RO Water + Glass Container
AquaTru Carafe
The AquaTru Carafe is a filtration unit that provides safe drinking water. In laboratory testing, the filters of AquaTru proved to be excellent, removing the vast majority of the contaminants from our unfiltered water. What’s more, it is easy to set up, use, and maintain. It creates some wastewater, but also has cost-efficient filters.
Pros
- Nearly perfect filtration performance
- Easy to set up, use, and maintain
- Cheaper than average water solution
- Doesn’t have a 1:1 wastewater ratio, but is close at 2
- Glass container (no plastic!)
Cons
- Fairly small water reservoir
Scoring
Easy to Use Filtered Carafe
-
Design - 98%
98%
-
Performance - 99%
99%
-
Quality - 98%
98%
-
Usability - 97%
97%
-
Value - 95%
95%
Summary
If you are looking for safe drinking water, you can rest assured that the AquaTru Carafe can provide it. In laboratory testing it showed great results. Most of the harmful contaminants were reduced or removed completely. Additionally, the filters are cost efficient and the device is overall simple to use. If you are looking for a water filtration with a glass container the AquaTru is an excellent choice.e,
In This Review
Purification Test | Filters | Filtration Speed | Filter Cost | Waste Water | Usability | Size | Summary
Purification Test
To test how well the AquaTru Carafe purified water, we used SimpleLab who provides a water testing service called TapScore. They offer laboratory testing by providing you a kit, having you fill it with water, and sending it back to them for analysis. After which, they create detailed reports on the health, aesthetic, and plumbing impact of your water.
We have previously tested the Aquatru RO system which uses the same filters as the AquaTru Carafe. Our data is based on the lab testing done on those filters and our unfiltered kitchen sink water, which we took as a baseline for comparison.
Below is an overview of how AquaTru’s filtered water performed based on 3rd party laboratory analysis.
Health Risk
None
Plumbing Risk
Low
Taste & Aesthetics
None
The comparison of the unfiltered vs AquaTru filtered results helps us further see purification performance.
| Contaminants | Unfiltered water | AquaTru | AquaTru Removed | AquaTru Connect | AquaTru Connect Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total THMs | 8.5 ppb | 0.0 ppb | 100% | 0.0 ppb | 100% |
| Chloroform | 8.5 ppb | 0.0 ppb | 100% | 0.0 ppb | 100% |
| Molybdenum | 0.0088 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Uranium | 0.0064 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Arsenic | 0.0021 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Chromium | 0.0071 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Selenium | 0.0016 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Vanadium | 0.0049 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Manganese | 0.0 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0022 | added |
| Copper | 0.509 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Strontium | 0.709 ppm | 0.014 | 98.0% | 0.017 | added 21.4% |
| Nitrate | 0.2 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Barium | 0.124 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0036 | added |
| Boron | 0.119 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
Health Risk Analysis
The health risk report showed nearly perfect results for the AquaTru filters. On the opposite side, our unfiltered water showed many contaminants that could negatively affect a person’s health over a long period of exposure. These include:
- Kidney health
- Liver health
- Developmental outcomes
- Immune systems
- Gastrointestinal systems
- Reproductive systems
- Blood systems
- Nervous systems
- Cardiovascular health
- Skeletal health
Practically none of the materials that negatively affected health were found in the water after testing. If anything did remain it was not near the level that would be concerning for one’s health.
TapScore provides a 1-99 score for each category with 99 being the best possible score. The AquaTru filters received a 99 for health, which is as good as it gets.
These graphs show a comparison between the unfiltered water and water filtered by the AquaTru Filters. These graphs don’t include all the information provided by TapScore, but rather the information that most impacted health. You can view the complete laboratory report and analysis here.
You can view the complete laboratory report and analysis of the gosimplelab.com/m8RmKtrE5U, the AquaTru RO here, and the AquaTru Connect here.
Aesthetic Risk Analysis
The positive results don’t stop with health for the AquaTru filters. Again, the reports gave the aesthetic performance a 99, which is the best possible score. The aesthetic score is all about the taste and feel of the water.
