Best Reverse Osmosis Water Filter for Apartment In 2023

Almost 80 percent of the US people choose to live in a private family home, and 70 percent follow this lifestyle. Apartment or condo residency is only favored by 8 percent of the total population, yet 17 percent live flat.

Fortunately, the market for a reverse osmosis water system for apartment renters and homeowners is expanding due to advanced technologies that have been introduced. The reverse osmosis water filters are unmatchable when it comes to filtration efficiency. Apart from the fact that plenty of companies produce aesthetic and sizeable RO filters, not all are the best.

I fixed the Best water filtration systems for apartments based on their most significant factors from an apartment owner’s perspective, including portability (or lack of invasive installation), ease of use, maintenance and costs involved, certifications, and, of course, contaminants removed. The following article will guide you through the best reverse osmosis water filter for renters using the best reverse osmosis system consumer reports.

Best Reverse Osmosis Water Filter for Apartment 2023 Reviews

Every person and apartment requires a different kind of water filter according to their needs and water quality. Still, some features and concerns stay common for all people when buying a Reverse osmosis system for an apartment. We have meticulously chosen the best water filtration systems for apartments 2023 and reviewed them thoroughly.

APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C Portable Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

APEC Countertop Reverse osmosis system is the best reverse osmosis system for apartment people on the market looking for low-commitment options. It is portable and compact, which is an essential element when selecting reverse osmosis filters for apartments. Other than portability, it has 4-stage filtration, which is responsible for removing dust, sediments, heavy metals, cysts, TDS, and bacteria from your water.

The 4-stage filtration of the APEC reverse osmosis water filter consists of the following filters:

• 1st stage consists of a sediment filter that eliminates all the dust, sediments, and large particles to protect the reverse osmosis membrane.
• 2nd stage has an Activated Carbon Filter that removes chlorine, chemicals, and other contaminants that produce an unpleasant smell.
• 3rd stage is an RO membrane that eliminates total dissolved solids and heavy metals, including lead, bacteria, cysts, and other microorganisms. 
• 4th stage is a post-carbon filter responsible for giving the filtered water its final scrutiny to ensure your water stays fresh and crisp.

APEC RO system for the apartment does not require any installation and can be connected to any standard faucet to provide you with filtered water on the go. It is lightweight and compact, which means you can carry the filter around in a travel bag. The best feature of this countertop RO system is that it does not occupy much space and is an efficient replacement for an under-sink RO system.

The faucet adapter allows you to easily switch between sending water through the reverse osmosis water filter or just the faucet. Besides the clever design, It has a wastewater tube that allows you to drain water out efficiently. Thus, you need to store water in a separate pitcher or jug.

The small size of the filter is just a facade, as it produces up to 90 gallons of water per day. On the other hand, it has a low water flow rate, making it unsuitable for large families and houses. The maintenance of the filters is easy, and replacement depends on the feed water. Replacement of filters does not require any professional help or tools. 

PROS

• Low wastewater ratio
• Removes turbidity, unpleasant smell, and taste from the water
• Cost-effective
• Long filter life
• It comes with an installation kit
• Production rate of up to 90 GPD

CONS

• A low flow rate of water
• One drawback of the portability is that the system does not have a reserve water tank.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

AquaTru Countertop RO system is the most simple and accessible reverse osmosis water filter for an apartment as it is compact, cost-effective, and efficient. With a modern and sleek design, this reverse osmosis water filtration system uses ultra RO technology and 4-stage filtration to remove more than 200 contaminants from your water. Scroll down below to read everything you need to know about this no-installation, aesthetic, and compact RO filter. 

The AquaTru system has a hassle-free change of filter for the following filtration stages:

• 1st stage is a mechanical pre-filter that actively removes dust sediments from your water to prevent any damage to the RO membrane and units of the system. It also removes cloudiness from the water.
• 2nd stage consists of an RO pre-filter responsible for eliminating chlorine and chloramine from water as it can damage the semipermeable membrane. It removes up to 99 percent of chlorine and, with it, the unpleasant taste and odor from the water.
• 3rd stage is an RO membrane that eliminates barium, chromium, copper, iron, fluoride, lead, radium, selenium, hard water minerals, chromium-6, drug residues, and much more.
• The last stage has a carbon VOC filter that removes herbicides, pesticides, disinfectant by-products, and fuels and gives the final polish to your water to keep it fresh and crisp.

AquaTru has two tanks: wastewater and filtered water storage tanks. The time required to fill up the storage tank is no less than 15 minutes, and the storage tank can store up to 1 gallon of fresh water. The wastewater ratio is only 25 percent, which makes this RO system the most efficient. 

The maintenance of the system is low, and filters need to be replaced you for 6 months to 2 years. The replacement of the filters does not require any tools and plumbing. AquaTru RO filter is popular among renters and people living in apartments as it is portable and low-commitment than a whole house water filter for apartment people.

