Photo Cred: AquaTru

Let me start by saying that if Erin Brockovich trusts an AquaTru Water Purifier in her home, then you can bet I have one in my kitchen as well. In this detailed review of AquaTru, I’ll share my honest insights, alongside a special offer of $100 OFF! Plus, I’ll provide a comparison with Berkey Water Filters to give you a comprehensive understanding of what you might need.

Understanding the Importance of Water Filtration for Your Health

Did you know that 75% of Americans are drinking tap water laced with known carcinogens?

It wasn’t until my early 30s, when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, that I truly became aware of the potential dangers lurking in our drinking water. Like many people, I had relied on a Brita filter for better taste, naively hoping it would keep me safe. However, I overlooked a critical fact: even when using filtered or bottled water for drinking, I was still cooking with tap water. This is alarming because contaminants can concentrate during cooking and do not simply evaporate. I mistakenly assumed our water supply was rigorously regulated and safe from harmful chemicals, but it turns out I was gravely mistaken.

Shockingly, my local water supply contained cancer-causing contaminants at levels more than 243 times higher than the recommended health guidelines. I had no idea that a more effective water filter could have significantly reduced my exposure to these toxins.

Remember the Erin Brockovich case? Chromium 6 was found in the tap water of over 247 million Americans. Arsenic was detected in the water supply of 107 million people. Additional common contaminants include Chlorine, Chloramine, Trihalomethanes, intentionally added Fluoride, Lead from aging infrastructure, Jet Fuel, Drug Residues (like Antibiotics and Birth Control), and Forever Chemicals such as PFAS and PFOA.

Discovering the Contaminants in Your Drinking Water

If you’re curious about what’s in your own tap water, a great resource is the EWG’s Tap Water Database. Simply enter your zip code to access detailed information about your local water quality. You can also click on your state for more generalized data.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides Drinking Water Quality Reports, which summarize tests conducted by local water utilities. These reports are submitted to the EWG by the US Department of Environmental Protection, along with data from the Compliance History database (ECHO).

As a helpful tip, whenever you see “X’s” next to a contaminant on your report, that indicates how many times that particular contaminant exceeds the legal limit!

Here’s a snapshot of my water quality report from New Jersey…

Assessing Tap Water Quality and Understanding Contaminants

• The EPA has not updated its legal limits for tap water contaminants in nearly 20 years.
• It’s crucial to understand that legal limits do NOT equate to health safety, as what is legal may still be dangerous.
• Having a passing grade from the government does not guarantee that the tap water is free from harmful contaminants.
• To ensure clean tap water, it is vital to prevent pollution at the source before it reaches our drinking supply.

The image above depicts the current state of my city’s water quality. Initially, I was stunned to find that 12 contaminants exceeded the EWG Health Guidelines, with a total of 29 contaminants detected. Now, that number has risen to 15 contaminants over the guidelines and a total of 34 detected. It’s evident that the quality of our water is deteriorating rather than improving.

Moreover, it’s frustrating to note that no data has been released since 2021. The last quarter reported for my area was January to March 2021, yet here we are in April 2023! Why is this lack of transparency allowed to persist in the US? It’s baffling.

Selecting the Right Water Filter for Your Needs

When searching for a water filter, it’s crucial to understand that while many options are available, they generally utilize similar technologies, often employing one or a combination of the following methods:

• Carbon and Activated Carbon – These filters are budget-friendly, but their effectiveness varies significantly in reducing common contaminants like chlorine and enhancing taste and odor. They come in two forms: Granulated Activated Carbon (like Brita, which is the cheapest and least effective) and Carbon Block (such as Berkey, which is more expensive, more effective, but requires more frequent replacement).
• Reverse Osmosis – (like AquaTru) is typically a bit pricier and usually includes one or more activated carbon and sediment filters to eliminate a wide range of contaminants, including chlorine, trihalomethanes, VOCs, arsenic, fluoride, hexavalent chromium, nitrates, perchlorate, forever chemicals, glyphosate, and more. One drawback is that reverse osmosis systems tend to waste five times more water than they produce, and they strip water of minerals, which can be reintroduced using mineral drops or remineralization filters.
• Ion Exchange and Water Softeners – These systems reduce levels of calcium, magnesium, barium, and radium, replacing them with sodium, which can accumulate in plumbing and fixtures. However, they leave other contaminants unchanged and are not suitable for gardening or for those on low-sodium diets.
• Distillation – This method is less common and involves heating water to vaporize it, then condensing the steam back into liquid. While distillation effectively removes minerals, bacteria, viruses, and some chemicals with a higher boiling point than water, it cannot eliminate chlorine, trihalomethanes, or VOCs.

