We tested Boroux Legacy stainless-steel gravity water filter to see how well it performed. Boroux has done a lot to address many of the common complaints with Berkey-like water filters, but there are a few things left to be desired. And while it greatly reduced most of the contaminants in our water, the filters also added Cobalt which negatively impacted its contaminant reduction and overall score.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
| Price | $300 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 85+ |
| Certifications | – (in progress) |
| Process | Carbon |
| Filter Capacity | 200- 6,000 gallons/cartridge |
| Annual Cost | ~$20-$140 |
| Warranty | System, Lifetime. Filters, 1 year |
Table of Contents
📊 Scoring Data
To obtain our scoring data for the Boroux Legacy, we used our own objective and subjective analysis to evaluate its performance, ease of use, design, and overall value for money. When our own data couldn’t be obtained or had limitations, we also looked for information on company websites and in third-party testing reports. In the next table, we’ve shared the scores awarded to this Boroux system across our testing categories.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 7.57 |
| Health Related Contaminants | 73 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 0.75 GPH |
| Component Quality | Exceptional |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Failing |
| Servicing Requirements | Weak |
| Costs | $0.011/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | System, Lifetime. Filters, 1 year |
| Shipping | Free on orders over $60 |
| Returns | 60 days |
🚰 Contaminant Reduction
Score: 7.29We tested the Boroux Legacy using a lab-testing service, SimpleLab’s Tap Score, to see which contaminants it could reduce in our water. A portion of the final score awarded in this category was influenced by whether or not the filtration unit had been officially performance-certified by the WQA, NSF, or IAPMO for its contaminant reduction abilities.
Our Performance Testing
Beginning with our own laboratory performance testing for the Boroux Legacy. We conducted one test to determine our initial, unfiltered water quality; and one to analyze our water quality post-filtration, to see what the Boroux filters had reduced.
Before we did this, we performed the red dye test (this is included with every set of filters you buy) to check that the filter elements were working properly.
Tap Score’s sample-taking protocol is strict to ensure the most accurate results, and we followed the instructions carefully.
The process involved filling a large bucket with water and taking a “before” sample from the bucket, then filling the Boroux unit with the remaining bucket water and taking an “after” sample of filtered water from the filter’s spigot.
Important Note: We evaluated our results using the Tap Score HGL (Health Guideline Level), which prioritizes human health and is much stricter than the federal legal limits.
Health-Related Contaminants
Score: 7.43
The Boroux Legacy comes with two Boroux Foundation filter elements, or you can upgrade and buy the system with four of these filters.
Something you should know from the beginning is that the Foundation filters are only suitable for filtering treated water – the system shouldn’t be used to filter untreated surface water, i.e. from a river or a lake. So, we’ve only tested its ability to filter our treated, chlorinated well water supply.
Our unfiltered water test highlighted 10 contaminants with possible health effects that were detected.
Uranium, chloroform, copper, and fluoride were all present in concentrations above the lab’s HGL, so they were the most concerning to us.
These impurities have been linked to a number of concerning health effects, including liver, kidney, immune, developmental, gastrointestinal, and carcinogenic effects.
We were pleased to see that barium, chloroform, copper, molybdenum, and uranium were no longer detected in the filtered water, showing us that the Boroux Foundation filters had removed them completely.
Strontium was also reduced by 79%, nitrate by 71%, sulfate by 61%, and chloride by just under 9%.
| Contaminant | Measurement | Pre-Filtration | Post-Filtration | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | mg/L | 0.0228 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Chloroform | μg/L | 2.08 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Copper | mg/L | 0.31 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Molybdenum | mg/L | 0.0019 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Total THMs | μg/L | 2.08 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Uranium | mg/L | 0.0096 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Strontium | mg/L | 0.135 | 0.028 | -79.26% |
| Nitrate (as N) | mg/L | 4.2 | 1.2 | -71.43% |
| Calcium | mg/L | 30.5 | 24.9 | -18.36% |
| Hardness (Total) | mg/L | 106.96 | 91.37 | -14.58% |
| Total Dissolved Solids | mg/L | 164 | 145 | -11.59% |
| Fluoride | mg/L | 0.9 | 0.8 | -11.11% |
| Magnesium | mg/L | 7.32 | 7.08 | -3.28% |
| Bicarbonate | mg/L | 82.75 | 82.249769 | -0.60% |
| Sodium | mg/L | 11.2 | 11.9 | 6.25% |
| Chloride | mg/L | 28.5 | 31 | 8.77% |
| Sulfate | mg/L | 8 | 12.9 | 61.25% |
| Carbonate | mg/L | 0.08 | 0.301352 | 276.69% |
| Cobalt | mg/L | 0 | 0.0069 | n/a |
| Potassium | mg/L | 0 | 2.71 | n/a |
Our only real disappointment was that fluoride, one of the contaminants detected above the HGL, was only reduced by 11%. However, Boroux doesn’t claim that fluoride can be reduced by this system. So, the fact that fluoride was reduced even slightly was incidental. And this slight reduction brought the fluoride level down to fall within the HGL limit.