PROS

• Light notification for filter change
• Only 25% of wastewater
• 1-year money-back warranty
• Long filter life
• Cost-effective and cheap
• Helpful customer service

CONS

• No alkaline water filter or remineralization of water

Premium Water System: Compact Countertop Reverse Osmosis System

Premier Countertop Water System is a multistage filter with reverse osmosis for an apartment that removes out substances like Bicarbonate (90%),, Arsenic (93%-96%), Chloride (85%-92%), Calcium (94%-98%), Aluminum (86%-90%), Sodium (86.5%-93%), Sulfate (96%-98%), Potassium (84%-95%), Barium (95%-98%), Iron (94%-98%), Phosphate (94%), Nitrate (60%-76%), Mercury (94%-98%), Zink (95%-98%), Selenium (94%-96%),  Cyanide (93%), Lead (95%-98%), , Magnesium (98%), Fluoride (82%-92%), Nickel (96%), Cadmium (96%), Detergent (97%), Strontium (96%) and many other harmful chemicals from the drinking water.

The 4-stage filtration process of Premier Water System consists of:

• 1st stage has A sediment filter that filters out large particles like dust, particles, and sediments to prevent damage to the semipermeable membrane.
• 2nd stage has a Premium Quick-Connect coconut-activated carbon filter that removes VOCs, chlorine, cloudiness, unpleasant odors, colors, and obnoxious tastes.
• 3rd stage has a Premium High Rejection TFC type reverse osmosis membrane that eliminates 96%-99% of total dissolved solids, arsenic, lead, fluoride, radium, chromium, and other hurtful contaminants from the water.
• 4th stage also has a Premium Coconut Carbon type filter cartridge to improve the quality of water.

It is one of the best water filters for apartments Intended to be placed on your kitchen countertop. The compact countertop RO condo water filtration system is a good option for renters or homeowners. One of the most significant advantages is that it carries this filter anywhere. People can carry it to townhouses, condos, motor homes, offices, student dorms, and Camping. 

This system is very straightforward to install. No plumbing or drilling tools are required. Just plug in the corresponding connection and attach it to your faucet, and you’re ready to go with it and enjoy healthy water!

The system with reverse osmosis for apartments has a long-lasting filter that lasts for 6-8 months. It has a Premium Quick-Connect coconut activated carbon filter and High Rejection TFC type reverse osmosis that improves water quality. The reverse osmosis water system for apartments provides 1 gallon of water every 28-32 min.

PROS

• It comes with a faucet diverter valve
• It has an added alkaline ionizer filter
• It has a spout adapter to make it easy to dispense filtered water
• Flow rate up to 100 GDP

CONS

• No Amazon customer reviews

Importance of water filters in apartments

The most important concern for people when deciding on a place to live in is the water quality. Before opting for a water filtration system for an apartment building, it is essential to get your water tested to understand what impurities you have to filter. Proper testing is the best way to obtain a breakdown of all the contaminants and not only rely on the taste and appearance of the water.

For starters, you can always use a water testing kit for initial testing and then send a sample of your water to the lab. Besides water testing, it is also crucial to analyze the time of your stay at the apartment before choosing a water filter. If your stay is temporary, it is advisable to invest in filters that do not need hefty installments, like under-sink or whole-house water filters.

If you are confused and do not know where to start, you have come to the right place. Scroll down below for the ultimate guide to RO water purifiers for apartments. 

Suitable Filter Types for Use in Apartments

Everyone’s need and specification for a water filter is different. The guide below is here to help you decide which water filtration systems for condos suit you and your needs the best!

Countertop Gravity Filters

Need a high volume of water? Cannot go without immediate access to clean and filtered water? Countertop gravity water filters are the best choice for you! Most countertop reverse osmosis filters do not require complex installation; they require clicking filters in place, and you are ready to go. Countertop water filters are the best RO water purifiers for apartments as they are easy to install and filter out plenty of various contaminants.

Filter Pitchers

Water filter pitchers are the most convenient and low-commitment option for anyone with a small family. They are the compact version of a whole-house water filter and require no installment. Pitcher filters can sit on your countertop, fit in your fridge, or anywhere you want. One con of a water filter pitcher is that it has a low storage capacity, so the supply of filtered water is less. Besides the capacity issue, they are affordable and can last from 3 weeks to 6 months. 

Faucet Filters

Faucet filters are specifically need-based. If you need your kitchen faucet to be the one doing the filtering job, then faucet filters are best for you. They are cheap, reliable, and cost-effective. With a filter lifespan of 3 to 6 months, they are installed on your kitchen faucet. Faucet filters do come as a part of a whole-house water filter or a reverse osmosis water filtration system, but you can buy them separately if needed.

