I Didn’t Like My Questionable Tap Water — Until I Got This Surprising Upgrade (It’s a Game-Changer!)

When I was earning my WSET certification a few years ago, I had to learn all the ins and outs of wine, from production to taste. I started approaching my water similarly to my favorite bottle of wine: I wanted to know where my water was sourced, what went into producing it, and how I could make it taste even better.

In the midst of my research, I read that at least half of the country’s tap water is reported to have one or more harmful “forever” chemicals known as per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS. They don’t degrade over time, and they’re linked to a host of health issues. Because regulations on water and food safety continue to evolve, the quality of my water has become more important to me than ever.  

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Because the quality of my water matters to me, I was thrilled to discover the Hydroviv Under Sink Water Filter. It’s a customized seven-stage under-sink filter based on your location’s water quality, as well as the year your apartment or house was built, your city’s infrastructure, and your water source’s proximity to locations that could cause possible contamination. 

This is much more than just a one-size-fits-all filter. Standard filters wouldn’t adequately address the tap water where I live in Los Angeles as well as someone else living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Because Hydroviv’s filter is constructed using water data from local, county, state, and federal databases, everyone’s filter is going to perform differently. Hydroviv claims to remove PFAS, lead, arsenic, mercury, and pesticides, among other contaminants that are possibly found in your specific water. 

When it comes to installing things, I have very little patience and no desire to drill a hole into my wall, so the ease of the Hydroviv setup was a definite win. All I needed was a wrench and a will to get it done.

I cleared out the clutter under my kitchen sink and referred to the easy-to-read instruction manual that came with the Hydroviv; there are also video tutorials for visual learners. I turned off the cold water shutoff valve under the sink and was able to easily attach the filter system with the plastic tube provided. I also made sure there were no leaks during the process — which only took about 15 minutes. Once the filter was set up, I was able to use my tap normally. 

In terms of maintenance, there’s very little: just an internal filter cartridge that should generally be replaced every six months.

The filter is an investment, but one that’s well worth it, in my opinion. The initial cost of the custom filter with one cartridge is currently $246.65 thanks to a Black Friday sale, but buying the filter and subscribing to replacement cartridges is a better value at $184.99, and future replacement cartridges would be discounted, too.

Hydroviv’s under-sink filter has been a convenient option for me — I like being able to get water directly from my sink, and ditching the usual pitcher freed up space in my fridge. The filter itself is very compact and didn’t take up much space under my kitchen sink. In fact, because it’s tucked behind my cleaning supplies, I don’t even notice it’s there!

Now, I’m less concerned and worried about the questionable quality of my tap water, and it just tastes like, well, crisp and delicious water.

Buy: Hydroviv Under Sink Water Filter, $184.99 (normally $424.99)