I'd been relying on those pitcher-base water filters, but wanted to take the leap to an RO based system after moving into my new place this past summer. After doing a lot of research, I settled on the Waterdrop G3P800 system because it seemed to hit the sweet spot of great design and filtration performance (I own a number of products that have won the Red Dot Design Award and trust me, you will never regret owning a product that has won the Red Dot). So even though the jG3P800 was pricey, I reasoned the cost couldn't compare to being able to drink and cook with water that is free of not only common contaminants like lead, but newer, harder-to-filter stuff like PFAS "forever chemicals" that many filters won't catch. As such, the main points about why I chose the Waterdrop 800GPD are:
* 800 gallons per day capacity
* Efficiency (only 1 cup of waste water for every 3 cups of purified water)
* Informative indicators on both smart faucet and main filtration unit (see pictures)
* Easy-to-replace filters with indicators that let you know when you need to do so
* Tankless, on-demand system (no need to worry about bacterial build up in tanks)
* Integrated, in-line UV light to **** any bacteria that might have bypassed filtration
* Extensive 9-stage filtration, including PFAS "forever chemicals"
* Sleek, futuristic, integrated design that looks great both above and below countertop (and leaves plenty of space under)
So it was to my great dismay that when my package arrived, I discovered the smart RO faucet was actually missing in the box! I immediately contacted Waterdrop support, but in my anxiousness, I also ended up calling their toll free number. I was pleasantly surprised when someone actually answered the call in less than 5 minutes, as I was in a fairly sour mood given that a major component was missing on an expensive purchase. After explaining my situation, Waterdrop offered to send a replacement faucet out immediately. There was no back-and-forth—the agent on the phone just asked me to verify my shipping address and the missing part. Just two days later, I received a package with the smart RO faucet inside!
The installation itself took a few hours (it helped that I already had a hole for the smart faucet pre-drilled into the countertop). I'm sure it would have gone faster had I had more experience with plumbing, but as long as you read the directions carefully and/or watch the installation videos, installing the RO system should be relatively straightforward. The most difficult part was drilling a 1/4" hole into the waste water pipe in order to connect the wastewater line from the Waterdrop filtration unit to. The best moment? When I plugged in the RO system to the under-counter power outlet and turned the 800 GPD on. It was lovely watching the displays light up and the RO system do its thing (you need to initially flush the system for 30 minutes, but the smart display on the faucet will let you know when the water is ready for drinking).
I've now been using the Waterdrop RO system for almost 2 weeks now. I naturally use it for all drinking and cooking needs now, but given the extremely fast flow rate and the endurance of the 3 hefty filters, I am also using it to do a final rinse of all my dishes and flatware (I prefer to hand wash my dishes vs. running the dishwasher). I've also noticed my cats seem to love the taste and the purity of the water as well.
In conclusion, I am completely delighted with my Waterdrop RO system. The hiccup with the missing smart faucet was annoying, but Waterdrop's responsive and helpful customer service really made up for the packaging oversight. Thus, without any reservations, I can heartily recommend the Waterdrop G3P800.
