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The AquaTru Reverse Osmosis Water Filter is a countertop system that doesn’t require installation. No drilling, no plumbing, no nothing – it’s plug and play. This is not only ideal for renters who can’t make permanent changes to their plumbing, it’s also great if you’re not a born DIYer and want to save the extra money for a plumber. Or you simply don’t want to bother with a tedious install.
But what’s really special about the AquaTru, and the reason why it’s our go-to reverse osmosis system, is that it provides pure and delicious drinking water free from up to 99% impurities – all certified by the IAPMO against 5 different NSF standards.
Want all details? You’ll find everything here in our AquaTru review!
AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System
Price:
$$$
Filter Stages:
4
Water Production:
1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes
NSF Certifications:
42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Annual Cost:
~$100-120
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.
You get a free replacement filter set + extra discount for 27% total savings if you purchase the AquaTru system using the following link: waterandwellness.com. Discount Code No Longer Needed.
AquaTru – Key Features
Most importantly, the AquaTru’s 4-stage filtration process is independently tested and certified against NSF standards to remove close to 80 contaminants that might be present in your water supply.
The mechanical/carbon pre-filter traps sediment, rust, and other large particles, and also takes care of chlorine, THMs, bad tastes and odors, and more.
Next, the pre-conditioned water is treated by the RO membrane. Reverse osmosis is a highly effective water purification method removing heavy metals such as lead and chromium-6, but also stuff like fluoride, nitrate, radium, and overall TDS.
Lastly, an activated carbon polishing block filter reduces leftover organic compounds, PFOA, PFOS, pesticides, and drug residue. It also provides for pristine water taste.
All in all, the AquaTru has earned a total of 5 certifications according to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473, which A) is outstanding by itself and B) guarantees clean drinking water and the safety of your health.
By the way, all carbon filter media is derived from coconut shells.
Filter life: 600 to 1,200 gallons.
Alexa’s Video Review
Alexa, our inhouse video content producer, has ordered and tested the AquaTru Reverse Osmosis System. In other words, she set up the AquaTru with her own hands and used it in her home for several weeks to gain invaluable first-hand experience and insights. Alexa has documented the entire process and shares her opinion on the water filter in the video below:
The 3-part filtration system is quite impressive. It really removes everything out of the water. As far as water filtration systems go this will be a very high quality option for you. (…) Overall my review of this system is going to be a 4.5 out of 5.
Sara has also tested the AquaTru. And here review even includes lab testing, so a comparison of the unfiltered vs. filtered water:
The AquaTru Reverse Osmosis Countertop System has a very effective filtration process backed by NSF certifications, it has very little wastewater, it is an installation-free system and it is very easy to use, and the maintenance is pretty affordable.
More advantages of the AquaTru countertop RO system?
The design is space-saving.
It’s ready to get to work in less than ten minutes. Plus, the non-permanent setup makes the system ideal for renters and people who want something portable.
It’s super easy to use: Simply fill the removable reservoir and insert it into the system. The filtration process will start automatically.
The AquaTru is fast. It purifies 1 gallon of water in 10-15 minutes.
And because it uses a pressure pump to push the water through the reverse osmosis membrane (cost for electricity is negligible), it wastes far less than the standard RO system: Only ⅕ of the input water goes down the drain (80% recovery rate), compared to 3-5 gallons that the standard RO system wastes per 1 gallon of filtered water produced.
The clean water collects in the front tank for easy dispensing. All the bad stuff is captured in a second tank in the back and can be discarded. Also, the clean-water tank holds 3 quarts and is removable for cooling in the fridge.
AquaTru uses BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic only.
System maintenance is low thanks to long-lasting filters and quick filter replacements (takes literally 2 minutes with no need for tools). Also, an indicator light will tell you when to change your filters.
Everything is covered by a 1-year warranty (limited).
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
With the AquaTru RO system, you’ll get rid of sediment, rust, and other large particles, chlorine/chloramine, THMs, foul smell, bad taste, fluoride and other salts, radium, TDS, heavy metals like lead and chromium-6, organic compounds, PFOA, PFOS, drug remnants, pesticides, and more.
Like we said, there’s no plumbing or installation required with the AquaTru RO system. In fact, it can be set up within a few minutes.
First things first, you need to unbox the system and wash (and rinse) the tanks. Then, follow these steps to finish setup:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
Open the system’s side panel.
Remove the filters from the airtight pouches.
Fix the filters to their appropriate bases. Check the label numbers and colors to confirm the right filter base.
Adjust the filters to stand upright.
Cover the side panel.
Add tap water to the feed tank and fix it so it sits securely.
Plug the systemin.
Find the switch behind the unit and turn on the system.
Run 4 full and unfiltered water tanks through the AquaTru. Empty and rinse both water tanks after each cycle.
The Package (Parts)
AquaTru module incl. tap water tank + filtered water tank
Sediment/carbon pre-filter cartridge
RO membrane
Carbon post-filter cartridge
Quickstart guide
Owner’s manual
Maintenance
You shouldn’t experience any problems with system maintenance. And it’s not much work required either.
Filter stage 1/2 lasts 600 gallons or 6 months. The reverse osmosis membrane lasts 1,200 gallons or 2 years. And the VOC filter (stage 4) is good for 600 gallons or 1 year. In other words, you’re probably looking at biannual/annual filter replacements which don’t take more than a few minutes; no tools required!
The unit tracks the number of water gallons already used as well as time so you don’t have to worry about it. Just make sure to change the corresponding filter when the numbered light on the front panel says so. And don’t forget to hit the filter reset button.
What about costs? Replacement filters are surprisingly affordable! Around $100-120 per year seems realistic.
