What is the best water filter system for drinking water

Drinking water daily is a key part of staying healthy, bbut do you know if the water you’re ingesting is actually clean? “Depending on where you live and your water source, water can contain a wide range of bacteria, viruses and contaminants including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and more,” says Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN of Brooklyn-based Maya Feller Nutrition. “Contaminants can include viruses and pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella and e. coli, as well as lead, mercury, BPA, progesterone, caffeine, acetaminophen, Glyphosate, Benzene, Styrene, Chloroform, Arsenic, petroleum products and more.”

Show

Brita's water filters use coconut-based activated carbon to remove chlorine, mercury, copper, zinc ... [+] and cadmium from water, and the pitcher has a built-in indicator light that lets you know when the filter needs to be replaced.

Amazon

No one wants to be putting these contaminants into their body every time they take a sip of water (or cook, clean or bathe with it), and Feller explains that’s where water filters and purifiers come in handy. “Water filters remove waterborne protozoa and bacteria, but not viruses, whereas water purifiers filter out impurities including protozoa, bacteria and viruses,” she explains. “Drinking purified water is a way to keep harmful contaminants out of your drinking water, which is better for our bodies and overall health.”

When shopping for the best water filter for your needs, she recommends opting for one that purifies and filters out contaminants: “Look for a system that both filters AND purifies, and is transparent about the contaminants it removes. I also like to see third party lab testing that can demonstrate that the system meets or exceeds water standards.” Feller also recommends checking the cost of replacement filters and how long each lasts to ensure it will be an economical choice for your home.

If you’re ready to start drinking cleaner water, the following are the best water filters for every room of your home.

  • Best Value Water Filter Pitcher For Most People: Brita Standard Metro Water Filter Pitcher
  • Best Designed Water Filter Pitcher: Soma 10-Cup Pitcher
  • Best Filter for Sink Faucet: PUR Faucet Mount Water Filtration System
  • Best Under-Sink Water Filter System: Frizzlife Under Sink Water Filter System
  • Best Reverse Osmosis Filter System: APEC Water Systems Essence 5-Stage Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System
  • Best Water Filter For The Shower: AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter
  • Best Whole-House Filter: Pelican PSE1800 Whole House Water Filtration System
  • Best Water Filter For RV: Big Berkey Water Filter
  • Best Water Bottle Filter: Philips Water GoZero Everyday Water Filter Bottle
  • Best Water Filter For Hiking or Camping: Katadyn Vario Water Filter
  • Best Glass Water Filter: Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher

Best Value Water Filter Pitcher For Most People

A Top-Rated Option That’s A Staple In Most Homes

Amazon

Brita Standard Metro Water Filter Pitcher, White

Water pitchers are one of the most popular ways to filter tap water, and Brita is one of the best-known brands on the market. These pitchers are widely celebrated for their affordable cost and ease-of-use, and the Brita Standard Metro Water Filter Pitcher boasts more than 44,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.7-star rating, making it one of the top-rated options available.

This pitcher has a 5-cup capacity and comes in three colors, and you can choose between standard filters, which last around two months, or Longlast filters, which only need to be replaced every six months. These filters use coconut-based activated carbon to remove chlorine, mercury, copper, zinc and cadmium from water, and the pitcher has a built-in indicator light that lets you know when the filter needs to be replaced.


Best Designed Water Filter Pitcher

A Sleek Option Made From BPA-Free Plastic

While Brita may have the name recognition, Soma has the Instagram appeal. Designed to look nice enough to keep out on your counter or set out as part of a dinner party spread, Soma’s take on the water filter pitcher is sleek and organic looking, with a geometric filter and bamboo handle. But Scandinavian-inspired looks aren’t this newcomer’s only appeal.

The filter is made from 65% renewable plant-based materials (certified sustainable activated coconut shell carbon and plant-based sugar cane, plus ion exchange) while the pitcher is made from BPA-free plastic and sustainable bamboo, so you can feel extra good about filtering out those unwanted chemical and mineral flavors from your tap.


