Waterdrop X16 Review: Best high-flow undersink reverse Osmosis system

Americans care about water purity, even if most are not aware of the major contaminants plaguing their drinking water.Accessing purified water can quickly get expensive due to recurring subscription fees or inefficient filters that require frequent replacement.While built-in refrigerator dispensers and pitcher filters are common options, large families often need stronger purification and faster flow rates. To address this gap, brands like Waterdrop have perfected reverse osmosis systems focusing not only on the purification process, but also convenience, design, and long-term upkeep costs. Having previously tested the Waterdrop X12, I knew just how much these core principles guided the brand’s approach to innovation, especially for its line of under-the-sink reverse osmosis systems.

So when I got the opportunity to test the X16, I wasn’t surprised to be once again impressed by their thoughtful attention to detail.The X Series is Waterdrop’s premier line of under-sink reverse osmosis systems.Unlike most filtration systems, which use carbon and sediment filters to capture chlorine and other larger particles, Waterdrop’s reverse osmosis systems use a semi-permeable membrane that traps the aforementioned contaminants, as well as close to 99% of TDS (total dissolved solids) and PFAS forever chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), including fluoride and heavy metals. The X16 uses an eleven-stage filtration process that combines mesh filter cotton, carbon filtration, a 0.0001μm RO membrane and UV sterilization.

In addition, a built-in LED function eliminates 99.9% of impurities in the water path.It’s no wonder the Waterdrop X16 has received NSF/ANSI 42, 58, and 372 certification from third-party testing for meeting official standards of taste, performance and lead-free material safety.If you’re suddenly looking at the massive water tank and conjoined filters of your current under-sink system and wondering if it delivers the same level of purifi...