Waterdrop WD-A1 Countertop Reverse Osmosis System, Hot Cold & Room Water Dispenser, NSF/ANSI 58 Standard, 2:1 Pure to Drain, No Installation

I noticed it’s quite heavy. I guess it weighs at least 30 pounds when dry. It is larger and heavier than any previous countertop reverse osmosis systems I owned. It has a matte plastic exterior and glossy OLED touchscreen. The drip tray is magnetic and I can remove it to fit tall pitchers, bottle or other containers.I got besides the main unit itself, a 1-gallon rear water tank, the drip tray, a carbon pre-sediment (CF) filter, a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filter, a white 16-inch long cleaning brush, and a manual and a quick start guide.After removing the top cover, I inserted the CF filter into its designated slot, followed by the RO filter, twisting the handle clockwise to lock both into place. The system then guided me through a 30-minute flushing process and I had to do three to four refills of the rear tank to purge air and activate the filters. During this time, I saw the OLED screen’s interface, which showed real-time prompts and confirmed completion once the system was ready for use.From what I read on its label, the CF filter combines a sediment pre-filter and a carbon filter. Then the water goes through the RO membrane. I tested the total dissolved solids (TDS) reduction using my handheld meter and found the RO system reduced my tap water’s TDS from 278 ppm to a consistent 6 to 7 ppm, almost identical to the system’s own real-time TDS display.It has hot and cold water dispensing. I can get ambient or cool water, chilled to 41°F - 50°F and heated water with a temperature up to 203°F, respectively. I don’t need a separate kettle for hot water, though I noticed that cooling new room-temperature water down to 41°F takes approximately 15 minutes. I can select the temperature through the touchscreen in increments - 41°F - 50°F, 113°F, 140°F, 185°F, and 203°F - with color-coded LED feedback (blue for cold water, white for ambient, light orange for 113°F, orange for 140°F, dark orange for 185°F and red for 203°F). For safety, I have to press the child lock button for 10 seconds to get access to boiling temperatures - 113°F or higher.I can select dispense volumes (4 oz to "Max," which halts when internal tanks empty), enable night mode to minimize noise, or activate Off-home Mode to drain stagnant water before I travel. Maintenance, as I discovered, is minimal: the CF filter requires replacement every six months, and the RO membrane annually according to the label and manual.But the unit’s approximate 18-inch depth and 17-inch height demand a lot of counter space, and I have to refill the tank manually compared to a plumbed system. On the other hand, I have much less maintenance work and I get cool, ambient and hot water from one single unit and I can have it anywhere I want in my home as long as there’s enough space. Plus, it separates the wastewater from the filtered water in the rear tank. The rear tank has two compartments labeled Tap and Waste outside including the max fill line. I can repurpose the waste water for plants or cleaning like for my wet mop, so it’s more environment friendly than a plumbed system as I don’t waste water at all.

Very heavy to set up and refill.

I have looked into reverse osmosis systems, but didn't want to deal with the expense and logistical issues that come with a whole-house or other installed system. I was excited to try this countertop version, and have been very pleased with it.It is a large unit, but fits well on an existing coffee bar that I have. The unit requires 20cm/8in of clearance on either side to allow for air circulation through the condenser unit, so I did have to adjust to make sure it was far enough from the wall. It comes with 2 filters, which are very easy to install. According to the manual the carbon filter can last 6 months and the reverse osmosis filter 12 months. That seems pretty reasonable; the replacement filters are not inexpensive but hopefully will not need replacement often. The back of the unit contains the water repository - there is a larger section that needs to be filled with tap water, and then a smaller section for concentrated "waste" water. This is easy to remove, empty/fill and replace.I really like the versatility of functions this unit provides. It can dispense various quantities of water (from 4-20 oz or "max" which means it will keep dispensing until empty) and can provide water that is cold, room temperature, or various warm-hot temperatures. At the hottest temperatures dispensing requires pressing a child lock button also to prevent accidental burns - this is a nice safety feature.I really like that there is a night mode so the condenser unit doesn't run during certain hours that you can designate. During the day, the unit turns on every so often (kind of like a refrigerator does) - it is audible but not loud. If you are planning not to use the unit for a few days (vacation, etc) there is an "away" mode that tells the unit to empty all the internal water and go into a standby mode until it is turned back on. I will have to remember to do this when leaving town.Overall I find this to be a very functional countertop RO system. It is very easy to use, sleek and versatile, and it is so nice to have clean water at any temperature I want anytime.

I have never used a Reverse Osmosis water system before, mainly due to the inconvenience of having to have some complicated, bulky system installed under the sink. I had never seen a countertop system before, and was intrigued. Don't get me wrong, this is still hefty and takes up a fair amount of space on the countertop. But I like having room under my sink and this is preferable to me than having an under sink system, especially since we move fairly often and this can be taken with us. The water quality is amazing - best water I've had in ages. It's pretty easy to use once you get it set up, and I love that you can get varying temperatures of water, from very cold, to almost boiling hot. I drink a lot of water and have long ago stopped using bottled water. The filtered water from my fridge was good, but this is a game changer. Even my husband who doesn't like water is drinking more of it now.

I love this water system and the way my water tastes drinking from it. The instructions were clear about how to install in the filters it comes with, but the unit itself was not marked on where each filter was suppose to go like it said in the instructions. I had to have someone help me. I love that this is a counter top unit, so no need to install it under the sink. I like the options this comes with and since there's no permanent installation, I can take this with me anywhere I go. I would get this again.