We use the Premium Water Test by ETR Labs (etrlabs.com/product/premium-water-test/ - $250 per test kit). The exact same test is also sold by US Water Systems for $50 less (bit.ly/3Lmc6kb - choose "WaterLogix Premium"). For the test sold by US Water Systems we also have a 5% discount code if you want: "BESTRO5"
I'm starting to shop for a countertop water filter in your video's are great, thank you. Have you considered the plastics that the units are made out of? Are they BPA and other toxic chemical free?
They are BPA-free, yes. Other than that, there's no system that's entirely made out of stainless steel or glass. Some units do use a glass container for the filtered water, though, like the AquaTru Carafe (this will be part of one of our next videos).
@@boswater6065 Thanks for your quick response and help. I found the company does say on their website that their product uses Tritan plastic which is supposed to be safe. Not sure about the filters. I couldn't find the option on your website for the extended warranty and alkaline filters that the manufacturer offers on their site.
Yes, waterandwellness.com doesn't offer that. But you get the free replacement filter set and can use our coupon code. So there are pros and cons for both options.
How can this product remove PFAS if the filtered water tank is made of plastic himself ? Maybe I got the wrong idea but aren't units like this supposed to remove PFAS as well ?
@user-vh8yn9cc9h I understand your concerns but this topic is far more complex than it seems and I believe a lot of research needs to be done on it. Also, I genuinely don't know of a single water filter right now that has all the important NSF certifications and that doesn't use plastic. In case you happen to know one, please share!
Was about to buy it till i saw the flouride reduction of 40% can you explain this further why your test was so different than the published numbers for flouride .?
I wonder how it knows when to replace each filter. A concern I have is that if it measures by time or usage (not water quality) then that may not be right for my water, and I might need to replace my filters sooner than it alerts. Hard water would degrade the filters faster, for example.
I think it measures by time. You are right, you might have to replace sooner if you water quality demands it. You could monitor the output water using a TDS meter.
How do you remineralize the water? I know that a lot of RO filters do this. But not sure how to remineralize. In addition, are there any Ro machines, that remineralize for you?! Is this the best counter top filtering system?!
In our opinion, this is the best countertop RO. There are RO systems that remineralize for you using an additional treatment stage. A countertop system that comes to mind is the Frizzlife WB99-C. You can also remineralize manually using mineral blends for example.
You can purchase a VOC filter with your Aquatru to remineralize but many people say they don't enjoy the taste. I actually just buy Quinton Hypertronic Minerals. I crack those into my water and you get a more complete set of minerals for your body 😊
Have you or anyone else you know tested the Aquatru with the alkaline filter attached? I would be interested to see if the optional filter adds anything bad to the water.
Always great reviews! Would even be better if you could include RELIABILITY ratings. System performance is just one aspect, but real world usage requires that we understand how reliable the operation is, e.g. ease of maintenance, descaling effort per TDS levels, machine leakage and machine mysteriously stopping and associated ease to DIY troubleshoot and fix, etc.
Do you think the UV filter in the Bluevua Lite-UV model is necessary to completely remove the bacteria/viruses from our tap water? Aquatru doesn’t have a UV filter so I’m wondering if that’s an added benefit.
Tap water contains enough chlorine so there are usually no harmful bacteria/viruses to begin with. This is also confirmed by our lab data. I might be wrong but for us so far the UV stages didn't provide any benefit.
Over time, the RO filter, even if 1-3 months of use can accumulate bacteria and grow and can pass through the very tiny holes of the membrane and then gets into the water. That's why they invented RO with UV. They won't put the UV layer if there's no use
Over time, the RO filter, even if 1-3 months of use can accumulate bacteria and grow and can pass through the very tiny holes of the membrane and then gets into the water. That's why they invented RO with UV. They won't put the UV layer if there's no use.
I'm not sure to be honest. All I can tell you is that their plastic is free from BPA and BPS. AquaTru also has the "Carafe" model which uses a glass tank to collect the purified water. Maybe look into that one.
