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Edited December 4, 2020
at 12:58 AM
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WaterDrop Direct via Amazon [amazon.com] has
Waterdrop RO Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System for $384.99 + FS
>Now $384
Flow Rate: 400 GPD
Drain rate: 1:1
Faucet: Smart faucet
Display: Filter lifespan & TDS
Self-clean
Integrated Water Circuit
RO Membrane: DOW
Filter Lifespan CF - 6 Mths, CB - 12 Mths, RO - 24 Mths
Dimensions (inch) 18.06 x 5.68 x 17.76
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To preface this, remember, a lot people are totally fine with the flavor or municipal water and don't use filters at all. Brita filters remove some metals, organic compounds, and chemicals which change the FLAVOR of tap water. Brita is only meant to improve the flavor and that is truly enough for most people. Is your municipal water good? Most is. Your local water provider/municipality provides yearly reports. Look into it! Pur takes it a step further and removes some additional items, which based on your water quality report you may want/need to filter out these chemicals etc. I believe both companies also offer special filters for lead heavy water, again, very specific to each area.
Okay, you've looked at the yearly report. You probably find no deficiencies, GREAT! You probably don't need RO but might still WANT RO. Why? A few reasons. RO water tastes WAY better to some people, including me.
This system here does NOT re-introduce minerals. What does that mean? It takes beneficial minerals out that are good for you, balance the PH of water, and give the water a "good"(debatable) flavor. Some people like unmineralized taste, some don't. For cooking and other applications like fish tanks, you want or need PH balanced water. In this case you want a six stage system or a model that re-introduces minerals. Most six stage systems only reintroduce calcium to balance PH. I'm okay with that for now but down the line I may look into systems that reintroduce more minerals if it is deemed necessary or desirable.
Why else would you want RO? Water providers and the people working there aren't perfect. Machines break (I'm sure you've seen boil advisories), and people make mistakes. For example, my water provider in 2019 saw an event that was not reported to the public in which one chemical was released into the system at levels way higher than allowed by law. In 2020, a pipeline contractor dumped thousands of gallons of undisclosed chemicals into the reservoir by accident. I imagine most were filtered out but we don't know until we get the water quality report. Even more, if the chemicals, organic compounds, and metals are within the accepted range, you can still filter them more. I would argue that many of the things RO removes in addition to what municipal water provides are undesirable. However, you might never notice if you don't have a skin condition that is reactive to these chemicals and based on regulations it's totally unnecessary.
Finally, there's also 7 stage systems. This introduces also a uvlight to protect against bacteria. Very unlikely you'll need it, but it's an option and what I'd consider "the best". But I think this is more geared towards well water.
This unit is arguably no better than the G2 also on sale for $225. They're both tankless, they both waste one gallon of water for every gallon they filter, they both filter 400 gallons per day, this one the extra water quality readout which allegedly isn't a useful indicator of quality, and is self cleaning. The benefits of these systems are that they are tankless and compact. I.e. you might be able to fit it under your sink instead of putting it in the basement and running the lines upstairs. Maybe you can't fit it under your sink though... If you can't, and maybe even if you can, I would look elsewhere. Hopefully this doesn't get deleted because I believe these are sponsored posts.
I personally landed on the APEC ROES-PH75 for $230 and bought three sets of extra main four filters which get replaced every 6-12 months so after two years I can evaluate if the other three need to get replaced (2-4 years) . They only waste 1/2 gallon per gallon instead of 1 gallon per gallon this unit does, use standard filters, and are made in the USA. The downside is they are much larger and require a tank. I imagine the filters for this unit being non-standard are also drastically more expensive. This likely means you can get the already filter water from the tank much quicker than the tankless, but the unit is only 75 gallons per day vs 400and will take longer to fill up. If you need large quantities of RO water on demand I don't think either of these systems fit your needs. The APEC ROES-PHUV75 has remineralization AND UV. Both cost extra $$$. APEC offers a unit comparable to this slickdeal for $199 at all major home improvement retailers which is larger, requires a tank, but has standard filters. The website I found APEC through isn't charging tax and is having big sales plus free shipping with the code in the banner right now. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions! If you have any corrections to my post I'm happy to edit it, and if you have any systems recommendations before I pull the trigger, that is very much appreciated.
