The Water Filter We Use (And Why We Chose It)

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Water is something we use without thinking about it. We drink it, cook with it, make our coffee and tea with it, give it to our kids. It’s as basic as it gets.

Which is exactly why what’s in it matters.

Most municipal tap water can contain residual chlorine and chloramines, heavy metals like lead and arsenic, nitrates, pharmaceutical residue, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and other contaminants that pass through standard treatment. These aren’t fear tactics — they’re documented by the EPA and independent water quality researchers. Many of these are commonly detected in municipal water supplies, depending on your location. We decided to do something about it.

For our family, the answer was finding a water filtration system that we could trust, afford, and actually live with long-term. This post is about what we chose, why we chose it, and what we’d tell someone who is just starting to look into water filtration.

This shift was part of a broader move toward a lower-toxin home — you can read more about how we approach that in our guide to the non-toxic cleaning products we actually use.

Why We Decided to Filter Our Water

We’ve been intentional about our water for a long time. For almost fifteen years we used a Kangen countertop machine — and we genuinely loved that water. The alkalinity, the taste, the quality. It was excellent.

But Kangen comes with a significant cost — the machines run several thousand dollars — and the maintenance is not simple. When it came time to reassess, we wanted something that could deliver comparable water quality at a fraction of the price and with less upkeep.

Taste was also a real factor. Once you’ve been drinking well-filtered water for years, tap water is noticeably different. We weren’t willing to go backward.

What Actually Matters in a Water Filter

Before I get into what we chose, here’s what I actually pay attention to when evaluating a water filter:

• Contaminant reduction. The most important factor. Look for systems independently certified to NSF standards — this means a third party has verified that the system removes what the brand claims it removes. NSF/ANSI 58 is the standard for reverse osmosis systems.
• Ease of use. A filtration system that’s complicated to operate or maintain won’t get used consistently. Simplicity matters.
• Ongoing cost. Filter replacements are the long-term cost of any system. Know what you’re committing to before you buy.
• Maintenance. How often do filters need replacing? Is it something you can do yourself or does it require a technician?
• Real-life practicality. Does it fit your kitchen? Your lifestyle? Your household size? The best filter is one you’ll actually use every day.

The Water Filter We Use: AquaTru Under-Sink Alkaline

We’ve been using the AquaTru Under-Sink Alkaline system for about a year and a half and it has become one of the most valued things in our kitchen.

What It Is

AquaTru uses a patented 4-stage reverse osmosis filtration process that is independently certified by IAPMO to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 58, and 401 — meaning it’s verified to remove 84 contaminants including lead, PFAS (forever chemicals), fluoride, arsenic, chlorine, nitrates, pharmaceutical residue, and more.

The under-sink model installs beneath your sink and connects to a dedicated faucet, making filtered water available on demand with no countertop footprint. It’s designed for higher-volume households — ideal for families who use filtered water for drinking, cooking, and everything in between.

Our system includes the Alkaline upgrade, which uses a proprietary mineral blend to add calcium, potassium, and magnesium back into the water after filtration — raising the pH and restoring beneficial minerals that reverse osmosis removes.

Why We Chose It

Coming from Kangen, alkalinity was non-negotiable for us. The AquaTru Alkaline model delivers that — at a fraction of the cost and with significantly simpler maintenance.

The whole unit is a few hundred dollars instead of several thousand. Filter replacements are straightforward and affordable — filters last between 6 months and 2 years depending on the stage, and you replace them yourself. There are fewer parts, less complexity, and no need for a technician.

The water tastes excellent. That matters. We drink more water when it tastes good, and filtered water has a clean, smooth quality that tap water simply doesn’t.

What We Love

• Third-party certified contaminant removal — verified, not just claimed
• Alkaline upgrade brings the pH up naturally, mimicking the mineral-rich water we valued from Kangen
• Exceptional taste — noticeable difference in coffee, tea, and cooking
• Affordable upfront cost compared to whole-house or high-end countertop systems
• Simple, DIY filter replacements with fewer parts than our previous system
• No countertop space required

If you’re looking for a system that balances performance, simplicity, and long-term cost, this is the one we’d choose again.