@@boswater6065 unfortunately with the data that came out last week showing that the microplastics and nanoplastics basically create a scaffolding for plaque to build up in your arteries the BPA and BPS free are pretty much useless claims at this point. I wish the "Carafe" model had a glass water tank in the back as well.
Great question! The public water supply where Sara lives is known to harbour coliform bacteria every once in a while, so it's not like the AquaTru added these in. We're assuming that there just weren't enough bacteria in the unfiltered water sample for the lab report to come back "positive". Also, total coliform is not associated with any health risks. It's only certain strains of coliform bacteria, first and foremost E. Coli, that are problematic.
Hard water isn't ideal but I think 9 gpg is still within reasonable limits. To give you one example, the manual of the AquaTru Classic says 10 gpg is the maximum recommended hardness level. That said, for most of the systems doesn't seem to have such a max hardness level defined in their manual or anywhere else.
I'm assuming you mean the AquaTru adding microplastic to the water? Well, the system uses plastic that doesn't leach BPA etc., but we didn't specifically test for microplastics.
I'm not sure if it's among the most important things for most people. But anyway, I don't think there is even a lab that offers nanoplastic testing. Microplastic testing can be done, but it's crazy expensive and far above our budget at this point in time. But hopefully we'll be able to include microplastic testing in future.
@ I already have the Enagic Leveluk K8 Water Filter Machine which was very expensive gift so now I want to know what should I use in combination with this machine? I was going pair it with this Aquatru as a “prefilter” I guess?
To be honest, I don't think that we will review water ionizers here on this channel. I tried to look it up real quick, but I couldn't find what the Enagic Leveluk K8 Water Filter Machine filters exactly (maybe you can kindly let me know). Aside from that, the AquaTru Classic is definitely highly effective at targeting a broad range of water contaminants/impurities.
Hello! Thank you so much for this video and the detailed explanation! What’s the best way to remineralize the water after using the aqua tru machine? Would you recommend their perfect minerals drops? Thanks!!
I haven't tested their drops, so I can't really say. Most importantly, you want to add some calcium and some magnesium. Most electrolyte blends should cover that. Hope that helps.
It only works if you use it on the AquaTru bundle that we're mentioning in the video (link in description), the bundle which includes the free replacement filters. But I'll reach out to them - maybe they can change it so it works for the entire store.
Please review the Bluevua, both Lite and full size. Reviews look very good, and i know someone who went to it over the Clearly Filtered pitcher and are extremely happy with it. They haven't run any lab tests, though. Im not sure which unit they got. I assume the larger one because they go through a lot of water which was one main reason they went for the Bluevua. Thanks
We are testing the Bluevua RO100ROPOT right now. Is this one of the systems you mentioned? You can't really compare a Bluevua RO system to a filter pitcher - RO will always remove more impurities from water. But it also has its downsides...
Hopefully this week, unless there's a delay - you never know with these things. But I can tell you from our lab data that AquaTru and Bluevua both performed really well. The only reason why we prefer the AquaTru is its NSF certifications.
@prophet_alers Yes, 280 ppm hardness is too much for the AquaTru Classic to handle. But I'd think that this would apply to most RO systems. After all 280 ppm is classified as very/extremely hard. Are you allowed to use a salt-based water softener where you live?
I returned my AquaTru. It doesn't remove very many contaminants, like reverse osmosis normally does. I was also concerned with how the water puddles in the outlet holes, and left to stagnate. I switched to the Clearly Filtered Pitcher.
@@boswater6065 I'm assuming AquaTru's test results are accurate. They don't claim to remove very many contaminants. Certainly not as many as Clearly Filtered.
Wow, you're doing over $500 worth of testing on the water. AquaTru is intended for water with hardness below 10 gpg. How do you test your water for hardness? Thanks
In our case, the testing is included as part of the lab analysis. If you want an easy way to test your water, I'd recommend using a hardness test kit - readily available and simple to use. It's basically test strips that change their color based on the hardness level.
