PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum 168 oz review

The PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum PWW00-13703 is a plug-in plastic fountain with a single adjustable free-falling stream and a separate refill reservoir that snaps onto the rear of the bowl. Its U.S. product page lists 168 ounces, a larger label than most of the compact Drinkwell fountains here. The design is most useful when you want a still pool as well as moving water and prefer to refill a removable tank instead of repeatedly pouring into a shallow bowl.

A big nominal capacity divided between bowl and reservoir

PetSafe gives the Platinum both a 168-US-fluid-ounce capacity and a rounded 1.3-gallon description. The exact ounce figure converts to about 4.97 liters; that is a useful comparison value, not a measured quantity available to drink or a promise of days between checks. The bowl and rear reservoir work as one station: water in the reservoir feeds the bowl as its level falls. The reservoir must be filled, capped, turned upright and slid into its place. It is not a freestanding drinking dispenser, and the full 168 ounces is not sitting in the open bowl at once.

This matters when setting a hard capacity filter. At a 4.9-liter minimum, the Platinum clears the label conversion. At a strict 5-liter minimum, it does not. A label rounded to 1.3 gallons should not be rounded upward again to make the chosen answer fit. If your priority is more named volume, the PetSafe Oasys 256 oz is a distinct larger configuration; compare the space and carrying routine as carefully as the capacity.

Flow is adjustable, but the operating plan is not

The fountain uses a submersible pump and one falling stream, with a physical control on the pump faceplate. That makes it a better fit for a home that wants to tune a conventional stream than for someone looking for a pet-triggered, interval or app-controlled cycle. The current product page lists plug-in power. Its quick-start guide describes continuous operation while the water is maintained and gives an electrical use of 2.5 watts. No rechargeable battery arrangement or remote monitoring is documented for this exact model.

The open bowl remains a drinking surface when the pump is unplugged, but this is retained water, not backup circulation. The rear tank and bowl are passive water containers; the stream stops without the powered pump. The guide tells owners not to let the bowl level fall below one inch from the base because the pump could fail. I found no confirmation of an automatic low-water cutoff, so choose another model if that safety feature is essential. Regular water-level checks remain part of owning this larger reservoir.

Plastic parts are dishwasher-permitted; the pump still needs hands-on care

PetSafe identifies the fountain parts as BPA-free plastic. The drinking bowl, filter housing and lid may go on the dishwasher’s top rack, but that permission does not include the detachable reservoir, pump or power adapter. Before cleaning, unplug the unit and disconnect its inline plug. The pump has a faceplate, a removable stator and a magnetic impeller that must be taken apart and cleaned; a high water capacity does not make that hidden water path maintenance-free.

PetSafe’s current cleaning instructions say to clean the fountain at least monthly and more often in a multi-pet home, with the pump and filters cared for during that cleaning. The carbon filter has its own two-to-four-week replacement interval. Rinse filter media with water rather than soap and do not put it in the dishwasher. There is a source detail worth checking before hard-water treatment: the older Platinum quick-start guide gives an 80/20 water-and-vinegar mixture, while the current support article says 50/50. Rather than blending those instructions with another Drinkwell model’s directions, consult the current official Platinum guidance for the exact treatment you plan to use.

Measure the location, not the product photo

The product page lists dimensions as 15.8 × 10.3 × 10.0 inches, but the table does not label which figure is height, width or depth. Treat that as a three-number envelope to verify against your counter or floor space rather than entering an assumed height. Also leave room to unplug the cord and carry the bowl to a sink. Filling the rear reservoir uses an inversion-and-cap step, so it is convenient only if that refill task fits your routine.

Who should compare another fountain?

Choose the Platinum if you value a large labeled reservoir, a physical adjustable stream, an open drinking pool, and top-rack permission for the bowl and housing, and you can keep it near an outlet. A strict 5-liter minimum, a proven low-water shutoff, a dry-base electrical layout, battery operation or app intake records are reasons to keep looking. The Stainless Multi-Pet 128 oz trades some nominal volume for a stainless drinking tray and customizable multi-stream layout; it does not reproduce the Platinum’s rear refill tank. The Oasys 256 oz is the larger-capacity alternative in PetSafe’s plastic outlet-powered line. These are different handling choices, not performance rankings. Before ordering, compare the model code on the fountain with the Platinum support page: that page also lists older codes whose relationship to current PWW00-13703 is not established here.