Waterdrop Filters Review: WD-G2 and WD-G3 Reverse Osmosis Water Systems
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated:
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Contents
- Waterdrop WD-G2 & WD-G3 Reverse Osmosis Systems – Key Features
- Alexa’s Video Review
- Waterdrop Pros
- Installation
- Parts
- Filter/Membrane Replacements
- Manual
- Waterdrop Cons
- Waterdrop Filters Review: Our Verdict + Best for
Waterdrop sells 2 reverse osmosis systems that are highly popular at the time of writing this review. One is the WD-G3-W and the other the WD-G2 (the latter is available in 2 different colors). Both are tankless under sink systems meaning they filter water on-demand instead of storing it in a bulky tank. This saves quite a lot of space, and, although not that important, it looks better, too.
On top of that, in order to provide water safe for drinking the Waterdrop WD-G3-W and the WD-G2 remove more than 1,000 harmful contaminants, says the company. Sounds far-fetched? Let’s find out!
 Waterdrop WD-G3-W | |
| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 3 |
| Filtered Water: | 0.28 Gallons Per Minute |
| NSF Certifications: | 58 |
| Annual Cost: | ~$115 |
Our Rating
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Waterdrop WD-G2 & WD-G3 Reverse Osmosis Systems – Key Features
We’ll start with the WD-G3-W. It uses the following filter layers/stages:
- Composite filter (CF), 3 layers – First a composite filter uses 2 polypropylene cotton and one coconut shell activated carbon block filter layer to remove chlorine, bad taste and odor, sand, rust, and other larger solids.
- Reverse osmosis filter membrane – With a pore size of 0.0001-micron, the DOW reverse osmosis membrane rejects just about everything a typical RO membrane rejects: Lead, chromium, arsenic, bacteria, viruses, and much more.
- Carbon block filter (CB) – Lastly, an activated carbon post-filter gives the water a finishing touch improving aesthetics.
As far as the WD-G2 is concerned, it only uses 2 filter elements instead of 3. And one element is smaller compared to the WD-G3-W which is why the system is even slightly more compact:
- Composite filter (CF), 2 layers – This composite filter combines 1 polypropylene cotton layer with a coconut shell activated carbon block filter.
- Membrane composite filter (MRO), 3 layers – The MRO has an outer polypropylene sediment filter layer, an inner 0.0001-micron DOW reverse osmosis membrane layer, and finally an activated carbon block core.
We can expect the same water contaminants to be reduced as with the WD-G3-W, but at lower rates.
What about the claim that Waterdrop reverse osmosis systems remove more than 1,000 harmful contaminants? Well, that one’s easy; at least for the WD-G3-W unit which is NSF Standard 58 certified – for 91.9% TDS, 96.9% chromium 6, and up to 99+% VOCs rejection. This may not be the most comprehensive testing but we have little doubt that both systems effectively remove a wide range of chemicals, heavy metals, salts, etc. Still, we always prefer thorough testing against NSF standards.
Min/max required feed water pressure: 14.5-87 psi.
Alexa’s Video Review
Waterdrop Pros
More pros:
- Foregoing a bulky tank allows for more free room under your kitchen sink.
- Waterdrop reverse osmosis systems were designed with a DIY install in mind. #moneysaver
- An internal pump increases water pressure. 0.28 gallons per minute water flow rate means you never run out of purified water. If you do the math, you get 1 cup of RO water in little more than 10 seconds. No long waiting times!
- The pressure pump also reduces the amount of wastewater that goes down the drain. While a standard RO model wastes 3-5 gallons per 1 gallon of filtered water, Waterdrop systems only waste 1 gallon.
- The plastic is BPA-free to avoid contamination and the dispenser is metal for durability.
- Speaking of, the WD-G3-W features a “Smart faucet”. When the built-in LED light is white, your filters should be working just fine. The light turns yellow as soon as the remaining filter capacity is less than 40 gallons or 15 days. If you see red light you need to change one or more of the filters immediately. Similar lights are found on the WD-G3-W system itself as well as on the WD-G2. And they beep while you’re dispensing water. So you don’t have to worry about when to replace each filter element.
- What’s more, the WD-G3-W has a TDS monitoring panel which tells you at a glance how effective the filter elements, and the reverse osmosis membrane in particular, still are.
