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For as long as I can remember, there’s been a large plastic pitcher taking up valuable real estate in my already overcrowded refrigerator. As a family of three we made it work, but once our crew expanded by two and our shelves filled up with bottles and breast milk, it had to go. The need for refrigerator space and a more convenient source of filtered water led me to look for other solutions. Bottled water was out due to the environmental cost. My sister had purchased an under-sink water filter solution and loved it, so I decided to give it a try. Honestly, I can’t believe I didn’t install one sooner. The convenience factor is off the charts. From great-tasting water at my fingertips to a simple solution for cleaning produce and adding filtered water to recipes, this home purchase is a keeper.
To Filter or Not to Filter
After living in New York City for many years, being treated to fairly clean and great-tasting water, I was surprised about how different the water tasted in the suburbs. Though our water in the U.S. is largely safe, it still may contain contaminants due to the pipes it travels through and chemicals from the disinfection process (a necessary evil). According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), my local water has 31 contaminants, so adding a filtration system was a no-brainer for my family. Filtering not only helps the water taste better, it makes it cleaner and healthier.
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The System We Chose
For our filtration, we selected the iSpring Under Sink 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis system. According to the EWG, a reverse osmosis system, along with a carbon filter, is the most effective solution for removing contaminants. We chose the iSpring system for its multiple levels of filtration and the company’s rigorous testing, as well as the sleek-looking brass with brushed nickel faucet. The five stages of filtration include three sediment and carbon filters to remove large contaminants and to protect the reverse osmosis membrane from chemicals like chlorine and chloramines. According to iSpring, the main filtration reverse osmosis filter removes contaminants down to 0.0001 microns, so small that only water molecules can fit through. The last stage gives the water a final polish before being delivered to the faucet. For $175, we felt we were getting a lot for our money.
Considerations
It does take up space under the sink, but there’s still plenty of room for sponges and a couple of cleaning supplies, too. Installation is a little complicated, but luckily for us, there’s a YouTube video for everything, including setting up the iSpring system. The company also has live phone support to help. We installed ours at the same time that we changed our countertops, so it was easy to have our contractor drill a hole for the slim faucet, since we have an undermount sink. For drop-in sinks, many will feature multiple holes for easy access. After we convinced my parents to buy one as well, my dad easily drilled a hole for theirs, however, a professional could help with this part, too.
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Upkeep
We’ve changed the filter once so far, after about nine months of use, and it was a fairly simple process. Surely easier than remembering to replace the one in my pitcher (do the lights on those things actually work for anyone?). Transparent housing lets users easily see when the filter needs to be changed, with visible brown sediment build up. At some point, I may consider iSpring’s whole house filter, but for now, I’m thrilled with my under-sink version.