Review: 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 Reverse Osmosis System
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Jan 29, 2024
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3M has produced an easy-to-install, NSF-certified, and 12-year warranty-covered under sink reverse osmosis system – the 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401. But it certainly doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Here’s everything you need to know before investing in this water filter!
Contents
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3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 Reverse Osmosis System |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water Flow: | 0.6 gpm |
| NSF Certifications: | 42, 53, 58 |
| Annual Cost: | ~$240-440 |
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Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 Reverse Osmosis System – All Specs
- Model: Aqua-Pure 3MRO401
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$240-440
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre, GAC, RO, Carbon Block
- Filter Stages: 4
- Flow Rate: 0.6 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 6 Months to 3 Years
- WxHxD: 11″x16.1″x4.5″
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 40-100 psi
- Water pH: 4-11
- Fitting: 3/8”
- NSF Certifications: 42, 53, 58
- Warranty: 1-12 Years
3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 – Key Features
The 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 Reverse Osmosis System features the typical 4-stage filtration process. In detail:
- First, a 5-micron sediment/carbon pre-filter captures sand, silt, rust, and other particles.
- Then, granulated activated carbon removes chlorine, bad taste and smell, pesticides, organic chemicals, and other contaminants that could affect the RO membrane.
- Next, the reverse osmosis membrane removes most contaminants, including salt, microbes, and metals.
- Last, the 10-micron nominal carbon block post-filter gives the water a final touch. It refreshes the taste and smell after the storage tank.
The system is NSF-certified with impressive contaminant reduction rates. For example:
- Arsenic 5 – 99.4%
- Chromium 6 – 98.5%
- Cyst – 99.98%
- Fluoride – 97.4%
- Lead – 98.7%
- Radium 226/228 – 80%
- TDS – 93.8%
- Chlorine Taste and Odor – 97.5%
All in all, the filtration process and reduction rates look pretty solid! By the way, 3M says this filter works for both chlorinated and non-chlorinated tap and well water supplies.
Apart from the solid filtration process and reduction rates, the system also offers ease of use. Both installation and filter replacement are simple and can be done without tools.
Filter life: 3 years for the RO membrane and 6 to 12 months for the other filter stages. We estimate $240-440 in annual replacement cost (more on this later).
3M Reverse Osmosis System Pros
So, what advantages do you get with the 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 RO system?
First, reliable water filtration — the primary reason most people buy water filters. The system’s reduction rates look good and everything is certified against NSF standards 42, 53, and 58, so you can trust the system to make your water healthier.
Second, DIY-friendly installation and filter replacements, thanks to the push fittings and Sanitary Quick Change (SQC) design. The SQC design makes it possible to remove and replace filters with just a quarter-turn — easy and fast. All it takes is some pressure from your hands — no need for tools, not even a filter wrench.
Now, to the icing on the cake: this system comes with a whooping 12-year warranty. 3M’s got you covered on any manufacturing defects for 12 long years. Many under-the-sink RO systems come with a 1-5-year warranty, so this is impressive. There’s also a 1-year warranty on the filter elements.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
3M provides the following reduction rates:
- Arsenic 5 – 99.4%
- Barium – 98.8%
- Cadmium – 98%
- Chromium 6 – 98.5%
- Chromium 3 – 99.5%
- Copper – 98.9%
- Cyst – 99.98%
- Fluoride – 97.4%
- Lead – 98.7%
- Radium 226/228 – 80%
- Selenium – 97.9%
- TDS – 93.8%
- Turbidity – 99.1%
- Chlorine Taste and Odor – 97.5%
- Nominal Particulate Class – 92.4%
- Carbofuran – 89.7%
- Toxaphene – 93.5%
- P-Dichlorobenzene – 99.8%
- O-Dichlorobenzene – 99.5%
The 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
As mentioned before, the 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 uses push fittings, so you can expect installation to be relatively easy. You can even DIY. You’ll need these few tools:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Plumber’s putty
- Adjustable speed drill
- Porcelain cutter tool set
Here’s a brief run-through of the installation steps:
- Select the location for the system and RO faucet.
- Drill a ⅞” hole in the sink to mount the RO faucet.
- Install the RO faucet.
- Close the cold water supply and open the faucet.
- Connect the feed water line to the faucet adapter.
- Connect the ¼” orange hose to the ¼” faucet adapter outlet.
- Prefill the tank and add two drops of regular bleach to sanitize it during prefilling.
- Establish the drain connection.
- Install the filter assembly and the tank. Use the labels on the filters to identify the appropriate filter heads and install them accordingly.
- Install the orange, green, blue, black, and yellow tubing.
- Confirm that all connections are fit, then open the cold water supply.
- Check for leaks and start up the system.
- Close the tank and open the RO faucet for 24 hours to flush the system.
- Fill up the tank and flush it again before using the system.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- RO System Manifold
- Filter Elements
- RO Faucet
- Storage Tank + Valve
- Tubing
- Cold Water Supply Valve
- Drain Saddle Assembly
Maintenance
How often will you need to replace the filters? Well, the RO membrane lasts three years, all other filters last 6 to 12 months. So, let’s say once or twice a year. Changing filters is no big deal here, thanks to the Sanitary Quick Change (SQC) design. All it takes is a quarter turn with your hands (no need for a wrench), and you can remove and replace the filters.
However, this system is extremely expensive to maintain. $240-$440 per year is a lot, and we don’t see why it should cost that much.
Anyways, here’s the simple replacement process:
- Raise the faucet handle and turn off the cold water valve.
- Give the system about five minutes to drain, then remove the filter cover.
