Review: Santevia Gravity Water Filter System

Full Analysis of the Santevia Gravity Water System

Filtration: 2.54/5.00

In our analysis, the Santevia Gravity Water System scored a rather low 2.54/5.00 on filtration. It removed about half of the contaminants by 100% in our lab test, but several were either only partly removed or not at all. Perhaps more concerning, however, is that it appears styrene leached into our water at a level higher than the strictest health guideline. Still, the filtered water had a nice mineral taste and no odor. It’s also worth mentioning that while the company did a lot of contaminant reduction testing using NSF standards, the Santevia isn’t backed by actual NSF certifications.

1. Lab Results: 2.79/5.00

In our lab testing comparing a filtered vs unfiltered tap water sample, the Santevia gravity filter removed about half of the contaminants to below the minimum detection level. However, there were several notable exceptions:

• Chloroform, a common disinfection byproduct, wasn’t reduced at all. In fact, levels increased by 63% to 1.74 ppb, possibly due to normal water supply variations. The bigger concern here is that the ineffective removal of chloroform (or DPBs in general) is important since these compounds are widespread in tap water, often surpassing their strictest health guidelines, and have been linked to health risks like bladder cancer.
• Barium was 0% removed, which is obviously not good.
• Boron was reduced by 83%, which isn’t bad.
• Lithium was 0% removed. Note: Lithium in our water was at the lowest possible level and we possibly would have seen at least some reduction with the Santevia if pre-filtration levels had been higher.
• Strontium was reduced by 46% – not that good.
• Fluoride was reduced by 27% – even worse.
• Aluminum increased from undetected to 0.01 ppm, likely from the fluoride filter (which contains activated alumina, aka aluminum oxide). While that’s well below the strictest health guideline, it’s still worth noting.
• Styrene also increased, from undetected to 0.64 ppb. Now we find this concerning since the strictest health guideline (OEHHA) sets the limit of styrene to 0.5 ppb with Carcinogenicity as the Health Risk Category.
• Zinc increased from undetected to 0.14 ppm, and manganese increased from undetected to 0.01 ppm. However, both are trace minerals and nothing to worry about at those levels.

Lab Results Chart

*100% means reduction to below the minimum detection level. To learn more about our testing procedures check our editorial guidelines.

Link to Filtered Water Report
Link to Unfiltered Water Report

2. NSF Certifications and Other Test Data

The Santevia system comes with 3rd-party testing for the reduction of 84 common water contaminants, including lead, mercury, fluoride, cadmium, benzene, PFOS, and others, following NSF standards 42, 53, and 401, and other non-NSF standards which isn’t bad. Almost all of those contaminants were removed by over 99% (see the official results here), with notable exceptions, including sulphate, nitrates, nitrites, perchlorate, chloride, and barium. Also, there are no actual NSF certifications, which is an important distinction.

3. Filtration Process

First, the Santevia gravity system uses a 0.3-micron ceramic pre-filter to remove larger particles like sediment and other dirt, but also some potentially harmful stuff.

Then, the system uses a fluoride filter cartridge featuring multiple layers that go something like this:

• Activated alumina (aka aluminum oxide) is used to remove fluoride and arsenic.
• KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) media made of copper and zinc granules uses redox reactions to eliminate chlorine, precipitate out soluble heavy metals which then get stuck within the filter cartridge, and prevent microbial growth.
• Then activated carbon removes bad taste and odor, chlorine, organics, and other contaminants including certain metals such as lead.
• Finally, there are two post-treatment layers. The first is a layer of mineral stones and balls to add minerals and raise water pH. Then the water passes through a zeolite layer, a naturally occurring mineral used to improve taste.

Finally, the filtered water sits in the storage tank containing even more mineral stones and balls used to further increase mineral content and ph.

4. Taste and Odor Test

The filtered water had a mineral taste, but that was intended by adding the mineral stones post-treatment. The taste was pleasant and there was no odor.

Usability: 2.50/5.00

The Santevia scored a very poor 2.50/5.00 in usability. That’s because it was rather complicated and very time-consuming to set up and had rather poor filtration speeds. It also takes up more counter space than most other home gravity water filters we know. On the plus side, it does have a generous 2.6-gallon storage capacity.

