Stop Paying for Plastic: How Long Island Families Save $1,800/Year
By Glenn Taylor, Owner of pHountain Water Filtration | Published February 14, 2026
Bottled water is costing you thousands. Here's the math Long Island families need to see.
Every week, you're at the grocery store. You grab the cases of water. You load them into the cart, lift them into the trunk, haul them into the house. You recycle the empties. And next week, you do it all over again.
If you're searching "stop paying for plastic Long Island," this cost breakdown will show you exactly where your money is going.
What if I told you that over the next 10 years, this weekly routine is going to cost you $18,000?
Let's break down exactly where your money is going—and show you how Nassau and Suffolk County families are eliminating this expense entirely.
The Real Cost of Bottled Water on Long Island
Most Long Island families underestimate what they're actually spending on bottled water. Let's be real about the numbers.
According to the International Bottled Water Association, Americans spend over $18 billion annually on bottled water—with Long Island families among the highest per-capita spenders.
💸 Store-Bought Cases
(Stop & Shop, Costco, Target)
- Weekly cost: $30-56
- Monthly cost: $120-224
- Annual cost: $1,440-2,688
- 10-year total:
$14,400-26,880
💧 Delivery Services
(Poland Spring, Nestle, Local)
- Monthly cost: $80-150
- Annual cost: $960-1,800
- 10-year total:
$9,600-18,000
🚰 Water Cooler Jugs
(5-Gallon Delivery)
- Monthly cost: $96-192
- Annual cost: $1,152-2,304
- 10-year total:
$11,520-23,040
Over 5 years, Long Island families spend $4,800-13,440 on plastic bottles.
Curious what YOU actually spend?
Calculate your bottled water waste in 60 seconds.
📞 Call (631) 991-3995for Free Analysis
What About Long Island Tap Water in 2026?
Here's the question everyone asks: "But isn't Long Island tap water unsafe? That's why we buy bottles, right?"
Let's separate fact from fear.
For Municipal Water Customers (SCWA)
Municipal water provided by the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) achieved full EPA compliance as of June 2025. Your tap water is safe, tested, and treated.
That said, "compliant" doesn't always mean "perfect." You might still taste chlorine. Your pipes might still leach minerals. But the water coming from SCWA is EPA-approved.
For Private Well Owners (40,000+ Long Island Homes)
This is where it gets tricky. Private wells are NOT monitored by the county. You're responsible for testing and treating your own water.
Recent testing across Nassau and Suffolk has found elevated contamination levels in some private wells, including concerns with Iron, Nitrates, and other contaminants. If you're on a private well and haven't tested your water in the past year, you're guessing about what your family is drinking.
🧪 Private well owner? We offer FREE same-day water testing.
The Whole-House SolutionOne System, Every Tap, Lifetime Savings
So here's the alternative that Long Island families are choosing: stop buying water. Start filtering it.
The Nell Filtration System is a commercial-grade, whole-house water filter installed by our in-house plumbers (never subcontractors). Once it's in your basement, every tap in your house delivers filtered water. Kitchen. Bathroom. Shower. Laundry. Everywhere.
What the Nell System Targets:
- PFAS (forever chemicals)
- Lead (from old pipes)
- Chlorine (that taste and smell)
- 1,4-Dioxane (industrial contaminant)
- Microplastics (from aging infrastructure)
And here's the kicker: it's salt-free. You don't get that slimy, over-softened feel common with older water softener systems. You keep the good minerals (calcium, magnesium) that make water taste refreshing.
The ROI BreakdownWhen Does It Pay for Itself?
Let's talk numbers. Real numbers.
| Timeline | Bottled Water Cost | Whole-House System Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1-2 | $3,600 | System investment (pays for itself) |
| Year 3 | $1,800 | $0 (You're in profit) |
| Year 4-5 | $3,600 | ~$200 maintenance |
| Year 6-10 | $9,000 | ~$300 maintenance |
| 10-Year Total | $18,000 | ~$3,500 (system + maintenance) |
(Swipe table left/right on mobile to view all columns)
Net savings over 10 years: $12,000-14,500
What's Included:
- ✅ 10-year warranty (we stand behind our work)
- ✅ Professional installation by in-house plumbers
- ✅ After-hours service (water issues don't wait)
- ✅ Minimal maintenance (filter changes 1-2x/year)
💰 Real Savings Example
From our 15 years serving 2,000+ Long Island families:
The Martinez Family from Massapequa was spending $156/month on water delivery service. After installing the Nell System in 2024, they've saved $1,872 in year one alone.
"We didn't realize how much we were throwing away until we saw it on paper," said Maria Martinez. "Now we have clean water from every tap, and we're actually saving money."
Benefits Beyond the Savings
Yes, you save thousands of dollars. But that's not the only reason families make the switch.
Environmental Impact:
3,000+ plastic bottles eliminated per year. That's 50 pounds of plastic waste that doesn't end up in landfills or the Long Island Sound.
Health & Safety:
Zero microplastic exposure. No more drinking tiny plastic particles that leach from bottles sitting in hot trucks or warehouses.
Whole-Home Protection:
Filtered water from every tap. Not just the kitchen. Your shower, your washing machine, your dishwasher—all get clean, filtered water. This protects your appliances, extends their lifespan, and gives you peace of mind.
Why Trust pHountain?We've Been Doing This Since 2010
We're not a national chain. We're not a franchise. We're a family-owned Long Island business that's been serving Nassau and Suffolk families for over 15 years.
- Local HQ in Islip: We have a physical showroom you can visit
- In-house plumbers: No subcontractors. Our team is background-checked, uniformed, and trained by us
- After-hours availability: Water emergencies don't wait for business hours
- 10-year warranty: We stand behind every system we install
Over 2,000 Long Island families trust pHountain for cleaner, safer water. See what they're saying on our testimonials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ How much does a whole-house water filter actually cost?
The system cost varies based on your home size and water quality issues, but it typically pays for itself in 2-3 years compared to bottled water expenses. After that, you're saving $1,200-1,800 annually. Get a free quote here.
❓ Will this work with Long Island well water?
Yes. The Nell System is specifically designed to handle Long Island's unique water chemistry, including high Iron, Nitrates, and hardness levels common in Nassau and Suffolk wells.
❓ What maintenance does it require?
Minimal. You'll need filter changes 1-2 times per year (we handle this for you). Total annual maintenance cost is typically $100-200, which is far less than you're currently spending on bottled water each month.
❓ How is pHountain different from Culligan or other big chains?
We're locally owned and operated since 2010. We don't use subcontractors. Our Nell System is salt-free (no slimy feel). And we actually live and work on Long Island—we understand our water chemistry better than any national chain.
Stop Renting Clean Water. Own It.
Free water testing shows exactly what you're paying to fix.
Disclaimer: Water quality varies by location. Municipal water provided by SCWA achieved EPA compliance in June 2025. Private well owners should have water tested regularly. pHountain provides free water testing for Nassau and Suffolk County. Visit our FAQ page for more information.
