Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

IF YOU KNOW YOUR WATER CONTAINS A LOT OF MINERALS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STEER CLEAR OF THE ZEROWATER FILTERING SYSTEMS. Visit the ZeroWater web site (zerowater.com). There, you can find a map and determine if the water in your area has a high level of TDS. If it does, the ZeroWater system may not work well for you. If your location has water over 250 ppm from the tap, you will probably be disappointed with the ZeroWater systems. CONSIDER WHY YOU WANT TO FILTER YOUR WATER WHAT ZEROWATER DOES ZeroWater's web site states that their systems are designed to reduce principally one kind of substance in water-- dissolved inorganic salts, and chlorine. The ZeroWater system is very effective at reducing measured TDS (total dissolved solids/salts); that is why they provide a sensor device for that kind of substance. ZeroWater filters do also reduce hydrogen sulfide, chromium, lead, and mercury. Keep in mind that ZeroWater also reduces calcium, magnesium and other harmless or beneficial minerals from the water. If this is what you want and expect, then the ZeroWater system is a convenient alternative to reverse osmosis or other purification systems. By design, ZeroWater DOES LITTLE to filter organic substances (such as cysts, spores, MTBE, VOC, pharmaceuticals, etc.). It is not designed to do so. If your concern is to eliminate contaminants, ZeroWater will only remove inorganic ones. If you really want to know what different filtration systems do, visit the NSF web site (NSF tests certifies water filtration products) at nsf.org/certified/dwtu CHORINE TASTE ZeroWater, like almost all water purification systems available, will reduce chlorine smell and taste. It does a fine job at that. So do plenty of systems that are less expensive per gallon. "GOOD" TASTE It seems that ZeroWater does make the water taste noticeably acidic. The water "feels" (on the tongue) and "tastes" fresh and zesty, but that is because removing alkaline salts from water will lower the pH of water. To some extent, our senses may react favorably to acidity (low pH), hence making the water taste "better." By contrast, other filters leave more alkaline salts in the water, and thus taste a little brackish, and less "fresh". DISPENSER DESIGN The flaws of the dispenser have been noted by other reviewers, but I also concur... The spigot on the dispenser is difficult to use, since considerable force must be applied during dispensing. The plastic reservoir itself is flimsy (mine broke pretty easily). The lid flops off too easily. PRACTICAL USE OVER TIME As the filters are used, the acidity becomes more noticeable. If the water has a lot of alkalinity (high pH) to start with, the useful life of the filter is very short (my personal experience). After only six gallons and three days of use, the water became very sour, eventually resembling diluted vinegar. I never experienced the fishy smell people complained about, but the acidity was enough that I reflexively spit out the water from the seventh gallon. As the replacement filters are $15 each, the cost per gallon in my case seems to be over $2, if I need a new filter every six gallons. I think that many people with lower TDS levels at the tap would have better results, which accounts for the many positive reviews of this system. However, I recommend potential buyers consider their own water and what they want to change about it. If your water has high TDS, the filter replacements for the ZeroWater will become very costly. If you wish to eliminate organic compounds from the water, the ZeroWater systems will not accomplish that. If you want to make your water taste better, ZeroWater will get rid of the chlorine and make the water taste "fresh" for a while, as long as the filter is not burdened with high levels of things it is made to reduce. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH I am throwing mine away (I broke the reservoir, as stated above, so I don't feel right sending it back). Expensive lesson, but I learned the ZeroWater is not right for me.