1. Initial Setup

The initial setup involves lots of parts to prepare and assemble, although at least no additional tools were required. Here is an overview:

1. Soak the ceramic pre-filter in cool water for 1 hour before scrubbing it with an abrasive sponge.
2. Rinse the fluoride filter element under running water for 2-3 minutes until the water runs clear.
3. Boil the mineral stones for 20 minutes, then cool them before using.
4. Open the mineral stones basket using a flathead screwdriver to pry it open. Wash it and place the mineral stones in it (you can also put them directly in the bottom of the tank).
5. Wash the upper and lower tanks with mild soap, rinse well, and dry thoroughly.
6. Install the tap stem in the lower tank with a silicone washer on each side, then snugly hand-tighten the magnetic nut inside to secure it. Do not use tools to tighten it.
7. Place the lower tank on the base.
8. Place mineral stones (or the basket with stones) in the lower tank.
9. Place the middle ring on the lower tank.
10. Screw the filter element into the bottom of the cartridge connector and place it in the middle ring.
11. Remove the nut and one silicone washer from the ceramic pre-filter and insert it through the hole in the upper tank. Then place the washer back on the stem, add a nut, and hand-tighten it until secure.
12. Place the upper tank on top of the lower tank.
13. Condition the filtration system by running two tanks of water through it and discarding the water, which should take several hours.

2. Everyday Use

Once the system is set up, everyday use is pretty straightforward. Just add water and wait for it to filter to the lower chamber, and you can dispense it easily with the plastic spigot. One thing we didn’t like was the rather large footprint.

3. Filtration/Dispensing Speed Test

In our filtration speed test, where we added 2 gallons of water, it took 2:00 hours to supply 4 cups of filtered water. Unfortunately, you cannot speed this up using additional filters (as you can with systems like the Big Berkey) since the Santevia gravity filter is designed only to accept one filter element. On the plus side, the generous 2.6-gallon storage capacity should supply enough drinking water for the day as long as you plan ahead.

4. Maintenance (Filter Replacements)

There is no filter life indicator; instead, you use a scheduled replacement of 4 to 6 months (or 317 gallons) for the main filter cartridge. The ceramic pre-filter lasts 1 year. The minerals stones are good for up to 2 years.

The filter replacement itself was fairly easy and self-explanatory. Remove the nut, install a new filter with a silicone washer on each side, and then secure it with a nut. In addition, the company also recommends weekly scrubbing of the ceramic pre-filter Another maintenance item is to boil your mineral stones again for 3-5 minutes four times a year to disinfect them.

Costs: 2.86/5.00

1. Upfront Price

As of January 2025, the Santevia system costs $179.99, including the ceramic pre-filter, fluoride removal filter, and mineral stones, so pretty affordable! And if you use our discount code you can get an additional 10% off.

2. Long-Term Expenses for Filter Replacements

The total annual expenses for filter replacements are about $214.50, which feels steep given the filters’ performance in our testing. That includes the ceramic pre-filter for about $43 annually, the fluoride filter for a yearly cost of about $150, and also ~$21.50 per year for the mineral stones in the lower tank. Minor pro: The company offers a 5% discount on all filter components with a filter subscription.

Additional Ranking Factors

1. All-Plastic Construction

The all-plastic construction was a definite strike against the Santevia, since most countertop gravity water filters are made of stainless steel.

2. Variable Warranties

By default, you only get a limited warranty of 90 days for the system and 30 days for the filters. However, if you register your product with Santevia, they will offer a lifetime warranty on the system.

3. Frequent Customer Complaints

Frequent 3rd party customer complaints include the design quality, leaking, cloudy water, taste issues, mold/mildew/algae, and slow filtration.

4. Mineralization

Based on our lab testing, potassium in our water increased from 1.34 to 40.99 ppm and magnesium increased from 13.38 to 35.74 ppm, presumably coming from the mineral stones and balls. As such, magnesium content even slightly surpassed the 20-30 ppm optimum level in drinking water recommended by the WHO. Interestingly, despite adding minerals, calcium decreased from 65.13 to 32.06 ppm.

Bottom Line: No Match for Higher-Performing Gravity-Type Countertop Filters

The Santevia Gravity Water System gets a final rating of 2.60/5.00. It scored poorly in our lab testing, with several contaminants only partially removed or not at all, and potential styrene leaching above health guidelines. While the manufacturer tested contaminant reduction for 84 contaminants mostly using NSF standards, this isn’t backed by actual certifications. The water tasted clean with a pleasant mineral taste and had no odor.

The all-plastic parts raise concerns over long-term durability, and the initial setup was the most complicated and time-consuming of any home gravity system we’ve tested up to this point. There’s also the slow filtration speed which cannot be increased with additional filter elements. And finally: Relatively high annual maintenance costs and the frequent customer complaints.

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