AquaTru vs Bluevua: A Data-Driven Comparison

In our testing, AquaTru was better at reducing most contaminants in our water and provided the reassurance of being performance certified for everything it was claimed to remove. But the Bluevua ROPOT system has a more space-saving design and a built-in UV light to protect against microorganisms that might accumulate in the filters.

📊 Our Testing Data

At Water Filter Guru, we personally test and review water treatment systems in real-world conditions in homes across the US. 

We use a scoring system comprising six performance factors that impact the quality and overall value of a filter. In the next table, we’ve compared the scores that AquaTru and Bluevua achieved across the testing categories: 

Factor	Aquatru	Bluevua
Contaminant Reduction	9.91	8.23
Filtration Rate	7.00	7.50
Design	9.70	10.00
Setup	10.00	10.00
Maintenance	9.75	9.75
Company	8.80	8.65

If you want to know exactly how we reached each of these performance scores, you can see the data that we combined for each of the countertop RO systems in the table below.

Factor	Aquatru	Bluevua	Winner
Overall Score	9.54	8.68	Aquatru
Health Related Contaminants	9.90	8.40	Aquatru
Aesthetic Related Contaminants	9.90	9.90	Tie
Performance Certification	Certified for 100% of reduction claims	none	Aquatru
Filtration Rate	0.04 GPM	0.06 GPM	Bluevua
Component Quality	Outstanding	Exceptional	Bluevua
Component Certification	NSF 42	NSF 372	Tie
Setup	Exceptional	Exceptional	Tie
Servicing Requirements	Outstanding	Outstanding	Tie
Costs	$0.11/ gal	$0.27/ gallon	Aquatru
Warranty Length	1 year	1 year	Tie
Shipping	Free	Free to continental US only	Aquatru
Returns	30 days	30 days	Tie

▶️ Video Review

🚰 Contaminant Reduction

You’re probably interested in reverse osmosis because it can remove virtually all impurities in your water, so our top priority was to see how AquaTru and Bluevua impacted our own water quality. 

Both manufacturers claim to remove a whole host of dangerous contaminants. But rather than take their claims at face value, we prefer to obtain our own data from testing our water at home. 

Our contaminant reduction scores are also influenced by official performance certifications from the WQA, NSF, or IAPMO, which provide the reassurance of legitimate data from a reputable testing organization.

Our Lab Test Results

We tested our water quality using the same process for AquaTru and Bluevua. 

This involved filling a large bucket with water, which we mixed to ensure contaminants were distributed evenly. We then filled the RO systems with water from the bucket and took a sample of purified water from the dispenser. For comparison, we took a sample of unfiltered water directly from the bucket. 

We used Tap Score tests by SimpleLab to test our water, receiving our results in the form of an interactive report for each before-and-after water sample.

These reports listed the contaminants that were detected in our unfiltered water, and how these were altered in our water filtered by AquaTru and Bluevua. We assessed the safety of the contaminants detected by analyzing their concentrations against Tap Score’s Health Guideline Levels (HGLs), which are stricter than the federal MCLs. 

The next table displays our test data for each of the RO systems. 

Contaminant	Measurement	Unfiltered Water	Aquatru	%Change	Unfiltered Water	Bluevua	%Change
Barium	PPM	0.014	0	-100.00%	0.0168	0.0038	-77.38%
Bicarbonate	PPM	ND	ND	ND	88.9	29.54	-66.77%
Calcium	PPM	9.2	0	-100.00%	25.3	3.3	-86.96%
Carbonate	PPM	ND	ND	ND	0.052	1.36	2515.38%
Chloride	PPM	23.9	0.7	-97.07%	15.4	3.3	-78.57%
Chlorine	PPM	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
Cobalt	PPM	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
Copper	PPM	0.0525	0	-100.00%	0.0764	0	-100.00%
Fluoride	PPM	1.5	0	-100.00%	1.2	0.2	-83.33%
Lead	PPM	0.0009	0	-100.00%	ND	ND	ND
Magnesium	PPM	6.08	0.36	-94.08%	6.07	2.42	-60.13%
Manganese	PPM	ND	ND	ND	0	0.0023	n.a
Molybdenum	PPM	0.0047	0	-100.00%	0.0023	0	-100.00%
Nitrate (as N)	PPM	2.1	0	-100.00%	3.2	0	-100.00%
Phosphorus	PPM	1.1	0	-100.00%	ND	ND	ND
Potassium	PPM	ND	ND	ND	0	2.75	n.a
Sodium	PPM	9.91	0	-100.00%	9.91	4.01	-59.54%
Strontium	PPM	0.108	0	-100.00%	0.108	0.026	-75.93%
Sulfate	PPM	7.6	0	-100.00%	7.8	0	-100.00%
Uranium	PPM	0.0182	0	-100.00%	0.0099	0	-100.00%
Zinc	PPM	0.559	0	-100.00%	ND	ND	ND

