*Under Sink RO Recommendations* *1. Best Overall + Best Tankless: Waterdrop G3P600* → Buy Here: www.waterdropfilter.com/products/tankless-reverse-osmosis-system-g3p600?ref=aqhvda420xp - Use code “G3P600BOS” for 5% off on top of any current Waterdrop sale! (Might Not Work During Black Friday Season) *2. Best Tank-Based + Best Budget Pick: Aquasana SmartFlow* → Buy Here: bos-water.com/youtube/aquasana-smartflow-top-us - Use code “AQBOS50” for up to 50% off! *3. Best Made in USA: US Water Systems All American 5-Stage RO* → Buy Here: uswatersystems.com/products/all-american-5-stage-reverse-osmosis-system?sca_ref=5504631.RY19r727Ck&sca_source=yttopusro - Use code “BESTRO5” for 5% off! *4. Fastest Filtration + Lowest Wastewater: Waterdrop X12* → Buy Here: www.waterdropfilter.com/products/reverse-osmosis-system-x12?ref=aqhvda420xp - Use code “X12BOS” for 5% off on top of any current Waterdrop sale! (Might Not Work During Black Friday Season)
Can you confirm whether or not these systems have those dangerous chemicals that you spoke of 6 months ago. Especially found in your #1 pick it has organ damaging chemicals that it leached into the system that weren't present in the faucet water. Super dangerous. Please share those results.
@Mr.C-Mister Based on our testing, there was no chemical leaching with any of the systems except for the Frizzlife which leached a tiny amount of methylene chloride but below health guidelines. Side note: Please remember that we didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm this. All the test results are in the Google Sheet. And the system you're referring to was the Waterdrop A1 which is a countertop RO system so it wasn't part of this video. Our #1 pick for this video was the Waterdrop G3P600 which, again, showed no signs of chemical leaching in our testing.
From your testing, is the potential dichloromethane and xylene leeching issue exclusive to the countertop Waterdrop A1 etc? Or have you seen it in other Waterdrop models such as the under sink G3P600 or 800? I’m interested in the 600 but the potential leeching issue has stopped me from purchasing it. 18:12
The host is fantastic! Very informative video. Your detail w/ each system is what makes this video so different and honest. We appreciate that for sure!
Thank you so much for the time and testing of all these systems! This video has answered so many of my questions and help me make the decision on which system I will purchase. Appreciate it!!
Such an amazing work you guys are doing. Especially benchmarking the actual performance by looking into input and output water compounds. Huge respect and appreciation.
This has to be one of the best product comparison reviews I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for this! Just purchased the Waterdrop G3B600BS with your code.
This is amazing! Thank you Are you planning to test shower heads with filters? It would be great to see a comparison of different ones to help with hard water 😊
We're planning to test shower filters but I doubt that they'll do much to reduce water hardness in the long run. Hardness minerals can be removed from water using ion exchange, but depending on how hard your water is, I'd expect a shower filter to run out of softening capacity really fast.
In the last 48 hours I have learned a LOT about water filtration and reverse osmosis systems. Some systems use proprietary filters, while other use industry standard size filters. Also if you are going to use a system that has a tank instead of tankless, then a permeate pump can greatly increase the efficiency of the system. Have you considered adding any RO systems that use industry size filters? I would preferably like some that come with the permeate pump.... but my understanding is that pump can be added to most non proprietary systems. One system I would love to see a review of is APEC Water Systems Ultimate RO-PERM because it is easy to get ahold of, I see you did review APEC ROES-50 Essence, so I am assuming results would be similar or better.
Like you said the APEC ROES-50 Essence is a system that we tested and that uses standard-sized filter cartridges. Of course, the benefit with these is that you could switch to other filter elements. However, in that case our lab testing also doesn't apply anymore. Also, even standard-sized filter elements can be shaped differently at their bottom and top so this is something to keep in mind. I've added the APEC RO-PERM to our list.
Wow I was just looking at the countertop RO systems videos and was wondering what under the sink options were best. Lucky timing on the video! Thanks for the comprehensive video and testing! Can you include prices of both the systems and the filters in the charts as well! You guys are almost at Project Farm review level
Thank you so much! This was so well done! Amazing. I would like to ask...Why was aluminum not tested on some models? Also, on the G3P600, was the noise only from the pump running, and was the pump running only during a fill? Lastly, we have hard water here with calcium and magnesium we'd like to get rid of, do ROs get rid of this?
"Not Tested" means it wasn't detected in the feed water. So we always test all water filters for aluminum reduction, but sometimes the lab can't detect any aluminum in the feed water and so we can't calculate any reduction rates. The G3P600 uses auto-flushing and so the pump will also run around 5 minutes after you've dispensed water. You can use RO to reduce calcium and magnesium levels at the point of use, but depending on hard water levels you might need to replace the RO membrane more frequently.
YES!!! Finally!! I bought the WaterDropX12 and I have no complaints! I LOVE IT! It was this or Kangen but I wish you guys would do a test with the trendy water tank Kangen. Thanks!
I just ordered an X12 too. They were the first one I looked and I didn't know much about RO systems. I was very pleased to see it got top marks from this channel and Freshness. I checked out some other models and reviews and decided on the X12.
This review is just what I was looking for. Thanks for all the research! I have one question. Based on your recommendation I am planning to purchase the Waterdrop g3p600 but will be connecting it to a 3 way kitchen faucet so won't be using the included filtered water faucet with the display for TDS and filter replacement indicators. Do you foresee any issues if I don't use the included water faucet? Thanks!
You're welcome! As long as you're able to connect the tubing to your faucet, I don't see any issues. But you won't have the filter life indicator and TDS meter of the regular faucet obviously.
Hello, i’m considering buying the simpure and see they have another tankless system on there website. Have you heard or seen anything on it being an upgrade to the one you reviewed?
Just recently installed the Waterdrop X16 and it’s an amazing system. 2 seconds to fill a cup sometimes catches you off guard at the speed of it. Happy so far
Great question! Some products include sanitization in their setup process. I'm not really sure what to think of it to be honest. Sorry, but I can't provide a useful answer on that one...
Thank you for the reviews, does the RO system tank get mold usually? How would you take care of that ? I like the Aquasana because of the effectiveness on removing nasty stuff, is it BPA free and able to install on my refrigerator ? Thank you 🙏
Great question. RO tanks are prone to bacteria/biofilm and other stuff if they aren’t cleaned/sanitized regularly. But the process isn't too complex and as long as it’s completed on schedule (most manufacturers recommend once or twice a year) you shouldn't have issues. The basic idea is to add a small amount of sanitizing chemical like bleach into the tank, letting it sit, and then flushing it out.
Love your videos! These are so informative and the best water filter reviews out there. They make the others seem pointless! Can you elaborate on the 3.5/5 rating for the Cloud and where do I find their test results? I looked at the google doc but don't see it there, thank you!
There are 3 sheets in the document. You need to go to the one named "Filtration Results". The second to last column is for the Cloud RO. At the top you will find both the unfiltered water report and the filtered water report. The Cloud RO did a solid job in terms of filtration. We also loved almost all the other product aspects. What we didn't like was the app. For one, there was a huge discrepancy between the TDS levels provided by the app (for example, it showed 212, 62, and 161 ppm for tap, filtered, and remineralized water respectively, whereas real values based on our lab reports were 239.4 ppm for tap and 31.2 ppm for the remineralized water). The app also makes it appear as if the Cloud RO system could measure the levels of the different minerals in your remineralized water, however, this isn't the case at all. All the system does is measure the TDS level of the remineralized water. Even the Cloud RO website says that the app simply provides a "ballpark snapshot" for the mineral content, so we found this a bit misleading. And as with pretty much all other systems, remineralization doesn't seem to work really well, because according to our lab results, the Cloud RO didn't add a whole lot of minerals.
Thanks for the awesome spreadsheet. It looks like the Cloud adds zinc and silver back into the water. Should we be concerned with these levels? The Cloud has an antibacterial filter that uses zinc and silver so I would assume that's where the zinc and silver are coming from.
You're welcome! No need to be concerned about zinc - it's an aesthetic impurity. As for silver, the level we detected was 10 times lower than the strictest guideline we could find, so nothing to worry about either.