When it’s time to change the filter, here’s what you do:
Depressurize the filters by dispensing water.
Remove the filter cover. Wait for 60 seconds.
Turn each filter outwards so you can work on it easily.
Twist each filter anti-clockwise to detach it from the base.
Fix the new filter by twisting it clockwise on the base.
Return the filter to the upright position and cover the side panel.
Press the filter reset button for about five seconds.
Fill the tank with water, but discard the first two sets of filtered water.
Resume using the AquaTru after the third fill.
Aside from routine filter replacement, you must also clean the water tanks weekly. This is no big deal, though. Just wash them with soap and water, and flush the soapy water through the system’s spout and tank valves. Rinse the tanks and leave them to dry for a few hours.
This system has an impressive number of NSF certifications. It is NSF-certified by the IAPMO against standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473. It has the following contaminant reduction rates:
NSF 401: 99% BPA, 86.7%-96.6% trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides
NSF P473: 97.5% PFOA and PFOS
Earlier Product Versions
Apparently, there are several different versions of the AquaTru countertop RO (6 different model numbers). Also, there’s a newer version that connects to your smart device via WiFi.
AquaTru Filter Cons
We read about leaking due to design flaws. And there have been issues with units that stopped working after a couple of months use. Troubleshooting according to the manual didn’t help in many cases. Customer service wasn’t always helpful either. Mind you, this only happened to a small proportion of users and there’s the 1-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, but if this is something you absolutely don’t want to deal with, this product might not be for you. Personally, we didn’t have any problems so far.
AquaTru Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The AquaTru is our favorite reverse osmosis system. Rigorous testing shows it’s best for providing drinking water of the highest quality, while being entirely installation-free. On top of that, maintenance is a piece of cake and highly affordable. Taking everything into account: 4.5 stars!
Our Rating in Detail:
Filtration Performance: 4.5/5.0
Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
Overall: 4.5/5.0
Includes Free Replacement Filter Set + Extra Discount for 27% Total Savings (Discount Code No Longer Needed)
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.
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.
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.
Includes Free Replacement Filter Set + Extra Discount for 27% Total Savings (Discount Code No Longer Needed)
The SimPure Y7P-BW (full review here) is our second-best countertop RO system. It’s budget-friendly, simple to set up and use, BPA-free, and filters water quickly. It even has a few features that are better than the AquaTru’s. For example, it has a UV-post filter that kills microbes among its four filter stages. It also looks better than the AquaTru in our opinion.
Like the AquaTru, the SimPure wastes only one gallon of water per four gallons of filtered water. It notifies you of filter replacements, and the changing process is easy. It costs about $120 to maintain annually, about the same as the AquaTru.
However, SimPure filters don’t last as long as the AquaTru’s; they last only 528 gallons or six months. Also, the system has only NSF 58 testing and no actual NSF certifications. And it has fewer tested contaminants than the AquaTru. Its NSF results are still nice, though, with high reduction rates for 16 contaminants, including:
99.45% chlorine
heavy metals like lead (>98.46%), chromium-6 (>99.28%), arsenic (99.65%)
96.26% nitrate
>98.75% PFOA
>98.30% PFOS
98.64% TDS
99.47% turbidity
99% total coliforms
Other excellent features of the SimPure include a cup size selection function (6 oz, 12 oz, 15 oz, or constant flow) and a 1-year warranty.
The second system, Waterdrop G3, is our favorite tankless under sink RO system. Being tankless, it takes up less space compared to the standard under sink RO unit. The system is certified against NSF 58 (removing TDS) and tested against NSF 42, 53, 58, and 401 for reducing up to 99% VOCs, 99% chlorine, 98% nitrate, 99% arsenic, 99% fluoride, 99% lead, 99% chromium 6, 99% PFOA/PFOS, and more.
What’s more, the Waterdrop G3 filters water really quickly, with a flow rate of 0.42 gpm. That means you can get a full cup of filtered water in seconds! It also uses high pressure to minimize wastewater to 0.33 gallons per gallon of pure water. That’s fair enough, but not as good as with the AquaTru or SimPure.
You must properly install the Waterdrop G3, but the process is simple enough for an under sink system. Filter changes are also easy and fast; you can finish up within 10 seconds. The system has a filter life indicator on the base unit and the smart faucet, so you get reminders for replacements. Even better, there’s a TDS monitoring panel on both system and the smart tap.
The Waterdrop G3 costs around $145 yearly to maintain, which is a bit higher than with the AquaTru and SimPure but still okay. Filters last a whooping 550-2,220 gallons!
Other excellent features include a BPA-free design, a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. Cons: The Waterdrop G3 is more expensive to buy and thus won’t work for tight budgets.
In summary, all three RO systems are very effective and efficient. AquaTru is best if you want the most effective countertop RO filter. SimPure comes in second and works if you’re on a budget. The Waterdrop G3 is best if you want an under sink and tankless RO water filter.
This completes our review of the AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
Alex is a content writer with an affinity for research and a methodical attention to detail. Since 2020, she has fully immersed herself into the home water treatment industry only to become an expert herself. Alex has been using water filters and similar products for years which has gained her lots of hands-on experience.
Learn more about Alex and the rest of the BOS Team.
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.
Leave a Comment:
Marie Malo says
May 29, 2021
Thanks for AquaTru evaluation – Unfortunately, my first unit failed after 5 months of use, and replacement unit does not work at all. I am anticipating continued frustration in dealing with this company – they insult my intelligence as they “guide” me through an extensive list of prompts to “fix” the problem. Are we talking about the same product here? m
Another issue to consider is the filters are often out of stock. The last time I replaced my 1/2 filter it took a months and a half to get a replacement.
