APEC ROES-50 Essence Series Review

The APEC ROES-50 Essence Series has a 5-stage filtration system that starts with sediment and carbon block pre-filters, moves on to a 50-GPD Dow Filmtec membrane, and has a dedicated post-carbon filter to polish the final taste. We enlisted a third-party lab to test contaminant levels and found that the APEC reduced nearly all of the pollutants tested to undetectable levels.

Our APEC ROES-50 Essence Series Experience

The APEC Essence Series is the ultimate defensive wall when it comes to heavy metals. Because it pushes water through such a small membrane (.0001 microns) in the final stages, it doesn't care how 'messed up' your water is; it just stops everything. We'll go deeper into the details of contaminant removal below, but our gut check on this filter is that it's a great performing, great value option for clean water.

Install isn't the fastest, but considering it's a one-time deal, we didn't mind so much. And after it's done, we enjoyed the ease of having filtered water available on tap, rather than having to refill a pitcher over and over throughout the day; it's a set it and forget it type deal. Cartridge changes only need to happen every 6-24 months, depending on the filter stage, but unfortunately, swapping out the filters is more time-consuming than other undersink models, which was our biggest complaint with this system. But if you're handy around the house and are willing to put in some elbow grease every 6 months, this may not bother you. Plus, this filter is more affordable both up front and in the long term than pretty much any other option we used.

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Lead & Metals

The APEC earned one of the highest scores of the group because it was able to remove 100% of the four metals the lab tested for. This puts it at the top of the group, alongside the other reverse osmosis systems in the lineup.

Of these four metals, lead contamination is the primary concern for most people and can enter your water through outdated plumbing, such as pipes, faucets, and other fixtures in older homes. Once ingested, lead can accumulate in the body over time, and has several known health effects cited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It's worth noting that water chemistry changes and other factors can sometimes cause inconsistent results. When a filter's performance varied between multiple rounds of the same tests, we heavily weighted the lower performance to prioritize safe estimates. Even when scoring conservatively, we can confidently recommend the APEC for those who live in an older home or city, or are worried about the lead content of their water for other reasons.

Three pre-filter stages remove sediment and larger particles.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

Filters are housed in long cylinders connected with small tubes. All of this must fit under your kitchen sink.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The final stages of filtration include forcing water through a superfine membrane. These steps are what put reverse osmosis a step ahead of other filter styles.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

PFAS are man-made chemicals used to make everyday products heat-, stain-, and water-resistant. They are everywhere, and they are hard to get rid of. Because of their persistant nature, they often find their way into your water. Since there is no avoiding them, it is important to find a water filter that removes them from your water before it enters your body. The APEC does a fantastic job of this, again, landing a top score among the group thanks to its superfine RO membrane.

We tested for two subtypes of forever chemicals, PFNA and PFBA. The APEC ROES-50 brings both of these chemicals down to undetectable levels, showing a 100% removal rate overall.

There are many different variations and subtypes of PFAS. While we could not test all of them, we tested for two that actually have a smaller particle size than the average forever chemical, meaning that if the filter catches these two, it is highly likely to capture other, larger PFAS chemicals as well.

Microplastics

For a piece of plastic to fall into the “micro” category, it must be less than 5 mm long, which is about the size of an ant. Particles this size rarely make it into your tap water, so we were more concerned with testing for the presence of much smaller microplastics, down to a size of 2.5 microns to be exact.

With a membrane pore size of .0001 microns, the ROES-50 easily filtered out every size particle from the contaminated water sample, proving to be an excellent option for those who want to keep microplastics out of their drinking water.

Fluoride & Nitrates

Continuing its near-perfect streak, the APEC ROES-50 Essence also did an excellent job of removing fluoride, nitrates, and sulfate from the contaminated water sample. It wasn't the top scorer this time, but it came close, and we would trust it to remove these contaminants from most water sources.