AquaTru did the best job of removing contaminants in our water compared to Bluevua. But both delivered impressive results in this category, as we’d expect from reverse osmosis water treatment. 

Health-Related Contaminants

First, we compared AquaTru and Bluevua for their ability to reduce the health-related contaminants detected in our unfiltered water. 

We tested the AquaTru several months before testing the Bluevua ROPOT, and different contaminants were detected in our water in each test. 

In our AquaTru test, our unfiltered water contained trace levels of 11 contaminants with possible health effects. Fluoride, lead, and uranium were all detected at concentrations exceeding the HGL. Trace levels of barium, zinc, copper, strontium, and other impurities were also detected.

In our Bluevua test, fluoride and uranium were detected above the HGL, as well as nitrate, sulfate, copper, barium, strontium, and molybdenum detected below the HGL.

Here’s the full list of contaminants detected in each of our water samples.

The AquaTru eliminated 100% of every single one of these contaminants. We also retested the system with a remineralization filter. In this test, chromium was also detected in our unfiltered water, and the AquaTru completely eliminated it post-filtration.

The Bluevua ROPOT eliminated all uranium—but it only reduced 83% of fluoride. It also removed nitrate, sulfate, copper, and molybdenum by 100%, as well as barium by 77% and strontium by 75%.

Both did a great job here, but AquaTru is the clear winner for eliminating everything our water contained. 

Aesthetic Contaminants

Our unfiltered water contained around 1 PPM of chlorine, with this being the only aesthetic contaminant detected in our testing. 

AquaTru and Bluevua both eliminated chlorine, likely as a result of their activated carbon filters, which are well-known for their ability to address chlorine-related tastes and odors.  

Minerals & Ions

Reverse osmosis systems act like sieves, filtering even the smaller impurities out of water, and this gives them a unique ability compared to most water filters: mineral ion reduction. 

It’s pretty normal for an RO system to reduce 70-100% of minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. These are all present naturally in many drinking water supplies and contribute to taste and alkalinity.

Since mineral reduction has no benefits for most folks, remineralization filters are an increasingly popular addition to modern countertop RO systems. AquaTru and Bluevua both offer remineralization: 

• With AquaTru, you can swap out the Classic VOC filter for the Alkaline Mineral Boost VOC Filter, which costs $20 extra.
• Bluevua sells a filter (which also costs $20) that screws on top of the purified water carafe, so water is remineralized before collecting in the carafe. This is included in the upfront cost. 

We tested the AquaTru Classic (without remineralization) and the AquaTru Alkaline Classic (with remineralization). We tested the Bluevua ROPOT only once: with the included remineralization. We’ll be comparing both models with added remineralization here. 

In our AquaTru Alkaline Classic test: 

• Calcium decreased by 97.5%
• Magnesium was reduced by 33%
• pH increased from 7.3 to 10.7

In our Bluevua ROPOT test: 

• Calcium was reduced by 86% 
• Magnesium decreased by 60%
• pH increased from 7.1 to 9.0

You might be wondering why these healthy minerals were still reduced when we were using the systems with remineralization filters. 

We think that the filters are adding minerals back into the water, but at lower concentrations than those removed. Their biggest impact is on pH: both systems increased the pH of water to alkaline, especially AquaTru, which is a huge benefit (alkaline bottled water costs a fortune).

Performance Certifications

Our water contains just a small fraction of the contaminants that exist today, so we can only get so much information from our own water quality testing.

With this in mind, we also rank water filters based on the performance certifications they obtain, proving beyond the manufacturer’s claims that a filter can reduce contaminants that might not be present in our own water. 

The AquaTru is a shining example of a system with exceptional performance certifications, being certified across the board for all 83 contaminants the manufacturer claims to reduce. The system’s performance certifications are to NSF Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473.

