13.8 inches deep.
- Brand officialaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.brondell.com/circle-reverse-osmosis-replacment-filter-rf20/
- Brondell displayed an RF-20 price of $79.99; the $159.98 annual value is two replacements at that price.
- Brand officialaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.brondell.com/circle-reverse-osmosis-replacment-filter-rf40/
- Brondell displayed an RF-40 price of $89.99; the $44.995 annual value is one-half of that two-year cost.
- Brand officialaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0SXjK_sdk
- Official Brondell Circle RC100 installation guide video.
- Reddit threadaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.reddit.com/r/water/comments/u6tgd6/brondell_ro_water_filter_slows_to_a_trickle/
- Browser-verified r/water thread titled “Brondell R.O. Water filter.. slows to a trickle” discusses the Circle RC100 and repeated owner reports of slow/trickling flow.
- Reddit threadaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1c202xd
- Browser-verified r/Costco thread titled “Brondell H2O+ - Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System. A good system?” contains these owner comments about filter cost, flow, and generic compatibility.
- Government agencyaccessed: 2026-08-25https://www.cpsc.gov/search?search_api_fulltext=Brondell
- The CPSC site search for Brondell returned no results, including in its Recalls tab.
Cite this page
TapWaterData Editorial. "Brondell Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System." TapWaterData, verified 2026-08-25. https://www.tapwaterdata.com/filters/brand/brondell/circle
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