Best Whole-House Nitrate Filter for Well Water – Buyer’s Guide

 Why Nitrates Matter

Nitrate is tasteless, colorless—and dangerous above 10 ppm. Babies can develop “blue-baby syndrome,” adults face thyroid and oxidative-stress issues. Rural wells near farms, septic fields or golf courses are ground-zero. A whole house nitrate filter stops it at the pressure tank—so every tap, shower and ice cube is safe.

---

2. Whole-House Nitrate Technologies – Which One for You?

Table

Copy

Method	Max Inlet NO₃	Pros	Cons
Anion-exchange resin	90 ppm	• Lowest 10-year cost • Treats entire house • No waste water	• Needs salt • Resin exhausts at >90 ppm
Reverse Osmosis	200 ppm	• 95 % cut regardless of level • Also removes arsenic/fluoride	• 3:1 waste ratio • Slower flow (8–12 GPM)
Nitrate-selective cartridge	30 ppm	• Plug-and-play • No drain line	• Frequent cartridge change • $$$ at high nitrate

Pick anion-exchange for 10–90 ppm, RO for >90 ppm or multi-contaminant, cartridge for rentals or <30 ppm.

---

3. Top 5 Whole-House Nitrate Filters This Year

Table

Copy

Model	Method	Flow	Inlet NO₃	10-Year Cost	Today’s Price
SpringWell WS Nitrate	Anion	12 GPM	75 ppm	$1,480	[Check on Amazon]
APEC RO-PH90 WH	RO	8 GPM	200 ppm	$1,900	[Check on Amazon]
Crystal Quest Nitrate	Anion	9 GPM	100 ppm	$1,200	[Check on Amazon]
iSpring WGB32B-NITRO	Cart	15 GPM	30 ppm	$950	[Check on Amazon]
Culligan Aquasential	Anion	10 GPM	90 ppm	$2,050	[Check on Amazon]

---

4. SpringWell WS Nitrate – Best Overall Anion-Exchange

What you get

• 1.5 cu ft nitrate-selective resin – removes 75 ppm to <1 ppm.
• Bluetooth head – set back-wash days from phone; no laptop.
• Air-injection pre-oxidizer – knocks out iron & sulfur before resin, extending life.

Real numbers
Factory ships 10 % cross-link resin – 8-year life at 15 ppm nitrate, 3-person home. Salt use: 8 lb per regen, every 4 days = $110/yr.

10-year cost: tank $1,350 + salt $1,100 + resin top-off $410 = $1,480.

Internal link: Pair with our [Best Whole-House UV Sterilizers] for double barrier after carbon.

Affiliate placement
👉 [SpringWell WS Nitrate system on Amazon]
👉 [Nitrate-selective resin refill 0.5 cu ft bag]

---

5. APEC RO-PH90 Whole-House – Highest Reduction

Why it wins

• 6 × 90 GPD membranes in parallel = 8 GPM peak – enough for 2–3-bath home.
• Built-in booster pump and remineralize cartridge – adds Ca/Mg back, keeps pH >7.0.
• 5-stage pre-filter – sediment, carbon, anti-scalant – extends membrane life to 6 yr.

Performance
Achieves 95–98 % nitrate cut regardless of feed level – great for 200 ppm+ farm wells.

Costs
Unit $1,450 + annual filters $260 + pump electricity $35/yr = $1,900 ten-year.

Internal link: See our [Best Sediment Filters for Well Water] to add a spin-down pre-filter and hit 10-year membrane life.

Affiliate placement
👉 [APEC RO-PH90 whole-house package on Amazon]
👉 [APEC replacement RO membrane 90 GPD 6-pack]

---

6. Crystal Quest Nitrate – Wallet-Friendly Resin Tank

Highlights

• 1 cu ft nitrate-selective resin – 100 ppm inlet rated.
• Manual back-wash head – no electricity, no controller.
• 10-year tank warranty; ships UPS (no freight fee).

Numbers
Ten-year: tank $850 + salt $900 + resin top-off year 8 ≈ $200 = $1,200 – cheapest anion system.

Affiliate placement
👉 [Crystal Quest Nitrate system on Amazon]
👉 [Crystal Quest resin refill 0.5 cu ft]

---

7. iSpring WGB32B-NITRO – Cartridge for Light Loads

Best for

• <30 ppm nitrate, rental homes, or temporary solution.
• 15 GPM – no flow loss; plug-and-play, no drain.