@@boswater6065 Thanks for the quick and thorough response. I was shopping for water testing also and think I'll use the same lab as you. The advanced test is about $280 but guess a thorough test does cost. Sorry for asking you about the water hardness testing without asking Google first
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
*→ Buy the AquaTru Classic Here (Deal 1 - Incl. Free Replacement Filter Set!):* waterwellness.pxf.io/2a1VDG - *Use code “BOSAQUATRU” for an Additional 15% off!*
*→ Buy the AquaTru Classic Here (Deal 2 - New - $100 Off!):* aquatruwater.com/product/countertop-reverse-osmosis-water-purifier/?oid2=50&affid2=1286&c=boswater - *No Code Needed. $100 Discount Already Applied With Link!*
Super curious to get a review on the Sans reverse osmosis filter. Doesn’t look like there’s any on RUclips just yet. Thanks for what you do!
I've added it to our list!
Perhaps I missed where you may have said this but where can I send my water samples to do the same lab tests you do and how much does it cost?
We use the Premium Water Test by ETR Labs (etrlabs.com/product/premium-water-test/ - $250 per test kit). The exact same test is also sold by US Water Systems for $50 less (bit.ly/3Lmc6kb - choose "WaterLogix Premium"). For the test sold by US Water Systems we also have a 5% discount code if you want: "BESTRO5"
I'm starting to shop for a countertop water filter in your video's are great, thank you.
Have you considered the plastics that the units are made out of? Are they BPA and other toxic chemical free?
They are BPA-free, yes. Other than that, there's no system that's entirely made out of stainless steel or glass. Some units do use a glass container for the filtered water, though, like the AquaTru Carafe (this will be part of one of our next videos).
@@boswater6065 Thanks for your quick response and help. I found the company does say on their website that their product uses Tritan plastic which is supposed to be safe. Not sure about the filters.
I couldn't find the option on your website for the extended warranty and alkaline filters that the manufacturer offers on their site.
Yes, waterandwellness.com doesn't offer that. But you get the free replacement filter set and can use our coupon code. So there are pros and cons for both options.
Wish this had cold water. Still crazy you drank tap water in cali I don't recommend lol. How do you add minerals.
You could use a mineral blend. Or use the remineralization filter that's optional for the AquaTru Classic, although we haven't tested that one.
How can this product remove PFAS if the filtered water tank is made of plastic himself ? Maybe I got the wrong idea but aren't units like this supposed to remove PFAS as well ?
It does remove PFAS. Not every plastic container is lined with PFAS.
Is the tank plastic or glass? Are the pipes made of plastic?
Plastic. There aren't any visible pipes but I would assume that most if not all of the internal components are plastic.
@boswater6065 not good, if we're trying to eliminate micro plastics then why are we using all plastic components?
@user-vh8yn9cc9h I understand your concerns but this topic is far more complex than it seems and I believe a lot of research needs to be done on it. Also, I genuinely don't know of a single water filter right now that has all the important NSF certifications and that doesn't use plastic. In case you happen to know one, please share!
Was about to buy it till i saw the flouride reduction of 40% can you explain this further why your test was so different than the published numbers for flouride .?
Sure. So the test report of the filtered water showed "
Would it have been better made of glass?
Possibly, yes!
what other testing showed no aluminum in the Aqua Tru filter?
There are several hear on RUclips. Seach for "AquaTru lab testing".
could you review the Ecoviva countertop reverse osmosis 5 stage filtration system?
Added to our list, thank you!
I wonder how it knows when to replace each filter. A concern I have is that if it measures by time or usage (not water quality) then that may not be right for my water, and I might need to replace my filters sooner than it alerts. Hard water would degrade the filters faster, for example.
I think it measures by time. You are right, you might have to replace sooner if you water quality demands it. You could monitor the output water using a TDS meter.
How do you remineralize the water? I know that a lot of RO filters do this. But not sure how to remineralize. In addition, are there any Ro machines, that remineralize for you?! Is this the best counter top filtering system?!
In our opinion, this is the best countertop RO. There are RO systems that remineralize for you using an additional treatment stage. A countertop system that comes to mind is the Frizzlife WB99-C. You can also remineralize manually using mineral blends for example.
