Water Purifier For Home (2025)

Water filter companies profit more from selling expensive filters and Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) than from the purifiers themselves. However, here we will  focus specifically on the purification performance of various popular RO water purifiers in India.

Why You Should Only Buy an RO Purifier

I  strongly recommends that every household should install an RO (Reverse Osmosis) water purifier, regardless of the water source or its initial TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level.

• The Problem with Low TDS: Even if your municipal or borewell water has a low TDS (under 500, which is considered safe by WHO and BIS), it can contain invisible and dangerous contaminants.
• Hidden Dangers: These contaminants can include heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury, as well as sulfates and potential sewage contamination, which a simple TDS meter cannot detect.
• The Only Solution: According to me, only an RO purifier is capable of effectively removing these harmful substances, making the water truly safe for you and your family.

Testing Methodology

To ensure a fair and real-world comparison, I followed a rigorous testing process:

1. Selection:  One of the highest-selling and most reputed water purifiers were purchased. This included models from Aquaguard, Livpure , Kent , Pureit , and Urban Company. A generic "local" purifier was also included for comparison.
2. Usage: Most purifiers were used for five to six months to simulate long-term performance and filter degradation.
3. Water Sources: The purifiers were tested with water from three different regions: N1, D1, and G1, with TDS levels ranging from 50-350 up to 1500.
4. Lab Testing: Instead of relying on a simple TDS meter, purified water samples from each machine were also sent to  labs.
5. Parameters: The lab conducted a detailed analysis across 28 different parameters, including pH, hardness, TDS, and the presence of various metals (iron, copper, lead, arsenic, etc.). 

Brand-by-Brand Performance Review & Cost Analysis

 The results are presented in a "worst-to-best" order based on purification performance and long-term cost.

1. Pureit (HUL)

• Performance: Rated as the worst performers. All three tested models showed similar poor results.
• Issues: TDS reduction was inadequate, and heavy metals were not eliminated as effectively as by other brands.
• Cost: Extremely high maintenance. The proprietary filter kit (GK kit) costs ₹4,500 to ₹5,000 and often needs replacement every 6-8 months, with no cheaper aftermarket alternatives available.

2. Kent (Supreme / Grand)

• Performance: Mediocre. After 5-6 months of use, the TDS reduction was not significant, and metal elimination was incomplete.
• Cost: High. A complete filter kit change costs over ₹4,200. The membrane is costly but not of corresponding high quality.

3. Livpure (Allura)

• Performance: Good. The RO membrane effectively controlled TDS and other contaminants.
• Major Limitation: The purifier is only suitable for water with a TDS up to 1500. This is mentioned on a sticker inside the machine, not in marketing materials.
• Warranty & Cost: Comes with a genuine 2.5-year unconditional warranty covering all parts and filters. However, after the warranty period, the annual filter cost is high, between ₹4,700 and ₹5,000.

4. Aquaguard (Aura)

• Performance: Excellent purification. I was satisfied with the water quality.
• Misleading Warranty: The advertised 2-year warranty is only for electrical parts. It does not cover filters. Furthermore, a service visit charge of ₹500 applies after the first year.
• Cost: High. Annual filter replacement costs are between ₹4,500 and ₹5,000, which feels like "drinking water on EMI."

5. Urban Company (Native M1 & M2)

• Performance: I can rate it as best performers. Even after six months of heavy use, the TDS and pH levels were perfectly controlled, and all metals were completely eliminated. Company claims  it has  advanced "three-leaf, auto-flush" membrane that self-cleans.
• Warranty: Company claims  2-year unconditional warranty that covers everything—filters, electrical parts, sensors—with no service charges whatsoever.
• Cost: The lowest maintenance cost by a significant margin. The post-warranty annual filter replacement cost is approximately ₹2,250, less than half of what most other brands charge.

Conclusion and Final Recommendation

Based on the comprehensive lab tests and long-term cost analysis, I can clear recommend:

• The Problem with the Industry: Most brands sell you a purifier and then trap you into a cycle of expensive, proprietary filters and misleading warranties, costing you ₹4,000-₹5,000 annually.
• The Best Choice: The Urban Company Native M1 or M2 is the top recommendation. It not only delivered the best purification results in lab tests but also offers a truly unconditional 2-year warranty and has the lowest long-term maintenance cost.

And here I concludes by stating that primary motivation is to ensure people have access to safe drinking water without being exploited financially.