Now if you want to say the reason to avoid RO water is because it lacks minerals that are found in drinking water, that's fair. That said, if your main source of those are drinking water, your diet is probably poor or else just eat something that contains it. Obviously there could be an exception for like fluoride, but, per my dentist, use a fluoride toothpaste and I'm fine (we live on a well with some hard water). I mean... calcium, sodium, and magnesium are three of those most common minerals. So eat some peanut butter and wash it down with some milk 🤷
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I purchased this one and returned it. Needed something with a larger storage tank and faster flow. It took about twice as long as I expected to fill a glass (compared to refrigerator filter). And dripped after about a gallon or less dispensed. Filling things such as 2qt+ containers (pitchers, pans, drink coolers, etc) took forever. Great looking and took up less space. Would see it be great for a single or couple.
Unless you are trying to purify non-potable water it's unnecessary.
A simple multi stage filter gets the bad stuff in city water out and leaves the minerals in. Doesn't waste water down the drain either.
I'm not aware of a multi stage filter that isn't RO, that removes fluoride.
Now if you want to say the reason to avoid RO water is because it lacks minerals that are found in drinking water, that's fair. That said, if your main source of those are drinking water, your diet is probably poor or else just eat something that contains it. Obviously there could be an exception for like fluoride, but, per my dentist, use a fluoride toothpaste and I'm fine (we live on a well with some hard water). I mean... calcium, sodium, and magnesium are three of those most common minerals. So eat some peanut butter and wash it down with some milk 🤷
Why Your Bottled Water Contains Four Different Ingredients [time.com]
Popular bottled water brand Dasani, for example, lists magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt alongside purified water on its Nutrition Facts label. SmartWater contains calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium bicarbonate. Nestle Pure Life's list includes calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium sulfate. And these are just a few brands. Bottled water companies are purifying water, but then they're adding extra ingredients back.
Taste tests have revealed that many people find distilled water to taste flat as opposed to spring waters, which can taste a bit sweet. Minerals offer a "slightly salty or bitter flavors," which is likely why low mineral soft waters have a more appealing taste, Nestle wrote in her book What To Eat.
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Price, easy to install, no need for electrical connections and the most important one, the Costco "lifetime" warranty if something go wrong with it.
To preface this, remember, a lot people are totally fine with the flavor or municipal water and don't use filters at all. Brita filters remove some metals, organic compounds, and chemicals which change the FLAVOR of tap water. Brita is only meant to improve the flavor and that is truly enough for most people. Is your municipal water good? Most is. Your local water provider/municipality provides yearly reports. Look into it! Pur takes it a step further and removes some additional items, which based on your water quality report you may want/need to filter out these chemicals etc. I believe both companies also offer special filters for lead heavy water, again, very specific to each area.
Okay, you've looked at the yearly report. You probably find no deficiencies, GREAT! You probably don't need RO but might still WANT RO. Why? A few reasons. RO water tastes WAY better to some people, including me.
This system here does NOT re-introduce minerals. What does that mean? It takes beneficial minerals out that are good for you, balance the PH of water, and give the water a "good"(debatable) flavor. Some people like unmineralized taste, some don't. For cooking and other applications like fish tanks, you want or need PH balanced water. In this case you want a six stage system or a model that re-introduces minerals. Most six stage systems only reintroduce calcium to balance PH. I'm okay with that for now but down the line I may look into systems that reintroduce more minerals if it is deemed necessary or desirable.
Why else would you want RO? Water providers and the people working there aren't perfect. Machines break (I'm sure you've seen boil advisories), and people make mistakes. For example, my water provider in 2019 saw an event that was not reported to the public in which one chemical was released into the system at levels way higher than allowed by law. In 2020, a pipeline contractor dumped thousands of gallons of undisclosed chemicals into the reservoir by accident. I imagine most were filtered out but we don't know until we get the water quality report. Even more, if the chemicals, organic compounds, and metals are within the accepted range, you can still filter them more. I would argue that many of the things RO removes in addition to what municipal water provides are undesirable. However, you might never notice if you don't have a skin condition that is reactive to these chemicals and based on regulations it's totally unnecessary.
