Well, it took much much longer than anticipated (apparently I haven't yet figured out that most house projects do) and five trips to the home store (I'll explain) but now I have an under-sink water filtration system AND a brand new faucet. I went to Home Depot and got the filter and came home to install it. I was missing a coupler necessary for the job, so back to HD I go. Maybe I was flustered over the second trip or maybe I was mentally elsewhere but I wasn't paying attention and managed to render inoperable the cold water supply tube on my old faucet. Twisted that sucker right into oblivion. Great. Very smooth move. Back to HD for a new faucet after much struggling to remove the old one. I hated that old faucet anyway as it wouldn't stay in place on the sink. I tried to install the new one and wouldn't you know it, but my three-hole pattern cast iron sink must be from before there was a standard -- no fit! Argh. Guess where I went again? Yup. Ok, the new faucet installs just fine and looks way nicer than the old one and it solidly stays put as it should. Finally, time to install the water filter! Since my first new faucet wouldn't fit I didn't need the three-way coupler I purchased. One last trip (I can drive it with my eyes closed now) was necessary in order to buy a 69-cent cap for the unused connector on the three-way coupler. Goodness. Anyway, after all that stupid wasted time, the project is finished and the water is clean and clear. Whew.
[new images and links added 04-13-03. never let it be said I don't aim to please my visitors. ahem, bill.]