I’ve had my Distillata reverse osmosis water filtration system for almost four years now. Honestly? I can’t imagine living without it. My family drinks more water than ever — not just because we know we “should,” but because it tastes better, feels cleaner, and gives real peace of mind.
When their technician came out to replace the filter last time, I made a point to show what came out — and wow: the filter was filthy. What you saw was a mix of sediment, dissolved solids, and “stuff” that, without the system, would have gone straight into our glasses instead of being filtered out.
After seeing that mess, I just can’t help but think about all the stuff my family was drinking for the years before and I’m wondering if you know what your family is drinking too?
This is what a clean filter looks like:
Whether your water comes from a private well like mine or from city treatment, there are always contaminants — some obvious, some invisible. That’s why I truly believe the first step toward healthy water for your family is: test it.
💧 Step 1: Test Your Water — It’s Easy & Eye‑Opening
Before you even consider installing a filtration system or upgrading — do a water test. It’s quick, usually inexpensive, and gives you real data. I recommend a simple home‑testing kit (you don’t need lab work immediately). For example, this on‑home water‑testing kit works well and won’t break the bank. For under $10, you can get a TDS tester which will give you an overall water purity level.
With just a few drops and minutes, you’ll see basic indicators like total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, pH, nitrates, heavy metals — enough to tell you whether you should dig deeper. It’s a great first step before committing to a full filtration system.
If you want, you can also get an advanced water kit for much more that will test for things like lead and copper — especially if your initial test shows something concerning. For many families, though, the home‑kit is a useful wake‑up call.
🏙 Why It Matters — Even for City Water in Akron & Cleveland
If you get city water like many people in Northeast Ohio, you might feel safe by default. But “meets regulatory standards” doesn’t always mean “perfect.” Here’s what’s worth knowing:
In 2025, the city of Akron Water Supply Bureau reported that at two sampling sites, levels of a disinfectant by‑product called HAA5 exceeded the regulatory maximum — a mark some experts link to long‑term health risks.
Even if water passes standard testing, many contaminants — heavy metals, dissolved solids, disinfectant by‑products, agricultural runoff residues, and more — may still be present at low levels. According to Akron’s latest water‑quality report, their source water is “considered susceptible to contamination” from multiple potential sources (industrial runoff, urban storm water, agriculture, etc.).
For those on Cleveland Water Works, recent public data shows that their water has a few contaminants above some health‑based guidelines, even though it meets legal limits.
In other words — even if you drink “city water,” you can’t assume it’s free of all unwanted chemicals or potential toxins. Testing gives you the truth.
🌿 Step 2: If You Test & Want Peace of Mind — Consider Reverse Osmosis
Once you know what’s in your water, a filtration system like the one from Distillata can make a big difference. Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most reliable ways to remove many common contaminants.
According to water‑filtration research:
RO typically removes 95–99% of dissolved salts, heavy metals, many chemicals, and particles.
It can significantly reduce or eliminate harmful substances like lead, arsenic, nitrates, chlorine, and more — which many basic pitcher filters or faucet‑mounted filters may miss.
Compared to constantly buying bottled water — or worrying about taste or odor — an under‑sink RO system offers “set and forget” convenience. Your water flows from the tap clean and ready, without daily effort of changing water filters or lugging gallons of water.
When I installed Distillata’s RO system, I noticed immediate changes: water tasted cleaner, coffee and tea brewed with it were smoother, and I felt good about giving it to my kids. Check out my full Distillata Reverse Osmosis System review here. Distillata is a local company that has been serving our communities for 125 years, and I trust them completely to provide safe, high-quality water for my family. It’s easy to forget how much water we drink — but with this system, I know we’re not drinking contaminants along with it!
🎁 A Practical Gift Idea — For You or Loved Ones
With the holiday season around the corner (and New Year’s resolutions on the horizon), a water‑filtration system makes an excellent, practical gift — for your home, parents, or grandparents. It’s not flashy, but it’s meaningful: a gift of health, hygiene, and everyday safety. It shows you care and it’s a gift that will be used daily! Distillata will even install it for you.
This is definitely something worth considering if you have relatives who have healthcare needs, and especially elderly family members whose home water-filtration system may need improving. Healthy, quality water can truly support a healthy lifestyle and this is crucial in older age, even more if your relatives have chosen to stay living at home. Choosing to live independently at home, even with a home health aide, is not an easy decision. You can be sure that quality water will help protect their immune system further.
Knowledge + Action = Healthy Water
Testing your water is simple. Installing a quality reverse osmosis system is easy with Distillata. Together, they give you clarity, safety, and peace of mind — especially if you rely on city water or a well, or if you want to protect growing kids, seniors, or anyone in your household.
I’m grateful every day we made this upgrade. The dirty filter told me everything I needed to know. I hope after testing and reading this, you’ll consider the same for your home. Clean, safe water might be the best home upgrade you never thought much about — until you see what’s in your tap.
Order Distillata Reverse Osmosis Water Filter
There are two ways to order your own Distillata Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System. Go to the Under Sink Water Filter system on their website. Select Rent or Buy.
We chose to buy the system; however renting is a REALLY good deal. For $30 a month, you will have your reverse osmosis water filter system professionally installed, plus have FREE filter changes and FREE service calls. This is ideal for those who don’t want to keep track of when to change filters or actually change the filters.
Buying the system is also a great deal since you’ll own the unit for $439 and just replace filters as needed. Professional installation is an additional $150 if you buy the unit.
When I added up how much I spent on filters over the year, it totaled $478 for the pitcher filter that I used that was a hassle and was never enough water at a time for even 4 glasses of water to be filled. Plus, when I added the bottled water that I purchased per year, that total was over $180, conservatively. Buying or renting the Distillata Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System is less expensive AND delivers better quality water, more water, and no plastic waste of bottles or multiple filters monthly. Plus, their pricing hasn’t increased over the last 4 years.
Distillata is really a no-brainer for those that want clean, purified water for their home.