We reached out to Boroux, who told us that they’re currently working on separate fluoride filters, like many competitors (including Berkey) have. We suggested they incorporate media capable of fluoride reduction into their Foundation filters rather than making separate fluoride filters, and we had a couple of reasons for this:
- Some folks don’t want plastic filters sitting in the filtered water, and we’ve found that most separate fluoride filters for these systems come in plastic casing.
- Others would prefer just one filter and no need to purchase separate filters purely for fluoride reduction, which costs extra and requires additional maintenance.
There was a couple unexpected outcomes in this testing category, too: 0.0069 PPM, which is 6.9 µg/L of cobalt and 2.71 PPM of potassium appeared in the filtered water where they were absent in the unfiltered sample.
Our hypothesis is that both of these impurities are coming from the filter media. While the cobalt detection is a very small amount, it still exceeds the Tap Score HGL of 2 µg/L by 240%. We’re not as concerned about the potassium as its an essential nutrient for human health.
According to the Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals, people consume between 5 and 50 micrograms of cobalt daily through their diet. And it’s actually helpful in low concentrations, playing a beneficial role as part of vitamin B12, which is essential for human health.
However, some evidence highlighted in this 2012 review in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology suggests potential adverse effects from chronic oral exposure to cobalt, including effects on the immune and reproductive systems, cardiovascular outcomes, and endocrine responses.
However, according to the CDC, there are no adequate studies available on the oral toxicity of cobalt or cobalt compounds in humans and animals over a long time period
So the Health protective levels for cobalt in drinking water were established in response to “acute exposure studies” where this heavy metal was found to have adverse effects on the blood system and thyroid.
Aesthetic Contaminants
Score: 9.90
Chlorine was the only aesthetic contaminant detected in our water*. Chlorine is a common disinfectant that affects water’s taste and smell, and it’s one of the key contaminants that folks want to remove to improve their city water quality.
The Boroux Foundation filters use activated carbon, a highly adsorptive filter material that captures chlorine and its associated tastes and odors. So we were unsurprised to see that chlorine was reduced by 100% in our filtered water.
*For our chlorine testing process, we didn’t use a lab test because chlorine is highly volatile and dissipates quickly. To get accurate results, we used a DIY chlorine test strip as soon as we collected our sample water, and then as soon as we had filtered our water.
Performance Certifications
Score: 6.00
At the time of publishing, the Boroux Legacy doesn’t currently have any official performance certifications.
The system has been third-party tested by IAPMO (see the results datasheet here), which is really reassuring since IAMPO is one of the trusted organizations that also awards official performance certifications.
In our conversation with Boroux, we were told that the company is in the process of obtaining official performance certifications through the WQA which they expect to have by the end of 2024. These certifications will be to the following NSF/ANSI Standards:
- NSF/ANSI 42 Class I Particulate Reduction
- NSF/ANSI 401 for Microplastics
This is a big step in the right direction for large gravity-fed systems, as the majority of Boroux’s competitors don’t have any certifications at all, so it will really set them apart from others.
That said, we still think Boroux could showcase its Foundation filter elements in an even better light by initiating NSF 53 certifications for specific, concerning health-related contaminants, like lead, PFAs, and chromium.
🚦Filtration Rate
Score: 7.50The Boroux Legacy is pretty average for a countertop gravity-fed filter when it comes to filtration rate.
When used with two filters, we measured the unit’s filtration rate at 0.75 gallons per hour (GPH).
