Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System Review

Equipped with 8 full layers of filtration, the Waterdrop G3P600 is one of the most thorough water filters on the market. Its 0.0001-micron shield tackles everything from toxic heavy metals to “forever” PFAS chemicals to stubborn nitrates, leaving you with exceptionally clean water. It also removes chlorine, one of the biggest culprits behind unpleasant taste and odor. For a full list of its removal certifications, click here.

Our Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System Experience

The Waterdrop G3P600 quickly won us over in our intensive, side-by-side tests. While the initial setup took some elbow grease, it was smooth sailing from there on out. We love how easy it is to use and that it delivers clean, great-tasting water anytime you turn on its special faucet. No waiting around for slow pitcher refills.

We also appreciate the small details that make this a modern system built for convenience and eco-friendliness. Its tankless design takes up less space under the sink, filter changes are a breeze, and it generates minimal wastewater. Everything just feels well thought out and is visually very appealing.

If you're looking for a solution to remove health-related impurities and unpleasant tastes from your water, the Waterdrop G3P600 delivers serious cleaning power to your kitchen. Sure, it needs a dedicated space and a hefty investment, but for households tired of mediocre tap water, it's a game-changing upgrade

The Waterdrop's dedicated faucet looks sleek on any countertop.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The built-in total dissolved solids (TDS) meter on the faucet lets you monitor water quality in real time.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

It takes up space under the sink, but still leaves plenty of room for your cleaning supplies, trash bags, and the usual under-sink chaos.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Lead & Metals

When it comes to removing metals, RO systems like the Waterdrop G3P600 are top-of-the-line.

In our tests, this elite system removed 100% of toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and uranium. It's also certified to reduce cadmium and chromium. If these metals are a concern in your area, or if you live in an older home with aging plumbing, the Waterdrop offers serious peace of mind, removing lead at concentrations 17 times higher than the EPA's health limit in our testing. That said, some users may still prefer a proper lead certification.

It's also great for reducing the aesthetic effects of metals like iron, manganese, copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium (data not shown), which can affect your water's taste, hardness, or appearance. Though lithium isn't currently regulated by the EPA, growing health concerns in Western and Great Plains states make Waterdrop's 100% removal of it a reassuring bonus.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

PFAS are chemicals that never break down. Over time, they can build up in our bodies and cause cancer and other adverse health effects. They're alarmingly common, affecting hundreds of millions of US homes. While most water filters target PFAS to some degree, the Waterdrop completely eliminates them.

The Waterdrop is a highly effective shield because most “forever chemicals” are simply too large to pass through its RO membrane. Whether testing for larger, easy-to-trap molecules like PFNA or smaller, difficult-to-trap molecules like PFBA, the Waterdrop captured 100% of both, giving us confidence that it can remove a wide variety of PFAS. Still, we'd feel even better with an official PFAS certification.

Microplastics

Given its small pore size, the Waterdrop G3P600 is also a top pick for removing microplastics. It's also made with BPA-free plastic.

Most households have some amount of microplastics flowing through their tap. Though scientists are still unraveling their long-term health effects, we'd rather not be the test subjects for those studies. If you can't invest in a full RO system, some high-quality pitchers can offer you the same level of protection.

Fluoride & Nitrates

Fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate are some of the toughest contaminants to remove, but they aren't a concern everywhere. They're most common in the Midwest, High Plains, and regions with intensive farming. The Waterdrop G3P600 handled these tricky impurities better than most filters we tested, though it didn't quite match the power of traditional tanked RO systems.

The reason comes down to speed. Unlike traditional RO systems that slowly fill a storage tank, the Waterdrop filters water on demand using extra pressure. That convenience comes with a trade-off: a few tiny contaminants, like nitrate and fluoride, may slip through. Even so, the G3P600 is certified to remove nearly 90% of fluoride.

So, will the Waterdrop work for you? For most city water users, it's a great option for reducing health concerns about nitrates and fluoride. It's also a good fit for private well users with only mild elevations or sulfur odors. But if your well water has serious contamination issues, a slower tank-based system will provide more thorough filtration.

Taste & Chlorine

Taste is subjective, but the vast majority of Amazon reviewers, 93% to be exact, report that the Waterdrop's filtered water is fresh, crisp, and free from chlorine and other off-flavors. Even coffee and tea taste noticeably better.

Because RO systems remove everything, including beneficial minerals, a common complaint is that the water can taste “flat.” That wasn't our experience with the Waterdrop G3P600, but if this is a concern for you, Waterdrop offers an optional remineralization cartridge for a fuller taste.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

The G3P600 is one of our all-time favorite water filters to use day-to-day. It provides unlimited amounts of clean water and takes up less space under the sink than other RO systems. So whether you're filling up a glass, a coffee pot, or a giant pasta pot, it never keeps you waiting.

In fact, the G3P600 has one of the fastest filtration rates of all the systems we tested, scrubbing one gallon of water in as little as two minutes. Now that's serious convenience.

We should note, though, it's not all rainbows and butterflies. Setting up any RO system is pretty involved and requires making permanent adjustments to your plumbing and countertop, so you might want to hire a professional. Plus, unlike traditional tanked RO systems, the Waterdrop requires electricity to pump water through the system and a wasteful 30-minute water flush to get started.

That said, once you're past the setup hurdle, maintenance is a breeze. Traditional RO systems are notorious for difficult filter changes, but the G3P600 bucks the trend. Our tester joked, “I almost jumped for joy when I realized how simple filter changes are.” And, with a filter change indicator on the faucet and on the under-sink unit, you'll never have to guess when it's time.

The Waterdrop G3P600 costs more upfront than many RO systems, but its tankless design, low maintenance, and average operating costs help justify the price. For busy households that go through a lot of water, its $145 annual maintenance cost beats the ongoing expense of pitcher filters. It also wastes far less water than traditional RO systems, producing just 1 gallon of wastewater for every 2.3 gallons of clean water in our tests. That's a win for both your wallet and the environment.

Should You Buy the Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System?

The Waterdrop G3P600 is a solid choice for anyone who wants top-tier water quality without the common hassles of a traditional RO system. It has a pretty hefty price tag and is a commitment to install, but we think its daily convenience more than makes up for the cost. And though it may not remove quite as many contaminants as a tanked RO system, it still performs a heck of a lot better than most other filters. That said, if budget is top priority, this may not be the best choice.

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