The Bluevua ROPOT currently isn’t certified – it only has independent testing data for reducing contaminants. This is disappointing, especially since Bluevua uses deceptive marketing language on its product page, such as “Official Third Party Certification”, and has misleadingly used its WQA Gold Seal certificate (for lead-free design only) in a way that suggests this is for contaminant reduction.

🚦Filtration Rate

AquaTru and Bluevua use an electric pump to send water through their multiple RO stages.  

From there, AquaTru dispenses water from a gravity tank. The water purified by the Bluevua system is already ready to be used, as it collects instantly in the glass carafe after filtration. 

Product	Filtration Rate Score	Filtration Rate
Aquatru	7.00	0.04 GPM
Bluevua	7.50	0.06 GPM

Here’s how the systems compared in this category: 

• The AquaTru purified 11 cups of water in 15 minutes, 53 seconds, giving it a flow rate of 0.04 GPM
• The Bluevua ROPOT took 5 minutes and 53 seconds to filter enough water to fill the carafe (which holds 60 ounces of water, or around 7.5 cups). This equated to a flow rate of 0.06 GPM

So, Bluevua is ever so slightly faster than AquaTru, but both are pretty slow to deliver purified water. Bluevua is more convenient here as the water collects automatically as it filters, rather than having to press a button to dispense it manually. But as we said, if you want this feature from the AquaTru, it’s worth considering the AquaTru Carafe. 

Efficiency Ratio

Since both systems use reverse osmosis purification, we also need to compare their efficiency ratios, or recovery rates. 

These don’t contribute to a system’s overall performance score as they’re not included in our ranking system (because they’re only a consideration for reverse osmosis systems). 

But, we still think it’s well worth understanding and comparing efficiency ratios before you spend your money on an RO system. This data tells you how much water gets wasted by the system compared to how much water is purified. 

• The AquaTru has a 4:1 performance efficiency, which makes it the most efficient countertop RO system we’ve ever tested (along with the Simpure Y7P). 
• The Bluevua ROPOT has a 2:1 pure-to-wastewater ratio. 

That means, per 1 gallon of water purified, Bluevua wastes twice as much water as AquaTru. With Bluevua, 1 gallon of water is wasted for every 2 gallons purified, while AquaTru only wastes 1 gallon of water for every 4 gallons purified. 

But both are much more efficient than conventional systems, which waste up to 4 gallons of water per 1 gallon purified. 

💲 Upfront Cost

AquaTru and Bluevua are very similarly priced, but Bluevua is (only slightly) cheaper upfront. 

When we got the AquaTru to test, it cost $449 without any upgrades, or $469 for the model including the VOC remineralization filter. 

The Bluevua ROPOT costs $454, including remineralization and an internal UV light, which means you’re getting more for your money. 

But, as shown in our testing, its contaminant reduction performance was poorer overall, and it’s not certified, so in terms of overall value, we still think AquaTru takes the top spot.

📐 Design

AquaTru and Bluevua are both countertop RO systems with similar designs: a main unit, with tanks for storing the unfiltered/filtered water and reject water, and a dedicated space for storing the filters. 

Both units have a smart LCD display that lets you visualize and monitor your water quality, and see the filter lifespan at a glance. 

Size and water holding capacity are their two main differences: 

• The AquaTru is a bulkier system, measuring 14 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 14 inches deep, with a 0.7-gallon purified water storage tank.
• The Bluevua ROPOT is slimmer and more compact, measuring just over 15 inches tall and 10 inches across, with a 0.4-gallon glass carafe. 

While the AquaTru isn’t actually much bigger than the Bluevua unit, it’s more of an unusual shape, so it’s not as convenient for smaller spaces. If size is an issue for you, you could also consider the AquaTru carafe, which is much slimmer and stores water in a 0.5-gallon carafe. 

Here are the design scores we awarded to each of the RO systems. 

Product	Design Score	Component Quality	Materials Safety
Aquatru	9.70	Outstanding	Certified
Bluevua	10.00	Exceptional	Certified

When we compare Bluevua to the full-sized AquaTru system, Bluevua got the higher score (10.00) because of its glass water container. 

But the AquaTru Carafe, which also uses a glass water container, got the same score of 10.00. 

Component Quality 

The AquaTru is made of BPA- and BPS-free Tritan plastic, and the Bluevua ROPOT unit has a polyamide and polypropylene plastic design. 

