In our lab, we check how well filters improve flavor and reduce odor by spiking spring water with commonly found compounds that can make it smell and taste like a sewage treatment plant, damp soil, metal, or a swimming pool. A panel of professional tasters then evaluates how successfully each filter removes those flavors and odors. The best-performing filters work well enough that most people wouldn’t be able to discern a palatable difference between the filtered water and pure spring water.
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
We also test a water filter’s flow rate by measuring how long it takes to filter one quart of water; the faster the filtering, the higher the score. We also give each filter a “clogging” score based on how much its flow rate slows down over the filter cartridge’s stated life.
NSF International (originally the National Sanitation Foundation) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) develop filtration standards. If a manufacturer claims that a pitcher meets NSF/ANSI standards for removing specific contaminants, such as chlorine, lead, and PFAS, we verify those claims and include that information in our ratings.
The Environmental Protection Agency requires community water suppliers to provide customers with a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) every July. The CCR states if any regulated contaminants are detected in the water and how they compare with the EPA’s drinking water standards.
Community water systems that serve at least 100,000 people must post CCR reports online. The EPA doesn’t regulate private wells, but well-water users can check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information on well testing and treatment.
The CCR report informs you about the quality of the water supplied by your utility. But the route it takes from the utility to your glass is important, too. If your house was built before lead-free pipes were mandated in , you may want to do your own tests for lead. When purchasing a new faucet, make sure it meets U.S. safety standards for lead. Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers that a number of imported faucets could leach dangerous amounts of it. (According to the EPA, there’s no safe level of lead exposure.)
Another drinking-water contaminant of concern is a class of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that persist in the environment and have been linked to health issues that include immune system suppression, learning delays in children, thyroid disease, and some cancers. According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, at least 45 percent of the nation’s tap water is contaminated by PFAS. In the CR-Guardian study cited above, almost every test sample had measurable levels of PFAS, and more than 35 percent exceeded the maximum safety threshold CR scientists and other health experts specified.
The Environmental Protection Agency established the first nationwide limits for PFAS in drinking water in , along with requirements that public water systems monitor six PFAS compounds and take action if levels rise above prescribed limits. In May , however, the EPA reconsidered the new limits on four compounds and delayed enforcement of limits on two others until . According to the environmental coalition SaferStates, 11 states (Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin) have established standards for the level of PFAS in drinking water.
If your utility doesn’t test for PFAS, or if you use well water, you can get your water tested by an EPA-certified lab like SimpleLab or WaterCheck from National Testing Laboratories.
Once you know what’s in your tap water, you can find a filter that best suits your needs.
If tests reveal no harmful contaminants and the only problem with your water is taste and/or odor, check CR’s water filter ratings for filters that score high in our flavor/odor reduction tests.
If tests reveal contaminants, look for a water filter certified to remove those substances. That means the filter has been independently tested to confirm it complies with an accepted standard specific to the contaminant and is subject to follow-up testing by the certifying agency to ensure continued compliance.
All of the under-sink water filters in CR’s ratings are certified to NSF standards for reducing lead, as well as many of the faucet-mounted filters and a few of the water filter pitchers. CR’s ratings also indicate which of the water filters we tested are certified to the NSF/ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard for reduction of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), two of the most concerning PFAS. These include some water filters in each category, including water filter pitchers, under-sink water filters, and one faucet-mounted water filter.
Our ratings also indicate whether a filter is certified to reduce chlorine, which can affect taste and smell.
If you’re considering a filter that’s not in our ratings, look at the filter’s packaging for a stamp or seal confirming which contaminants it’s certified to remove. Third-party labs certifying water filters to accepted NSF/ANSI standards include the NSF, the Water Quality Association (WQA), and IAPMO. Be wary of marketing language that hypes contaminant-removal claims or features, or false certifications from unverified testing labs.
Keep in mind that filter cartridges must be replaced periodically to function effectively. Our ratings allow you to compare each product’s annual filter replacement cost. For example, replacement filters for the pitchers we test range from about $20 to $160. You’ll also see which models have a filter-life indicator, a handy feature that tells you when to change the filter.
Anthony Wahls
I purchased this based on the system capabilities and design. I specifically liked the fact it
reintroduces desired minerals back into the treated water. Taste of the water is excellent and the
function and capacity of the system are top notch.
Samantha Banks
The system was easy to set up and fits well under our kitchen sink. We’ve been enjoying it for about
two months now and the water tastes great! The faucet also works great and we’ve learned to convert
cups to ozs, and change the setting on the faucet to measure water for tea!
Donna Medeiros
Fantastic system compared to my previous one. The quality, taste, space savings are top of the line. I
know my water bill will be less with this unit because it doesn’t use as much when it is purging. So
happy with system.
Tarun N.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from ShekeSaisi.
This is a fine product idea. Getting hot and cold water instantly without need of kettle and fridge is
a big blessing for my home since my wife prefers warm water and I prefer cool water for drinking. This
has eliminated the need of storing bottles in fridge and use of kettle as well.
Happy in Canton GA
Game Changer! We now drink more tea than ever. We no longer have to boil water for a bain-marie to
make our beloved Crème brûlée. Just a splash of instant hot water while doing dishes means no more
waiting for the regular faucet to get hot - saving time, water, and money!
Jordan K
Forget those reverse osmosis systems with a tank. The water pressure is so much better than our old
reverse osmosis system with a tank. I have more room under my sink and the filters are so easy to
replace. The dispensed water is clear and odorless. Love that can see the TDS reading right on the
faucet and letting the consumer know when the filters need to be replaced. Fantastic modern
engineering!
Idaho Hiker
Huge upgrade from a countertop RO made by a different manufacturer. It has a small footprint about the
size of a standard Keurig. I also like the clean design, TDS meter, and the fact that it creates less
waste water. It's new, so I can't speak to the lifecycle of the cartridge, but it's nice to have one
vs a few. The water tastes excellent as well. They thought of every detail.
David
The unit arrived packed in the most efficient and user friendly way I have ever seen. The taste is
comparable to the Aquafina bottled water I had been using. It has continued to deliver good tasting
water with low TDS for the month I have used it.
Colleen White
Love my under counter waterproof unit, my tap water has a sulfer smell but the filter straps the taste
and smell out. I replace the filter once a year with is under the gallon count I'm sure but is easier
to remember.
Mila Palomino
Love my under counter waterproof unit, my tap water has a sulfer smell but the filter straps the taste
and smell out. I replace the filter once a year with is under the gallon count I'm sure but is easier
to remember.
Hyper Rhino
This inline filter WD-15UC-UF has radically improved the quality of our refrigerator and our sink
dispenser. The previous refrigerator filter left a chlorine smell and taste in water and ice, but the
new Waterdrop filter makes the water tastes amazing.
L Rap
I am on a well and we have lots of iron. I had an old Rainsoft system that used chemicals to remove
the iron so I stopped using it years ago. This one has been installed only been a few days now but I
notice a huge difference in my water. My hair is softer my toilets are staying clean with no iron
build up and same for the shower floor.
Julie Belonger
Works FAST! Super tasty, clean water. Love that it's portable and easy to use. We love it so much. No
more tap or bottled water for us. King Tank by Waterdrop is an excellent product. You won't be
disappointed! We're not!
Lynette Carter
Love it! Our city water had awful taste so we have been buying bottled water for a few years but not
anymore water drop takes all the bad taste away and the stream of water comes out much faster then
other faucet filters I've tried they were like a slow moving stream but not water drop. Very happy I
bought this one!
For more information, please visit purified water generation system(de,ru,fr).
Comments
Please Join Us to post.
0