MultipureAquaversa Model MP750 Drinking Water System With Below Sink Kit and Chrome Faucet

When researching under-counter water filters, I read that Multipure had a cult following. Not a small following. Rather, a following of incredibly devoted (and occasionally rabid) customers. (I raised my eyebrow in skepticism.)The Aquaversa specifications indicated that the this model is adequate for the water where I live. Although users observed that the flow of filtered water is a bit slow and that the water meter is not standard with the Aquaversa, the rave reviews from cult members . . . I mean customers in areas with comparable city water were much stronger for this product than for similar filters. I decided to take the plunge.After hearing a few tales of improperly installed filters causing flooding, I sprang for a plumber to put the product in place. He suggested getting a faucet with a pull-down sprayer. This way the fountain could be be installed in the existing hole that had previously been used for the old-style sprayer. It also meant that he did not have to drill a hole through the sink and risk damaging it. The plan has the added bonus of looking better, too.The Aquaversa (along with the nifty, new faucet) was installed quickly and without a hitch. The filter takes up little room under the sink and removes easily from the bracket so that the filter can be replaced.We had been using a Drop filter, and it did a decent job of getting the chemical taste out of the city water. I plan on using it when I travel. There is no comparison between to the old and new water filters. The Drop water was a huge improvement over tap water, but it tastes like something from the Bog of Eternal Stench in comparison to the the water from the new filter. (Terms I would now use to describe the tap water cannot be used in polite company.)The Aquaversa is exponentially better. (As one would hope for the price.) The water is amazingly refreshing. I caught one child drinking directly from the fountain because it was so good. (Please bear in mind that this is a child who had previously refused to drink the water here because of the taste.) We use this water for everything we consume: drinking water, coffee, boiling pasta, etc. Everything tastes more like what it is supposed to taste like with the Aquaversa water. (My eyebrow has returned to it properly stowed position.)This is what water tastes like in my dreams.I drank the Kool-Aid . . . I mean the water. Come to the MultiPure side, we have water that will make your toes curl. (OK, that is a little strong. But it is REALLY GOOD WATER!)Hopefully newer models will have better water flow, and include a water meter as standard equipment. Even with those qualifications, I still have to give the Aquaversa 5 stars.

Pros: Best mechanical/chemical filtering I found for anywhere near the price - according to Consumer Reports and the NSF/ANSI websites, as well as those of many competitors'. Filter replacement cost / change interval is economical.Cons: A little pricy first cost. Does not quite deliver rated flow rate. Does not filter Chrome-6. Higher priced Aquaperform, MP-880 version needed if you require better Arsenic filtration.Delivers approximately .4 gpm at a measured supply pressure of 53 psig. Advertised to deliver .75 gpm @ 60 psig.The clam shell canister has to be taken apart to change the filter - an annual event for most users. Placing a large pan under it prevents spilling water. Instructions come with a list of fittings and seals they recommend you change "every couple of years". We two adults get over 12 months use out of each filter.Hexavalent Chrome (Chrome-6) is a problem in some areas near us. However, I've only found one system that filters it out that's neither RO nor distillation; a pour-through pitcher type (ZeroWater) which I also use in series with my Multipure.I opted for an under the counter carbon block system for convenience and effectiveness, and the fact I'd just learned my Brita pitcher system only made the water taste better and didn't even filter out lead. I decided to avoid Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems because they waste three to four times as much water back-flushing the membrane as they produce. They also filter out minerals that are good for you leaving the water tasting flat. I avoided distillation systems as they use too much energy and also leave the water tasting flat (devoid of TDS).I was initially alarmed the TDS (total dissolved solids) was actually higher after the Multipure filter and learned from Customer Support that the activated coconut charcoal used in the block carbon filter imparts some naturally occurring electrolytes to the water, principally calcium bicarbonate. TDS is primarily made up of calcium, magnesium and perhaps some potassium, all essential to good health, add to the taste of the water, and are not a measure of drinking water impurity. This phenomenon is true for all activated charcoal carbon filter systems.Would I recommend this filter to a friend? You bet!

I chose this model mostly because it was highly rated in consumer reports, including a much better flow-rate than the next-best model. It replaced the Everpure model that came with the house when the latter was obsoleted, making cartridges harder to get. I balked a little at the price, but in retrospect it is worth it.The design is much easier to use than the Everpure, which required a filter wrench to swap out the cartridges. (The stainless steel body also looks much cleaner, but being under the sink, that's minor.) The flow rate is excellent, at least twice that of my old one. It may not matter much to most people, but I'm an impatient man.The best part is the taste. I've used all kinds of under-the counter and faucet filters, and this really does the best job of all the ones I've used. I can actually stand to drink the water straight now.I have gone through one annual filter replacement. The flow rate was still good, but I could definitely see discoloration (inlet side) on the old filter element (still a lot of galvanized plumbing in the house). Performance (flow rate, taste) of the new filter was pretty much the same as the old, so I probably could have run the filter longer. To be on the safe side, I chose to follow the recommended annual replacement cycle.

I used it to replace my old Amway water filter. The faucet hole is the same size so no new drilling is required. The difficult part is to replace the old water valve from the supply line otherwise the installation is very simple and easy. One thing is that no filter is available in Canada and have to be ordered from US. The transportation and import fees should be a concern. Mulitipure charges $36.00, if I am correct, for the shipping and handling on top of the $69.99 filter so the replacement cost is expensive.