Bluevua stores water in a high borosilicate glass carafe, while the AquaTru countertop model has a Tritan plastic water storage container. If you’re concerned about exposing your purified water to plastics, the AquaTru Carafe also collects water in a borosilicate glass carafe. 

Both systems feel sturdy and durable, with no flimsy components. However, both also use electronic components, which can be difficult to repair or replace if they stop working.

Filter Materials & Media

The types and number of filters used in an RO system, and the materials they’re made of, affect their overall performance. 

Generally, reverse osmosis systems use a carbon pre-filter, a semi-permeable membrane, and a carbon post-filter. But many modern systems are now including additional filtration stages or adding new media blends to existing filters to further improve water quality. 

The Bluevua system uses 4 filter cartridges: 

• A PP sediment filter
• A coconut carbon block filter
• An RO membrane
• A post-carbon filter

The system also uses an alkalizing remineralization filter, which attaches to the top of the water collection carafe. 

The AquaTru uses 3 filters: 

• An activated carbon pre-filter
• An RO membrane
• A carbon VOC filter (can be upgraded to an alkalizing VOC filter for remineralization)

We noticed that the filters in both systems have very similar designs and are the same size, suggesting to us that Bluevua and AquaTru use the same supplier in China for certain filters. But, given that our contaminant reduction results were different for each system, we can’t confirm that their filters are exactly the same. 

What makes the Bluevua system unique is its UV purifying feature, which exposes the filtered water to UV light. This helps protect the unit from bacterial growth, but it shouldn’t be used to purify untreated or microbiologically unsafe water. 

Materials Safety Certification

We also compared AquaTru and Bluevua’s material safety certifications in the design category. Like performance certifications, these are optional for manufacturers to obtain, but they provide reassurance that a water filter is safe and suitable for its purpose. 

AquaTru again holds the better certifications here, for materials safety and structural integrity (under the system’s IAPMO certification to NSF Standards 42, 53, and 401), and an NSF/ANSI 372 certification for lead-free design. 

The Bluevua ROPOT system has only been certified by the WQA to NSF/ANSI 372 for lead-free design. 

⚙️ Setup

If you hate DIY and you want the benefits of reverse osmosis without the hassle of an under-sink setup, a plug-and-play countertop RO system like AquaTru or Bluevua is a great choice. 

The filters both got high scores in this category, with very little difference in their setup processes. You can see our results below.

Product	Setup Score	Setup Time
Aquatru	10.00	1 hour
Bluevua	10.00	36 minutes

There are a few basic setup tasks that we followed for the AquaTru and Bluevua systems: 

1. First, we unboxed the units and washed the water storage tanks in warm, soapy water. 
2. We assembled the units following basic instructions (they’re mostly pre-assembled in the box).
3. Next, we prepared the filter following the manufacturer’s instructions. 
4. We could then start purifying our water. 

In terms of preparing the filters, here’s how the two systems differed: 

• With the AquaTru, we had to run 4 tanks of water through the system and discard the water in the filtered water tank.
• Bluevua required us to flush water through the system to fill 5 full carafes, filling the unfiltered water tank and discarding water from the carafe each time. 

For both systems, no manual priming work or technical know-how was required. 

🔧 Maintenance

Maintenance can be a bit off-putting for a multi-stage system like AquaTru and Bluevua, but we generally found that all countertop RO systems we tested were surprisingly affordable and easy to maintain.

Here are the maintenance scores that the systems received.

Product	Maintenance Score	Servicing Requirements	Costs
Aquatru	9.75	Good	$0.11/ gal
Bluevua	9.75	Good	$0.27/gal

This was another category in which AquaTru and Bluevua received identical scores, with very similar maintenance requirements and costs. 

Servicing Requirements 

Replacing the filters is the main servicing requirement that’s required for both AquaTru and Bluevua. 

With both units notifying us when filter changes are needed on the display screen, we didn’t have to make our own reminders for this routine maintenance task. 

Replacing a filter just involves opening the access panel on the side of the unit, unscrewing the old cartridge, and replacing it with the new one. 

We also washed out the water tanks once or twice a week and wiped down the outside of the units whenever necessary. 

Maintenance Costs

We noticed a small difference between AquaTru and Bluevua when it came to their ongoing maintenance costs. 