- Replacing filters is incredibly easy. There’s no need to shut off the feed water or to disconnect anything. Each cartridge can be removed and installed with a single turn – completely tools-free!
- Other functionalities include auto-flushing when no water has been dispensed for 24 hours to prevent fouling, and a leak protector which turns off the system after it’s been continuously producing water for more than 33 minutes.
- Waterdrop offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee that allows you to return your product within the first 30 days after purchase for a full refund. Plus, there’s a 1-year manufacturer warranty but only when the systems are used on municipal water!
The Waterdrop WD-G3-W – learn more on waterdropfilter.com
Installation
Waterdrop says their under sink reverse osmosis systems can be installed within 30 minutes. We think 1-2 hours is probably more realistic – still fast!
You shouldn’t have any problems completing the project if you’re handy around the house and have the necessary tools. Just follow the provided instructions. You’ll need a drill for the hole to accommodate the extra faucet (unless there already is a second hole in your sink or countertop) and you also have to drill into your drain pipe for the drain line connection.
Another critical step is turning off the cold water supply so that you can install the feed water adapter.
Once everything is up and running, you need to flush the system for 30 minutes. The WD-G3-W’s smart faucet will stop blinking afterwards. The front panel screen will also start displaying the TDS reading. As for the WD-G2, the indicator lights on the front panel will change from flashing to permanent blue once the process is completed.
Video
Not sure if you can do this? Check out this helpful installation video:
Parts
- System housing
- Composite filter (CF), 3 layers (WD-G3-W only)
- Reverse osmosis filter membrane (WD-G3-W only)
- Carbon block filter (CB) (WD-G3-W only)
- Composite filter (CF), 2 layers (WD-G2 only)
- Membrane composite filter (MRO), 3 layers (WD-G2 only)
- RO faucet
- Drain saddle
- Feed water adapter
- Tubing
- Lock clips
- Teflon tape
- Power adapter
Filter/Membrane Replacements
Like we said, replacing any of the filter elements on a Waterdrop RO system is child’s play. It literally takes less than 10 seconds. Simply remove the old cartridge by turning it counter-clockwise. Then install the new filter by turning clockwise. That’s all!
Oh, and remember to reset the filter life indicator. You can simply follow the instructions in your manual. It’ll also tell you about flushing requirements.
What are the annual cost? We estimate about $115 for the WD-G3-W and roughly $65 for the other. By the way, the manufacturer recommends biannual/annual replacement:
Waterdrop WD-G3-W filters:
- Composite filter provides you with up to 6 months or 550 gallons of filtered water
- Reverse osmosis filter membrane lasts 2 years or 2,200 gallons of filtered water
- Carbon block filter needs replacement after 12 months or 1,100 gallons
Waterdrop WD-G2 filters:
- Composite filter is good for up to 12 months or 1,100 gallons of clean water
- Membrane composite filter provides up to 2 years or 2,200 gallons of clean water
Manual
A manual for the larger Waterdrop reverse osmosis system is linked in this product description here.
A manual for the smaller Waterdrop reverse osmosis system is linked here.
Waterdrop Cons
Chloramine, cadmium, lead, mercury, barium, copper, radium 226/228, aluminum, cysts, arsenic, fluoride, asbestos, benzene, nitrate, nitrite, PFAS – Waterdrop lists all these contaminants and more saying they’ll be removed by their tankless RO systems, but to what percentage?
Furthermore, a few people reported that they have to drain about 1 gallon of water before their TDS panel reads about 10 to 30 ppm. Not using the system for more than 1 hour leads to a TDS above 100 – think TDS creep.
Waterdrop Filters Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Waterdrop WD-G3-W is among the highest priced reverse osmosis systems we know, and the WD-G2 isn’t exactly cheap either! And yet still, people love the sleek design, they love the simple install, they love the quick filter replacements, and they say the water taste is fantastic.
In our opinion, both are worth 4 stars. The only reason why we choose the Waterdrop WD-G3-W as our #1 tankless reverse osmosis system is because we have actual NSF certifications.
Both systems are best for people who want a compact tankless RO system that’s easy to use, effective, and fast.
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This completes our Waterdrop review. Questions? Ask away!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