Our unfiltered water had high levels of sodium, magnesium, and copper, all which impact taste and feel in various ways.
There were trace amounts of these materials in the AquaTru water after filtration, but nothing that warrants concern or would impact aesthetics massively.
These graphs show the comparison between unfiltered water and the AquaTru filters.
Plumbing Risk Analysis
Plumbing was where the AquaTru filters had the worst performance. That said, plumbing performance shows how much of a risk the water is to the piping in your home. With the AquaTru Carafe, none of the filtered water is flowing through your home’s pipes, therefore having no impact.
With that in mind, the filters still did a good job. If the filtered water was running through the pipes, the analysis suggests that the water would not negatively impact the pipes. Alkalinity is low and the water is soft, but not in any significant way as to impact plumbing.
In contrast, our unfiltered water showed normal levels of Alkalinity, but had a moderate chlorine to sulfate mass ratio and very hard water.
These graphs show a comparison of the AquaTru filters and the unfiltered water’s plumbing performance.
AquaTru vs. Waterdrop vs. Brita (& 7 Other Popular Brands)
We previously worked with SimpleLab to test many popular water filters for pitchers. Below is a table comparing the scores we received for those pitchers to the scores we received for AquaTru
| Contaminants | AquaTru Classic | Aquasana RO | Sorso RO water | Waterdrop | EpicWater | Amazon Basics | Brita | PUR | ZeroWater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total THMs | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 40.6% |
| Dibromochloromethane | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Bromodichloromethane | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Chloroform | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 40.6% |
| Bromoform | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Molybdenum | 100% | 100% | 100% | 47.3% | 60.8% | 44.6% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Uranium | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Nickel | 100% | added 0.003 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Chromium | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Selenium | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | Added 0.0021 ppm | 100% |
| Lead | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | Added 0.0007 ppm | 100% |
| Copper | 100% | 100% | 99.6% | 92.4% | 100% | 95.8% | 95.6% | 95.3% | 95.9% |
| Strontium | 98.0% | 100% | 100% | 72.5% | 16.6% | 76.3% | 72.5% | 91.7% | 100% |
| Nitrate | 100% | 100% | 100% | Added 0.2 ppm | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Barium | 100% | 100% | 94.8% | 99.5% | 82.4% | 88.7% | 99.7% | 92.4% | 100% |
| Boron | 100% | 100% | 100% | 3.25% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Zinc | 100% | added 0.03 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Fluoride | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0.0% | 66.7% | 33.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100% |
The Filters
AquaTru uses a 4-stage filtration system to clean incoming water. These filters are installed inside the back panel in three colored bottles.
The first yellow bottle includes the first 2 stages: a mechanical pre-filter and a carbon filter. The pre-filter removes larger particles, while the carbon filter focuses on removing chlorine and chloramines.
For the second bottle (the blue bottle) we have the reverse osmosis membrane, which filters out harmful inorganic materials such as lead, arsenic, or uranium.
The final green bottle includes the activated coconut block filter which removes organic compounds and helps improve the taste of the water.
Optionally, you can purchase an additional filter, which includes a pH+ Mineral Boost Alkaline VOC filter. This will add minerals to the water, increasing the pH of the water and changing the taste.
Filtration Speed
Filtration speed for the AquaTru Carafe is good, but not the fastest.
| Filter | Filtration Speed |
|---|---|
| AquaTru Carafe | 0.81 cups/minute |
| AquaTru RO | 1.18 cups/minute |
| Zero Water | 0.80 cups/minute |
| Brita | 1.05 cups/minute |
| PUR | 0.80 cups/minute |
It is slightly more efficient than some pitcher filters we’ve tested, but slower than others. Most notably, it is 0.37 cups/minute slower than the AquaTru countertop RO system.
This isn’t a huge issue, as it only takes the device 13 minutes to filter its 2.5 liter unfiltered water tank. As long as you don’t need a lot of water very quickly, the speed of the Carafe should be more than sufficient.
