Question:
I would like to install a drinking water filter in the kitchen. The water here has too much minerals and I would like to be able to drink out of a faucet.

The current faucet is a single handle faucet, and the water supply already has a side connection from the cold water line to a separate spary nozzle. So my choice it to either cut the cold water line to the faucet, have it feed into the filter, comes back out and continute into the faucet, or use the spray and change that into a drinking water faucet. Currently I use the spray occasionally. Any advise as to which way I should go, is there a significant advantage to have a drinking water faucet?

Also I see some Culligan water filter system for as low as $59, and I see some Franke system for as high as $590. What is the difference? is it in the faucet hardware (they both come with a small water faucet I think the Franke one is solid brass) or is there a fundamental difference in the filter performance?

Answer: If you want to reduce the "mineral content", you will need more than a "filter". A properly-sized filter will greatly reduce the organic content of the water, but will NOT reduce the mineral content. Chlorine, and other "bad smells/tastes" will be greatly reduced, but the minerals will still be there.

Yes, a special spigot for high-quality drinking water is the way to go. And no, I do not advise using the sprayer hose to serve as the feed line to whatever device you install to improve your drinking water -- just cut in a new "t" or other fitting, and use it. HINT: Make sure to install a high-quality plastic shut-off in that new feed-line....sooner or later, you will be glad you did!

I am not familiar with a "Franke" system, but it sounds to me like one is a filter, and one is a Reverse-osmosis SYSTEM. Note the use of thw word "SYSTEM". A 'real' RO uses a particulate filter (to remove the beer cans and other large trash in the water), a carbon pre-filter (to reduce the organics and chlorine), a membrane (this is the heart of the system....it lets water pass through, but stops MOST of the 'other stuff'), a storage tank (because the membrane makes water very slowly, you need to collect it in this tank for later use), and another carbon filter (a 'final filter' to remove any organic content that 'slips through'). The RO will reduce the mineral content by "about" 90% or more, depending on the desiign of the system and the specific mineral you are measuring. You might find more information at: www.softwater.com