Clean drinking water shouldn't be a source of daily worry — but for many Kenyan households, questions about water quality, safety, and the best filtration option are genuinely confusing. Here's a clear guide to what your options actually are, and how to choose between them.
Why Home Filtration Matters
Even where municipal water supply exists, water quality can vary due to aging infrastructure, storage tanks, and inconsistent treatment along the distribution network. For households relying on boreholes or other private sources, water quality can be even less predictable. Home filtration systems exist to close that gap — giving your family consistent, safe drinking water regardless of what's coming through your taps.
Understanding Your Options
Filtech offers two main categories of under-sink home filtration, each suited to a different water situation.
RO Systems — For Maximum Purification
The S7 RO System uses reverse osmosis, a purification method that filters water down to 0.0001 microns — fine enough to remove dissolved solids, heavy metals, and contaminants that other filters can't catch. It's a tankless design, meaning no bulky storage tank taking up cupboard space, and it comes in four capacity options (400, 600, 800, and 1000 GPD) to match your household's water usage.
RO is the right choice when your water source quality is uncertain or variable — for instance, if you're on a borehole, or in an area where municipal supply reliability has been inconsistent.
UF Systems — For Municipal Water
The U5 UF System uses ultrafiltration, a gentler but still highly effective filtration method, specifically designed for municipal water supply. It runs through a 5-stage process — sediment filtration, two stages of activated carbon filtration, ultrafiltration membrane filtration, and a final post-carbon coconut filter — removing bacteria and improving taste while retaining beneficial minerals that RO systems filter out entirely.
If your household is on a reliable municipal connection, UF filtration is often the more efficient choice — it doesn't need to work as hard as RO to deliver safe water, since the water source is already treated.
What About Countertop Options?
Not every home has the plumbing setup — or desire — for a full under-sink installation. Filtech's desktop dispensers offer a compact alternative:
- Desktop RO: A fill-type unit (no plumbing required) with 3-stage filtration (sediment, carbon, RO), offering hot and room-temperature water.
- Desktop UF: Built for municipal water, with 2-stage filtration (UF and carbon), offering hot, cold, and room-temperature water.
These are ideal for smaller households, apartments, or anyone who wants filtered water without a full installation.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
Ask yourself these questions:
- What's my water source? Borehole or uncertain quality → lean toward RO. Reliable municipal supply → UF is likely sufficient and more efficient.
- How much water does my household use daily? Larger families may want to consider the higher-capacity S7 variants.
- Do I want an under-sink system, or is a countertop unit more practical for my kitchen?
Maintenance Matters More Than People Think
A filtration system is only as good as its filters. Filtech's S7 system uses quick-connect filters that can be replaced in seconds without tools, with a CBPA filter life of 3–6 months and RO filter life of 18–24 months. Staying on top of filter changes — rather than waiting until water quality noticeably drops — is the single most important thing you can do to keep any home filtration system performing properly.
Ready to Find the Right Fit?
Choosing between RO and UF filtration comes down to your specific water source and household needs — and getting it right matters for your family's health and your system's long-term performance.
Talk to a Filtech water expert to find the right home water purification system for your household.
Have a question about your water setup?
Talk to a Water Expert