You can purchase a VOC filter with your Aquatru to remineralize but many people say they don't enjoy the taste. I actually just buy Quinton Hypertronic Minerals. I crack those into my water and you get a more complete set of minerals for your body 😊
Thanks, very helpful!
Have you or anyone else you know tested the Aquatru with the alkaline filter attached? I would be interested to see if the optional filter adds anything bad to the water.
We haven't tested the alkaline filter. Also, I'm not aware of any third-party test data. But great idea!
Always great reviews! Would even be better if you could include RELIABILITY ratings. System performance is just one aspect, but real world usage requires that we understand how reliable the operation is, e.g. ease of maintenance, descaling effort per TDS levels, machine leakage and machine mysteriously stopping and associated ease to DIY troubleshoot and fix, etc.
Thanks for the input!
@@boswater6065 There's a very high failure rate after 6 to 12 months from what I'm reading. Very high...
Do you think the UV filter in the Bluevua Lite-UV model is necessary to completely remove the bacteria/viruses from our tap water? Aquatru doesn’t have a UV filter so I’m wondering if that’s an added benefit.
Tap water contains enough chlorine so there are usually no harmful bacteria/viruses to begin with. This is also confirmed by our lab data. I might be wrong but for us so far the UV stages didn't provide any benefit.
Over time, the RO filter, even if 1-3 months of use can accumulate bacteria and grow and can pass through the very tiny holes of the membrane and then gets into the water. That's why they invented RO with UV. They won't put the UV layer if there's no use
Over time, the RO filter, even if 1-3 months of use can accumulate bacteria and grow and can pass through the very tiny holes of the membrane and then gets into the water. That's why they invented RO with UV. They won't put the UV layer if there's no use.
@jenueheightz6851 Thanks for sharing. It would be interesting to actually test this but it's quite hard to do unfortunately.
What about the micro plastics from their plastic container version?
I'm not sure to be honest. All I can tell you is that their plastic is free from BPA and BPS. AquaTru also has the "Carafe" model which uses a glass tank to collect the purified water. Maybe look into that one.
@@boswater6065 unfortunately with the data that came out last week showing that the microplastics and nanoplastics basically create a scaffolding for plaque to build up in your arteries the BPA and BPS free are pretty much useless claims at this point. I wish the "Carafe" model had a glass water tank in the back as well.
Could you post a link to that data, please?
Why is it that on the left (before treatment) coliform bacteria is absent and on the right (after treatment) it shows the bacteria as "Present"???
Great question! The public water supply where Sara lives is known to harbour coliform bacteria every once in a while, so it's not like the AquaTru added these in. We're assuming that there just weren't enough bacteria in the unfiltered water sample for the lab report to come back "positive". Also, total coliform is not associated with any health risks. It's only certain strains of coliform bacteria, first and foremost E. Coli, that are problematic.
If my city’s gpg is rated a 9 would I be ok buying one of these systems?
Hard water isn't ideal but I think 9 gpg is still within reasonable limits. To give you one example, the manual of the AquaTru Classic says 10 gpg is the maximum recommended hardness level. That said, for most of the systems doesn't seem to have such a max hardness level defined in their manual or anywhere else.
can i order in canada with discount ?
I'm not sure.
What about micro plastic contamination in this unit?
I'm assuming you mean the AquaTru adding microplastic to the water? Well, the system uses plastic that doesn't leach BPA etc., but we didn't specifically test for microplastics.
@@boswater6065why wouldn't you test for micro plastics and nanaplastics? They're some of the most important things people are concerned about
I'm not sure if it's among the most important things for most people. But anyway, I don't think there is even a lab that offers nanoplastic testing. Microplastic testing can be done, but it's crazy expensive and far above our budget at this point in time. But hopefully we'll be able to include microplastic testing in future.
@@boswater6065 okay. Thanks very much for your response
I got used to transfering water from the unit to 3x1L glass jars as soon as enough water is filtered to fill up a jar, or not long after
Hello! Ty! Can you do Kangan water review? I was thinking using kangan as my pre-filter for this machine you reviewed
You're welcome! So you mean one of their water ionizers?
