Tayyab Ali
The first time I checked my Riyadh tap water with a TDS meter, the reading was 540 ppm.
For context, the WHO guideline for acceptable drinking water is 300 ppm. Anything above 500 ppm is
considered poor quality. My tap was sitting at 540. My kettle had already been telling me this for months —
that white crust building up around the element that I was scrubbing off every few weeks. My hair was telling
me too, breaking off more than it ever had back home. But seeing the actual number on the meter made it
impossible to ignore.
So I bought five different water filters — everything from a SAR 120 pitcher to a SAR 800 reverse
osmosis system — and tested them all on the same Riyadh tap water over 4 weeks. Here’s exactly what
the TDS meter showed after each one.
Why Riyadh Tap Water Has Such High TDS
TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids — minerals, salts, and metals dissolved in your water. In Saudi Arabia, tap water comes from one of two sources: desalinated seawater or deep underground aquifers. Both carry high mineral loads by the time they reach your apartment.
Riyadh specifically runs on a mix of desalinated water from the Arabian Gulf — pumped over 400km inland — and groundwater. The desalination process removes most impurities, but the long pipeline journey and old building infrastructure add minerals back in. If you live in an older building, which most expat apartments in Al-Batha, Al-Malaz, or Sulay are, your water passes through pipes that could be 20 or 30 years old.
The result is water that meets Saudi regulatory standards but causes visible damage over time: scale on appliances, dry skin, brittle hair, and a distinct aftertaste that pushes most people towards bottled water.
Tip: A TDS meter costs SAR 15–20 on Amazon.sa. Measure your own water before buying any filter — the number tells you exactly how aggressive your filtration needs to be.
Buy now on Amazon.sa: tabaix-21
How I Tested These 5 Filters
My method: measure incoming TDS, run water through each filter per the manufacturer’s instructions, then measure output TDS immediately and again at 30 days. I also tracked taste, installation difficulty, filter replacement cost, and Amazon.sa availability.
I ran every test in my apartment in Al-Malaz, Riyadh, using an HM Digital TDS-EZ meter calibrated against a known reference solution before starting.
Incoming tap TDS: 540 ppm — measured on three separate days, consistent within 10 ppm.
The 5 Filters — Results at a Glance
| Filter | Type | Price (SAR) | TDS Out | Reduction | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iSpring RCC7 | Under-sink RO | ~1800 | 16 ppm | 97% | ✅ Best overall |
| Waterdrop G3 | Tankless RO | ~1,700 | 22 ppm | 96% | ✅ Best compact |
| ZeroWater 7-Cup | Pitcher (ion exchange) | ~200 | 0 ppm | 100% | ✅ Best renter pick |
| Brita Maxtra+ | Pitcher (carbon) | ~150 | 475 ppm | 12% | ❌ Taste only |
| AquaBliss SF220 | Shower filter | ~70 | 459 ppm | 15% | 🚿 Shower only |
Filter by Filter — Honest Results
1. iSpring RCC7 Under-Sink RO — SAR ~1800
A five-stage reverse osmosis system that mounts under your kitchen sink. Installation took me about 90 minutes — straightforward if you are comfortable with basic plumbing. As an electrician I have worked in tighter spaces, but even without a technical background the instructions are clear.
The results: TDS dropped from 540 ppm to 16 ppm — a 97% reduction. The water tasted noticeably cleaner, slightly flat (because minerals are removed), and completely free of the aftertaste Riyadh tap water usually carries.
- EFFECTIVELY REMOVE CONTAMINANTS – The iSpring RO system delivers clean, pure, and great-tasting drinking water by removi…
- CERTIFIED TO NSF/ANSI 58 & 372 – Produced to strict American quality standards, this iSpring reverse osmosis system is N…
- LOW MAINTENANCE & LEAK-FREE DESIGN – Engineered with premium components for long-term reliability and minimal upkeep. Th…
The downside: it wastes water. For every litre of filtered water, roughly 3 litres go down the drain. In Saudi Arabia where bills can surprise you, this is worth factoring in. Filter replacements run SAR 80–120 per year for a set of five cartridges — still far cheaper than buying 5-gallon bottled water every week.
2. Waterdrop G3 Tankless RO — SAR ~1,400
The Waterdrop G3 is a premium tankless RO — no storage tank, instant filtered water on demand. It is quieter than the iSpring, wastes significantly less water (roughly 1:1 ratio), and fits under the sink more cleanly. There is also a countertop version if your under-sink space is limited or your landlord has restricted drilling.
TDS reduction: 540 ppm to 22 ppm, about 96% — nearly identical to the iSpring. The difference is form factor and convenience, not water quality.
- [𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥]: WD-G3-W, WD-G3P600, WD-G3P800-W
- [𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]: The 3-in-1 front filtration stages effectively reduce sand, rust, particulates, suspended substan…
- [𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥]: Applies the superior natural coconut shell-activated carbon block with a smaller pore size, which la…
At SAR 1,400, this is a serious purchase. For most expat renters in Riyadh, the iSpring delivers the same quality water at nearly half the price. The Waterdrop makes sense if you stay long-term or own your apartment.
3. ZeroWater 7-Cup Pitcher — SAR ~200
This one surprised me. ZeroWater uses a five-stage ion-exchange filter specifically engineered to reduce TDS to near-zero — and in my test it delivered: 0 ppm output, as clean as either RO system.
