Garrafón or filtered kitchen water: what to compare

Write down which uses the supply must cover: drinking, ice, cooking and guests. Count the containers used over several representative weeks, including busy and quiet periods. Use that record as your starting point instead of assuming an average for every household.

Record the supplier, container volume, price, delivery charges, deposits and delivery frequency. Ask how containers and dispensers should be cleaned and stored. Consider who will receive and move containers and what backup supply is practical when a delivery is late.

Compare suppliers using their documented process and your actual delivery experience. Include delivery and handling when comparing refill prices.

Start with the incoming-water test and the exact equipment specification. Ask for the installed cost, replacement schedule and cost, space requirements, warranty, and how treated-water performance will be verified. Record who will arrange maintenance during absences.

Confirm the model’s claims against the substances you need to address; appearance or taste alone cannot establish water safety. CDC guidance on filter selection.

For garrafón supply, add your actual refill and delivery spending over twelve months, keeping refundable deposits separate. For a kitchen system, list the installation price, then the cost of replacement parts and service over the same period. Include any water or electricity costs specified for the proposed system. Use current quotes to calculate whether a system would pay for itself and how long that would take.

Use your comparison to review the treatment options, or request a water test if the incoming water has not been assessed.