Can you explain the Waterdrop results specific to total bacteria count. The unfiltered report shows zero total bacteria but then >1600 cfu/mL in the filtered report which is over 3x the EPA limit - this is true for both models tested. No other filters tested had this issue. Can you explain how bacteria is “added” after filtration and why it’s only specific to Waterdrop? How is this possible? Although it did add iron per the test results. What are your thoughts on the UV stage in the G3P800 model? That seems to be the primary difference than the model tested other than filtration speed. Any health concerns or benefits to UV? Especially given the bacteria count noted above? Are the Waterdrop components made of plastic? BPA free? I believe WaterDrop is certified for PFAs / forever chemicals.
We have an older article on the topic: www.best-osmosis-systems.com/how-to-remineralize-reverse-osmosis-water/ Also, maybe there's stuff here on TH-cam?
Great review, as always. I had a question about the Waterdrop tankless models. The X12 claims 3:1 pure:waste ratio, same as G3P800 (not reviewed here). The G3P600 claims 2:1 pure:waste ratio. Does that mean they are making up false claims? That would be a bit concerning, given that I am considering getting the G3P800 over the G3P600 simply for less wastage.
I'm assuming you mean false claims comparing their pure:waste ratios to ours? Their ratios are probably measured under ideal conditions in terms of water pressure, quality, etc. But I guess this doesn't only apply to Waterdrop. But with their systems in particular, you should also take into account water wasted during automatic flushing which varies a lot depending on how you're using your system.
I just tested the Google sheet and it seems fine. We haven't tested any blends so we don't want to recommend a specific brand, but they are widely available like Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens...
Thanks for sharing! Is methylene chloride tested ? I am missing it from the test sheets but again it could be showing up with a different name. Thanks!
Yes, we've tested for methylene chloride. Each individual lab report (to be found in the Google Sheet) lists methylene chloride on page 4. Based on our testing, only one system leached a tiny amount of methylene chloride. That said, please always keep in mind that we didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm our findings, so this could be coincidence or human error etc.
Awesome thorough review!! I am considering the waterdrop G3 or the clearly filtered under sink 3stage. On sale they are close in price. Curious How do these two compare? -flow rate -filter performance -cost for replacement filters
Glad that you liked it! With flow rate and filter performance, we'll be able to answer that once we've re-tested the Clearly Filtered system. But it's definitely much more expensive to maintain than the G3P600.
That's because this water supply doesn't contain any lead. As for copper, reduction was 100%, but the initial copper level was relatively low (0.06 mg/L).
Very thorough and informative review. Brava. We are in middle of kitchen remodel and had saved our tank-based RO system (Culligan). Didn't know there were tankless systems available but we have lowish water pressure and a tankless system seems a better solution. One question I have is about using a tankless system for multiple faucets and ice maker. Our current tank system simply supplies as needed to multiple sources - how would a tankless system work for multiple locations? Would a tankless system activate if just the icemaker demanded water? Or does it only activate when the digital faucet is activated at the sink? Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! According to Waterdrop, you could connect the system to your refrigerator/ice maker, but it's not recommended because based on the pressure requirements and other factors, you might run into issues like frequent start-stop cycles.
When choosing the best RO system for micro plastics, what do I look for on the testing? I believe I heard you say micro plastics once and you did say pfos a couple times? Also if we are trying to filter out micro plastics out of the water, it bothers me to see all the plastic water pipe/fittings and even the filters are plastic. Are we really getting rid of the plastics if we’re using plastic as a delivery and filter?
We can't test for PFAS or microplastic reduction right now, because it is extremely expensive. I think the problem with microplastic, or probably nanoplastic, is that there doesn't exist a lot of research yet, so how severe is the leaching of different types of plastic at specific contact times, and what are the potential health effects. But if you're worried, you could use a tankless RO and store the water in a glass container. This would reduce contact time to a bare minimum. Other than that, maybe look into water distillers - you'd need one that doesn't use any plastic parts that the water could touch. They are just really inconvenient to use. As for PFAS which as far as I know don't categorize as microplastic, they are really easy to remove using simple activated carbon which every RO has.
Under the Waterdrop G3P600 report, it shows the "Total Bacteria Count" is > 1600 cfu/mL which is higher than the EPA limit of 500. Any thoughts on this and if this is important or not? Thanks!
These are bacteria that are everywhere around us and they are not harmful. The number goes up as soon as you take the disinfectant, usually chlorine, out of the water. The EPA limit is to make sure that a water supply is properly disinfected.
I would like to get a water filter but Water Drop does not recommend an RO system with a salt based water softener. Are any there water filters that would be compatible?
Did you get this from their FAQ section? RO systems should be perfectly fine installed after a water softener. If you still have doubts, I would reach out to them directly.
@@boswater6065 Yes it's on the product description and I also chatted with them on their site to confirm. They say you must have a saltless water softener.
@@boswater6065 Got it from the web site and chatted with them to confirm. "We do not recommend connecting tankless RO to a refrigerator, ice maker or salt-based softener."
@briantrusty9906 Thanks for sharing. Did they say why? I think the website says due to potential taste issues due to the higher sodium content but not that it would damage the system or something like that.
We did not test the G3 remineralization filter. But for all the RO systems we tested with remineralization, it looked like there wasn't a whole lot of calcium/magnesium added into the water compared to the water that wasn't remineralized.
@ thanks so much. By the way do u see any benefits between water drop G3 vs x12. I know the the fill time for X12 is 4.5 seconds. what I don’t know is is it really really worth money of that difference in cost or G3 600 is more than enough. Pls advise me. Upgrading from G3 600 to x12 will improve from 70 to 95 percent make sense but if it is improving from 99 to 99.7 percent make no sense of spending that extra 600 dollar. Since I am an amateur your expert opinion really helps me.
@sivucit This is really something that you have to decide for yourself. The main difference is that the X12 is considerably faster (7 seconds vs 4.25 second in our speed test) and it wastes 33% less water. Maybe simulate filling an 8-ounce glass of water in your kitchen within 7 seconds vs 4.25 seconds to get a better feel for how fast (or slow) that is...
Question about aluminum. The lab test says "not tested." Does it mean you didn't test whether there was aluminum present or that it was not detected in the purified water? I'd really appreciate you sharing. Thanks so much for this amazing review!
The sheet says "not tested" in case there wasn't any aluminum (or other contaminant) detected in the unfiltered water. What you need to remember is that we took a filtered and an unfiltered sample for every under sink RO. But we didn't find the same substances in every of the unfiltered water samples. So what "not tested" really means is that we couldn't test for the reduction of aluminum for example, because there wasn't any aluminum in the unfiltered water. Hope this makes sense.
Great reviews! Im very curious why you didn't test the under-sink Aquatru, guven how much you loved both of the Aquatru countertop models. Would you please share your thoughts?
Great question! This was mainly because we had a wider selection of promising products to choose from when it came to under sink RO systems, and because we can't test all of them at once due to budget constraints, we didn't want this to appear as if we're favoring AquaTru, so we chose not to include it in this first round of testing.
@boswater6065 thank you for clarifying that for me. I think I'm leaning toward the Waterdrop one you reviewed in this video. I like the idea of a tankless model the more I consider it. Your video gives me confidence in that one. Really appreciate it!!
I think the website says 5 seconds to fill a 6-ounce cup for the X8 and it's the same as for the G3P800, which makes sense because they are both rated at 800 gallons per day, so same flow rate.
Cold water only. PFAS are pretty easy to remove and they should all remove them. The Waterdrop G3P600 is even certified for removal. Same goes for the Aquasana, GE, and Brondell.
We've never tested this ourselves for how well this works, but you'd need to add the right salts/minerals manually before consumption. If I'm not mistaken, most important are carbonates and bicarbonates.
Could you make a video or post a link on how to manually remineralize water to reach epa and who standards without throwing the ph significantly out of range? 6.5 to 7.5 ph tolerance. Looked into trace mineral drops but the process of extracting it from the ocean and other places reintroduces mercury and other toxins weve already removed. I went with the aquasana smartflow under the sink because i think it performed the best, no issues so far!
Do you have more details on the Frizzlife PD600+TAM3? Its mentioned that Lab test results showed harmful chemicals leached by the system. Did you knwo if was from the TAM3 filter or the other filters?
We didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm our findings, so this might be coincidence or something else. But it definitely wasn't from one of our other filters because we installed one system after the other.
@@boswater6065 Thanks BOS water. What I meant with "other filters" was the two filter inside the unit. But if you perform only one test for unfiltered and filtered water there is no way to know.