To compare this to a couple of other countertop stainless steel systems we tested, the ProOne Big+ had a very similar filtration rate of 0.77 GPH, and the Alexapure Pro had a rate of 1 GPH.
With this Boroux system, we noted that it filtered the first half of the top reservoir pretty fast, but got slower and slower as the pressure decreased (something that’s typical of these types of gravity systems). Even after just under 4 hours of filtering, the water was still about an inch and a half from the bottom of the filter.
You should get twice the filtration rate if you use the system with four filter elements (the maximum number that can be used), but that means spending more money upfront and on filter replacements. It might be worth it for you if you have a bigger family or you just want to filter as much water as possible through the system.
📐 Design
Score: 8.40There’s a lot that the Boroux Legacy does well when it comes to design, especially when we compare it to its competitors.
However, it’s still not perfect, which is why it didn’t get the top score from us here.
There were two key factors we used to score the system from a design perspective: its component quality, and whether or not it had obtained official certifications for its materials safety.
The Boroux Legacy looks just like any other stainless steel countertop system, with a cylindrical, stainless steel exterior that consists of two chambers.
Unlike many of its competitors, this Boroux system isn’t available in multiple sizes. This unit has a single water-holding capacity of 3 gallons. It should be fine for most folks, but if you specifically want the option of a smaller system to fit in a tight space on your countertop, you might have to rule this one out (for reference, it’s 23 inches tall and 9 inches wide).
As with all systems of this kind, you’re not going to get the most attractive or modern-looking unit, but the Legacy is practical and functional, which is the most important thing here.
Component Quality
Score: 10.00
The Boroux Legacy received one of the highest component quality scores we have ever awarded for a stainless steel countertop gravity system. It sidesteps a lot of the design issues that we’d noticed with other units.
The entire unit is made from stainless steel, which shouldn’t rust or corrode. Only a few components (such as the bases of the filter elements) are made of plastic.
Design Improvements, Flaws & Setbacks
The Boroux Legacy actually avoids many of the design flaws and setbacks that we’ve noted with similar stainless steel gravity systems, which we were pleased to see.
It’s great that Boroux has acknowledged the complaints received by customers of other manufacturers and has put in the effort to design its own systems to prevent these issues from occurring.
Here are some of the improvements that we noted with this particular design when we set it up and used it:
- There’s a stainless steel/ ceramic spigot included, rather than a plastic spigot, so filtered water isn’t coming into contact with plastic on its way out of the unit.
- A rubber base fits around the spigot, preventing leaks from the seal (as we have experienced with similar systems).
- The upper chamber is domed where the filters are installed, so when the water stops filtering, the filter media is not sitting in the water – only the plastic base of the filter element.
- The upper chamber is molded and fits into the lower chamber tightly
These are all great features and improvements, but there are still issues with this system’s design.
First, as we touched on earlier, the unit is only available in one large, 3-gallon holding capacity size. This makes it difficult and time-consuming to fill it with water from some kitchen sinks (including ours).
It took us 2:19 minutes to fully fill the top chamber using a pull-out spray handle. While this isn’t exactly a dealbreaker, we found it annoying having to stand around holding the handle rather than just turning the faucet on and walking away (as we could with other units like pitchers or countertop ROs, whose tanks fit under the faucet).
Unless you have a deep sink and a high faucet, or a pull-out spray faucet, you might end up needing to fill the unit using a separate jug or container.
We also noted that the lid doesn’t have a handle, so when it’s flipped, it can actually hit and cut off part of the top of the filter elements. This is an easy mistake to make, and fixing the issue will likely save Boroux a lot of complaints.
Filter Materials/Media
Activated carbon is the only filter media that’s listed as a component of the Boroux Foundation filters.
This media is non-toxic and is generally made from natural materials, like peat moss or coconut shell.
We also know that the filters contain silver, although this isn’t a filtering media itself – it just prevents the growth of microorganisms in the carbon media.
Certification
Score: 6.00
We mentioned that Boroux is currently obtaining performance certifications through the WQA, and it’s also in the process of securing the following two design-related certifications:
- NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, for lead-free design
- NSF/ANSI 42, for materials safety
However, the unit isn’t currently certified, so it got the poorer score from us in this category
⚙️ Setup
Score: 6.50We awarded Boroux’s setup score based on its ease of assembly, and how long the process took us.
