Why should you waste money on a RO water purifier when the TDS levels are less than 300ppm? The UV and UF water purifier should suffice. But, if your water source is hygienic and does not contain many contaminants, a gravity water purifier like the TATA Swach Cristella Advance should suffice.
Pros of TATA Swach Cristella
- This water purifier does not require electricity for its function.
- This appliance has an overall storage of 18 liters (9 liters each in both tanks).
- This product is easy to install, use, and clean.
- The TATA Swach is perfect for areas with RO-purified municipal water from the taps.
Cons of TATA Swach Cristella
- The design is good, but the joint portion is of poor quality.
- The tap design needs improvements.
- The purifier requires nearly two to three hours to purify a full tank of water.
Our Opinion
Though TATA claims that this water purifier can purify water with TDS levels up to 1500ppm, our experience shows that the appliance does not perform well with more than 250ppm.
The 18L storage capacity is a misnomer because the appliance contains a maximum of 9L pure water at any point. The 9L in the upper tank is not purified water.
The water does not fill up automatically in the upper container as you consume pure water from the bottom tank. You have to fill the tank manually. Since the purification rate is around 2L per hour, you must be ready to fill the water whenever the bottom tank empties.
TATA claims that the Log Reduction Value for bacteria follows USEPA guidelines. In addition, the cartridge life of 6000 liters is good. So, this water purifier is suitable if your source water does not have high TDS levels.
Design
The TATA Swach Cristella is a gravity water purifier that does not require electricity. The design has two tanks made of ABS food-grade plastic material.
The triangular shape looks attractive and can fit into your kitchen corner. Though the TATA Swach requires you to fill water manually, you can have a tap arrangement. But, it still requires manual operation.
This appliance has a filtering cartridge to purify water that flows naturally from the top-mounted tank to the bottom container. This cartridge can purify up to 6000 liters of water, after which it requires replacement.
The 9L capacity means this water purifier is suitable for medium-sized Indian families with three to four persons.
Performance
The TATA Swach Cristella is not an RO or UV/UF water purifier. Instead, it works on gravity and is a water-purifying cartridge capable of purifying 6000 liters of water. This cartridge can remove visible impurities, bacteria, viruses, and cysts. But, it does not reduce TDS levels or eliminate heavy metal impurities.
TATA claims that this water purifier can work with water in the pH range of 5.5 to 9. However, though TATA advertises the machine can work with TDS levels up to 1500ppm, we find that the appliance cannot handle more than 250ppm.
The anti-biofouling mechanism prevents contaminants from accumulating on the filter. Thus, it extends the filter’s lifespan considerably. The performance is good, especially if the source water has low TDS levels. Besides, the World Health Organization recommends using a RO water purifier if the TDS levels are above 500ppm.
Read: Best Water purifiers in India
Installation & Service
Installing the TATA Swach Cristella is not an issue. It does not require technical knowledge to fit this water purifier in the kitchen. However, if you go for a direct tap attachment, you will need some plumbing activity.
This water purifier does not need much servicing, except replacing the filter cartridge after 6000 liters of purification. However, the problem is that the machine does not have sensors to indicate it is time to replace the filters. So instead, you have to take a call, depending on the water taste.
Cleaning the water tanks is easy. You can detach the tanks and wash them separately. In addition, TATA offers a dedicated toll-free number (1800-2-585858) for consumers to lodge complaints and service requests.
