Record WT-0010 ยท Last verified September 2026
US Water Systems Matrixx Smart Whole House Backwashing Catalytic Carbon Filter
Whole-house filter (city water) by US Water Systems. No system-level certification found at NSF, IAPMO, WQA or CSA.
We may earn a commission. It never changes a grade.
Scorecard
| Measure | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Certification evidence | D | Maker claims only, no certification or published lab data |
| 10-year cost | A | $2,061 over 10 years |
| Flow rate | D | 5 gpm rated flow |
| Warranty | A | Lifetime on main parts |
| Returns | D | 60 days, 40% restocking fee |
What it treats
"Certified" means an independent body (NSF, IAPMO, WQA or CSA) lists this system for that contaminant. "Lab tested" means the maker published a third-party lab report. "Maker claim" means neither.
| Contaminant | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Maker claim | Other systems for Chlorine |
| Chloramine | Maker claim | Other systems for Chloramine |
| VOCs | Maker claim | Other systems for VOCs |
No claim made for: PFAS, Lead, Iron, Manganese, Hydrogen sulfide, Hardness, Bacteria, Sediment, Arsenic, Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Uranium.
PFAS evidence: No PFAS claim on the product page. Not certified for PFAS.
Certifications
| Standard | Covers | Scope | Certified by |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF (standard not specified) | Maker says it 'uses all NSF and FDA approved components'. US Water Systems' only NSF DWTU listing is NSF/ANSI 42 material-requirements-only for small drinking-water filter cartridges, not this system. | components | maker claim, no system listing found |
Specifications
| Type | Whole-house filter (city water) |
|---|---|
| Technology | Catalytic carbon |
| Water source | City water, Private well |
| Price | $1,326 to $1,776 |
| Rated flow | 5 gallons per minute |
| Capacity | Long-life catalytic carbon typically lasts 5+ years |
| Media | catalytic granular activated carbon (steam-activated coconut shell) |
| Stages | 1 |
| Port size | 3/4 or 1 inch MNPT (both bypass fittings supplied) |
| Needs a drain | Yes |
| Needs power | Yes |
| DIY install | Yes, with basic plumbing skills |
| Dimensions | tank 9 x 48 in; overall system height 54 in, inlet/outlet height 49.25 in |
| Weight | 63 lb |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty on media tank; 10-year warranty on valve, electronics and miscellaneous parts (registration required) |
| Returns | One-year money back guarantee (applies to systems specified by their water specialists, typically after a lab water test); unopened US Water brand residential items returnable within 60 days, restocking fee up to 40% may apply |
10-year cost
| Item | Each | Times in 10 years | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| System purchase | $1,326 | 1 | $1,326 |
| Installation (assumed, professional) | $500 | 1 | $500 |
| Catalytic carbon media: US Water Carb-Cat catalytic GAC, 1 cu ft (no Matrixx-specific rebed kit is sold; the 5 GPM tank holds 1.0 cu ft) | $236 | 1 | $236 |
| Total | $2,061 |
Install assumption: $500 for whole-house systems, $150 for under-sink units. Installing it yourself brings the total to $1,561. Try your own numbers in the 10-year cost calculator.
Owner reports
No recurring product-level complaints: the 6 on-site (Yotpo) reviews average 4.8. Brand-level Trustpilot (4.1 from 1,034 reviews) 1-2 star reviews repeatedly cite shipping delays despite next-day shipping claims, slow refunds and restocking fees, and slow customer service.
Trustpilot: 4.1 from 1034 reviews (source).
Store shows permanent 'Factory Direct' pricing about 40% below a list/compare-at price (5 GPM list $2,209.17); the store also runs extra seasonal promos (Fall sale banner: 'additional 20%-25% off select systems'). A cheaper plain GAC version (Matrixx Granular Activated Carbon, 081-MXF-GAC, $1,235.50-$1,685.50) targets chlorine but not chloramine. Returns: backwashing filters are listed as non-returnable under the commercial policy; check residential terms before buying.
Where we cover it
- Best picks: The best whole house water filters for city water
- Best picks: The best whole house water filters
- Review: US Water Systems Matrixx catalytic carbon review
- Comparison: SpringWell vs US Water Systems
- Guide: Chloramine vs chlorine: which is in your tap water and why it matters
Alternatives in the same category
| System | Grade | Price | 10-yr cost | Certified to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpringWell CF1 | B | $1,160 | $2,814 | None |
| Aquasana Rhino WH-1000 (Max Flow WH-1010) | B | $999 | $6,924 | None |
| Aquasana Rhino Chloramines WH-1011 (Max Flow WH-1021) | B | $1,399 | $7,324 | None |
| Kind Water Systems S-500 | C | $1,471 | $3,359 | None |
| Aquasana HealthShield WH-HS | C | $2,099 | $15,209 | NSF/ANSI 53, NSF/ANSI 401, CSA B483.1 |
Sources
- uswatersystems.com/products/us-water-matrixx-catalytic-carbon-backwashing-filter.json
- uswatersystems.com/products/us-water-matrixx-catalytic-carbon-backwashing-filter
- usws-pdfs.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media/pdf/US_Water_Matrixx_Catalytic_Carbon_Backwashi
- uswatersystems.com/products/us-water-matrixx-granular-carbon-backwashing-filter.json
- info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?CompanyName=US+Water&TradeName=&Standard=&Product
- uswatersystems.com/pages/guarantee-1
- uswatersystems.com/pages/return-policy
- uswatersystems.com/products/us-water-carb-cat-catalytic-granular-activated-carbon-1-cu-ft.
- api-cdn.yotpo.com/v1/widget/iuykqMgEBqXCzCLMbFMuX2YFuyLLjm1xtK6AT7BV/products/833623608555
- trustpilot.com/review/uswatersystems.com?stars=1&stars=2