I have APEC's RO-PERM w/ the "Quick Dispense" upgrade (larger tubing). I'd be very interested in see you all review it as well. We're on a private well so the permeate pump has been a significant improvement as our average well PSI is lower than what most systems recommend to operate correctly. This was an extremely well done video and I can only imagine how must those water tests costed! I love that you published the data as a Google sheet too! US Water Systems is very interesting to me but without NSF certification, I don't think I'd be able to switch to it. If you can get them any feedback, please encourage them to seek as many NSF certifications as possible because then they'd be a huge contender imo.
I've added the RO-PERM to our list. I totally see your point about missing NSF certifications with US Water Systems. However, does the APEC RO-PERM have any? I've quickly checked their product description and manual but couldn't find any information.
Great channel! A few questions: 1, Could I ask what systems the staff at BOS uses for themselves? Your video is awesome at giving the objective review, but just curious what the subjective review is. 2, Would you consider doing a review on the iSpring? It is ranked so high by so many people on Amazon I am wondering what your analysis of it would be. 3, For the NSF certifications, do you know if the systems need to pass only once or submit compliance data on a regular interval. I am just wondering if it is more about good engineering design (pass once and forever certified) or about ensuring good manufacturing of the systems (having to recertify at some regular interval).
Thank you! 1. The AquaTru Classic and the Clearly Filtered under sink water filter. 2. Any model in particular? 3. The NSF says that certification involves regular re-testing. I think I even read that they might purchase the product randomly for re-testing. But I'm not sure about the details.
@@boswater6065 Thank you for the info: Re. 1: Wow, the Clearly Filtered does look impressive, so I understand why you like it. However, they should probably update their lab performance data on the website, which is dated 4/2018 for the under-sink system (going on seven years old). Re. 2: Any iSpring RO system would be good, but the iSpring RCC7AK would be my vote. It has 12k reviews at 4.7 stars, which I believe is the highest-rated system on all of Amazon. However, I know there can be some gaming to get positive reviews on Amazon, so I’m curious about what your in-depth analysis would be. Thanks again for the transparent analysis. I have always thought of Wirecutter as the gold standard for product reviews, but I think your channel is taking it to another level and doing a much better job. Water filtration is just in such a strange spot. You have the big legacy companies like Culligan, who, in my opinion, are way overpriced (they quoted me $2,100 + $150/year + $400/4 years) and stuck on an outdated business model. Then there are big companies like A.O. Smith and Whirlpool, who you are predisposed to trust, but they have terrible customer reviews. Then you have a huge number of small companies you’ve never heard of before, but with great reviews and bold claims. To me, it feels like water filtration systems are going through a market disruption phase, so I think a channel like yours is imperative.
Excellent presentation. I was ready to go out and buy the Waterdrop RO system you recommended. But upon researching ETR Laboratories, I discovered that their license was revoked by the state of Massachusetts in 2021 for repeatedly poor testing procedures and improper results. I wonder if BOS was aware of this, and if they have any feedback on this? Reply
Yes, we are aware of this. They are still ISO-certified, and so far and based on the lab reports we've received from them, we don't have any reason not to trust their service. That said, we'll probably use a different lab for the next round of testing which is always a good thing. Of course it would have been ideal to use multiple labs from the beginning, but this is just not possible due to cost restrictions.
@@boswater6065 would you kindly specify what you mean when you say "based on the lab reports we've received from them, we don't have any reason not to trust their service"? It would be very helpful to understand your thinking on this very important issue.
It's that our lab results "make sense" so to speak. So for example, when we tested the old version of the Waterdrop A1 and found high levels of methylene chloride, Derek from Modern Castle here on TH-cam had the exact same results but he used a completely different testing service (Tap Score). Another example would be that with our RO systems, we always get the best filtration results including high TDS reduction. The other types of water filters we test usually don't perform as good which makes sense because reverse osmosis is extremely powerful. A final example: We see filters that use KDF filter media (a mixture of copper and zinc) often leach tiny amounts of copper and zinc into our water, whereas filters that only use activated carbon and ion exchange resins don't seem to leach any copper/zinc. That said, you must also not forget that this before vs after testing is not an exact science anyway, so all of this lab testing should be viewed as giving us a general idea for how effective a specific water filter is, but that's really it. If you want more reliable results, you need to focus on NSF certifications.
Could you review the Vitev REMIN Ca and REMIN Ph Remineralization Filters? They claim to be far superior to other remineralization filters. I'm curious to see if they actually add a significant amount of minerals to the water.
@@boswater6065I’m not currently using one of their RO systems. Their reminerlization filter is universal and can be used with any system. I would be using it with an APEC ROES-50 system. They say it works best after the last filtration stage but before the tank.
All tank-based and tankless systems are combined in one spreadsheet. Or do you mean the spreadsheet for our countertop ROs? I've added it to the description!
I’m looking into SimPure Q3 600GPD or waterdrop d6 or G2P600.I bought the g3p600 but unfortunately to tall. I need a compact unit to fit in my cabinet. If you had to pick one which would you choose?
Hm, I really don't know. I did a quick search and it looks like there are no NSF certifications for contaminant reduction for any of them. Also, we haven't lab-tested any of the 3 models nor do we have any hands-on experience. So, I really can't say which one I'd pick. Sorry that I cannot be of more help!
Hi, thank you so much for your reviews. I purchased the aquasana ro system under the sink, but when I looked at the name under the NSF website, I can’t find it. How do I know it’s certified.thank you.
Mainly 33% faster faucet flow and less wastewater but also more expensive. Maybe simulate filling an 8-ounce cup within 7 seconds using your kitchen faucet. This might give you a better idea for how fast the G3P600 is, and if you find that fast enough or not...
@ would also like to hear your view about UV sterilization. Some says G3P600 does not have this function, but I am not sure what it is used for. We have water softener and purifier for the whole house.
We're not sure what to think of UV sterilization in RO systems especially when they're tankless, because testing UV effectiveness is beyond our scope right now. Personally, I'm not too worried about it.
You know what, actually it would make sense to review this one since it is so different. Can't give you an ETA but we'll put it higher on our priority list.
@ I’m debating on getting the Water Drop X12 or the Cloud RO. My biggest deciding factor is leeching harmful chemicals. I know the X12 doesn’t , but would you know if the Cloud RO leeches harmful chemicals?
Based on our testing, the Cloud RO added a tiny amount of manganese into our water, but at .01 ppm this was the lowest amount possible and below the strictest health guideline we could find. And as always, this might have nothing to do with the Cloud RO itself and could be coincidence or something like that (we didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm). In other words, we're not concerned about the Cloud RO leaching any harmful chemicals. Our main concern was that the unit we tested apparently had issues measuring TDS levels, especially for the remineralized water - compared to our lab data these were way off. And there were a few other things that made the Cloud RO fall behind for us. For more info, you could check our Google Sheet!
@@boswater6065 Thanks for the reply. I have found on their website that it is actually possible, might just require some extra quick connectors or adapters.
Hi one more question. Non RO filter system doesn’t reduce TDS. So does that mean they are not good. Or If they remove all those minerals, bacteria and other items you listed why is TdS not coming down for non RO and how is that directly proportional to all this elements. Appreciate your help
If you check our unfiltered water reports, you'll find that for us TDS is somewhere around 300 mg/L. And you will also find that those 300 mg/L mainly consist of healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium, sulfate, sodium, chloride, and overall hardness. Whereas the actual undesirable impurities and contaminants like nitrate only make up a tiny part of the overall TDS reading. In other words, TDS would barely change if you'd remove all the undesirable stuff while leaving the healthy minerals in the water. In other words, no, a water filter can be really good even if it doesn't reduce TDS. Plus, TDS doesn't cover all the bad stuff, so even if your water reads 0 TDS, it could still contain VOCs for example. Bottom line is, knowing the TDS of your input and output water can be a helpful measure in some cases like checking RO membrane performance, but we don't think it's really that helpful to determine water quality unless TDS gets above 500-1,000 or so which could indicate an underlying problem with the water source.
@@boswater6065 fANTASTIC. do you have any water filter udner sink that is NON RO but has good review ... 2 question is can i use TDS to decide when to replace RO filter as oppose to manufacturer direction like change every 2 years.
We're working on a video like that but it will take some time, and I don't want to make any recommendations before we have some test data. Yes, using a TDS meter to determine the ideal time to replace an RO membrane is a great idea!