Specs
Special nitrate-selective anion cartridge inside 3-stage housing; swaps nitrate for chloride.

Costs
Unit $420 + cartridge $110 every 30 k gal = $950 ten-year.

Limitation
Efficiency drops >30 ppm; NOT WQA certified as a system.

Affiliate placement
👉 [iSpring WGB32B-NITRO on Amazon]
👉 [iSpring nitrate replacement cartridge 3-pack]

---

8. Culligan Aquasential Smart HE – Premium Pick

Why premium

• WQA Gold Seal – only whole-house nitrate softener certified to NSF/ANSI 44.
• Smart Soft-Minder® meter – displays gallons until regen, salt days left.
  • Quadra-Hull® tank – 4-layer, UV-stable for outdoor install.

Performance
Rated 90 ppm inlet, achieves <1 ppm product water at 10 GPM.

Costs
System $1,650 + salt $150/yr + service visit $75 optional = $2,050 ten-year.

Affiliate placement
👉 [Schedule free Culligan water test & quote]
👉 [Culligan replacement nitrate resin 1 cu ft]

---

9. Installation Overview (Anion-Exchange Tank) – DIY Friendly

1. Test nitrate, iron, hardness; iron <0.3 ppm, hardness <10 gpg for resin life.
2. Mount bypass valve; 1-inch copper or PEX to tank inlet.
3. Add resin (pre-loaded units ship wet).
4. Set back-wash days (every 3–4 days typical).
5. Connect drain line (½-inch PE) to floor drain – air-gap required.
6. Fill brine tank with sodium chloride pellets (no iron fighter additives).
7. Sanitize with 1 tbsp bleach in 1 gal water, run manual regeneration.

Time required: 2 hrs DIY, 1 hr pro.

Internal link: See our [How to Install a Water Softener] – same plumbing steps.

---

10. Maintenance Calendar for Whole House Nitrate Filter

• Monthly: Check salt level; keep ½ full.
• Quarterly: Test nitrate at kitchen tap (strip kit).
• Yearly: Send sample to lab; replace pre-filter if pressure drops.
• 5–8 yr: Replace resin (anion) or RO membrane when nitrate >3 ppm product.

---

11. Pros & Cons Summary

Table

Copy

System	Pros	Cons
SpringWell WS Nitrate	• Bluetooth head • Air-injection pre-treats iron • 8-year resin life	• 75 ppm ceiling • Needs salt
APEC RO-PH90	• 95 % cut at any level • Also removes arsenic/fluoride • Built-in pump	• 3:1 waste ratio • 8 GPM max
Crystal Quest	• Cheapest anion • No electricity • 10-yr tank warranty	• Manual back-wash • No app
iSpring WGB32B-NITRO	• 15 GPM, plug-and-play • No drain line	• Cartridge every 30k gal • >30 ppm costly
Culligan Aquasential	• WQA Gold Seal • Smart meter • Dealer service	• Highest price • Must use Culligan tech

---

12. Frequently Asked Questions About Whole House Nitrate Filter

Q: Will the resin remove nitrite too?
A: Yes – same anion-exchange mechanism; nitrite is captured first because of smaller ionic radius.

Q: Does softened water hurt plants?
A: Sodium level rises slightly; if <100 ppm in product, safe for most gardens. For salt-sensitive crops, switch to potassium chloride pellets.

Q: Can I drink RO water with zero nitrates long-term?
A: Yes, but remineralize (built-in on APEC) to keep pH >7.0 and add back calcium/magnesium.

Q: How often do I change cartridges on the iSpring unit?
A: Every 30,000 gal or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Q: Is anion-exchange resin safe for septic systems?
A: Yes – brine discharge is <0.5 % salt and dilutes quickly in the 1,000-gallon tank.

---

13. Bottom Line – Which Whole House Nitrate Filter Saves You Most?

• 10–75 ppm nitrate – choose anion-exchange (SpringWell WS best value, Culligan if you want WQA gold seal).
• >75 ppm or multi-contaminant – APEC RO-PH90 gives near-zero nitrates and handles arsenic/fluoride too.
• <30 ppm or rental – iSpring NITRO cartridge is cheap, plug-and-play.

Act when nitrate >5 ppm – treating early is cheaper than medical bills and protects your well for decades.

Ready to buy?
👉 [SpringWell WS Nitrate system on Amazon]
👉 [APEC RO-PH90 whole-house package on Amazon]
👉 [Download printable nitrate dose calculator] (free opt-in)