Distillers

A portable system with maximum contaminant removal? What else do you want? Distillers are pretty different from your basic reverse osmosis systems. They consist of a boiling chamber, a cooling system, and a storage tank. The working of a distiller is simple: the untreated water is boiled and cooled down, and the contaminants that cannot turn into gaseous form are left behind. The treatment process provides you with fresh and impurity-free water. 

Filtered Water Bottles

Filtered water bottles are the best whole apartment water filter for people who are always on the go! You don’t stay at your apartment much? Buy a filtered water bottle to provide you with fresh and clean water throughout the day. A filtered water bottle has a straw through which you suck, and water gets filtered before reaching your mouth. Lastly, the best thing about these water bottles is that they require no installment!

Key Points to Consider While Buying the Best Water Filter for Your Apartment

Following crucial points, you should consider purchasing an efficient investment for a Reverse Osmosis water system for the home.

Portable system

Shifting into an apartment can be need-based, temporary, and short-lived. When investing in water filters, it is best to think about the long-term. It is the safest bet for you to put money in a portable system such as a countertop RO water purifier for apartments for long-term investments. A whole house water filter tends to have a longer lifespan; thus, it is not cost-effective to put money in filters you cannot take along with you.

Rental Contract

Before making any significant structural changes in your apartment, you must check your rental contract for permission to make structural changes. Most rental contracts do not allow invasive installations such as under-sink reverse osmosis water filtration systems or a whole house water filter. The best option for you is to install a portable and best reverse Osmosis Water Filter for an Apartment or a tankless reverse osmosis system. If you have no long-term plans for moving out, you can discuss water filter installations with your landlord and install a complete reverse osmosis water filtration system.

Installation

A complex and time-consuming installation is not worth it if you are looking for a quick solution for your dirty water. Many of the best reverse osmosis filters for apartments do not require installation as they are structured with portability in mind.  Most of the time, all you need to do is unbox and assemble the parts of the reverse osmosis water filter Amazon ordered. The reverse osmosis water system for the home that requires installation on the main waterline need not much more than basic DIY skills, and you are good to go, 

Remineralization

One drawback of reverse osmosis filters is that the reverse osmosis water filter removes essential minerals from your water with all the contaminants and impurities. If you are a health-obsessed freak and need minerals in your water, you will need to buy the best reverse osmosis system for the apartment with an alkaline water filter. Some RO filters have integrated an alkaline water filter within them. Express water reverse osmosis systems provide additional remineralization of water with their alkaline water filter. 

Suppose your reverse osmosis water filter for the apartment does not remineralize your water. In that case, you can always buy an alkaline water filter by checking the reverse osmosis system price on Amazon. 

Removal of Contaminants

Before opting for reverse osmosis systems or any whole-house water filter, you should test your water for the level and variety of contaminants. Testing is an essential step as it gives you a clear idea of what you need to filter out and which filter is best suited for the job. Most water filters remove chlorine and lead, but reverse osmosis water filtration does a more thorough filtration if needed. The best countertop reverse osmosis system has a UV filter that can sterilize bacteria and other microorganisms.

Filtration speed

Most reverse osmosis systems have slow filtration due to thorough filtration and sometimes an alkaline water filter. When choosing an RO system for an apartment, it is essential to choose companies with a fast-flowing rate of filtered water. The best countertop reverse osmosis system has a high GDP with a minor waste-water ratio. 

Water waster

Reverse osmosis systems, while filtering out your water, produce almost 50-75 percent of wastewater. This wastewater is drained out of the output tube. Systems that produce more than a 75percent of waste become inefficient if you make a high volume of filtered water per day.  

FrizzWA99 Countertop Reverse Osmosis Filter is one of the most efficient and high-rate filter systems for producing a high rate of filtered water. Frizzlife filter has an efficient ratio of 5:1 of filtered to wastewater, making it the best countertop filter on the market.

Universal Connectors

Universal connectors are essential for hassle-free installation, as you wouldn’t need to change any part of the setup to accommodate the filter. If you are buying a countertop alkaline water filter with universal connectors, then you can easily attach it anywhere without any need to change the faucet or any other part.

Physical Size

One other factor that is important to consider when buying a reverse osmosis filter for your apartment is the physical size of the filter. If your countertop does not have sufficient space, investing in a counter to reverse osmosis filter or a distiller would be useless. You can always keep your options open and invest in a tankless reverse osmosis system for optimal use of space.

Other than the size, it is also essential to opt for filters that match your water consumption. If you install a whole house water filter for just two people, that would be a waste of money and filtered water.  

Budget

Budgeting before buying a water filter is essential to optimize the use of a water filter. Employing a whole house water filter for a few people is not cost-efficient as there will not be much water utilization throughout the term of the water filter. It is best to calculate your budget.