Best For
- RO countertop system that does not require a dedicated water line.
- The option to select cold or hot water.
- The system purifies water on demand, reducing wait time for purified water.
Considerations
- The system is tall and long, which can take up considerable counter space.
- Without a dedicated water line, the water tank needs to be refilled.
- Purification performance is worse than other countertop RO systems.
Our Verdict
The WaterDrop A1 RO system is an excellent countertop RO system. Its extremely user-friendly display and wide-ranging features scored exceptionally well. It was quick and easy to set up, with the system guiding me through the filter priming process.
Unfortunately, the health risk analysis scores were less than exceptional, especially compared to other RO systems we’ve tested. While it did an excellent job in reducing and / or removing harmful contaminants, it did add dichloromethane, which can have harmful effects over a prolonged period of time. Nonetheless, it is still an excellent countertop RO system for usability.
Type: Countertop RO System
Capacity: 1.06 GAL Feed Tank
Filter Life: CF Filter: 6 Months RO Filter: 12 Months
In This Review
Purification Performance | Filters | Filtration Speed | Build Quality | Usability | Maintenance | Size | Specs | Product Evolution | Comparison | FAQs
Performance Summary
At Modern Castle we put water filters to the test.
We test 6 different factors that impact the performance, build quality, and usability of the water filter. Below is a complete list of our testing categories and their performance.
| Test Type | Test Data |
|---|---|
| Health Risk Analysis | 83% |
| Aesthetic Risk Analysis | 99% |
| Filter Quality | Exceptional |
| Filtration Speed | 1.11 cups/min |
| Build Quality | Exceptional |
| Filtration Cost | $0.26/gal |
Purification Performance
To test water filters, we use a 3rd party laboratory (Simple Lab / Tap Score) to test filtered water. The lab provides a kit to collect water samples for testing. They conduct their analysis and provide detailed reports on the water’s impact on health, aesthetic, and plumbing.
Our review and assessments are based on the laboratory’s findings. For comparison, we also test unfiltered water from our kitchen sink.
The WaterDrop A1 countertop RO system had very good overall purification performance. It was able to remove a significant amount of harmful contaminants when compared to our unfiltered water source. Contaminants like bromodichloromethane, chloroform, and dibromochloromethane all were significantly reduced after passing through the WaterDrop A1. Unfortunately, levels of concern for dichloromethane were added to the water.
Health Risk
83%
Aesthetic Risk
99%
Plumbing Risk
67%
The comparison of unfiltered water vs. WaterDrop A1’s results helps us further see purification performance.
| Contaminants | Unfiltered water | WaterDrop A1 water | WaterDrop A1 Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total THMs | 40.04 ppb | 0.0 ppb | 100% |
| Arsenic | 0.000603 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Barium | 0.0865 ppm | 0.00469 ppm | 94.6% |
| Boron | 0.0865 ppm | 0.103 ppm | added |
| Bromodichlormomethane | 13.12 ppb | 0.0 ppb | 100% |
| Chloroform | 15.94 ppb | 0.0 ppb | 100% |
| Cobalt | 0.000004 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Copper | 0.581 ppm | 0.00163 ppm | 99.7% |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.47 ppb | 0.0 ppb | 100% |
| Fluoride | 0.396 ppm | 0.004 ppm | 99.0% |
| Lead | 0.0 ppm | 0.0 ppm | n/a |
| Manganese | 0.00007 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Molybdenum | 0.00405 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Nickel | 0.00105 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Nitrate | 0.311 ppm | 0.006 ppm | 98.1% |
| Selenium | 0.000406 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Silver | 0.000007 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Strontium | 0.847 ppm | 0.0063 ppm | 99.3% |
| Uranium | 0.00314 ppm | 0.0 ppm | 100% |
| Zinc | 0.0147 ppm | 0.00044 ppm | 97.0% |
Update 10/20/2023 – Waterdrop was surprised by the lab’s findings that dichloromethane was added to the water. In response, they sent a randomly selected new A1 RO unit for testing at SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services laboratory in Shanghai, China. That laboratory found that water filtered by that unit did not contain dichloromethane. You can see the full lab report here and a statement from Waterdrop regarding these findings here.
