Same Mixer, Different Water: How to  Install an Under-Sink Water Filter in Malta

If you love the sleek design of your kitchen tap but hate the taste of local tap water, you don't need to replace your faucet or clutter your counter with extra spouts. This step-by-step guide is for Maltese homeowners and renters who want crystal-clear, delicious drinking water straight from their existing tap. In under 15 minutes, you will learn how to easily install the InlinePro SMR® under-sink water filter using simple household tools, freeing yourself from plastic water bottles for good.

Key Takeaways

• Keep your favorite kitchen mixer while transforming your tap water into pure, great-tasting hydration.
• 15-minute quick DIY installation with standard tools — no plumber required.
• Powered by 5-stage Swedish Mineral Rock™ (SMR) filtration that removes 100+ contaminants while retaining essential minerals (Ca, Mg, K).
• Compact, flat-base design fits neatly into tight under-sink spaces, behind garbage bins, or around cabinet drawers without drilling.
• Save over €230+ annually compared to supermarket plastic bottle packs and eliminate plastic waste entirely.

1. The Maltese Tap Water Dilemma & Keeping Your Existing Kitchen Decor

Maltese tap water is safe to drink, but its strong chlorine taste, heavy mineral hardness, and lingering aftertaste drive thousands of households straight to the supermarket aisle for bottled water. Carrying heavy 6-packs up flights of stairs, storing bulky plastic bottles in compact kitchens, and queueing at BCRS reverse vending machines to claim bottle deposits have become exhausting daily chores. While countertop filters or dedicated 3-way taps offer relief, many residents simply want to keep their existing kitchen mixer and aesthetic without adding extra spouts or drilling holes into expensive stone countertops.

Bypassing the Bottle Hassle in Malta (BCRS, Heavy Packs, and Rising Costs)

Buying bottled water in Malta is no longer a convenience. With inflation raising the cost of living, spending hard-earned money on single-use plastic water is 10 times more expensive than filtering your own tap water. An under-sink inline water filter solves this completely by connecting directly to your existing cold water line beneath the counter, giving you pure drinking water straight from your current tap.

2. Introducing InlinePro SMR®: Premium Under-Sink Filtration Made Simple

The InlinePro SMR® by Tappwater is designed specifically for households that want high-volume, premium filtration without altering their countertop setup. It features advanced 5-stage nanofiltration combined with exclusive Swedish Mineral Rock™ (SMR) technology to deliver crisp, fresh-tasting water directly through your main kitchen faucet.

5-Stage Filtration & Swedish Mineral Rock™ Technology

Unlike standard carbon filters, InlinePro SMR® utilizes a multi-layered defense system: a pre-filter mesh, dual activated carbon layers, SMR mineral beads, and a final metallic mesh. It removes over 100 contaminants — including up to 95% of chlorine, 99% of microplastics, heavy metals like lead, pesticides, rust, and PFAS — while reducing limescale buildup by roughly 80%. Crucially, it retains essential healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, enhancing the natural taste and pH balance of your water. With an impressive flow rate of 8–10 L/min and a lifespan of up to 15,000–20,000 liters (lasting up to 12 months for 1–3 person households), it easily handles all your daily drinking, cooking, and fruit-washing needs.

3. Step-by-Step DIY Guide: Installing InlinePro Under Your Maltese Sink

You don't need a professional plumber to install the InlinePro SMR®. If you can use a basic spanner, you can set up this filter in 15 minutes.

Tools You'll Need & Simple Steps to Follow

Before you begin, gather a spanner (adjustable wrench), a pair of grips (to steady the pipe), a small bucket, and a dry cloth.

1. Shut Off the Cold Water: Turn off the cold water angle valve located under your sink. Open your kitchen mixer's cold tap to drain any remaining water pressure. Place your cloth and bucket directly under the connection to catch any minor drips.
2. Disconnect the Cold Flexi-Pipe: Using your spanner and grips, hold the pipe firmly while unscrewing the cold water flexi-hose from the main supply valve.
3. Attach Quick-Connect Fittings: Thread the provided universal  fittings onto the cold water supply valve and attach the InlinePro hoses. The system uses standard 3/8" connections compatible with Maltese plumbing setups. But you may need 1/2" to 3/8" reducers or bushes which are avilable from ironmongery shops.
4. Position the Unit: The InlinePro unit features a square flat base that stands securely on its own. You don't need to drill holes or fix it to cabinet walls — simply slide it into the back of your under-sink cabinet, even behind pull-out garbage bins or under drawer units.
5. Flush and Enjoy: Turn the cold water supply valve back on, check for any drips, and let the cold tap run for 2 minutes to flush the cartridge. Your tap is now delivering fresh, filtered water!

4. Cost & Environmental Benefits: Goodbye Plastic, Hello Savings

Switching from bottled water to an under-sink filtration system provides immediate financial relief and drastically reduces your household's carbon footprint.

Saving Over €230 Annually and Eliminating BCRS Trips

The average household in Malta consumes around 600 plastic bottles of water per year, spending over €280 on supermarket water packs. In contrast, running an InlinePro SMR® filter costs a fraction of that, resulting in net savings of €230+ every single year. Furthermore, you eliminate over 12 kg of plastic waste annually and save hours otherwise spent hauling heavy packs and visiting BCRS deposit points.

5. Real Maltese Experiences: What Local Users Are Saying

Maltese residents appreciate how discreet and space-saving the InlinePro SMR® system is inside standard apartment kitchens.

"The water tasted very good. The system is extremely discreet and doesn't take up much space in the cupboard. Also there's no need to change your tap. I am very pleased with it" — Pamela K.

"I'm loving my InlinePro filter - the water tastes great, and the filter is very user-friendly and doesn't take up much space at all. So happy I installed it." — Charmaine T.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to drill holes into my countertop or cabinet to install InlinePro SMR? No, the InlinePro SMR has a flat-base freestanding design that sits neatly on your cabinet floor without needing screws, wall mounts, or countertop holes.
2. Will installing InlinePro SMR decrease my kitchen tap's water pressure? Minimal pressure change occurs because the InlinePro SMR boasts a high flow rate of 8–10 liters per minute, maintaining strong water stream performance for filling pots and washing vegetables.
3. Can I connect InlinePro SMR to hot water lines? No, InlinePro SMR is designed strictly for cold water supply lines, as hot water can damage the internal carbon and SMR filtration media.
4. How often do I need to replace the InlinePro SMR filter cartridge in Malta? For households with 1 to 3 people, the refill cartridge lasts up to 12 months (15,000–20,000 liters), while larger households of 4 or more should replace it every 6 months.
5. Does the InlinePro SMR remove healthy minerals or lower TDS? No, the filter selectively removes over 100 harmful contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals while retaining essential healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium via Swedish Mineral Rock™ technology.
6. What tools do I need for a DIY installation under a standard Maltese sink? You only need an adjustable spanner (wrench), grips to hold the pipe steady, a small bucket, and a cloth to catch minor drips during installation.
7. What happens if I move to a new apartment or rented home in Malta? The system is 100% reversible; simply disconnect the  fittings, reconnect your original flexi-pipe, and take your InlinePro filter unit with you to your new home.