Finally, there's also 7 stage systems. This introduces also a uvlight to protect against bacteria. Very unlikely you'll need it, but it's an option and what I'd consider "the best". But I think this is more geared towards well water.
This unit is arguably no better than the G2 also on sale for $225. They're both tankless, they both waste one gallon of water for every gallon they filter, they both filter 400 gallons per day, this one the extra water quality readout which allegedly isn't a useful indicator of quality, and is self cleaning. The benefits of these systems are that they are tankless and compact. I.e. you might be able to fit it under your sink instead of putting it in the basement and running the lines upstairs. Maybe you can't fit it under your sink though... If you can't, and maybe even if you can, I would look elsewhere. Hopefully this doesn't get deleted because I believe these are sponsored posts.
I personally landed on the APEC ROES-PH75 for $230 and bought three sets of extra main four filters which get replaced every 6-12 months so after two years I can evaluate if the other three need to get replaced (2-4 years) . They only waste 1/2 gallon per gallon instead of 1 gallon per gallon this unit does, use standard filters, and are made in the USA. The downside is they are much larger and require a tank. I imagine the filters for this unit being non-standard are also drastically more expensive. This likely means you can get the already filter water from the tank much quicker than the tankless, but the unit is only 75 gallons per day vs 400and will take longer to fill up. If you need large quantities of RO water on demand I don't think either of these systems fit your needs. The APEC ROES-PHUV75 has remineralization AND UV. Both cost extra $$$. APEC offers a unit comparable to this slickdeal for $199 at all major home improvement retailers which is larger, requires a tank, but has standard filters. The website I found APEC through isn't charging tax and is having big sales plus free shipping with the code in the banner right now. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions! If you have any corrections to my post I'm happy to edit it, and if you have any systems recommendations before I pull the trigger, that is very much appreciated.
1) hook up is much easier. FALSE! There are still as many tubes and connections that need to be made. Just the connection to the tank is now gone. So barely simpler at best.
2) better water quality. FALSE. About the same as my old unit. By quality, I mean TDS level as that's the only way to measure. The water does not taste as good as my old unit but that is subjective and I got used to the new taste after two weeks.
Couple of things to watch out for:
1) make sure an electrical outlet is nearby. It has an internal pump to push water to its faucet. Models with a tank don't need electricity to run. That also means you can't get filtered water during power outages.
2) replacement filters are expensive. I am mean darn expensive.
I don't regret my purchase. I had one with a tank that was a pain in the neck to replace the filters. It's much easier with this. This is the main deciding factor as I don't feel like crawling under the sink with my bad back.
Now if you want to say the reason to avoid RO water is because it lacks minerals that are found in drinking water, that's fair. That said, if your main source of those are drinking water, your diet is probably poor or else just eat something that contains it. Obviously there could be an exception for like fluoride, but, per my dentist, use a fluoride toothpaste and I'm fine (we live on a well with some hard water). I mean... calcium, sodium, and magnesium are three of those most common minerals. So eat some peanut butter and wash it down with some milk
I use this liquid mineral supplement added to RO water, and I find it the best way to get high quality mineralized water. Since it is one of the very few liquid supplements and specifically designed to add to RO filtered water, the absorption is very good.
https://www.amazon.com/Electrolyt...B0
Why Your Bottled Water Contains Four Different Ingredients [time.com]
Popular bottled water brand Dasani, for example, lists magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt alongside purified water on its Nutrition Facts label. SmartWater contains calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium bicarbonate. Nestle Pure Life's list includes calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium sulfate. And these are just a few brands. Bottled water companies are purifying water, but then they're adding extra ingredients back.
Taste tests have revealed that many people find distilled water to taste flat as opposed to spring waters, which can taste a bit sweet. Minerals offer a "slightly salty or bitter flavors," which is likely why low mineral soft waters have a more appealing taste, Nestle wrote in her book What To Eat.