ONE more question. Sorry i asked many because i trust you then somebody in youtube. I was told that water drop p800 can have option filter to be more alkaline. so in your test with 600 or 800 , what does that alkaline does , like will it alter the taste if it being acidic or alkaline. i was told that we should aim for neutral in pH. so wondering will it alter taste being acidic and is it a mandatate to have fitler to be alkaline or test the water in lab and find out it needs filter to add alkaline filter.. apprcaite your help.
We don't think that the pH of RO water which is usually slightly acidic really matters. It's a little hard to explain but you should focus on alkalinity instead of pH in this case. In other words, focus on remineralizing the water and this will also balance pH levels.
I bought a Waterdrop G3 P600 several months ago but returned it after I saw one of your reviews that talked about one of Waterdrop's models leaching chemicals into the filtered water. I asked if you knew if that was true of the G3 600P and you said you were about to do testing on it and several others to determine if they were also affected. This video must be the result of your test. Do you think the problem has been resolved? Since it was your #1 choice, I assume it must've been. Thanks for keeping us informed. Bobby
We've tested the Waterdrop A1 and based on our lab data it had leached methylene chloride into our water above health guidelines. Here is the original video (th-cam.com/video/Qpfnu-mZL3A/w-d-xo.html) and here the follow-up (th-cam.com/video/1xWC30aa7tw/w-d-xo.html) in case you're interested.
@@boswater6065 yup you're right. one is 1200 - travel portable. which is a stand alone RO system. The one you checked is the undercounter system. I'm personally interested in your thoughts on the cheaper (relatively speaking) travel portable filter but it's your channel :)
@@boswater6065 Hello again, yes it is pretty expensive. The drain ratio is 1:1 and it has a an additional 2 filtration layers. We haven't changed the filters for about 4 years and it still tastes better than tap water. Why? because it's expensive and we have to pay extra since we live in canada. I'd like to change the filters this week that's why I came across your video
Great question. There were multiple reasons. One is that for under sink ROs we felt that you have more options compared to countertop ROs. Also, we didn't want this to appear as if we favor AquaTru. We cannot test all the systems we would like to test anyway due to budget restrictions. That said, we will test the AquaTru Under Sink eventually.
Not sure if I missed it or not but have you reviewed any of the Culligan under sink RO systems (tankless or with tank)? They are pretty expensive compared to others here.
Ive deen doing research on purchasing one. Was surprised that they couldnt remove more flouride. My biggest concern is pesticides, flouride, and oharmecuticals.. in that order since im in the midewest hot zone. Im sure these are the best options to date, but the ph levels seem extremely high on some of the systems.. anything over 8.5 sounds unsafe right? As for remenerilation its a shame none met your standard but that not the end of the world because we eat healthy hearty meals.
Based on our research, water pH above 8.5 isn't a health risk but it can cause unpleasant taste. Fluoride is quite difficult to remove. Also, please remember that some of the reduction rates are minimum reduction rates so they might have been in the high 80s or even 90s.
I've checked their tankless under sink ROs and saw that the RO500 is apparently the only one right now that's NSF-certified but for TDS reduction only. The G3P600 has a few additional certifications aside from TDS reduction. I can't really say more than that, since we haven't tested any of the iSpring systems.
This will be one of our next videos, but what I can tell you is that Waterdrop has revised both models in order to address the issue. But we didn't get the chance to re-test any of the updated models yet.
I want to get WaterDrop undersink RO. But reading their FAQS page and it says it shouldnt be used with well water. I have a decent pre-filtration system. Water Softener, sediment catch, UV Light, ionizer. The water pressure is 38PSI. But I’m new to all this stuff and just want good water for my family. Thank you.
@@boswater6065 I wound up going with the Aquatru counter top. Wanted to get up and running quicker. Plus, less waste water. What is wasted well use for plants. Don’t want to risk drying our well out. Especially because I just planted 6000sq ft of new grass I already have to water….
Love this! Living very close to So Cal Dump that is leaking LEACHATE into our ground water. NEED TO KNOW- Which RO system works best at removing LEACHATE??
*Under Sink RO Recommendations*
*1. Best Overall + Best Tankless: Waterdrop G3P600*
→ Buy Here: www.waterdropfilter.com/products/tankless-reverse-osmosis-system-g3p600?ref=aqhvda420xp - Use code “G3P600BOS” for 5% off on top of any current Waterdrop sale! (Might Not Work During Black Friday Season)
*2. Best Tank-Based + Best Budget Pick: Aquasana SmartFlow*
→ Buy Here: bos-water.com/youtube/aquasana-smartflow-top-us - Use code “AQBOS50” for up to 50% off!
*3. Best Made in USA: US Water Systems All American 5-Stage RO*
→ Buy Here: uswatersystems.com/products/all-american-5-stage-reverse-osmosis-system?sca_ref=5504631.RY19r727Ck&sca_source=yttopusro - Use code “BESTRO5” for 5% off!
*4. Fastest Filtration + Lowest Wastewater: Waterdrop X12*
→ Buy Here: www.waterdropfilter.com/products/reverse-osmosis-system-x12?ref=aqhvda420xp - Use code “X12BOS” for 5% off on top of any current Waterdrop sale! (Might Not Work During Black Friday Season)
Can you confirm whether or not these systems have those dangerous chemicals that you spoke of 6 months ago. Especially found in your #1 pick it has organ damaging chemicals that it leached into the system that weren't present in the faucet water. Super dangerous. Please share those results.
@Mr.C-Mister Based on our testing, there was no chemical leaching with any of the systems except for the Frizzlife which leached a tiny amount of methylene chloride but below health guidelines. Side note: Please remember that we didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm this. All the test results are in the Google Sheet. And the system you're referring to was the Waterdrop A1 which is a countertop RO system so it wasn't part of this video. Our #1 pick for this video was the Waterdrop G3P600 which, again, showed no signs of chemical leaching in our testing.
@@Mr.C-Mister Good catch. Which one would you recommend? Preferably with minerals.
From your testing, is the potential dichloromethane and xylene leeching issue exclusive to the countertop Waterdrop A1 etc? Or have you seen it in other Waterdrop models such as the under sink G3P600 or 800?
I’m interested in the 600 but the potential leeching issue has stopped me from purchasing it. 18:12
Would it be possible to include pre/post pH readings as part of your overall analysis?
The host is fantastic! Very informative video. Your detail w/ each system is what makes this video so different and honest. We appreciate that for sure!
This is by far the most complete RO system review I've found. THANK YOU for doing the leg work!
Thank you so much for the time and testing of all these systems! This video has answered so many of my questions and help me make the decision on which system I will purchase. Appreciate it!!
You're very welcome!
Your reviews are the best. You guys are professional, thorough, and honest. We deeply appreciate your integrity and work ethic.
Great review! As I am a licensed electrical contractor and am looking for the best unit for my home, I loooove tech specs and you really came through!
Thank you very much for all of your work!! Can't wait to set one of these up!
Thanks for the research. Picked up both a water drop and an aquasana.
You're welcome!
Such an amazing work you guys are doing. Especially benchmarking the actual performance by looking into input and output water compounds. Huge respect and appreciation.
Thank you so much! We get lots of complaints and criticism too (some of it is deserved of course), so any positive feedback helps us stay motivated!
This review is absolutely perfect! Let's hope the manufacturers start taking remineralization more seriously now.
This video is EXCEPTIONALLY will done! 👍 And the host is so professionally polished! I feel she could be a host on 60 Minutes.
what an amazing channel !! you guys deserve wayyyy more subs !!!
This has to be one of the best product comparison reviews I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for this! Just purchased the Waterdrop G3B600BS with your code.
Extremely thorough. Thank you
Thank you for such a thorough real life comparison! Hard to find anything that on the internet that does it!
Amazing video. Just in time when I'm taking possession of my new home.
Such a comprehensive and detailed video! Thanks for the thorough review of the G3P600 and X12-this is fantastic! 💙
Very thorough and well done. Appreciate the work done.
This is amazing! Thank you
Are you planning to test shower heads with filters? It would be great to see a comparison of different ones to help with hard water 😊
We're planning to test shower filters but I doubt that they'll do much to reduce water hardness in the long run. Hardness minerals can be removed from water using ion exchange, but depending on how hard your water is, I'd expect a shower filter to run out of softening capacity really fast.
