Overview | Is this right for me? | What it reduces | How it works | Specs | What's included | Installation | Maintenance & costs | FAQs | Reviews

• Tap Water Contaminants Explained - learn about the most common types of drinking water contaminants.
• Home Water Purification - the ultimate guide to water purification.

Overview

The Oyster TBC is a high performance, two stage under sink water filter that goes well beyond taste and odour. As well as removing chlorine and sediment, it's designed to reduce bacteria, cysts, chemicals, pharmaceutical residues, hormones and endocrine disruptors, delivering cleaner drinking water from a dedicated tap.

• Noticeably better tasting water after the removal of chlorine, chemicals and odours.
• Two stage filtration: a 5 micron coconut shell carbon block followed by a 0.5 micron solid carbon block for bacteria, cysts and chemical reduction.
• Removes bacteria including Campylobacter, E. coli and Cryptosporidium and other cysts such as Giardia.
• Reduces chloramines, trihalomethanes, PAHs, pharmaceutical residues, endocrine disruptors and hormones.
• Compact dual housing: occupies a space of approximately H 34cm x W 26cm x D 13cm.
• Flexible installation: mount under the sink or on the bench top, with a choice of drinking water tap (or 'no tap').
• DIY friendly - supplied with full fitting instructions, no plumber required.

Is tap water safe to drink? - Tap water may meet the standards, but does it meet your standards? Discover the difference for yourself.

Is this right for me?

Choose this if

You want comprehensive under sink filtration that does more than improve taste; reducing bacteria, cysts, chemicals, pharmaceutical residues, hormones and endocrine disruptors, all delivered through a dedicated drinking water tap at your kitchen sink.

Not ideal if

You only want to improve the taste and smell of your water (a simpler single stage filter would do), you're looking to filter every tap in the home (this is a single drinking water supply, not a whole house system), or you're on an untreated private water supply without a sediment pre-filter fitted first.

What to check before buying

• Available space: the dual housing occupies approximately H 34cm x W 26cm x D 13cm under the sink, or it can be mounted on the bench top.
• Tap option: decide whether you want one of our drinking water filter taps, or choose 'no tap' if you already have a tap or want to fit a 3 way tap.
• Supply fitting: choose a 15mm compression valve or a self-piercing saddle valve to connect to your cold supply.
• Hardness: this system does not reduce limescale as standard, but an optional Hardness Reduction insert can be added at checkout if you're in a hard water area.
• Installation: it's a DIY install with the instructions provided, but a confident DIYer or plumber is recommended.

How to Remove PFAS in UK Drinking Water - an in-depth article about forever chemicals and how to reduce your exposure.

What it reduces and what it doesn't 

The Oyster TBC under sink water filter reduces:

• Chlorine - to improve taste and smell
• Sediment, sand and rust particles
• Bacteria - including Campylobacter, E. coli and Cryptosporidium
• Cysts - such as Giardia
• Chemicals, chloramines and trihalomethanes (THMs)
• PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
• Pharmaceutical residues
• Endocrine disruptors and hormones
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

The Oyster TBC under sink water filter doesn't reduce:

• Fluoride - take a look at our dedicated fluoride filters instead
• Limescale and water hardness - unless you add the optional Hardness Reduction insert
• Viruses
• Most dissolved minerals - beneficial calcium and magnesium are left in
• Some heavy metals - although the MAXPB-975 substitute cartridge does reduce lead and additional cysts (see Specifications below)

Contaminant Reduced
Chlorine	Yes
Sediment	Yes
Bacteria	Yes
Cysts	Yes
Chemicals	Yes
PAHs	Yes
Pharmaceutical residues	Yes
Endocrine disruptors and hormones	Yes
Volatile organic compounds VOCs	Yes
Fluoride	No
Limescale	No
Viruses	No
Most dissolved solids	No
Some heavy metals	No

How it works

The Oyster TBC uses two activated carbon block cartridges in sequence. Water first passes through a 5 micron coconut shell carbon block, which traps larger sediment and reduces chlorine, taste and odour. It then flows through a tighter 0.5 micron solid carbon block, where the finer pore structure physically reduces bacteria and cysts while adsorbing chemicals and VOCs. Activated carbon is a renewable, eco-friendly material, and the solid block construction outperforms granulated carbon by resisting channelling and giving a lower pressure drop.

Specifications - 5 micron carbon block

Construction	100% coconut shell activated carbon block (thick wall construction)
Stage	First in sequence - chlorine, taste, odour and sediment
Working temperature	10-52ºC (50-125ºF)
Maximum working pressure	8.6 bar (125 psi)
Working conditions	Indoor residential use only
Size	2.5" x 10"
Contaminants reduced (depending on local water chemistry)	Chlorine, taste, odour, sediment
Micron rating (nominal)	5
Chlorine reduction capacity*	> 90% reduction in chlorine
Filtration capacity	Chlorine - 10,000 gallons (approx 37,850 litres) @ 1 gpm, or 12 months, whichever comes first
Certification	Tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 (materials only); FDA grade components and materials; independently lab tested
Maintenance	Cartridge change every 12 months. When installing a new cartridge flush for 1-2 minutes to remove carbon fines.