Health Risk Analysis
The WaterDrop A1 RO system was able to remove a significant amount of contaminants from the unfiltered water, with some being completely removed all together. On average, RO systems have exceptional purification performance in reducing harmful contaminants.
- Kidney health
- Liver health
- Developmental outcomes
- Immune systems
- Gastrointestinal systems
- Reproductive systems
- Blood systems
- Nervous systems
- Cardiovascular health
- Skeletal health
When reviewing the report, the biggest concern SimpleLab found was the addition of dichloromethane into the water. The levels of dichloromethane did exceed the SimpleLab health guideline for prolonged lifetime exposure.
All other contaminants and heavy metals were reduced to safe levels. Materials like copper, lithium, and boron were significantly reduced. See the graph of the listed materials below.
You can view the complete laboratory report and analysis of the unfiltered water and the WaterDrop A1 here.
Aesthetic Risk Analysis
Aesthetic is all about how the water tastes and feels. These factors won’t impact your health, but can be important based on personal preference.
Simplelab awards scores in the 1-99 range.The WaterDrop A1 received a perfect score on the aesthetic risk analysis. It reduced / removed all negative materials that would give your drinking water a bad taste. In my personal opinion, the WaterDrop A1 had a noticeably better taste than my refrigerator water in our lab.
Compared to our testing averages on RO systems, the WaterDrop A1 is at the top with other RO systems scoring a 99. With the average score across all water filters we’ve tested being 60.5, the WaterDrop scored 38.5 points better than the average.
Plumbing Risk Analysis
Plumbing performance is a non-factor in most cases. Because the water coming from the WaterDrop A1 is not running through the pipes in your home, it will have little to no impact on your plumbing.
The SimpleLab report highlighted two main concerns that could have effects on your plumbing. The alkalinity levels were measured low, and the CSMR was high. These two factors can be associated with corrosivity and scaling.
Compared to all the water purification devices we have tested, the alkalinity score for the WaterDrop A1 is the lowest to date, with 10.38 ppm. The average score is 74.77 ppm, putting the WaterDrop A1 64.39 ppm below the average.
The WaterDrop had the highest CSMR score with 19.64 we have ever tested. For comparison, the next closest score was 0.68. That is 28.82 times more CSMR than the next purification system we tested.
Filters
The WaterDrop A1 has two main filters.
CF Filters – The CF Filter is a 3-stage filter system that uses a series of membranes and activated carbon to filter the water
RO Filter- The reverse osmosis membrane helps to remove large particles, sediment, and harmful inorganic materials such as lead, arsenic, or uranium.
Filtration Speed
The WaterDrop A1 RO system is a unique system that filters the water on demand. According to WaterDrop, this RO system can produce up to 100 gallons per day of filter RO water.
NAMEOFFILTER Speed
1.11 cups/min
Average Speed
0.94 cups/min
Build Quality Test
The build quality stands out from other countertop RO systems we have tested. With its sleek black paneling, large LED control panel, and semi-hidden rear water reservoir, it doesn’t look like a water purification system at first glance.
| Part | Build Quality |
|---|---|
| Overall | Exceptional |
| Pitcher | Exceptional |
| Lid | Exceptional |
| Tubing | Exceptional |
| Filter Container | Exceptional |
| Filter | Exceptional |
| Faucet | Exceptional |
| Water Tank | Exceptional |
Usability
The WaterDrop A1 comes with the most features we have seen / tested on a countertop system to date. Its touchscreen LED panel gives the user a wide range of features and options that fit your preference.
Setup
The WaterDrop A1 was easy and required less than 10 minutes to prime the filters. The entire system comes preassembled. The only major step needed to get the A1 fully operational is to insert the CF and RO filters. Once plugged in, the WaterDrop A1 will run through a filter priming setup cycle that requires 3 – 4 tanks of water filtered through the system.