In the last 48 hours I have learned a LOT about water filtration and reverse osmosis systems. Some systems use proprietary filters, while other use industry standard size filters. Also if you are going to use a system that has a tank instead of tankless, then a permeate pump can greatly increase the efficiency of the system. Have you considered adding any RO systems that use industry size filters? I would preferably like some that come with the permeate pump.... but my understanding is that pump can be added to most non proprietary systems. One system I would love to see a review of is APEC Water Systems Ultimate RO-PERM because it is easy to get ahold of, I see you did review APEC ROES-50 Essence, so I am assuming results would be similar or better.
Like you said the APEC ROES-50 Essence is a system that we tested and that uses standard-sized filter cartridges. Of course, the benefit with these is that you could switch to other filter elements. However, in that case our lab testing also doesn't apply anymore. Also, even standard-sized filter elements can be shaped differently at their bottom and top so this is something to keep in mind. I've added the APEC RO-PERM to our list.
Wow I was just looking at the countertop RO systems videos and was wondering what under the sink options were best. Lucky timing on the video! Thanks for the comprehensive video and testing! Can you include prices of both the systems and the filters in the charts as well! You guys are almost at Project Farm review level
You are welcome. That info is included in the charts already. Pricing is very close to the top. Replacement filter cost is a bit further down.
Thank you so much! This was so well done! Amazing. I would like to ask...Why was aluminum not tested on some models? Also, on the G3P600, was the noise only from the pump running, and was the pump running only during a fill? Lastly, we have hard water here with calcium and magnesium we'd like to get rid of, do ROs get rid of this?
"Not Tested" means it wasn't detected in the feed water. So we always test all water filters for aluminum reduction, but sometimes the lab can't detect any aluminum in the feed water and so we can't calculate any reduction rates.
The G3P600 uses auto-flushing and so the pump will also run around 5 minutes after you've dispensed water.
You can use RO to reduce calcium and magnesium levels at the point of use, but depending on hard water levels you might need to replace the RO membrane more frequently.
Just made the G3P600 purchase through your link & code. Thank you for the helpful review!
Thank you so much for this video! Very helpful!
YES!!! Finally!! I bought the WaterDropX12 and I have no complaints! I LOVE IT! It was this or Kangen but I wish you guys would do a test with the trendy water tank Kangen. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing!
I just ordered an X12 too. They were the first one I looked and I didn't know much about RO systems. I was very pleased to see it got top marks from this channel and Freshness. I checked out some other models and reviews and decided on the X12.
@s9lecomp Glad we could help!
@@boswater6065 Will you guys do a video on trendy water filters like @Kangen? Thanks?
@thatkid9896 This one is on our list already!
thank you so much for the review!
You are so welcome!
This review is just what I was looking for. Thanks for all the research! I have one question. Based on your recommendation I am planning to purchase the Waterdrop g3p600 but will be connecting it to a 3 way kitchen faucet so won't be using the included filtered water faucet with the display for TDS and filter replacement indicators. Do you foresee any issues if I don't use the included water faucet? Thanks!
You're welcome! As long as you're able to connect the tubing to your faucet, I don't see any issues. But you won't have the filter life indicator and TDS meter of the regular faucet obviously.
Hello, i’m considering buying the simpure and see they have another tankless system on there website. Have you heard or seen anything on it being an upgrade to the one you reviewed?
Do you mean the SimPure Q3? We don't have any information on this model.
Are you able to review the Waterdrop K6 the first tankless dual RO & instant hot water system please!?
Noted. Thank you!
Just recently installed the Waterdrop X16 and it’s an amazing system. 2 seconds to fill a cup sometimes catches you off guard at the speed of it. Happy so far
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this review! Is it possible to connect the X12 to both the sink and fridge at the same time?
You're welcome! Yes, based on the product description but it looks like you need to put a tank in between. I'd reach out to Waterdrop about this.
What are your thoughts on sanitizing the system prior to drinking, tank & tankless?
Thanks great video
Great question! Some products include sanitization in their setup process. I'm not really sure what to think of it to be honest. Sorry, but I can't provide a useful answer on that one...
Thank you for the reviews, does the RO system tank get mold usually? How would you take care of that ? I like the Aquasana because of the effectiveness on removing nasty stuff, is it BPA free and able to install on my refrigerator ? Thank you 🙏
Great question. RO tanks are prone to bacteria/biofilm and other stuff if they aren’t cleaned/sanitized regularly. But the process isn't too complex and as long as it’s completed on schedule (most manufacturers recommend once or twice a year) you shouldn't have issues.
The basic idea is to add a small amount of sanitizing chemical like bleach into the tank, letting it sit, and then flushing it out.
@@boswater6065 Thank you 🙏
Love your videos! These are so informative and the best water filter reviews out there. They make the others seem pointless! Can you elaborate on the 3.5/5 rating for the Cloud and where do I find their test results? I looked at the google doc but don't see it there, thank you!
There are 3 sheets in the document. You need to go to the one named "Filtration Results". The second to last column is for the Cloud RO. At the top you will find both the unfiltered water report and the filtered water report.
The Cloud RO did a solid job in terms of filtration. We also loved almost all the other product aspects. What we didn't like was the app. For one, there was a huge discrepancy between the TDS levels provided by the app (for example, it showed 212, 62, and 161 ppm for tap, filtered, and remineralized water respectively, whereas real values based on our lab reports were 239.4 ppm for tap and 31.2 ppm for the remineralized water). The app also makes it appear as if the Cloud RO system could measure the levels of the different minerals in your remineralized water, however, this isn't the case at all. All the system does is measure the TDS level of the remineralized water. Even the Cloud RO website says that the app simply provides a "ballpark snapshot" for the mineral content, so we found this a bit misleading. And as with pretty much all other systems, remineralization doesn't seem to work really well, because according to our lab results, the Cloud RO didn't add a whole lot of minerals.
Thanks for the awesome spreadsheet. It looks like the Cloud adds zinc and silver back into the water. Should we be concerned with these levels? The Cloud has an antibacterial filter that uses zinc and silver so I would assume that's where the zinc and silver are coming from.
You're welcome! No need to be concerned about zinc - it's an aesthetic impurity. As for silver, the level we detected was 10 times lower than the strictest guideline we could find, so nothing to worry about either.
Thank you so much for the info‼️ What about the Aquatru under sink?
It's on our list!
@@boswater6065 The Under Sink Model of AquaTru was reviewed? Which list exactly?
@samyb279 Sorry, I meant it's on our list for future reviews.
Finally a real review instead of just copy and paste ratings.
Can you explain the Waterdrop results specific to total bacteria count. The unfiltered report shows zero total bacteria but then >1600 cfu/mL in the filtered report which is over 3x the EPA limit - this is true for both models tested. No other filters tested had this issue. Can you explain how bacteria is “added” after filtration and why it’s only specific to Waterdrop? How is this possible? Although it did add iron per the test results.
What are your thoughts on the UV stage in the G3P800 model? That seems to be the primary difference than the model tested other than filtration speed. Any health concerns or benefits to UV? Especially given the bacteria count noted above?
Are the Waterdrop components made of plastic? BPA free? I believe WaterDrop is certified for PFAs / forever chemicals.
Where can get information on adding mineral (mineral blend) in an RO system?
We have an older article on the topic: www.best-osmosis-systems.com/how-to-remineralize-reverse-osmosis-water/
Also, maybe there's stuff here on TH-cam?
@boswater6065 Thanks. That was quick. Are you a robot?
No, this was just coincidence. :)
Great comprehensive video! This will help my family choose the right one for us. Where can I see the test sheets? Maybe I missed that somewhere.
The Google Sheet is linked in the video description, and all the lab reports are listed at the top of the "filtration results" tab.
Great review, as always. I had a question about the Waterdrop tankless models. The X12 claims 3:1 pure:waste ratio, same as G3P800 (not reviewed here). The G3P600 claims 2:1 pure:waste ratio. Does that mean they are making up false claims? That would be a bit concerning, given that I am considering getting the G3P800 over the G3P600 simply for less wastage.
I'm assuming you mean false claims comparing their pure:waste ratios to ours? Their ratios are probably measured under ideal conditions in terms of water pressure, quality, etc. But I guess this doesn't only apply to Waterdrop. But with their systems in particular, you should also take into account water wasted during automatic flushing which varies a lot depending on how you're using your system.
I'm curious how the Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect performs. I can't find much reviews on that product.
Thank you. I've added it to our list!