Filter Replacement Cost Analysis
To see how cost efficient the AquaTru Carafe is, we performed an analysis of the cost per gallon of purified water. In addition, we compared these results with other water solutions. The numbers in the graph are based on 600 gallons of water per year put through the filter per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
While AquaTru isn’t the absolute cheapest, it is still cheaper than most other water solutions we’ve analyzed.
Keep in mind that this is a strict comparison of the price of the filter or purified water option and the amount of drinkable water you get from it.
Waste Water Test
Reverse osmosis systems create wastewater as they are filtering. To test how much waste water the AquaTru Carafe produces, we filled the tap water tank (96 oz) and let it filter the water. After, we measured the remaining water in the unfiltered water tank, the amount of purified water, and calculated how much was lost in the process.
Purified Water
60 oz
Waste Water
30 oz
Consumed Water
6 oz
The AquaTru Carafe filters have a 1 : 2 ratio, meaning for every 1 oz of waste water it creates, it creates 2 oz of purified water. In other words, 62.5% of the original 96 oz was turned into purified water.
While all ROs create waste water, the ratio of waste water they produce can vary dramatically. Some of the worst can have a 10 : 1 ratio, while the best promise a 1 : 1. While the AquaTru isn’t quite 1 : 1 it is fairly close. In any case, we only drink / cook with a relatively small amount of water each day, so some waste water isn’t problematic, in our view.
Usability Tests
Overall usability is excellent for the Carafe. It is quite a simple device to set up, use, and maintain.
Setup
Initial setup takes a single person only a few minutes. Here is what comes with the AquaTru Carafe:
- Filtration unit
- Carafe
- Filters
- Filter removal tool
- Power cord
- Manuals
Once you remove all the packaging, you simply need to plug in the filters into the correct slot and plug in the power cord.
After that is completed, you will need to filter water through the device at least 4 times before the water is safe to drink.
Controls
There are virtually no physical controls on the AquaTru Carafe. There is a light indicating the filter life, and a button which can reset that light.
Otherwise, everything else is automatic. When you place a filled tap water tank and place the carafe in the slot, the system will immediately start filtering the water.
Once the carafe is full or all the water in the tap water tank has been filtered, the device will stop by itself.
Maintenance
Maintenance is quite simple for the AquaTru Carafe. You will need to wash the carafe itself periodically and replace the filters. The life of the filters varies for each type. Here’s the breakdown:
Stage 1 & 2 (yellow)
6 months or 600 gallons
Stage 3 (blue)
2 years or 1200 gallons
Stage 4 (green)
1 year or 600 gallons
In addition, AquaTru recommends cleaning out the tap water tank as well to prevent buildup.
Size & Dimensions
I wouldn’t consider the AquaTru Carafe small, but it does take up some counter space. You will need a dedicated spot for the Carafe and an outlet. Here are the exact dimensions:
- Width: 7.5”
- Depth: 14.0”
- Height: 13.0”
- Weight: 9.0 lbs.
- Tap Tank Capacity: 2.5 L (0.7 gal)
- Clean Tank Capacity: 1.9 L (0.5 gal)
The body of the filtration unit is mostly plastic, with the carafe itself being made of glass.
Should you buy the AquaTru Carafe?
I would recommend the AquaTru Carafe if you are looking for the following features:
- Glass Container: Many water filter systems on the market use plastic containers. AquaTru’s Carafe is rare in that it uses a glass container for the purified water.
- Safe & tasty drinking water: In both the health risk analysis and aesthetic analysis, TapScore awarded the AquaTru filters a 99, where 99 is the highest possible score. The vast majority of harmful contaminants found in our unfiltered water were removed or reduced to safe levels.
- Great usability: Thanks to a simplistic design, using the AquaTru is incredibly easy. Setup is plug-and-play, controls are automatic, and maintenance is infrequent. The carafe is designed to simply bring you good water.
- Cost-efficient filters: For those worried about recurring costs of the filters, rest assured, the AquaTru filters provide a large amount of safe drinking water for the price.
For more information or to buy the AquaTru Carafe, click here.