A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a first pump receiving feed fluid at a first pressure and increasingly pressurizing the feed fluid to a second pressure higher than the first pressure. A membrane housing having an inlet, a membrane, a permeate outlet and a brine outlet. The inlet receiving feed fluid. A hydraulic energy management integration system (HEMI) having a turbine portion, a pump portion and a motor. The brine outlet fluid is in fluid communication with the turbine portion. The reverse osmosis system also includes a second pump and a controller controlling the motor to retard rotation of the HEMI while the first pump increasingly pressurizes the feed fluid to the second pressure. The controller also controls the motor to increase a HEMI speed so that feed fluid pressure increases above the second pressure after the second pressure is reached, and, when a feed fluid reaches the second pressure at the fluid inlet, controls the second pump to increase the feed fluid pressure to a third pressure. The controller controls the motor to reduce the HEMI speed after the third pressure and controls the motor to change the HEMI speed based on a membrane pressure.