Yes please,and If you can mange to do more brands for the direct connection filters other than aquasana in one video,that will be way cool
Thank you for this video!
You are so welcome!
Google sheet is down. Also, where can you get a remineralization blend? That was important and totally glossed over.
I just tested the Google sheet and it seems fine. We haven't tested any blends so we don't want to recommend a specific brand, but they are widely available like Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens...
Thanks for sharing! Is methylene chloride tested ? I am missing it from the test sheets but again it could be showing up with a different name. Thanks!
Yes, we've tested for methylene chloride. Each individual lab report (to be found in the Google Sheet) lists methylene chloride on page 4. Based on our testing, only one system leached a tiny amount of methylene chloride. That said, please always keep in mind that we didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm our findings, so this could be coincidence or human error etc.
Awesome thorough review!! I am considering the waterdrop G3 or the clearly filtered under sink 3stage. On sale they are close in price.
Curious How do these two compare?
-flow rate
-filter performance
-cost for replacement filters
Glad that you liked it! With flow rate and filter performance, we'll be able to answer that once we've re-tested the Clearly Filtered system. But it's definitely much more expensive to maintain than the G3P600.
Wow great video.
I am trying to find the percentage of lead and copper removal for the Waterdrop, but I can't seem to locate it? I already looked in the google sheet
That's because this water supply doesn't contain any lead. As for copper, reduction was 100%, but the initial copper level was relatively low (0.06 mg/L).
Is it better to put your rodi unit onto a line that’s softened water with salt if you have very hard water that’s 22-25 hardness.
Yes!
How do you remineralize manually using a mineral blend?
You simply add the blend into your water before drinking.
Very thorough and informative review. Brava.
We are in middle of kitchen remodel and had saved our tank-based RO system (Culligan). Didn't know there were tankless systems available but we have lowish water pressure and a tankless system seems a better solution. One question I have is about using a tankless system for multiple faucets and ice maker. Our current tank system simply supplies as needed to multiple sources - how would a tankless system work for multiple locations? Would a tankless system activate if just the icemaker demanded water? Or does it only activate when the digital faucet is activated at the sink?
Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! According to Waterdrop, you could connect the system to your refrigerator/ice maker, but it's not recommended because based on the pressure requirements and other factors, you might run into issues like frequent start-stop cycles.
hi do you also have any comparision between RO AND NON RO under sink filter. like Clearly Filtered system vs water drop RO.
We're working on a video like that but it will probably release in the new year.
Water Filter Guru found Antimony in the filtered water for the WaterDrop X. Did u find it? did the Waterdrop G3P600 have any?
No, we didn't find it in either of the 2 systems.
@@boswater6065was it tested for antimony?
@frv1993 Yes
Did you test Hard water on Water Drop? I have hard water and too much Calcium in the water.
The water we used is classified as very hard (13.5 gpg hardness).
Can you review express water 10 stage under sink system. Thanks
Noted. Thank you!
Can the water drop be connected to the fridge water line?
I have the same question
Yes, it's possible.
When choosing the best RO system for micro plastics, what do I look for on the testing? I believe I heard you say micro plastics once and you did say pfos a couple times? Also if we are trying to filter out micro plastics out of the water, it bothers me to see all the plastic water pipe/fittings and even the filters are plastic. Are we really getting rid of the plastics if we’re using plastic as a delivery and filter?
We can't test for PFAS or microplastic reduction right now, because it is extremely expensive. I think the problem with microplastic, or probably nanoplastic, is that there doesn't exist a lot of research yet, so how severe is the leaching of different types of plastic at specific contact times, and what are the potential health effects. But if you're worried, you could use a tankless RO and store the water in a glass container. This would reduce contact time to a bare minimum. Other than that, maybe look into water distillers - you'd need one that doesn't use any plastic parts that the water could touch. They are just really inconvenient to use. As for PFAS which as far as I know don't categorize as microplastic, they are really easy to remove using simple activated carbon which every RO has.
Under the Waterdrop G3P600 report, it shows the "Total Bacteria Count" is > 1600 cfu/mL which is higher than the EPA limit of 500. Any thoughts on this and if this is important or not? Thanks!
These are bacteria that are everywhere around us and they are not harmful. The number goes up as soon as you take the disinfectant, usually chlorine, out of the water. The EPA limit is to make sure that a water supply is properly disinfected.
I would like to get a water filter but Water Drop does not recommend an RO system with a salt based water softener. Are any there water filters that would be compatible?
Did you get this from their FAQ section? RO systems should be perfectly fine installed after a water softener. If you still have doubts, I would reach out to them directly.
@@boswater6065 Yes it's on the product description and I also chatted with them on their site to confirm. They say you must have a saltless water softener.
@@boswater6065 Got it from the web site and chatted with them to confirm. "We do not recommend connecting tankless RO to a refrigerator, ice maker or salt-based softener."
@briantrusty9906 Thanks for sharing. Did they say why? I think the website says due to potential taste issues due to the higher sodium content but not that it would damage the system or something like that.
Hi have you used reminarilzation in WATER DROP G3. I was told that it is not adding value. please advise.
We did not test the G3 remineralization filter. But for all the RO systems we tested with remineralization, it looked like there wasn't a whole lot of calcium/magnesium added into the water compared to the water that wasn't remineralized.
@ thanks so much. By the way do u see any benefits between water drop G3 vs x12. I know the the fill time for X12 is 4.5 seconds. what I don’t know is is it really really worth money of that difference in cost or G3 600 is more than enough. Pls advise me. Upgrading from G3 600 to x12 will improve from 70 to 95 percent make sense but if it is improving from 99 to 99.7 percent make no sense of spending that extra 600 dollar. Since I am an amateur your expert opinion really helps me.
@sivucit This is really something that you have to decide for yourself. The main difference is that the X12 is considerably faster (7 seconds vs 4.25 second in our speed test) and it wastes 33% less water. Maybe simulate filling an 8-ounce glass of water in your kitchen within 7 seconds vs 4.25 seconds to get a better feel for how fast (or slow) that is...
@@boswater6065 Thanks seems like X8 is just 200 more from 600 and that fills in 5 seconds vs 4.25 in X12
The X8 fills a 6-ounce cup in 6 second, whereas our X12 speed test was for 8 ounces.
Question about aluminum. The lab test says "not tested." Does it mean you didn't test whether there was aluminum present or that it was not detected in the purified water? I'd really appreciate you sharing. Thanks so much for this amazing review!
The sheet says "not tested" in case there wasn't any aluminum (or other contaminant) detected in the unfiltered water. What you need to remember is that we took a filtered and an unfiltered sample for every under sink RO. But we didn't find the same substances in every of the unfiltered water samples. So what "not tested" really means is that we couldn't test for the reduction of aluminum for example, because there wasn't any aluminum in the unfiltered water. Hope this makes sense.
Great reviews!
Im very curious why you didn't test the under-sink Aquatru, guven how much you loved both of the Aquatru countertop models. Would you please share your thoughts?
Great question! This was mainly because we had a wider selection of promising products to choose from when it came to under sink RO systems, and because we can't test all of them at once due to budget constraints, we didn't want this to appear as if we're favoring AquaTru, so we chose not to include it in this first round of testing.
@boswater6065 thank you for clarifying that for me. I think I'm leaning toward the Waterdrop one you reviewed in this video. I like the idea of a tankless model the more I consider it. Your video gives me confidence in that one. Really appreciate it!!
You're welcome, and thank you for your kind words!
can u pls advise the flow rate for X8 is better than p800. their website claims 5 seconds for X8 and 4.5 seconds for X12/16.
I think the website says 5 seconds to fill a 6-ounce cup for the X8 and it's the same as for the G3P800, which makes sense because they are both rated at 800 gallons per day, so same flow rate.
Can I use the Ro system for both hot and cold water lines? Do any of these units filter microplastics (PFAS)?
Cold water only. PFAS are pretty easy to remove and they should all remove them. The Waterdrop G3P600 is even certified for removal. Same goes for the Aquasana, GE, and Brondell.
Great crash course on RO systems, thanks. How can you raise the alkalinity on tankless systems?
We've never tested this ourselves for how well this works, but you'd need to add the right salts/minerals manually before consumption. If I'm not mistaken, most important are carbonates and bicarbonates.