The catch is filter lifespan. On Riyadh tap water at 540 ppm, a ZeroWater filter lasts roughly 2–4 weeks before TDS starts climbing again. Replacement filters cost SAR 60–80 each — which means SAR 80–160 per month on filters alone. Over a full year that is more than the cost of the iSpring RO system.
- Powerful filtration – This 7-cup water pitcher has been certified by NSF to reduce microplastics, chlorine, and other ch…
- Better tasting water – Enjoy superior protection and refreshing, great-tasting water with every pour. This water purifie…
- Convenient, space-saving design – The 7-cup water pitcher filter features a sleek, fridge-friendly design, a stay-tight …
But if you rent and cannot install anything under the sink — or you only need filtered water for drinking and cooking, not your shower or kettle — the ZeroWater is the most effective pitcher filter I have tested.
🔗 Internal link: “Ejar Rental System guide” — Link here if you want to help renters understand what modifications they can make to their apartment.
4. Brita Maxtra+ Pitcher — SAR ~150
Brita is not a TDS filter. It is a carbon-based filter designed to improve taste and remove chlorine. In my test, TDS barely moved — from 540 ppm to 475 ppm, a 12% reduction.
Brita works well in European cities where tap water is already low-TDS and the only issue is chlorine taste. In Riyadh, where the problem is dissolved minerals, it is the wrong tool. The water tastes slightly better, but the scale on your kettle will look exactly the same the following week.
I am not saying Brita is a bad product — I am saying it does not solve the Saudi water problem. If someone is choosing between Brita and ZeroWater for Riyadh use, there is only one correct answer.
💡 Tip: If you currently use a Brita in Riyadh, test your filtered water with a TDS meter. The result will probably surprise you.
5. AquaBliss SF220 Shower Filter — SAR ~70
This is not a drinking water filter — it connects to your shower head and targets chlorine and heavy metals for skin and hair benefit. I included it because it came up repeatedly in searches for ‘water filter Saudi Arabia’ and I wanted to give an honest answer.
TDS reduction in shower water: about 15% (540 ppm to 459 ppm). For drinking: useless. For hair and skin, the relevant metric is chlorine removal — and the AquaBliss handles that reasonably well. My hair felt measurably less dry after 4 weeks of use. I cannot scientifically rule out seasonal variation, but subjectively it made a difference.
- ✔iReijomoi Premium Quality Replacement Shower Filter goes through 15 to 20 layers of filtration,which can effectively re…
- ✔Compatible with Aquabliss SF100 / SF220 Filter Cartridge for Hard Water,Replacement shower Filter for Shower Head(2Pack…
- ✔Using iReijomoi’s shower head filter helps to remove excess impurities.It reduces chlorine, pesticides, pharmaceuticals…
For your shower: worth adding alongside an RO system. It is not a substitute for filtered drinking water.
What I Actually Use Now
After completing this test, my setup is: iSpring RCC7 under the kitchen sink for all drinking and cooking water, and AquaBliss SF220 on the shower head for hair and skin.
Total cost: approximately SAR 950 upfront, SAR 120–150 per year in replacements. Compared to buying 5-gallon water bottles at SAR 8–12 per bottle — which is what most expats in Riyadh do — the RO system pays for itself in under a year.
If you are renting and cannot drill: get the ZeroWater pitcher for drinking water and the AquaBliss for your shower. Not a perfect setup, but far better than nothing.
FAQ — 5 Questions Riyadh Expats Actually Search
Yes. My tap in Al-Malaz measured 540 ppm — well above the WHO guideline of 300 ppm. Results vary by area and building age, so measure your own water with a TDS meter before buying any filter.
It meets Saudi regulatory standards, but high TDS and mineral content cause visible long-term damage to hair, skin, and appliances. Most expats — and most Saudis — do not drink it unfiltered.
Reverse osmosis systems remove 95–99% of TDS. Ion-exchange pitcher filters like ZeroWater are a close second. Standard carbon filters like Brita do not significantly reduce TDS and are the wrong choice for Riyadh water.
Yes in most cases. The iSpring RCC7 connects to the cold water line under your kitchen sink and is fully removable when you leave. Take photos before installation, keep all original fittings, and patch any drill holes before you move out.
Most manufacturers recommend every 6–12 months. On Riyadh water at 540 ppm, I would check at the 4-month mark. High-TDS water exhausts filter media faster than the manufacturer’s home-country testing assumes.
Final Thought
The result that stayed with me: the Brita — which most people buy first because it is familiar and cheap — barely moved the needle on Riyadh water. If that is what you are currently using, your water is not as filtered as you think.
Measure your tap TDS first. Then choose the filter that matches what the number tells you. A SAR 15 TDS meter might be the most useful thing you buy this month.
If you found this useful, leave a comment below with your TDS reading — I am curious how Al-Khobar and Jeddah compare to my Al-Malaz results. And check out my post on hard water hair loss in Saudi Arabia — the shower filter side of the fix.
Read related:
Hard water hair loss Saudi Arabia — https://tabaix.com/shower-filter-hard-water-saudi-arabia/
AC split clogs cleaner — https://tabaix.com/ac-filter-cleaning-saudi-arabia-dust/
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