@ I already have the Enagic Leveluk K8 Water Filter Machine which was very expensive gift so now I want to know what should I use in combination with this machine? I was going pair it with this Aquatru as a “prefilter” I guess?
To be honest, I don't think that we will review water ionizers here on this channel. I tried to look it up real quick, but I couldn't find what the Enagic Leveluk K8 Water Filter Machine filters exactly (maybe you can kindly let me know). Aside from that, the AquaTru Classic is definitely highly effective at targeting a broad range of water contaminants/impurities.
Hello! Thank you so much for this video and the detailed explanation! What’s the best way to remineralize the water after using the aqua tru machine? Would you recommend their perfect minerals drops? Thanks!!
I haven't tested their drops, so I can't really say. Most importantly, you want to add some calcium and some magnesium. Most electrolyte blends should cover that. Hope that helps.
@@boswater6065 well I’d love to see you testing their drops 😄 thank you for your reply!
@@boswater6065 thank you for your reply! We would love to see your review on their minerals drops! We trust your analysis and feedback :)
I've added it to our list!
@@boswater6065 what about their alkaline filter that's supposed to add minerals? Thanks
Discount code doesn’t work for me
It only works if you use it on the AquaTru bundle that we're mentioning in the video (link in description), the bundle which includes the free replacement filters. But I'll reach out to them - maybe they can change it so it works for the entire store.
Please review the Bluevua, both Lite and full size. Reviews look very good, and i know someone who went to it over the Clearly Filtered pitcher and are extremely happy with it. They haven't run any lab tests, though. Im not sure which unit they got. I assume the larger one because they go through a lot of water which was one main reason they went for the Bluevua. Thanks
We are testing the Bluevua RO100ROPOT right now. Is this one of the systems you mentioned? You can't really compare a Bluevua RO system to a filter pitcher - RO will always remove more impurities from water. But it also has its downsides...
@@boswater6065 can't wait for the bluevua video, I'm debating between that one and aqua tru, when do you think that video will be out?
Hopefully this week, unless there's a delay - you never know with these things. But I can tell you from our lab data that AquaTru and Bluevua both performed really well. The only reason why we prefer the AquaTru is its NSF certifications.
Can you guys please review simpure t1-400
I've added it to our list!
I feel like my water is way to hard for this and it wouldn't last long California water is very hard.
You might be right here. What's your hardness level?
@ 280ppm
@prophet_alers Yes, 280 ppm hardness is too much for the AquaTru Classic to handle. But I'd think that this would apply to most RO systems. After all 280 ppm is classified as very/extremely hard. Are you allowed to use a salt-based water softener where you live?
She’s totally cute!!!
That's why she's chosen for marketing😅
I returned my AquaTru. It doesn't remove very many contaminants, like reverse osmosis normally does.
I was also concerned with how the water puddles in the outlet holes, and left to stagnate.
I switched to the Clearly Filtered Pitcher.
Thanks for sharing. How did you test this, though?
how did you know it didn't remove very many contaminants?
I think Angie works for Clearly filtered 😁
@@boswater6065 I'm assuming AquaTru's test results are accurate. They don't claim to remove very many contaminants. Certainly not as many as Clearly Filtered.
@@user-mz1zl1bc4c AquaTru themselves tell you how many they remove. Clearly, not very many, compared to other filters.
Drank tap water for the team!
;)
Did you delete my comment?
No, but we had to reupload the video, so maybe your comment got lost.
Wow, you're doing over $500 worth of testing on the water.
AquaTru is intended for water with hardness below 10 gpg. How do you test your water for hardness? Thanks
In our case, the testing is included as part of the lab analysis. If you want an easy way to test your water, I'd recommend using a hardness test kit - readily available and simple to use. It's basically test strips that change their color based on the hardness level.
@@boswater6065 Thanks for the quick and thorough response. I was shopping for water testing also and think I'll use the same lab as you. The advanced test is about $280 but guess a thorough test does cost. Sorry for asking you about the water hardness testing without asking Google first
Glad I could help. And no worries at all!
I won’t buy because it’s not glass
Maybe check out the AquaTru Carafe?