Could you make a video or post a link on how to manually remineralize water to reach epa and who standards without throwing the ph significantly out of range? 6.5 to 7.5 ph tolerance. Looked into trace mineral drops but the process of extracting it from the ocean and other places reintroduces mercury and other toxins weve already removed. I went with the aquasana smartflow under the sink because i think it performed the best, no issues so far!
Thanks for sharing! We had the same video idea. Yes, it would be interesting to see if these mineral blends are any good.
Im interested in the sinpure... but the ph after reminerilzation is extremely high. 9.75?! Is that dangerous?
Based on our research, this isn't a health risk but it can cause unpleasant taste.
Do you have more details on the Frizzlife PD600+TAM3? Its mentioned that Lab test results showed harmful chemicals leached by the system. Did you knwo if was from the TAM3 filter or the other filters?
We didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm our findings, so this might be coincidence or something else. But it definitely wasn't from one of our other filters because we installed one system after the other.
@@boswater6065 Thanks BOS water. What I meant with "other filters" was the two filter inside the unit. But if you perform only one test for unfiltered and filtered water there is no way to know.
I have APEC's RO-PERM w/ the "Quick Dispense" upgrade (larger tubing). I'd be very interested in see you all review it as well. We're on a private well so the permeate pump has been a significant improvement as our average well PSI is lower than what most systems recommend to operate correctly. This was an extremely well done video and I can only imagine how must those water tests costed! I love that you published the data as a Google sheet too!
US Water Systems is very interesting to me but without NSF certification, I don't think I'd be able to switch to it. If you can get them any feedback, please encourage them to seek as many NSF certifications as possible because then they'd be a huge contender imo.
I've added the RO-PERM to our list. I totally see your point about missing NSF certifications with US Water Systems. However, does the APEC RO-PERM have any? I've quickly checked their product description and manual but couldn't find any information.
Great channel! A few questions:
1, Could I ask what systems the staff at BOS uses for themselves? Your video is awesome at giving the objective review, but just curious what the subjective review is.
2, Would you consider doing a review on the iSpring? It is ranked so high by so many people on Amazon I am wondering what your analysis of it would be.
3, For the NSF certifications, do you know if the systems need to pass only once or submit compliance data on a regular interval. I am just wondering if it is more about good engineering design (pass once and forever certified) or about ensuring good manufacturing of the systems (having to recertify at some regular interval).
Thank you!
1. The AquaTru Classic and the Clearly Filtered under sink water filter.
2. Any model in particular?
3. The NSF says that certification involves regular re-testing. I think I even read that they might purchase the product randomly for re-testing. But I'm not sure about the details.
@@boswater6065 Thank you for the info:
Re. 1: Wow, the Clearly Filtered does look impressive, so I understand why you like it. However, they should probably update their lab performance data on the website, which is dated 4/2018 for the under-sink system (going on seven years old).
Re. 2: Any iSpring RO system would be good, but the iSpring RCC7AK would be my vote. It has 12k reviews at 4.7 stars, which I believe is the highest-rated system on all of Amazon. However, I know there can be some gaming to get positive reviews on Amazon, so I’m curious about what your in-depth analysis would be.
Thanks again for the transparent analysis. I have always thought of Wirecutter as the gold standard for product reviews, but I think your channel is taking it to another level and doing a much better job. Water filtration is just in such a strange spot. You have the big legacy companies like Culligan, who, in my opinion, are way overpriced (they quoted me $2,100 + $150/year + $400/4 years) and stuck on an outdated business model. Then there are big companies like A.O. Smith and Whirlpool, who you are predisposed to trust, but they have terrible customer reviews. Then you have a huge number of small companies you’ve never heard of before, but with great reviews and bold claims.
To me, it feels like water filtration systems are going through a market disruption phase, so I think a channel like yours is imperative.
This iSpring model is on our list already, however, I can't make any promises for when we'll review it. Thank you so much for your kind words!
@@boswater6065 may I ask why someone on your staff chose the Clearly Filtered under sink model instead of the Waterdrop G3P600?
@MrRob111 Simply because it's an inline system that doesn't require any drilling through the countertop.
Excellent presentation. I was ready to go out and buy the Waterdrop RO system you recommended. But upon researching ETR Laboratories, I discovered that their license was revoked by the state of Massachusetts in 2021 for repeatedly poor testing procedures and improper results. I wonder if BOS was aware of this, and if they have any feedback on this?
Reply
Yes, we are aware of this. They are still ISO-certified, and so far and based on the lab reports we've received from them, we don't have any reason not to trust their service. That said, we'll probably use a different lab for the next round of testing which is always a good thing. Of course it would have been ideal to use multiple labs from the beginning, but this is just not possible due to cost restrictions.
@@boswater6065 would you kindly specify what you mean when you say "based on the lab reports we've received from them, we don't have any reason not to trust their service"? It would be very helpful to understand your thinking on this very important issue.
It's that our lab results "make sense" so to speak. So for example, when we tested the old version of the Waterdrop A1 and found high levels of methylene chloride, Derek from Modern Castle here on TH-cam had the exact same results but he used a completely different testing service (Tap Score). Another example would be that with our RO systems, we always get the best filtration results including high TDS reduction. The other types of water filters we test usually don't perform as good which makes sense because reverse osmosis is extremely powerful. A final example: We see filters that use KDF filter media (a mixture of copper and zinc) often leach tiny amounts of copper and zinc into our water, whereas filters that only use activated carbon and ion exchange resins don't seem to leach any copper/zinc.
That said, you must also not forget that this before vs after testing is not an exact science anyway, so all of this lab testing should be viewed as giving us a general idea for how effective a specific water filter is, but that's really it. If you want more reliable results, you need to focus on NSF certifications.
@@boswater6065 thank you for your very thoughtful answer. That's very helpful.
My pleasure!
Great video. Do you happen to know of any portable/travel RO systems that are made in USA?
Thank you. No, but I'm also not super familiar with portable/travel ROs.
Could you review the Vitev REMIN Ca and REMIN Ph Remineralization Filters? They claim to be far superior to other remineralization filters. I'm curious to see if they actually add a significant amount of minerals to the water.
Which of their RO systems are you using?
@@boswater6065I’m not currently using one of their RO systems. Their reminerlization filter is universal and can be used with any system. I would be using it with an APEC ROES-50 system. They say it works best after the last filtration stage but before the tank.
I see. We might be able to check it but I can't make any promises. I appreciate your input!
@@boswater6065Thank you!
Great video, appreciate your huge effort! Your code applies only to the G3P600, do you happen to have one for the G3P800 as well?
We do have a code (BOSG3P800). But it's "only" for a flat 20% off and I think the codes provided directly by Waterdrop are better.
Where can I access the spreadsheet for tankless systems?
All tank-based and tankless systems are combined in one spreadsheet. Or do you mean the spreadsheet for our countertop ROs? I've added it to the description!
I’m looking into SimPure Q3 600GPD or waterdrop d6 or G2P600.I bought the g3p600 but unfortunately to tall. I need a compact unit to fit in my cabinet. If you had to pick one which would you choose?
Hm, I really don't know. I did a quick search and it looks like there are no NSF certifications for contaminant reduction for any of them. Also, we haven't lab-tested any of the 3 models nor do we have any hands-on experience. So, I really can't say which one I'd pick. Sorry that I cannot be of more help!
Hi, thank you so much for your reviews. I purchased the aquasana ro system under the sink, but when I looked at the name under the NSF website, I can’t find it. How do I know it’s certified.thank you.
You're welcome! You can find the links to all NSF certifications in our Google Sheet.
what's your view of the WaterdropG3P800? I am on the market shopping for a tankless OR system, would appreciate to hear your thoughts.
Mainly 33% faster faucet flow and less wastewater but also more expensive. Maybe simulate filling an 8-ounce cup within 7 seconds using your kitchen faucet. This might give you a better idea for how fast the G3P600 is, and if you find that fast enough or not...
@@boswater6065 Thank you. Does UV sterilizer matter? G3P600 does not have it.
@@boswater6065 Could you please advise about UV uv sterilizer? Does G3P800 or G3P600 have it?
@ would also like to hear your view about UV sterilization. Some says G3P600 does not have this function, but I am not sure what it is used for. We have water softener and purifier for the whole house.
We're not sure what to think of UV sterilization in RO systems especially when they're tankless, because testing UV effectiveness is beyond our scope right now. Personally, I'm not too worried about it.
Do you plan to have a dedicated review video for the Cloud RO?
Yes!
@@boswater6065 Do you have an ETA for it?
