Point of Entry (POE) Legionella Filtration Pricing: What POE Systems Cost, How They Are Built, and How to Size One for Your Facility

Get an understanding of what a point of entry (POE) Legionella and waterborne pathogen filtration system will cost your facility. Legionella Control Systems engineers, supplies, and installs POE filtration systems for hospitals, long-term care facilities, hotels, correctional facilities, condo associations, and large commercial and manufacturing buildings across the United States.

POE systems start as low as $2,400 for a small facility or a single hot water loop and can reach well above $100,000 for large buildings with high flow rates and full hot and cold treatment. These are engineered systems. The system price depends on flow rate, building size, how much of the water you treat, and which filtration technology and configuration the system uses. This page details how POE systems are built, what each component costs, and what drives the final number.

Ready to put a POE system in your building? Legionella Control Systems engineers size the system for your facility and give you a quote. These systems can get complicated, and sizing one correctly takes engineering. That is what we do. Call 888-416-8626 or get in touch to get your system specified and quoted.

How much does a point of entry filtration system cost?

POE systems start at $2,400 and can range past $100,000.

The entry point to POE systems is the 20 GPM triple-charged membrane filtration system, which starts at $2,400. This unit is sized for a small facility, or it can be used to treat just the make-up water feeding a small to medium hot water loop. From there, price scales with flow rate, building size, how much of the building water you treat, and the filtration technology selected. A large hospital or correctional facility treating both hot and cold water at high flow rates is a system that can run past $100,000.

Point of Entry System Pricing by Component

Component	Price Range	What It Does and What Drives the Price
Sediment Pre-Filtration (5 micron)	Included in system pricing below	Removes particulate and protects the membrane downstream. We specify 5 micron sediment filtration ahead of the charged membrane on nearly every system. Price scales with flow rate and filtration type.
Charged Membrane Filtration System	Starting at $2,400, ranging past $100,000	The core of the system. Removes Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. The 20 GPM triple-charged membrane unit is the entry point for small facilities or single hot water loops. Price is driven by flow rate, building size, and whether the system is cartridge or backwashable.
UV Disinfection (added to the filters)	Starting around $3,000, ranging into the six figures	UV disinfection systems are added downstream of filtration for the highest optimal performance. Price scales with flow rate and the dose required. UV is the addition that takes a strong POE system to the most protective configuration we build.
Complete POE System (sediment + charged membrane + UV)	$5,900 to $100,000 – $250,000 for most systems	A full point of entry system sized for your building or loop. Where you land in the range depends on flow rate, building size, hot-only versus hot-and-cold treatment, and cartridge versus backwashable design.

A complete POE system is built up from these components. We almost always specify 5 micron sediment filtration ahead of a charged membrane system, because the sediment filter protects the membrane and extends its life. For the highest level of treatment, UV disinfection is added. You do not have to buy the full configuration on day one, but understanding how the system is built is the first step in sizing and budgeting one.

What is the difference between point of entry (POE) and point of use (POU) filtration?

POE treats water as it enters the building, or it treats a hot water loop. POU treats water at a single fixture at the fixture.

Point of entry filtration is installed where water enters the building, where it feeds a specific water loop, or in the hot water loop return, so it treats all the water flowing through that point. Point of use filtration is installed at an individual fixture, such as a shower or a sink, and treats only the water coming out of that one outlet. POE is the engineered, building-level or loop-level solution, while POU is fast, targeted protection at a specific high-risk fixture and is often deployed immediately during an active situation while a POE system is being engineered and installed. Many facilities use both. For a full breakdown of point of use filters and pricing, see our point of use (POU) Legionella filters FAQ.

What drives the price within that range?

Flow rate, building size, how much of the water you treat, and the filtration configuration.

Flow rate is the biggest single driver of price for a POE system. A system rated for 20 gallons per minute serving a single loop is a different machine than one sized for the peak demand of a large hospital. Building size and the number of water loops follow from that. The next major driver of cost is how much of the building water you choose to treat. Treating both hot and cold water is the most protective approach and the one we recommend, but it requires more capacity and therefore costs more than treating hot water alone.

Although hot water typically accounts for only 15–40% of a building’s water use, it is responsible for 70–80% of Legionella risk, making hot-water treatment the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure when treating the entire water system is not feasible.

What types of POE systems do you sell?

Stainless steel cartridge systems and backwashable differential pressure (DP) systems.

Cartridge systems use replaceable filter cartridges that are changed out on a schedule or as pressure drop indicates. They typically have a lower upfront cost and are well suited to smaller systems and lower flow rates. Backwashable systems, also called differential pressure or DP systems, backwash automatically when the differential pressure across the filter reaches a set point, which clears the accumulated material and restores flow without a cartridge change. DP systems carry a higher upfront cost but reduce the ongoing labor and consumable cost of cartridge replacement, which makes them attractive for larger systems and higher flow rates. Both system types are built primarily of stainless steel for durability and sanitary performance. Which type is right for your facility depends on flow rate, maintenance capacity, and budget, and that is part of what we work out when we size the system.

Should we add UV to the POE system?

For the highest level of treatment, yes. UV is added downstream of filtration.

Ultraviolet disinfection is the addition that takes a strong POE system to the most protective configuration we build. UV is installed downstream of the sediment pre-filter and often upstream of the charged membrane filtration system, so the water is already clear by the time it reaches the UV chamber, which is what allows the UV to work effectively. UV systems start around $3,000 and, like the filtration systems, range to over $100,000 depending on flow rate and the dose required.

Can we treat just one hot water loop instead of the whole building?

