If you say, “All water tastes the same.” You can stop reading this and go on about your day. There’s nothing I can do or say to help you. All jokes aside, I’m pretty picky regarding the taste of water. I’m originally from Detroit, and I believe Detroit has some of the best-tasting tap water in the country. When I moved to Atlanta, I could definitely tell the difference. Atlanta’s water is OK, but nowhere near as good as Detroit’s water.
All tap water has stuff in it that should be filtered out. Depending on the location, the pipes and plumbing have manganese, copper, and lead, which can corrode over time and leach different metals into your drinking water. Acidic water (i.e., water with a pH below 7) causes pipes to corrode quickly, giving the water a sour, tangy, or metallic taste.
Bottled Water
I had become more reliant on bottled water; even different bottled water brands have different tastes. I’m about to list some brands; some of you will agree, while others will disagree, and that’s fine. It just proves my point that water definitely has a taste, and because of these different tastes, different brands will appeal to some while completely turning others off. It’s usually the purity and mineral count that affect the taste:
My favorite brands of water:
Ice Mountain, Acqua Panna, Icelandic, Fiji, Voss, Smart Water, Essentia, Sprouts, Aquafina, and the controversial Dasani (yes, I actually like it). Kroger and Publix aren’t bad either.
My least favorite brands of water (disgusting taste):
Evian (the worst; I’d rather be thirsty), Target, Deer Park, Arrowhead, Zephyrhills, or
Also, note that I HATE sparkling water.
Basic Water Filters Don’t Cut It
My refrigerator has a water filter in it. I’ve also bought filters from companies like Brita, and they help, but they don’t make a big enough difference.
This Bluevua Reverse Osmosis Filtration System Made the Difference
I know that reverse osmosis is the best form of water filtration that you can get for your home. I always wanted to get a reverse osmosis system for the whole house that connects to the water main coming into the house. While this is still my ultimate goal, I stumbled upon this countertop Bluevua RO100ROPOT unit that does NOT have to be hooked into the plumbing. Just put it on your counter and plug it into power. You fill the removable holding tank from the faucet, put it back in place, and press one button. The water then goes through the four filter system, and the clean water pours down into the carafe.
Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. This membrane allows water molecules to pass through while blocking larger molecules, such as dissolved salts, bacteria, and chemicals.
Here’s how it works:
- Pre-filtration: Water first passes through a pre-filter to remove large particles like dirt and sediment.
- Reverse Osmosis Membrane: The pre-filtered water is then forced through the reverse osmosis membrane under pressure. This membrane is very fine and only allows water molecules to pass through, effectively trapping contaminants on the other side.
- Post-filtration: After passing through the membrane, the water goes through a post-filter to polish the drinking water before it enters a dedicated faucet.
- Storage: The purified water is stored in a holding tank until needed.
Reverse osmosis systems are effective at removing a variety of contaminants, including salts, bacteria, viruses, cysts, and chemicals. This results in water that is not only safe to drink but often tastes better due to the removal of impurities that can cause taste and odor issues.
The Bluevua RO100ROPOT consistently produces the cleanest and best-tasting tap water that I’ve ever had. It also comes with an optional remineralization filter to put the minerals back in your drinking water if you want/need.
Cost Justification
I got the Bluevua RO100ROPOT on sale for $330.65. I was buying cases of different brands of bottled water at an average of $7/case. We would go through 1.5-2 cases a week. That’s $546-$728 a year. This means that the Bluevua pays for itself in the first year of use. The filters last 12+ months and cost $150 to replace all four. Keep in mind that the math is actually a little better because the 3rd stage filter (which is the most expensive one at $59.99) can last up to 24 months. Technically, it would be $89.97 annually for (stage 1, stage 2, and stage 4) and $59.99 every two years for the stage 3 filter. So, even if I did replace all four annually, it would still be a fraction of what I was spending on bottled water.
The Bottom Line
I’ve had the Bluevua RO100ROPOT since September, and if I had to do it all over again, I would absolutely buy it again if I didn’t go all in and get one for the whole house. I recommend getting a second glass carafe so that one can always be ready to go and one can always be chilling in the refrigerator. Since it just requires power and no plumbing, you can place it just about anywhere. I have no regrets, and it is highly recommended. All water should taste this good and clean.