Start with your home water. To choose a good water filter, consider your water analysis, your consumption (how many people use the filter daily) for drinking and cooking, and the space you'll be installing the device in. What substances do you want it to retain? How much water do you filter in a day?
1. Start with water analysis
The composition of your water will tell you what kind of filter you need. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guide to choosing home water filters recommends identifying the substances in your water before choosing a filter that can remove them.
Find the water analysis report for your area. The public water utility provides analysis reports, and a sample taken from your home's tap and analyzed in a lab can provide additional information about the water you use. Check the date of the sample. Ask for the operator's report if it is not published.
Olympus antimicrobial filters are designed for water from networks controlled by municipal or local authorities. The guide Is tap water in Romania drinkable? explains water checks and the information in the analysis bulletin.
2. Check what each cartridge holds
Each cartridge has a role. Look in the product description for the substances you need filtration for and follow the correspondence with the chosen model, including when the device has multiple stages.
For the ceramic activated carbon cartridge in the antimicrobial filters, Olympus declares the retention of chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals, asbestos fibers, hexavalent chromium, arsenic, lead and cadmium. This cartridge allows the passage of mineral salts and trace elements.
In the Olympus double and triple models, additional cartridges complement the basic filtration by reducing limescale or nitrates, depending on the variant chosen. The limescale cartridge reduces water hardness. The nitrate cartridge reduces nitrate concentration.
Even the value displayed by a TDS meter does not replace this check. You can find the explanation in Water TDS: What It Shows and What It Doesn't.
3. Read the value in microns along with the flow rate
Pore size is expressed in microns. It is relevant to particle retention and is read in conjunction with the materials in the cartridge to understand what the device can retain.
Olympus offers ceramic activated carbon cartridges in sizes from 0.5 to 0.1 microns. The manufacturer recommends the 0.5 micron version and states that the smaller pores reduce water flow.
For a countertop filter, the recommended flow rate is 1.5-2.5 liters per minute, at a mains pressure of 2.5-3.5 bar. These conditions matter when comparing technical data sheets: the flow rate tells you how much filtered water you can get in a minute, and the value in microns shows the pore size.
4. Read the tests and scope of the certifications
Consult the product's test certificates. They indicate the part tested, the substances and conditions of the evaluation, and the NSF contaminant reduction guide organizes certified products by the substances for which they were evaluated. Read the certification along with its standard.
Olympus presents documents for its technology on the certification page. The ceramic cartridge description mentions tests carried out by three European chemical laboratories and, in 2010, by the Agricultural University of Athens for bacterial retention. The antimicrobial technology is patented by Center Plus SA.
For the Olympus bath filter, the NSF/ANSI 61 certification mentioned in the description concerns the activated carbon in the cartridge. The certification thus specifies the material to which the certification refers, separate from the tests of the ceramic cartridges in the antimicrobial range.
5. Learn how to maintain the filter
Follow the maintenance instructions. Depending on the model, these include cleaning the cartridge, replacing it, and, for resin-based models, periodic regeneration, which you can incorporate into your routine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) links proper filter use to following these instructions.
In the antimicrobial Olympus models, the copper alloy base helps protect the interior of the device from microbes. The manufacturer claims to destroy up to 95% of the microbes inside the device within two hours. This feature refers to the interior of the device and is supplemented by the maintenance provided in the instructions.
The ceramic cartridge is cleaned every 3-4 months or when the flow rate drops noticeably, and the cartridges for limestone and nitrates have their own regeneration intervals.
6. Calculate the cost of cartridges after consumption
Calculate the number of cartridges by consumption. In addition to the price of the device, take into account the price of each part and the two limits of use, time and water volume, since replacement is done at the first limit reached.
| Exemplary | Declared limit for the base cartridge | Replacement cartridge price |
|---|---|---|
| Olympus standard | up to 12 months or 8,000 L | 225 lei (45 €) |
| Olympus GIGA | up to 12 months or 14,000 L | 300 lei (60 €) |
| Mini faucet filter | 6 months or 2,000 L | 85 lei (17 €) |
Olympus recommends the standard model for families of up to five people and the GIGA series for families of six or more people. The instructions for the ceramic cartridges state that they should be replaced no later than 10-12 months, even if the maximum volume has not been used.
For a standard 225 lei (45 €) cartridge, using the entire 8,000 liter capacity within the allowed range would mean approximately 0.028 lei (0.0056 €) per liter. This is just the cost of the cartridge, without the initial device or any additional cartridges. If you replace it at the time limit after a lower consumption, the cost per liter increases.
All models and ranges are brought together in the Olympus replacement cartridge guide.
7. Choose the assembly and filtering stages
For drinking and cooking water, you can choose a device located in the kitchen:
- On the countertop: the antimicrobial filter connects to your existing faucet and starts at 385 lei (77 €). The faucet water filter guide shows installation and available models. The mini filter, at 135 lei (27 €), is a distinct variant that attaches directly to the faucet and is recommended if the filter is used daily by only one person.
- Under the sink: Olympus undercounter filter, at 570 lei (114 €), uses a separate tap for filtered water. The under-sink water filter guide explains the installation.
If your water analysis indicates a need for hardness or nitrate reduction, you can choose a dual model with the appropriate additional cartridge. The triple model includes both. Details on concentrations and maintenance are in the article Nitrates and Nitrite in Tap Water.
For the bathroom, the shower filter is mounted separately, between the faucet and the hose.
What to keep in mind when comparing models
| Criterion | Information to check |
|---|---|
| Water in the home | analysis and power supply |
| The role of the cartridge | the substances for which it is intended |
| Microns and flow rate | recommended pore size, flow rate and pressure |
| test | tested component, results and scope of certification |
| Maintenance | cleaning, regeneration and model instructions |
| Cost in use | cartridge price and limits in months and liters |
| Installation | The space available for mounting and the actual installation |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tap water filter?
Choose based on your home's water. Compare the role of cartridges, tests, flow rate, and water analysis, taking into account the consumption, installation space, and maintenance required for each model.
Do Olympus filters retain minerals?
The ceramic cartridge with activated carbon from the antimicrobial range allows the passage of mineral salts and trace elements. In multi-stage devices, the result also depends on additional cartridges.
How much does it cost to maintain a Olympus water filter?
The standard basic cartridge costs 225 lei (45 €), and the GIGA, 300 lei (60 €). They are replaced at the indicated time or liter limit, depending on which is reached first. For double and triple models, the replacement of additional cartridges is added. The antimicrobial device is delivered with a filter cartridge included.
What warranty do Olympus antimicrobial filters have?
Antimicrobial models have a two-year warranty. These Olympus filters are manufactured in Greece by Center Plus SA and are backed by manufacturer technical support.