The overall cost per gallon for the AquaTru Countertop RO System is $0.11/ gallon. Here’s a breakdown of the cost per gallon for each of the filter stages: 

• Classic Pre/Carbon Filter: $0.03/gallon
• Classic VOC Carbon Filter: $0.04/gallon
• Classic Reverse Osmosis Filter: $0.04/gallon

The AquaTru Carafe has a higher ongoing cost of $0.19/ gallon. It’s more expensive than the full-size system because its pre- and VOC carbon filters have half the capacity (they’re physically smaller). 

Comparably, the Bluevua system’s total maintenance spend came to $0.27/ gallon, based on its 5 filter replacement costs and lifespans: 

• PP filter: $0.05
• CTO filter: $0.05
• PCF filter: $0.05
• RO membrane: $0.05
• Remineralization filter: $0.07

So, Bluevua is the more expensive model to maintain in the long run, but both systems are affordable, especially given that they have multiple filters that need to be replaced. 

In terms of value for money, AquaTru is best if you’re looking to keep your maintenance spend to a minimum. 

🏢 Company

The final point of comparison in this review is to compare AquaTru and Bluevua as companies.

Product	Company Score	Warranty Length	Shipping	Returns
Aquatru	8.80	1 year	Free	30 days
Bluevua	8.65	1 year	Free Shipping to continental US	30 days

Both got similar company scores, but AquaTru’s overall score was higher due to its slightly better shipping offering. 

Warranty Length 

The AquaTru has a 1-year limited warranty that protects against defects in materials and workmanship. Bluevua’s warranty is exactly the same: 1-year limited. 

With both systems, you’ll need to register your purchase on the manufacturer’s website to be eligible.

Shipping 

Both manufacturers offer similar shipping policies: AquaTru ships to all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada, while Bluevua offers free shipping to customers based in the continental US. 

AquaTru got the higher score here due to its more flexible shipping offering. 

Returns

No difference here—AquaTru and Bluevua both offer 30-day returns policies, which is pretty standard for countertop reverse osmosis systems. 

These guarantees allow you to test their products for 30 days after your purchase and decide if it’s right for you. You may then return the unit within this 30-day window if, for whatever reason, you don’t enjoy your experience.

⛔️ System Setbacks & Flaws

In the name of presenting a fair and balanced argument in this comparison review, we also want to discuss the flaws and setbacks of AquaTru and Bluevua. 

Here are the features of both systems that we think could be improved.

AquaTru Setbacks

• Slow water dispensing – The main issue we identified with the AquaTru is that it uses gravity water dispensing that gets slower the more the purified water tank empties. Having to wait for enough water to slowly dispense into your glass is a bit annoying (although not a deal-breaker).  
• Remineralization costs extra – Unlike Bluevua, AquaTru’s base model doesn’t come with a remineralization filter. The good news is that upgrading to the VOC alkalizing filter only costs $20 extra. 
• No UV protection – This is a setback of AquaTru specifically when comparing it to Bluevua. AquaTru doesn’t have a built-in UV light, so it doesn’t protect the internal system against the formation of microorganisms (which is unlikely, but still possible). 

Bluevua Setbacks

• Reduced fewer contaminants – The Bluevua system was unable to completely remove fluoride and a couple of other contaminants, which surprised us given that it uses very similar filter stages to AquaTru. 
• Not certified – Bluevua’s filters also aren’t performance certified, putting the system at a major disadvantage compared to AquaTru. 
• Poorer efficiency ratio – While Bluevua’s 2:1 pure-to-wastewater ratio is still good, it’s half as efficient as the AquaTru. 

🆚 AquaTru or BlueVua: Which is Best?

Now we’ve evaluated them both, which countertop RO system would we recommend? Here are specific situations when you might want to consider one over the other. 

Choose AquaTru If: 

• You have fluoride in your water and want an RO system that has proven to remove it completely. 
• You’re only interested in performance-certified reverse osmosis filters. 
• You prefer AquaTru’s filtration process and want to collect your water in a glass carafe (choose the AquaTru Carafe specifically). 

You’ll Prefer Bluevua If: 

• You prefer Bluevua’s rectangular, more space-saving design. 
• You’re not bothered about performance certifications and you don’t want or need to address fluoride in your water. 
• You’re specifically looking for an RO system with built-in UV protection.