We were hoping that once again, Boroux would have acknowledged the issues that customers had experienced with similar systems, like Berkey, and avoided these issues with its own design. But in this category, we were disappointed.
Just like with the Big Berkey, we had to prime the Boroux Foundation filter elements using the included blue and tan filter priming equipment. The same exact items and process required for the Berkey filters.
The process is time-consuming and annoying – the tan priming washer is nearly impossible to get a seal with on the faucet, and while the blue priming nipple works well, it’s only compatible with certain faucets. Neither process will work if you only have a modern faucet with a pullout or spray handle.
In our opinion, this is the biggest fault with these kinds of countertop systems and we wish Boroux had addressed this issue along with the other design flaws.
That said, the process doesn’t require special knowledge or skill (besides patience😅). Once it’s done, you won’t have to do it again until you buy a new set of filters.
Aside from priming the filters, the actual unit assembly process was quick and easy, taking less than 20 minutes. We just washed and connected the few components. We then installed the primed filters and conducted the red dye test to check that there were no leaks.
🔧 Maintenance
Score: 8.50We also assessed the Boroux Legacy’s servicing requirements and the long-term costs of the filters.
Servicing Requirements
Score: 7.00
Replacing the filters in the unit is easy enough, but requires the same time-consuming priming process.
The manufacturer also recommends that you scrub the surface of the filters every 3-6 months using an abrasive scouring pad. This is to remove any built-up contaminants and restore a faster flow rate.
We also cleaned out the top and bottom water chambers once a week, which was a bit of a hassle due to their large size compared to the size of our sink. If you have a deeper sink, it wouldn’t be as much of an issue.
Costs
Score: 10.00
To determine the Boroux Legacy’s overall value for money, we calculated the cost-per-gallon of its filter elements.
The ongoing cost of the system came in at 0.011/ gallon, making it very affordable to maintain.
But we want to address some issues that we have with Boroux’s filter lifespan/capacity claims here.
The claimed filter capacity – 6,000 gallons per filter – seems extremely exaggerated, and this is just a claim for chlorine reduction only.
You can see in the manufacturer’s test report that other contaminants have only been tested for a few hundred gallons.
For example, they’ve only been tested to 400 gallons for common PFAS compounds, and only 200 gallons for herbicides like atrazine and 2,4-D.
That means we don’t know for sure that the filters will continue to effectively filter all contaminants throughout their claimed 6,000-gallon capacity.
It’s possible that, for instance, the filters might stop effectively addressing some contaminants after just 200 gallons, meaning that their overall effectiveness reduces over time.
We think this should be specified on the manufacturer’s website, rather than just boldly stating that the filters last 12,000 gallons – something that’s currently splashed all over the product pages and doesn’t tell the full story.
Just because the filters have been tested to reduce chlorine up to 6,000 gallons, doesn’t mean they will effectively reduce other contaminants up to 6,000 gallons. And this is evident in their own testing data which shows testing completed for certain contaminants after just 200 gallons of filtration.
🏢 Company
Score: 9.40To assess Boroux as a company, we looked at the warranty period, shipping, and returns for its products.
Warranty
Score: 8.50
Boroux offers a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for its Legacy filtration system (including the chambers, spigot, washers, hole plugs, or wingnuts). The Foundation filters are warranted for a year against manufacturer defects.
You can view the warranty terms here.
Shipping
Score: 9.00
If you spend over $60 on your order, you’ll get free shipping when you buy from the manufacturer’s website.
Most Boroux products, including replacement filters, cost over $60, so you’ll probably always get your order shipped for free.
Boroux doesn’t currently ship to California or Iowa because these states require specific certifications that the Boroux Legacy doesn’t currently have.
Returns
Score: 9.00
Boroux offers a 60-day risk-free trial for all customers, entitling them to a 100% refund within the initial 60-day period after purchase if they’re not satisfied for any reason.
That’s a pretty decent returns policy that beats Berkey’s policy by 30 days.
Cobalt is likely coming from the metal, not the filter. I’d do an extraction on the stainless unit and petcock. The filter utilized in the testing obviously had an affinity for heavy metals according to your results. It is highly doubtful then that cobalt precipitated from the filter.
It’s more likely from the stainless base or any associated unit metal objects in the delivery system from which the water is extracted.