On-Going
The WaterDrop A1 has a convenient and easy-to-use touchscreen located on the front. This display offers a wide range of information and options, including:
- Water output volume control
- Cold / Hot water (41 F- 203 F)
- Routine Flushing
- Away Mode
- Night Mode
- Filter Change Monitoring
- Child Lock
In The Box
- WaterDrop A1 System
- CF Filter
- RO Filter
- User Manual
- Drip Tray
- Tank Brush
Maintenance
The WaterDrop A1 has an estimated yearly maintenance cost of $130. The following are the major maintenance tasks for the WaterDrop A1. Filtered water from the A1 has an average cost per gallon of $0.26 (average is $0.20).
| Task | Description | Est. Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| RO Filter | Replace Every 12 Months | $60 |
| CF Filter | Replace Every 6 Months | $35 |
| Water Reservoir | Wash as needed | $0 |
Size & Dimensions
| Attribute | Measurement (metric) |
|---|---|
| Clean Water Tank Capacity | 0.2 gal. (0.8 L) |
| Water Reservoir Capacity | 1.1 gal. (4.0 L) |
| Height | 17″ (43 cm) |
| Length | 18″ (46 cm) |
| Width | 8″ (20 cm) |
| Weight | 0 lbs. (0 kg) |
Specifications
The following table details the product specifications according to the manufacturer.
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Type | RO |
| Manufacturer | WaterDrop |
| Model | WD-A1 |
| Height | 17.1″ (43 cm) |
| Length | 18.3″ (46 cm) |
| Width | 7.8″ (20 cm) |
| Weight | 0.0 lbs. (0 kg) |
| Clean Water Tank Capacity | 0.2 gal (0.8 L) |
| Water Reservoir Capacity | 1.1 gal (4.0 L) |
| Filters | Reverse Osmosis |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | Check Price |
Product Evolution
The WaterDrop A1 is the latest countertop RO system from WaterDrop. There are two previous models, The K19 countertop RO System, and the N1 RO System.
Both the N1 and K19 are similar to the A1.
Both are countertop RO systems with touch screens with variable water output options. The K19 comes in two models: one for cold water and the other for instant hot. The N1 is, in my opinion, the closest to the A1. It’s an all-in-one countertop RO system that is slightly smaller than the A1 with fewer user features available on the display.
How does WaterDrop A1 compare?
Below is a complete list of our water filter tests and critical product data compared side by side to the average based on all of our water filter tests to date.
| Test Type | Test Data | Avg. Data |
|---|---|---|
| Health Risk Analysis | 73% | 84% |
| Aesthetic Risk Analysis | 35% | 58% |
| Filter Quality | Excellent | |
| Filtration Speed | 0.70 cups/min | 0.92 cups/min |
| Build Quality | Exceptional | Exceptional |
| Filtration Cost | $0.26/gal | $0.20/gal |
| Clean Water Tank Capacity | 1.5 gal (5.7 L) | 0.8 gal (2.9 L) |
| Water Reservoir Capacity | 1.0 gal (3.8 L) | 0.8 gal (2.9 L) |
| Type | RO | Pitcher |
The WaterDrop A1 RO does have good scores overall for purification performance. However, the containment mentioned previously does bring down the score, removing the A1 from a top competitive spot. Its user experience and build quality are exceptional compared to any other countertop system we have tested. However, for better purification performance, there are better options for a countertop RO system.
Other Water Pitchers to Consider
For Purification Performance
AquaTru Classic RO
Countertop RO system with detachable clean water tank.
The Classic RO would be an excellent alternative to the WaterDrop. It scored a perfect 99 on health risk analysis, demonstrating its superior purification performance.
For Under-The-Counter Performance
Aquasana
Under-the-counter RO system
The Aquasana RO system is ideal for under-the-counter systems where installing another faucet is not an issue. The filters and tubs are all hidden underneath your counter. Out of sight, out of mind.
FAQs
Yes! The WaterDrop Filtered Pitcher is one our highest-rated water filter we have tested to do.
Yes! The WaterDrop A1 RO removed a significant amount of Fluoride from the unfiltered water. It reduced 0.396 ppm down to 0.004 ppm. That’s 98% removed.
WaterDrop is a Canadian company. However, it is possible that WaterDrop could source parts of their systems and filters from international sources.
While there are many factors that go into determining whether a product is “as good as” another, we determine this in part through third-party water tester, SimpleLab. Based on the health risk analysis, yes, the WaterDrop A1 performed better than the Berkey Travel we tested.