*Dependent on local water chemistry, flow rates, system design and application. Performance claims apply to a fully installed system with filter, housing, and connection to pressurised water.

Specifications - 0.5 micron carbon block MaxVoc-975 or similar substitute

Construction	Solid block activated carbon for long life
Stage	Second in sequence - bacteria, cysts and chemicals
Working temperature	4.4-73.8ºC (40-165ºF)
Working conditions	Indoor residential use only
Size	Fits standard 10" filter housing
Contaminants reduced (depending on local water chemistry)	Bacteria, cysts, chemicals, VOCs, fine sediment and rust particles
Micron rating (nominal)	0.5
VOC reduction*	Reduction of select VOCs through 1,200 gallons (approx 4,540 litres)
Chlorine / odour reduction*	Effective reduction through 20,000 gallons (approx 75,700 litres) @ 1 gpm
Certification	Tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 (materials only)
Maintenance	Cartridge change every 12 months. When installing a new cartridge flush for 1-2 minutes to remove carbon fines.

*Dependent on local water chemistry, flow rates, system design and application. Performance claims apply to a fully installed system with filter, housing, and connection to pressurised water.

On some occasions we may need to substitute the MAXVOC-975 with the MAXPB-975 cartridge. The MAXPB-975 is a 0.5 micron solid carbon block that reduces lead (through 2,400 gallons / approx 9,085 litres), plus VOCs, Giardia, Entamoeba, Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium cysts, with effective chlorine, taste and odour reduction through 20,000 gallons (approx 75,700 litres) @ 1 gpm. Operating temperature 4.4-73.8ºC (40-165ºF).

What's included

• 2 x white filter housings
• 1 x dual white housing bracket
• 1 x 5 micron activated carbon block cartridge for chlorine, taste, odour and sediment
• 1 x 0.5 micron activated carbon block cartridge (C-Max MAXVOC-975 or substitute) for bacteria and chemicals
• A choice of drinking water filter tap, or the 'no tap' option if you already have a tap or want a 3 way tap
• Either a self-piercing saddle valve or a 15mm compression valve
• Red and blue tubing (2 metres of each)
• 1 x housing spanner
• DIY fitting instructions - no plumber required

Installation & placement

Install the Oyster TBC on the cold feed to your kitchen tap, either under the sink or on the bench top. The dual housing occupies a space of approximately H 34cm x W 26cm x D 13cm.

The cartridge order matters: the 5 micron carbon block goes first in the sequence, followed by the 0.5 micron cartridge on the water out / blue tubing side. The lowest micron rated cartridge always goes last.

It's designed as a DIY installation with the supplied instructions - you can also download the fitting instructions here. To change cartridges, simply follow these instructions.

Maintenance & running costs

It's important to replace both carbon block cartridges every 12 months to maintain effective chlorine, taste, odour, bacteria and chemical reduction. You can buy the replacement cartridge set for the Oyster TBC here.

FAQs

What does the Oyster TBC under sink water filter remove from tap water?

The Oyster TBC is a two stage system that reduces chlorine, sediment, chemicals, chloramines, trihalomethanes, PAHs, VOCs, pharmaceutical residues, hormones and endocrine disruptors. It also reduces bacteria including Campylobacter, E. coli and Cryptosporidium, and other cysts such as Giardia, giving you cleaner, better tasting drinking water.

Does the Oyster TBC really remove bacteria?

Yes. The second stage uses a tight 0.5 micron solid carbon block whose fine pore structure physically reduces bacteria and cysts as water passes through, alongside its chemical and VOC reduction. This is what sets the Oyster TBC apart from a standard taste and odour filter.

Do I need a plumber to install it?

No. The Oyster TBC is supplied with full DIY fitting instructions and connects to your cold water supply using either a 15mm compression valve or a self-piercing saddle valve. A confident DIYer can fit it, though you're welcome to use a plumber if you prefer.

Can it be mounted on the worktop instead of under the sink?

Yes. The Oyster TBC can be installed under the sink or on the bench top, wherever is most convenient. The dual housing occupies a space of approximately H 34cm x W 26cm x D 13cm.

What order do the cartridges go in?

The 5 micron carbon block (F109009) goes first in the sequence, followed by the 0.5 micron C-Max MAXVOC-975 (or MAXPB-975) on the water out side. As a rule, the lowest micron rated cartridge always goes last.

How often do the cartridges need changing?

Replace both cartridges every 12 months to maintain effective filtration. A replacement cartridge set is available, and we'll send you a reminder when it's time to reorder.

* Components are occasionally replaced with other similar quality items due to supply chain issues. Brassware and other plumbing accessories are sourced from UK suppliers. The MAXVOC-975 may on occasion be substituted with the MAXPB-975 (lead and cyst reduction) cartridge.

Reviews

Loading reviews...