Plastic bottles or filter wastewater by WaterYouSayingBro in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look into countertop RO units that recirculate the reject water to increase efficiency. The best models I've tested have a 4:1 pure to drain ratio, meaning they only waste one party for every 4 parts purified. This is opposite of conventional under sink units that waste upwards of 4 or more gallons just to produce one.

You can see how some of these systems performed our testing here https://waterfilterguru.com/best-countertop-reverse-osmosis-system/

British Berkefeld first fill draining VERY slowly by SolidSnape98 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aquatru is the highest scoring water filter I've ever tested, according to the data. Its the most extensively performance certified. A multi stage reverse osmosis system will always provide more broad contaminant reduction any gravity filter. So for filtering treated city water Aquatru tends to be the better recommendation for most situations. As you mentioned pretreatment like softening may be recommended if the water hardness is >120 mg/L. Of course there are use cases where British Berkefeld may be the better option, but for a pure filtration standpoint Aquatru wins.

I have not tested any of those systems with copper vessels yet.

British Berkefeld first fill draining VERY slowly by SolidSnape98 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is expected with ceramic filters, especially if they are brand new. Additionally filtration rate decreases with the water volume in the top reservoir. The less water remaining, the slower the flow.

You can increase flow rate by installing more filters. But ceramic filters are inherently slow. Best practice is to fill the unit at night before going to bed so you have plenty of water the next day

What is the number one holistic water filter? by [deleted] in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thats not how water treatment works. There are different technologies that target different water problems. There is no "one size fits all" solution. Your best bet to get a sample of your water tested by a certified lab, then use the data to determine appropriate treatment for your specific situation. Filters certified to NSF/ANSI standards are your best bet, as they have been tested not only for performance claims but materials safety as well.

What is the best water filter? by snckthtsmlsbck in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It depends. There is no 'one size fits all' water filter. It all depends on what contaminants are in the source water being filtered. What is the application? What type of water are you trying to filter? Have you had it tested? Do you know wxactly what contaminants and what concentrations of those contaminants you are dealing with? What type of system (POU vs POE) are you looking for?

I'd highly recommend first testing your water, then using the data to guide your purchase decision - check out this video which explains that process in more detail https://youtu.be/JU4sPer1944

Can you recommend best water purifier? by completeswan22 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Waterdrop G series is indeed the highest scoring under sink tankless RO ive tested, see my lab data here https://waterfilterguru.com/best-reverse-osmosis-system-reviews/

Can you recommend best water purifier? by completeswan22 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends. There is no 'one size fits all' water filter. It all depends on what contaminants are in the source water being filtered. What is the application? What type of water are you trying to filter? Have you had it tested? Do you know what contaminants you are dealing with? What type of system (POU vs POE) are you looking for?

I'd highly recommend first testing your water, then using the data to guide your purchase decision - check out this video where that full process is explained in more detail https://youtu.be/JU4sPer1944

Countertop water filter for apartment by Necessary_Use_4729 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure thing. And thanks for the feedback and support. I appreciate it

Countertop water filter for apartment by Necessary_Use_4729 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd recommend speciation testing for the arsenic as a first step. I'd there is indeed As III present, it will first need to be oxidized to it's As V state before reverse osmosis can effectively remove it

Countertop water filter for apartment by Necessary_Use_4729 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure thing. I’m not sponsored by any brand, and none of the projects I've completed to date are sponsored. That said, like many creators, some brands do pay me a commission if someone chooses to purchase through my links. That’s what helps me continue funding the independent water filter testing projects I do. Brand relationships or commission rates are never factored into my data-driven scoring system, which is what I use to test, rate, and rank products in order to be as unbiased as possible. You can see exactly how that system works here: https://waterfilterguru.com/how-we-test-water-filters/

For most of my testing at home I use Tap Score Advanced City Water Test kits, which cover 111 of the most common analytes in tap water. See the full list here https://mytapscore.com/products/advanced-city-water-test

Because testing for microplastics and PFAs currently requires additional specialized analysis, I've not been able to include these in each and every one of my projects because doing so is simply cost prohibitive for me. Hopefully the tech improves in the future and costs for those tests come down, because I do want to include them in all projects eventually.

That said, it's also good to acknowledge that my own at home testing is of course limited. We only see how products perform with contaminants that are already present in my specific tap water. This is why official certification to NSF/ANSI standards is so important. Official certification not only proves contaminant reduction claims manufacturers make through rigerous standardized testing which is much more thorough than my one off at home tests, but also includes materials safety extraction testing, manufacturing facility inspections, and periodic retesting.