You know what, actually it would make sense to review this one since it is so different. Can't give you an ETA but we'll put it higher on our priority list.
@ I’m debating on getting the Water Drop X12 or the Cloud RO. My biggest deciding factor is leeching harmful chemicals. I know the X12 doesn’t , but would you know if the Cloud RO leeches harmful chemicals?
Based on our testing, the Cloud RO added a tiny amount of manganese into our water, but at .01 ppm this was the lowest amount possible and below the strictest health guideline we could find. And as always, this might have nothing to do with the Cloud RO itself and could be coincidence or something like that (we didn't repeat the lab testing to confirm). In other words, we're not concerned about the Cloud RO leaching any harmful chemicals. Our main concern was that the unit we tested apparently had issues measuring TDS levels, especially for the remineralized water - compared to our lab data these were way off. And there were a few other things that made the Cloud RO fall behind for us. For more info, you could check our Google Sheet!
Is it possible to use Waterdrop G3P600 with a 3rd party (three-way) faucet?
It's probably best if you reach out to Waterdrop about this.
@@boswater6065 Thanks for the reply. I have found on their website that it is actually possible, might just require some extra quick connectors or adapters.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
Hi one more question. Non RO filter system doesn’t reduce TDS. So does that mean they are not good. Or If they remove all those minerals, bacteria and other items you listed why is TdS not coming down for non RO and how is that directly proportional to all this elements. Appreciate your help
If you check our unfiltered water reports, you'll find that for us TDS is somewhere around 300 mg/L. And you will also find that those 300 mg/L mainly consist of healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium, sulfate, sodium, chloride, and overall hardness. Whereas the actual undesirable impurities and contaminants like nitrate only make up a tiny part of the overall TDS reading. In other words, TDS would barely change if you'd remove all the undesirable stuff while leaving the healthy minerals in the water. In other words, no, a water filter can be really good even if it doesn't reduce TDS.
Plus, TDS doesn't cover all the bad stuff, so even if your water reads 0 TDS, it could still contain VOCs for example. Bottom line is, knowing the TDS of your input and output water can be a helpful measure in some cases like checking RO membrane performance, but we don't think it's really that helpful to determine water quality unless TDS gets above 500-1,000 or so which could indicate an underlying problem with the water source.
@@boswater6065 fANTASTIC. do you have any water filter udner sink that is NON RO but has good review ... 2 question is can i use TDS to decide when to replace RO filter as oppose to manufacturer direction like change every 2 years.
We're working on a video like that but it will take some time, and I don't want to make any recommendations before we have some test data. Yes, using a TDS meter to determine the ideal time to replace an RO membrane is a great idea!
ONE more question. Sorry i asked many because i trust you then somebody in youtube. I was told that water drop p800 can have option filter to be more alkaline. so in your test with 600 or 800 , what does that alkaline does , like will it alter the taste if it being acidic or alkaline. i was told that we should aim for neutral in pH. so wondering will it alter taste being acidic and is it a mandatate to have fitler to be alkaline or test the water in lab and find out it needs filter to add alkaline filter.. apprcaite your help.
We don't think that the pH of RO water which is usually slightly acidic really matters. It's a little hard to explain but you should focus on alkalinity instead of pH in this case. In other words, focus on remineralizing the water and this will also balance pH levels.
I bought a Waterdrop G3 P600 several months ago but returned it after I saw one of your reviews that talked about one of Waterdrop's models leaching chemicals into the filtered water. I asked if you knew if that was true of the G3 600P and you said you were about to do testing on it and several others to determine if they were also affected. This video must be the result of your test. Do you think the problem has been resolved? Since it was your #1 choice, I assume it must've been. Thanks for keeping us informed. Bobby
You're welcome! I'm not sure if the G3P600 ever had the same issue as the A1, but it certainly didn't leach any chemicals in our lab testing.
I’ve been seeing people saying the water drop has cancer causing chemicals/disinfectants in them, is that true?
We've tested the Waterdrop A1 and based on our lab data it had leached methylene chloride into our water above health guidelines. Here is the original video (th-cam.com/video/Qpfnu-mZL3A/w-d-xo.html) and here the follow-up (th-cam.com/video/1xWC30aa7tw/w-d-xo.html) in case you're interested.
Great video. So informative. Didn’t hear the discount code. Could you please provide it? Thanks
All codes are in the video description and the Google Sheet.
I am having issues with my APEC RO tankless bought less than a year from Amazon.
Which unit in particular and what's the issue?
Great info but you guys didn't include pristine hydro? any reason why
Thank you. I've checked. Is the system really around $2,200 or did I check the wrong one?
@@boswater6065yup. I own the travel portable system it's about 1200 but would love to hear you input
@@boswater6065 yup you're right. one is 1200 - travel portable. which is a stand alone RO system. The one you checked is the undercounter system. I'm personally interested in your thoughts on the cheaper (relatively speaking) travel portable filter but it's your channel :)
@mohammedalaskary342 I'm not sure if we will test these. Unless I'm missing something they seem overly expensive for what you get.
@@boswater6065 Hello again, yes it is pretty expensive. The drain ratio is 1:1 and it has a an additional 2 filtration layers.
We haven't changed the filters for about 4 years and it still tastes better than tap water.
Why? because it's expensive and we have to pay extra since we live in canada. I'd like to change the filters this week that's why I came across your video
This is really a very nice review. But I wonder why you didn't test iSpring?
No particular reason, just budget constraints.
Why did you not test the acquatru undersink ro system since you like the classic countertop system so much?
Great question. There were multiple reasons. One is that for under sink ROs we felt that you have more options compared to countertop ROs. Also, we didn't want this to appear as if we favor AquaTru. We cannot test all the systems we would like to test anyway due to budget restrictions. That said, we will test the AquaTru Under Sink eventually.
Not sure if I missed it or not but have you reviewed any of the Culligan under sink RO systems (tankless or with tank)? They are pretty expensive compared to others here.
Not yet, no. We might review some in future, but only if they can be DIY-installed and don't require a scheduling a "Free Water Consultation".
Ive deen doing research on purchasing one. Was surprised that they couldnt remove more flouride. My biggest concern is pesticides, flouride, and oharmecuticals.. in that order since im in the midewest hot zone. Im sure these are the best options to date, but the ph levels seem extremely high on some of the systems.. anything over 8.5 sounds unsafe right? As for remenerilation its a shame none met your standard but that not the end of the world because we eat healthy hearty meals.
Based on our research, water pH above 8.5 isn't a health risk but it can cause unpleasant taste. Fluoride is quite difficult to remove. Also, please remember that some of the reduction rates are minimum reduction rates so they might have been in the high 80s or even 90s.
Why do none of the ro machines remove flouride completely. Suspicious
It's just really difficult to remove I guess. So far, we haven't seen 100% fluoride reduction with any of the water filters we tested.
Best for hard water?
How hard exactly?
Thoughts on the iSpring tankless options? Saw they had one equivalent to the G3P600.
I've checked their tankless under sink ROs and saw that the RO500 is apparently the only one right now that's NSF-certified but for TDS reduction only. The G3P600 has a few additional certifications aside from TDS reduction. I can't really say more than that, since we haven't tested any of the iSpring systems.
@@boswater6065could you also test isprjng?
@minihoneybee Any system in particular?
Any updates on the WaterDrop A1 and C1H issue?
This will be one of our next videos, but what I can tell you is that Waterdrop has revised both models in order to address the issue. But we didn't get the chance to re-test any of the updated models yet.
I want to get WaterDrop undersink RO. But reading their FAQS page and it says it shouldnt be used with well water. I have a decent pre-filtration system. Water Softener, sediment catch, UV Light, ionizer. The water pressure is 38PSI. But I’m new to all this stuff and just want good water for my family. Thank you.
With all the treatment in place, it sounds like this could work. Maybe contact Waterdrop support - they are usually very helpful.
@@boswater6065 I wound up going with the Aquatru counter top. Wanted to get up and running quicker. Plus, less waste water. What is wasted well use for plants. Don’t want to risk drying our well out. Especially because I just planted 6000sq ft of new grass I already have to water….
Thank you!
You're welcome!
The discount code is not working 😢
I just checked and it worked for me.
Love this! Living very close to So Cal Dump that is leaking LEACHATE into our ground water. NEED TO KNOW- Which RO system works best at removing LEACHATE??
Hm. Do you have any idea what that leachate actually is?