- Remove the old filter by giving it a quarter turn to the left and tugging it away from the head.
- Unwrap the new filter and remove the protective cap on it.
- Wet the filter’s O-rings with water and slot them into the filter head. Give the filter a right-quarter turn to key it in.
- Turn on the cold water valve and confirm that there are no leaks.
- Flush the system to remove fines before you resume use.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.aquapurefilters.com/shop/product/resource/784/3mro401_manual.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
The 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 is certified against NSF standards 42, 53, and 58. NSF 42 covers chlorine, taste, and odor reduction. NSF 58 confirms that this system removes arsenic (pentavalent), cadmium, barium, hexavalent chromium, trivalent chromium, copper, cyst, lead, radium, selenium, TDS, fluoride, and turbidity.
We couldn’t find more information on the NSF 53 certificate.
Earlier Product Versions
This product has no earlier versions.
3M RO Cons
We find this system’s price and maintenance cost quite shocking. It’s really expensive upfront and even more expensive to maintain (we estimate $240-$440 per year). That’s way too much in our opinion.
Also, the system wastes five water gallons for every gallon of filtered water. Although this is normal for under sink RO systems without a pressure pump, it’s still something to consider.
Then, we’re not sure the NSF 53 certification is up-to-date because we couldn’t find its link online.
Lastly, the system boasts of an easy installation process, but some users have complained that the installation instructions were rather unclear, so they had issues setting up their filter.
3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 offers solid reduction rates backed by NSF certifications, DIY-friendly installation and maintenance, and the prestige of the popular 3M brand. But most importantly, the purchase and maintenance costs are just too high. We really didn’t expect that much. There are less expensive systems out there, and the ones that cost this much have added features like booster pumps. We’d recommend buying a different RO system. Our verdict is 3 stars!
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: 2.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 2.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
Let’s compare the 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 to the Waterdrop G3 and AquaTru, two of our favorite RO systems.
Waterdrop G3 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.42 gpm |
| NSF: | 58, 372 |
| Annually: | ~$145 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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AquaTru |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.6 gpm |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58 |
| Annually: | ~$240-440 |
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Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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The Waterdrop G3 is a space-saving system that filters water on demand (no storage tank). The 4-stage filtration performance has been certified against NSF standard 58 and tested against NSF standards 42, 53, 58, and 401. The results? Assurance that this system removes 99% VOCs, 99% chlorine, 98% nitrate, 99% fluoride, 99% chromium-6, 99% arsenic, 99% PFOA/PFOS, 99% lead, and more.
The Waterdrop G3 has an inbuilt pump. This pump minimizes wastewater to only 33% of input water (better than the 3M). It also gives the system a 0.42 gallon per minute flow rate, which means you’ll always have filtered water running, and it’ll run so fast that you can fill a cup in just eight seconds!
Apart from that, the Waterdrop has LED lights, sound, and a TDS monitoring panel on the RO faucet and system. The LED lights tell you when to change filters, and the panel displays the effectiveness of the RO membrane and other filters. The point is that you don’t have to worry about when to replace filter elements; the system will alert you. Speaking of filter replacements, the filters last 6 to 24 months or 550 to 2,200 gallons. Like 3M, Waterdrop G3 is simple to install and maintain. It takes only a single turn to remove and change the filters. You don’t need tools, disconnections, or even shutting off input water.
Other benefits include the BPA-free design, a money-back satisfaction guarantee (full refund if you return the system within 30 days), and 1-year manufacturer warranty (only for those on municipal water). 3 M’s warranty is 12 years, so it’s better here.
We noticed that Waterdrop G3 is kind of expensive. However, it’s cheaper to maintain ($145/year), so that’s okay. We also found reports of the system producing annoying noises even when the faucet is off. Now, that’s not a good sign for a “user-friendly” system.
Off to our favorite RO system, the AquaTru, is a countertop model and so installation-free. It features four filter stages with third-party testing and certification against five NSF standards: 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473. These standards cover about 80 contaminants! That’s impressive and ensures clean water and good health for users. The system has these reduction rates, amongst others:
- chlorine (96.6%)
- VOCs (95% to more than 99%)
- chromium 6 (97.2%)
- TDS (87.1%)
- cyst (99.99%)
- fluoride (93.5%)
- lead (99.1%)
- radium 226/228 (96.4%)
- BPA (99%)
- several trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides (86.7%-96.6%)
- PFOA, PFOS (97.5%)
In comparison, 3M has fewer tested contaminants. For example, it is not tested for VOCs or PFOA/PFOS.
And the AquaTru has other excellent features like a space-saving design, fast filtration, easy and quick setup (it takes less than ten minutes to get it ready for work), and a BPS and BPA-free Tritan plastic materials. Also, when it comes to wastewater reduction, this system is a pro. It wastes only 1⁄5 of feed water, thanks to the built-in pump. This is much better than both 3M and Waterdrop.
The AquaTru doesn’t come cheap, but it’s still more affordable than the 3M (maintenance is about $100-$120 a year). We didn’t experience any issues with the system, but we found complaints about leaking due to design flaws and units that suddenly stopped working after a few months.
In summary, AquaTru is our best pick because it has an acceptable price, affordable maintenance cost, fast filtration process that is NSF-supported, little wastewater, and no need for installation. The Waterdrop G3 comes next because of its effectiveness, tankless system, fast filtration, easy installation, and reduced wastewater. 3M has fewer features and comes at an exorbitant price for what it offers, so we wouldn’t recommend it.
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This completes our review of the 3M Aqua-Pure 3MRO401 Reverse Osmosis System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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