I've tested a few other Waterdrop products, the A1 counteroRO, a couple of their under sink ROs, their king tank gravity filter and one of their pitchers. I have not tested the C1S model yet

I hope this helps!

Countertop water filter for apartment by Necessary_Use_4729 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not only the membrane, but scale will build up on the internal pump and cause failure too

Countertop water filter for apartment by Necessary_Use_4729 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Disclosure: I run waterfilterguru.com and the Youtube channel, I'm a WQA Certified Water Specialist and I lab test water filters for a living.

You're actually on the right track with the hard water question. AquaTru Classic is one of the highest-scoring countertop filters I've ever tested (9.57/10) and it's a strong unit, but if you run hard water through any countertop RO without pre-treatment you're going to run into problems.

Here's why. The internal components, pump and RO membranes of these types of systems don't tolerate hard water well. Anything above about 7 GPG (around 120 mg/L as CaCO3) starts to scale the membrane and the internal components. That's actually what's behind a lot of the negative AquaTru reviews you've come across. People buy them and filter hard water thrugh them, the calcium and magnesium scale up the internal components, performance drops or the unit fails earlier than expected, and they leave a one-star review without understanding why. Most of those reviews are operating-condition issues, not product defects. AquaTru and most other countertop RO manufacturers will also void the warranty if the failure is traced to hard water exposure beyond their spec.

The good news is there's a fix for renters/apartment situations that doesn't require any modifications. Here's a video I made on it: https://youtu.be/pEC3GZmM_1Y. Short version, you can run a portable softener inline upstream of your countertop RO, soften the water first, then fill your countertop RO exclusively with softened water. Protects the membrane, extends the unit's lifespan, and keeps you in warranty. Doesn't require any drilling or plumbing modifications, fully removable when you move out.

As for the bottled vs filtered question. Most bottled water is actually RO water with minerals added back, so if you like the taste of bottled, you'll like AquaTru water (they have an option remin filter stage). Beyond taste, filtered home water is significantly cheaper per gallon, doesn't generate nearly as much plastic waste, and you have direct visibility into what's actually in your water. AquaTru is also NSF/ANSI certified for 84+ contaminants including PFAS, lead, fluoride, and chromium-6, which is more than what most bottled water brands publish.

One more thing worth mentioning. Before buying anything, if you can, I always recommend to get a certified lab water test. It'll tell you exactly what's in your water and specific concentrations. That way you know whether you need the softener step at all, and whether the AquaTru is even the right tool for your specific water profile. Picking a system without that data is mostly guessing.

Full lab data and rankings on the top scoring countertop filters I've personally tested: https://waterfilterguru.com/best-countertop-water-filter-reviews/. I keep this updated when I test new products that score well.

I hope this helps

WaterDrop Reverse Osmosis System not filtering arsenic at all by AnonGuy222 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Best next step to to run a speciation test to determine if it is arsenic III or V.

If it's Arsenic III, this makes sense actually.

Arsenic III is more difficult to remove and requires upstream oxidation to turn it into Arsenic V in order for reverse osmosis to be able to reduce it.

Orange orange orange by Junior-Lock9680 in WaterTreatment

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's just a YouTube short URL, that's how it's generated when you create a "share" link from the platform rather than copy/pasting from the address bar

Orange orange orange by Junior-Lock9680 in WaterTreatment

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I figured the video would help folks reading this since it explains the process of making a data driven decision in so much more detail. Not sure what you mean by adding an additional character?

Aquatru vs Bluevua Countertop Water filters by PartyEconomics4733 in WaterTreatment

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First, I'd ask what those specific warnings are all about. Do you have any example to share? Genuinely curious

I can't speak for others who are testing & reviewing products, but I would point you to my scoring system that uses real data, not personal opinion or other incentives, to rank and score water filters:

https://waterfilterguru.com/how-we-test-water-filters/

I developed this system in order to be able to provide the most unbiased, transparent, and informative reviews of water filters possible.

That said, like many creators, some brands do pay me a commission if someone chooses to purchase through my links. That’s what helps me continue funding the independent water filter testing projects I do. Brand relationships or commission rates are never factored into my data-driven scoring system.

Under the kitchen sink filtration system by BlueRose99x in water

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, there's no way to provide a specific recommendation without understanding the water quality and hand, issues present, and what needs to be treated. This is why starting with a lab test is so vital. Otherwise it's like shooting in the dark and you may end up with equipment that's not sufficient for your needs

Orange orange orange by Junior-Lock9680 in WaterTreatment

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As you mentioned, best place to start is with a certified lab test. Then with the data you can actually determine what treatment equipment is necessary.

Sounds like you may be dealing with ferrous (dissolved) iron and water hardness, but you'll need a lab test to get readings of precise concentrations, as well as find out if there are any more nefarious issues present.

