A filter assembly comprising: a housing defining a hollow interior and an open end ; at least one filter cartridge contained in the hollow interior of the housing, the filter cartridge including a first end and a second end, the second end including at least one gasket that encircles the filter cartridge; a base attached to the open end of the housing, the base defining a filter receiving recess for receiving the second end of the filter cartridge, the recess including an engaging element for securing the filter cartridge to the base, the recess having a depth and including: (a) a first section adjacent to a top end of the recess, the first section having a first diameter and the top end of the first section having a wall ; (b) a gasket guiding section positioned below the first section; and (c) a gasket contacting section adjacent to the gasket guiding section, the gasket contacting section having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the second diameter having a size that engages the gasket on the filter cartridge to form a fluid tight seal; a fluid inlet ; and a fluid outlet in communication with the fluid inlet such that fluid flowing into the inlet passes through the at least one filter cartridge to the fluid outlet; characterized in that the wall of the first section has a tapering height such that a top surface of the wall forms an angle of from 0.5° to 1.5° in relation to a horizontal line perpendicular to a central axis of the recess; and the gasket guiding section comprises a chamfered surface having an angle of from 30° to 60° in relation to a vertical line that is parallel to a central axis of the recess. a housing defining a hollow interior and an open end ; at least one filter cartridge contained in the hollow interior of the housing, the filter cartridge including a first end and a second end, the second end including at least one gasket that encircles the filter cartridge; a base attached to the open end of the housing, the base defining a filter receiving recess for receiving the second end of the filter cartridge, the recess including an engaging element for securing the filter cartridge to the base, the recess having a depth and including: (a) a first section adjacent to a top end of the recess, the first section having a first diameter and the top end of the first section having a wall ; (b) a gasket guiding section positioned below the first section; and (c) a gasket contacting section adjacent to the gasket guiding section, the gasket contacting section having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the second diameter having a size that engages the gasket on the filter cartridge to form a fluid tight seal; (a) a first section adjacent to a top end of the recess, the first section having a first diameter and the top end of the first section having a wall ; (b) a gasket guiding section positioned below the first section; and (c) a gasket contacting section adjacent to the gasket guiding section, the gasket contacting section having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the second diameter having a size that engages the gasket on the filter cartridge to form a fluid tight seal; a fluid inlet ; and a fluid outlet in communication with the fluid inlet such that fluid flowing into the inlet passes through the at least one filter cartridge to the fluid outlet; characterized in that the wall of the first section has a tapering height such that a top surface of the wall forms an angle of from 0.5° to 1.5° in relation to a horizontal line perpendicular to a central axis of the recess; and the gasket guiding section comprises a chamfered surface having an angle of from 30° to 60° in relation to a vertical line that is parallel to a central axis of the recess. <EOS>