Yes. Treating the make-up water to a hot water loop is a common and cost-effective approach.

A POE system does not have to treat the entire building to be worth installing. One of the most cost-effective uses of the entry-level system is to treat the make-up water feeding a small to medium hot water loop. Because the hot water system is where most Legionella problems originate, putting filtration on the water entering that loop addresses the highest-risk part of the building without the cost of a building-wide system.

Who engineers and stands behind these systems?

Chris Nancrede, EIT, ASSE 12080, a Legionella subject matter expert and the lead engineer on these systems.

These systems are engineered and backed by Chris Nancrede, a Legionella subject matter expert and the lead engineer for our point of entry filtration systems. Chris Nancrede brings a mechanical engineering foundation and deep experience in waterborne pathogen control to the sizing and specification of every system. Legionella Control Systems is ASSE 12080 certified, which is the industry standard certification for Legionella water safety and management. Sizing a POE system correctly is an engineering problem, not a catalog order, and it is handled by an engineer who does this work every day.

Which facilities do you serve?

Hospitals, long-term care, hotels, correctional facilities, condo associations, and large commercial and manufacturing buildings, nationwide.

Any facility with a centralized water system and a vulnerable population has Legionella risk and is a candidate for point of entry filtration. Healthcare and long-term care facilities face the highest regulatory scrutiny and the most vulnerable populations. Hotels and hospitality properties carry liability exposure from large domestic hot water systems. Correctional facilities face the same water system risks with limited resources. Condo associations and large commercial and manufacturing buildings often have aging infrastructure that was never designed with Legionella risk in mind. We also work with consulting engineering firms designing for these client types. We engineer, supply, and install POE systems anywhere in the United States.

Does Legionella Control Systems do anything beyond POE filtration?

Yes. We are a full-service Legionella control firm.

Point of entry filtration is one piece of what we do. Depending on what your facility needs, we also provide Legionella risk assessments and engineering site investigations, Legionella remediation, Legionella testing and sampling programs, point of use filtration, secondary disinfection systems including chlorine dioxide, monochloramines, mixed oxidants, and copper-silver ionization, and water management plan development. We help you understand what your water system actually needs, not the most expensive path forward.

Ready to size and price a POE system for your building?

Call Legionella Control Systems at 888-416-8626. You can also get in touch with our team to get your point of entry system engineered and quoted.

FAQ: Point of Entry (POE) Legionella Filtration Pricing

How much does a point of entry filtration system cost?

POE systems start at $2,400 for the 20 GPM triple-charged membrane unit, which is sized for a small facility or a single hot water loop. Systems range past $100,000 for large buildings with high flow rates and full hot and cold treatment. The final price depends on flow rate, building size, how much of the water is treated, and the filtration configuration.

What is the difference between POE and POU filtration?

Point of entry (POE) filtration treats water as it enters the building or a water loop and treats all the water passing through that point. Point of use (POU) filtration is installed at an individual fixture and treats only the water from that one outlet. POE is the engineered building-level or loop-level solution. POU is fast, targeted protection at a single high-risk fixture. Many facilities use both.

How is a POE system built?

We almost always specify 5 micron sediment pre-filtration ahead of a charged membrane filtration system, because the sediment filter protects the membrane and extends its life. For the highest level of treatment, UV disinfection is added. The most complete configuration is sediment plus charged membrane plus UV.

Can we save money by treating only the hot water?

Yes. Hot water is typically only 15 to 40 percent of a building’s total water consumption but accounts for roughly 70 to 80 percent of Legionella problems. A facility on a budget can treat just the hot water loop return, or just the make-up water feeding a hot water loop, and address the large majority of the risk for less cost. We always recommend treating both hot and cold when the budget allows, but treating the hot water is where the money has the most impact.

What is the difference between a cartridge system and a backwashable DP system?

Cartridge systems use replaceable filter cartridges changed on a schedule or as pressure drop indicates. They have a lower upfront cost and suit smaller systems. Backwashable differential pressure (DP) systems backwash automatically when the pressure across the filter reaches a set point, which reduces ongoing labor and consumable cost. DP systems cost more upfront and suit larger, higher-flow systems. Both are built of stainless steel.

How much does it cost to add UV?

UV disinfection systems start around $3,000 and range into the six figures depending on flow rate and the UV dose required. UV is installed downstream of the filters and provides the highest level of point of entry treatment when paired with POE filtration.

Can a POE system treat just one water loop?

Yes. Treating the make-up water feeding a small to medium hot water loop is a common and cost-effective use of the entry-level system. It targets the highest-risk part of the building without the cost of a building-wide system.

Who sizes and engineers the system?

Chris Nancrede, EIT, ASSE 12080, a degreed mechanical engineer and Legionella subject matter expert, and the lead engineer for our point of entry filtration systems, engineers and stands behind these systems. Sizing a POE system correctly is an engineering project, not a catalog order.

Does travel or installation cost extra?

Scope, installation, and travel are discussed when we size the system. We engineer, supply, and install point of entry systems anywhere in the United States and put together a proposal specific to your facility and location.

Which facilities do you serve?

Hospitals, long-term care facilities, hotels, correctional facilities, condo associations, large commercial buildings, and manufacturing facilities, as well as consulting engineering firms designing for these clients. We serve facilities nationwide.

Contact Us

We can engineer and quote a point of entry filtration system for your building, supply charged membrane filtration and UV, and help with risk assessments, remediation, testing, point of use filtration, and secondary disinfection. Contact the Legionella experts at [email protected] or 888-416-8626.