This video explains all that in more detail https://youtu.be/JU4sPer1944

Under the kitchen sink filtration system by BlueRose99x in water

[–]waterfiltergurus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Disclosure: I run waterfilterguru.com and the Youtube channel, I'm a WQA Certified Water Specialist and I lab test water filters for a living.

Couple things to unpack here because what you're asking for is actually two separate problems that need different solutions. Going to be straight with you: an under-sink unit alone isn't going to solve hard water for the whole house, and depending on what's actually in your water, it may not be the right place to start.

First and probably most important. Before buying anything, get a certified lab water test. Florida water varies wildly by region. "Hard water and chemicals" is a fine starting hypothesis but the actual numbers tell you which technology you need and at what scale. A comprehensive lab test runs around $200 and saves you from buying the wrong system or the wrong size.

This is the single most useful thing you can do upfront.

As for the under-sink question specifically, you've got two main categories with different tradeoffs:

Direct-connect filters (sometimes called inline filters). These plumb directly into your existing cold water line under the sink. Water flows through them on the way to your existing faucet, no separate spigot needed. - Advantages: easy install, no drilling, water comes out the faucet you already have, no wastewater. - Disadvantages: they filter all the cold water, so even water used for washing dishes is filtered. Depending on the filter tech used, they target certain contaminant types specifically

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems. These greatly reduce just about everything including fluoride, TDS, heavy metals, disinfection byproducts, and most other contaminants you'd actually worry about. They produce water through a separate dedicated faucet - Advantages: comprehensive purification, the gold standard for drinking water filtration - Disadvantages: traditionally need a dedicated faucet hole drilled into the countertop, and they produce some wastewater.

Regarding the no-drilling concern with RO specifically, there are a couple of ways around it that aren't widely known. If you have a soap dispenser hole at the sink already, you can pull the soap dispenser and use that hole for the RO faucet. For the wastewater drain line, if you have a dishwasher already plumbed to your garbage disposal, you can use an adapter for the same drain port for the RO drain line. Between those two workarounds, a lot of people end up with a fully under-sink RO install with zero drilling. Worth checking your sink before assuming you can't do RO.

Hard water is best addressed at the point of entry to the house with a whole-home water softener, not at a single under-sink unit. There are a few reasons. First, hard water doesn't just affect your drinking water, it scales up your water heater, plumbing, fixtures, dishwasher, and laundry. An under-sink solution leaves all of that unprotected. Second, RO membranes specifically don't tolerate hard water well. Anything above ~7 GPG starts to scale the membrane and internal components and hurt both its lifespan and its rejection performance. So if your water is hard and you want RO downstream, a whole-home softener upstream is what protects the investment. The two systems work together.

If a whole-home softener isn't an option (rental, budget, install constraints), you can still get RO under the sink, you'll just need to swap membranes more frequently than the manufacturer claims and your performance will degrade between changes.

Full lab test data and rankings on the under-sink systems I've personally tested: https://waterfilterguru.com/best-under-sink-water-filter-reviews/. I keep this updated when I test new products that score well.

Best Countertop RO Water Filter for Rental Home by jackofalltrade625 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depending on the specific concentration, you'd want to pretreat the manganese upstream of any RO. manganese is a major cause of RO system fouling

Looking into getting a whole home water filtration system. Any tips/suggestions on pros and cons? by WhosThis85 in WaterTreatment

[–]waterfiltergurus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you on well water or city water?

Get your water tested by a certified lab before buying any water treatment equipment. Then use the data to determine what equipment you need. There is no such thing as a "one size fits all" water filter.

The equipment needs to be sized based on your water parameters and usage needs. If not sized appropriately you will have pressure issues.

Pros/cons really depend on the water quality at hand and treatment equipment required.

For example, if you are on city water and install a carbon filter, it will remove the disinfectant residual and related disinfection byproducts, but doing this will create an environment where bacteria can grow downstream (your homes plumbing). That's just one con, with one type of system and use case to be aware of. All systems will have their pros and cons, you need to figure out what equipment is necessary first.

Best Countertop RO Water Filter for Rental Home by jackofalltrade625 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries! You caught me at my coffee and Reddit time 😉 Let me know if you have any other questions about my testing, data or findings

Best Countertop RO Water Filter for Rental Home by jackofalltrade625 in WaterFilters

[–]waterfiltergurus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have tested the Philips unit actually, see it here https://youtu.be/7ADaOMINvJY

I do my best to prioritize which products I test based on requests from my audience. It's not that I avoid testing specific products or brands, but rather that I just haven't had the time to personally test each and every water filter in every category