While the APEC doesn't achieve a 100% removal rate for any of these contaminants, it comes close. If you get your tap water from a municipal source, levels of fluoride, nitrates, and sulfates are already monitored and kept below certain limits. In this case, APEC serves as a reliable backup for added peace of mind.

If you draw from a private well or have other reasons to be concerned about high levels of these contaminants in your water (such as living in an area with a lot of agriculture), the APEC will most likely still do a good job of reducing them to below the required limits, but you may want to get your water tested to see exactly what you're dealing with.

While the superfine membranes of RO systems do a good job of removing most contaminants, substances like nitrates can be trickier to catch because they are so small. Ion exchange filters tend to be more effective in this case.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

Despite not removing all the fluorides and nitrates from the test sample, the APEC still achieved a high removal rate, between 95% and 99%.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Taste & Chlorine

Like all the filters in our review, the APEC removed 100% of the chlorine in test samples, ensuring that you won't be drinking water that is slightly reminiscent of a pool. Overall, it earned a high score in our taste testing, and after crowdsourcing numerous user reviews related to taste, the general public tends to agree.

One of the most common complaints that people have with reverse osmosis systems, including the ROES-50, is that the water tastes flat. Because RO removes everything from the water, you also miss out on some essential minerals that are naturally present in water, like magnesium and calcium. While this does not impact your health, the taste can be different from regular tap water and even bottled mineral water. If the flavor bothers you but you don't want to give up the purity of RO water, you may want to look into an option with a remineralization stage.

After install is complete, using the APEC is as easy as using your normal faucet.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

If your sink basin doesn't already have an extra faucet hole (or soap dispenser) you'll have to drill a hole to install the dedicated faucet on the APEC ROES-50.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The hardware included with the APEC is compatible with most common plumbing systems.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

Now that we've covered contaminant removal, we're left with things like initial install, day-to-day use, and long-term costs of owning and running the APEC ROES-50.

The APEC scores relatively high in this metric, primarily due to its seamless daily use. Undersink units like the APEC typically come with a separate faucet head, and once it is installed, you simply use it as you would a normal tap. No refilling tanks or weekly runs through the dishwasher like with a pitcher. Even the filter changes last longer than most pitchers or gravity filters, with different stages needing to be replaced anywhere from 6 months to 4 years.

That said, to install this unit, you'll either have to be pretty familiar with the workings of your undersink cabinet or be prepared to hire a professional. And though the filter changes are farther apart, it is more difficult to unscrew the housings to swap out the cartridge than to use a drop-in-style filter in a pitcher.

Another reason we love the APEC ROES-50 is because of how affordable it is. It has a comparatively low upfront cost for an RO system, and its annual costs are among the lowest in the group of undersink and pitcher models. It is a great option for larger households that go through a lot of drinking water every day, or if you plan to cook with filtered water.

Unfortunately, the ROES-50 produces quite a bit of wastewater during the filtration process. For every gallon of filtered water that comes out of the tap, 3 gallons of wastewater are produced. For reference, the most efficient RO systems produce only about half a gallon of wastewater per gallon of filtered water.

The final thing that some people worry about is filtration rate, aka “how long will it take to fill up my glass?” We measured the filtration rate of the APEC to be 0.04 gal/min. In other words, it will take about 25 minutes to filter a gallon of water. However, the APEC is a tank-based system, so filtration happens in the background, and clean water is stored in a 4-gallon tank, at the ready whenever you turn on the tap. In reality, you should never experience reduced flow rates unless you drain the entire 4-gallon tank in one go.

Should You Buy the APEC ROES-50 Essence Series?

The APEC ROES-50 Essence Series presents an incredible value for the performance it delivers. It is one of the most affordable ways to get reverse osmosis-treated water in your home, and it is our recommendation for people who first prioritize water quality and then prioritize their budget. However, since it requires a more or less permanent install, it is better for those who own their home or plan to stay for many years. Additionally, the tradeoffs of a more complicated install, the amount of space it takes up, and the amount of wastewater it produces might not be worth the cost savings for some people, in which case, you should check out one of the other options below.

What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?