I'd be a lot more concerned about microparticle plastic in bottled water than minerals.
To preface this, remember, a lot people are totally fine with the flavor or municipal water and don't use filters at all. Brita filters remove some metals, organic compounds, and chemicals which change the FLAVOR of tap water. Brita is only meant to improve the flavor and that is truly enough for most people. Is your municipal water good? Most is. Your local water provider/municipality provides yearly reports. Look into it! Pur takes it a step further and removes some additional items, which based on your water quality report you may want/need to filter out these chemicals etc. I believe both companies also offer special filters for lead heavy water, again, very specific to each area.
Okay, you've looked at the yearly report. You probably find no deficiencies, GREAT! You probably don't need RO but might still WANT RO. Why? A few reasons. RO water tastes WAY better to some people, including me.
This system here does NOT re-introduce minerals. What does that mean? It takes beneficial minerals out that are good for you, balance the PH of water, and give the water a "good"(debatable) flavor. Some people like unmineralized taste, some don't. For cooking and other applications like fish tanks, you want or need PH balanced water. In this case you want a six stage system or a model that re-introduces minerals. Most six stage systems only reintroduce calcium to balance PH. I'm okay with that for now but down the line I may look into systems that reintroduce more minerals if it is deemed necessary or desirable.
Why else would you want RO? Water providers and the people working there aren't perfect. Machines break (I'm sure you've seen boil advisories), and people make mistakes. For example, my water provider in 2019 saw an event that was not reported to the public in which one chemical was released into the system at levels way higher than allowed by law. In 2020, a pipeline contractor dumped thousands of gallons of undisclosed chemicals into the reservoir by accident. I imagine most were filtered out but we don't know until we get the water quality report. Even more, if the chemicals, organic compounds, and metals are within the accepted range, you can still filter them more. I would argue that many of the things RO removes in addition to what municipal water provides are undesirable. However, you might never notice if you don't have a skin condition that is reactive to these chemicals and based on regulations it's totally unnecessary.
Finally, there's also 7 stage systems. This introduces also a uvlight to protect against bacteria. Very unlikely you'll need it, but it's an option and what I'd consider "the best". But I think this is more geared towards well water.
This unit is arguably no better than the G2 also on sale for $225. They're both tankless, they both waste one gallon of water for every gallon they filter, they both filter 400 gallons per day, this one the extra water quality readout which allegedly isn't a useful indicator of quality, and is self cleaning. The benefits of these systems are that they are tankless and compact. I.e. you might be able to fit it under your sink instead of putting it in the basement and running the lines upstairs. Maybe you can't fit it under your sink though... If you can't, and maybe even if you can, I would look elsewhere. Hopefully this doesn't get deleted because I believe these are sponsored posts.
I personally landed on the APEC ROES-PH75 for $230 and bought three sets of extra main four filters which get replaced every 6-12 months so after two years I can evaluate if the other three need to get replaced (2-4 years) . They only waste 1/2 gallon per gallon instead of 1 gallon per gallon this unit does, use standard filters, and are made in the USA. The downside is they are much larger and require a tank. I imagine the filters for this unit being non-standard are also drastically more expensive. This likely means you can get the already filter water from the tank much quicker than the tankless, but the unit is only 75 gallons per day vs 400and will take longer to fill up. If you need large quantities of RO water on demand I don't think either of these systems fit your needs. The APEC ROES-PHUV75 has remineralization AND UV. Both cost extra $$$. APEC offers a unit comparable to this slickdeal for $199 at all major home improvement retailers which is larger, requires a tank, but has standard filters. The website I found APEC through isn't charging tax and is having big sales plus free shipping with the code in the banner right now. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions! If you have any corrections to my post I'm happy to edit it, and if you have any systems recommendations before I pull the trigger, that is very much appreciated.
Also the product:waste ratio is much lower than comparable tankless RO systems and compared to tank RO systems, it blows them out of the water.
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It's night and day. But note of caution, once you get used to drinking RO, it sort of ruins drinking other water.