The Effectiveness of Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration

Utilizing a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter is one of the most effective ways to minimize exposure to harmful contaminants. This method is known for its ability to remove a vast array of pollutants as well as the most hazardous substances.

Here’s How Reverse Osmosis Works…

Photo Cred: AquaTru

Comprehensive Review of AquaTru Water Filter

In my search for the best water filtration system, I prioritized finding a product capable of effectively removing Fluoride, a known neurotoxin, and Chlorine, which can disrupt our gut health. Initially, I only considered Berkey, the only brand I found that claimed to meet these criteria. However, my discovery of AquaTru was game-changing, as it not only removes Fluoride and Chlorine but offers so much more!

Explore the Comprehensive List of 83 Contaminants Removed by AquaTru!

• AquaTru is the gold standard in water purification!
• Utilizes a 4-Stage Ultra Reverse Osmosis Filtration System
• Independently tested and certified to NSF / ANSI standards, ensuring the removal of 83 contaminants
• Most affordable home reverse osmosis water filtration system available
• No installation or plumbing required for countertop models
• Employs the same RO technology used by major bottled water brands, but at a fraction of the cost!
• One set of AquaTru filters equates to the elimination of 4,500 plastic water bottles.
• Certified to remove 15 times more contaminants than leading pitcher water filters.

Determining the Best AquaTru System for Your Home

All AquaTru Water Purifiers are capable of filtering out all 83 contaminants, no matter their size.

• AquaTru Countertop Classic (my top choice!) – This model features a tap water tank that holds 1 gallon and a filtered water tank that can store 3 quarts of purified water. It delivers a smooth and clean taste, just as water should. Having owned this unit for almost five years, I can confidently say it’s the best on the market. While there are minor inconveniences, like needing to fill it often, you adapt over time. I recommend emptying and refilling it as soon as the new tank is purified for continuous access to clean water. The design could be improved to be more square-shaped, and I wish it came with a matching white adapter instead of the visible black one. However, I appreciate that AquaTru uses BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic, known for its safety and lack of estrogenic and androgenic activity, validated by numerous studies. You can always transfer the purified water into glass containers after filtering.
• AquaTru Connect (not recommended) – This model connects to Wi-Fi through the AquaTru Smart App, which monitors water quality and filter usage, alongside water consumption and savings. While it sounds innovative, I personally prefer not to have Wi-Fi connectivity in my water system and find it unnecessary to use an app.
• AquaTru Under the Sink (not recommended / unpopular opinion) – Writing negative reviews is not my style, especially for a company that provides many life-enhancing products. However, it’s essential to share my honest experience for your health’s sake. Initially excited about this model due to our high water consumption, we encountered several installation issues, requiring special orders for standard plumbing parts. While it worked well for the first month, we soon experienced severe gastrointestinal issues, leading us to research further. I found insights from Robert Slovak, a pioneer in RO water technology, discussing the dangers of undersink systems, which can harbor bacteria and are challenging to clean. This raised significant concerns for me, especially since he sells all AquaTru products except this model. Unfortunately, despite the TruPure RO Sanitizer, we decided to uninstall it and revert to the AquaTru Countertop Classic.
• AquaTru Carafe (not yet tried) – The smallest model features a Borosilicate Glass Pitcher that holds 1/2 gallon of purified water, making it ideal for travel, dorms, apartments, or for elderly users. The pitcher is fridge-friendly, but note that filters are not interchangeable with other countertop models. While I haven’t tried this model, I admire its design and compact size.

Photo Cred: AquaTru

Understanding AquaTru Filters and Their Longevity

When you purchase an AquaTru system, it comes with the initial set of filters included. These filters boast impressive longevity, ranging from 6 months to 2 years based on the specific filter type. Changing them is a breeze, thanks to the indicator light on the front of the unit, which clearly indicates which filter needs replacement and when. The instructions for changing filters are conveniently displayed on the inside panel for easy reference. After replacing a filter, simply run four clean tanks of water through to reset the system.

If you’re planning a vacation, you can easily turn off the unit, clean the tanks, and purge the system by running four tanks of water through. However, if filters remain unused for more than three months, they will need to be replaced.

To save money, consider purchasing filters in bundles or opting for the 2-year combo packs to ensure you have them on hand when you need them!

• Filters 1-2 (Pre-Filter/Carbon
  
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