Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink Review

The Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink Filter has a sleek, compact design, making it easy to fit into almost any kitchen. While its fast-flowing, carbon-based filter is great for users with already fairly safe drinking water, it's not rigorous enough to address serious contamination. Still, for its money-saving and convenience, we think it's an excellent choice for the right household.

Lead & Metals

Despite its claims to remove heavy metals, the Waterdrop did little to remove common health-concerning metals from our samples. Over multiple rounds of testing, we saw virtually no removal of lead, arsenic, uranium, or lithium, placing the WD-10UA at the bottom of the pack.

If you have concerns about aging pipes in your home, live near an industrial zone, or live in a region with naturally high metal levels, you'll want better protection. An important distinction: the Waterdrop is certified to be built with lead-free materials, not to remove lead.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

The Waterdrop Under Sink performed well in our PFAS test, removing more of these health-risky "forever chemicals" than most other filters we tested.

Although the Waterdrop is not officially certified for PFAS, it removed over 90% of two common PFAS substances, PFNA and PFBA, that we added to our test samples. Given the widespread presence of PFAS in our water supplies, we think the Waterdrop is a fantastic addition to any home. But if you like to play things extra safe, there are options certified to remove even more.

Microplastics

The Waterdrop also performed well in our microplastics test, earning one of the highest scores of the group.

This simple under-sink filter removed microplastics of all sizes, ranging from large 15+ micron particles to small particles below 5 microns. In total, of the over 4,000 microplastic particles we introduced into our water, the Waterdrop removed all but 7. Pretty impressive. Even though scientists are still deciphering the extent of microplastics' harm to our health, we think limiting our exposure is a win.

Fluoride & Nitrates

Fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate are tricky substances to remove and are typically best handled by a space-hungry reverse osmosis (RO) system. So, like most other non-RO filters we tested, the Waterdrop 10UA scored below average in this metric.

The Waterdrop didn't help much with fluoride or sulfate. However, it surprised us by removing 77% of nitrates, which is more than other non-RO options we tested. If you only have mild elevations of health-concerning nitrates in your water, the Waterdrop should be able to bring them back down into the EPA's “safe” zone. But if your water is heavily contaminated by fertilizer or manure runoff, or if you have concerns about fluoride or sulfate, your best bet is to invest in an RO system.

Taste & Chlorine

The Waterdrop WD-10UA can improve taste by reducing chlorine, but it won't dramatically change your water's overall flavor. Because it leaves behind beneficial minerals and dissolved solids, the final taste still depends heavily on your home's water chemistry. So we'd say it's a noticeable but not game-changing upgrade in taste compared with untreated tap water.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

The Waterdrop is one of the easiest water filters to use and is incredibly cheap to maintain, earning it a top spot in our daily use and upkeep costs metric.

There are some tools required for installation, and you'll need to ensure you have the correct-sized adapter to fit it into your existing plumbing. But once you have this system set up, it's a breeze from here on out.

What we love about the Waterdrop Under Sink is that there are no pitcher refills required, just clean water flowing straight from the tap. And unlike faucet-mounted systems that cause a pressure dip, the Waterdrop keeps water flowing fast.

The filters have an incredibly long lifespan of 8,000 gallons or 12 months, whichever comes first. Even for large families, you're more likely to meet the 12-month interval than get anywhere near the 8,000-gallon mark. This means most users will spend only about $30 a year on replacements, which is super affordable in the long run. There's no filter change indicator, though, so you'll need to set a reminder.

Should You Buy the Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink?

The Waterdrop ED-10UA is a wonderfully affordable choice if you live in a newer development and are primarily concerned about removing PFAS, microplastics, and chlorine. It takes up minimal space under the sink and is ideal for large households with high water usage. That said, it won't remove heavy metals like lead, which could be a deal breaker if you live in an older home. And it won't cover other contaminants, such as nitrate and fluoride, for users with more specific needs.

What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?