The One Downside: Remineralization

Reverse osmosis is one of the most thorough filtration methods available — which is exactly what makes it so effective. But that thoroughness comes with a trade-off: it removes beneficial minerals along with the contaminants.

Our alkaline upgrade filter adds minerals back in, which helps significantly. But we also take an additional step: we make our own solé water using Baja Gold Sea Salt and add it to our filtered water daily.

Solé (pronounced so-lay) is a saturated salt solution made by filling a glass jar about a quarter of the way with unrefined mineral sea salt, topping it with water, and letting it sit for 12–24 hours until fully saturated. Baja Gold is our salt of choice — it contains over 80 trace minerals sourced from the Sea of Cortez through a natural solar dehydration process, and has a lower sodium content than refined salts.

We add a small amount of solé to our water each day. A commonly referenced starting point is a small amount per glass of water, adjusted based on preference. As always, if you have specific health concerns or conditions, check with your healthcare provider before making changes to your water routine.

We keep a 5lb bag of Baja Gold on hand at all times — it’s economical, lasts a long time, and does double duty in our kitchen for cooking as well. Baja Gold also sells pre-made liquid mineral drops for those who want an even simpler option.

Is the remineralization step extra work? Slightly. But it’s become part of our routine and takes less than a minute. For us it’s worth it.

Shop AquaTru Under-Sink Alkaline

Shop Baja Gold Sea Salt on Amazon

Shop Baja Gold Liquid Ocean Minerals on Amazon — for the drop option

Other Options We Considered

We want to briefly mention two alternatives that are worth knowing about — not because we didn’t choose them, but because they may be the right fit for someone else.

• AquaTru Carafe. We have close friends who use the AquaTru Carafe model and love it. The carafe is a countertop option that requires no installation — ideal for renters, apartments, or anyone who doesn’t have the ability to install an under-sink unit. It uses the same 4-stage RO filtration and is available in a glass carafe version. If the under-sink model isn’t an option for your living situation, the carafe is the first thing we’d point you to. Shop AquaTru Carafe.
• Kangen. We used Kangen for nearly fifteen years and have nothing bad to say about the water quality. The alkalinity, ionization, and taste were excellent. But the machines start at several thousand dollars and the maintenance is more involved. For families with the budget and commitment, it’s a legitimate option. For most households, we think AquaTru delivers comparable results at a much more accessible price point. A deeper comparison of water filter options is something we’ll cover in a future post.

What We’d Do Differently (If Anything)

Honestly? We wish we’d made this switch sooner.

The AquaTru has been more affordable, simpler to maintain, and easier to live with than we anticipated. If we were starting from scratch today, we’d skip the years of higher-cost systems and go straight here.

The only thing we’d flag is to build the remineralization habit from day one rather than figuring it out later. It’s a small step that makes a real difference in both taste and the quality of the water you’re drinking.

Who the AquaTru Under-Sink Is Right For

This system is a great fit if:

• You own your home or have permission to install an under-sink unit
• You have a household of 3 or more people with high daily water needs
• You want the most thorough contaminant removal available in a home system
• You value alkaline water and want it built into your filtration system
• You want a system that’s affordable to purchase and maintain long-term

If you’re renting or can’t install under the sink, the AquaTru Carafe is the version we’d point you to first.

Final Thoughts

Water is something you interact with dozens of times a day. It goes into your body, your food, your beverages. Getting it right is one of the most foundational things you can do for your family’s health — and it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

The AquaTru has simplified our water routine, improved the taste of everything we make with it, and given us confidence in what we’re drinking. For a few hundred dollars and simple ongoing maintenance, that’s a meaningful return.

If you’re just starting to think about water filtration, start here. Do the research, know your options, and take one practical step forward.