Best Filter For Sink Faucet

A Water Filtration System That Installs Right Onto Your Kitchen Faucet

Amazon

PUR Faucet Mount Water Filtration System, Small, Gray

The PUR Faucet-Mount Water Filtration System installs right onto your kitchen faucet, allowing you to get freshly filtered water right from the tap. It’s incredibly easy to install onto most faucets (no tools necessary) and the filter uses activated carbon and ion exchange to reduce more than 70 contaminants, including lead, mercury and certain pesticides.

It also includes a MineralClear filter that delivers crisp taste, and each filter can be used on 100 gallons of water, typically delivering three months of use. This faucet-mounted water filter has close to 9,000 reviews on Amazon, and buyers write that it “does a great job at eliminating the horrible chlorine smell and taste of tap water.”

forbes.comTarget Coupons | 10% Off In August 2022 | Forbes

Best Under-Sink Water Filter System

A Two-Stage Filtration System That’s Easy To Install

Amazon

Frizzlife Under Sink Water Filter System

You can filter the water from your sink with the Frizzlife Under Sink Water Filter System. It uses a two-stage filtration system to remove over 99.99% of contaminants like lead, chlorine, rust and volatile organic compounds, all while improving the odor and taste of your water.

This under-sink filter is extremely easy to install in a matter of minutes, and it fits both 1/2- and 3/8-inch water lines. It offers a high flow rate of two gallons per minute at 40 psi, and its cartridges should be replaced every six to eight months.


Best Reverse Osmosis Filter System

A Water Filtration System That Catches Just About Everything

Home Depot

APEC Water Systems Essence 5-Stage Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

Many water filters use activated carbon or paper membranes to remove contaminants, but if you want to remove total dissolved solids (frequently called TDS) from your drinking supply, you’ll need a reverse osmosis water filter. These systems typically involve several filtration stages, and they use a super-fine membrane to remove any minerals, salts, metals, cations or anions that may be dissolved in water.

The APEC Water Systems Essence 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System is a popular choice in this category thanks to its five large-capacity filters, which can remove 99% of chlorine, taste, odor and VOCs, as well as toxic fluoride, sodium, arsenic, lead, nitrates, heavy metals and more. It’s designed to be installed underneath your sink, a process that can be a bit tricky, depending on the connections you have.


Best Water Filter For Shower

A Filtration System That infuses Your Water With A Blend Of Vitamins And Minerals

Amazon

AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter

If you have chlorine or chemicals in your water, it can lead to dry skin, brittle hair and more. However, you can filter the water in your shower with the AquaBliss SF100 Revitalizing Shower Filter, which simply screws onto your shower fixture.

The unit has several types of filtering media inside it—including sediment filters, redox media, activated carbon and more—and it helps to neutralize odors, balance pH and remove chlorine, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dirt, odors and more from your water. It also infuses your water with a blend of vitamins and minerals for skin and hair health, and the filter only needs to be replaced every six months in an average home.


Best Whole-House Filter

A Water Filtration System That Needs Replacing Only Every Five Years

Home Depot

Pelican PSE1800 Whole House Water Filtration and NaturSoft Water Softener Alternative System

Most water filters are designed to purify just one water source in your home, whether it’s a faucet or shower head, but if you want to filter all the water throughout your whole house, you’ll need a more expensive product like the Pelican PSE1800 Water Filtration and NaturSoft Water Softener Alternative System. The system can filter 10 gallons per minute, making it appropriate for homes with one to three bathrooms, and it uses a sediment pre-filter and carbon filtration media to remove sediment, chemicals, chlorine and more.

This system also offers a water softener alternative, which reduces scale by more than 99% and prevents hard water buildup in your plumbing and appliances. The pre-filter requires replacement every six to nine months, and the carbon media only needs replacing every five years or 600,000 gallons, making it a low-maintenance system that you can use for years.


Best Water Filter For RV

A Solid Option For Road Trips

Berkey Filters

Big Berkey Water Filter

If you’re concerned about lead or other contaminants in your drinking water, the Big Berkey Water Filter has a portable design that’s ideal for an RV or any kind of traveling. This unit is made from stainless steel, and it can hold up to 2.25 gallons of water at a time. It uses a carbon filter made of coconut shell and a proprietary blend of other media to remove 99.999% of viruses and bacteria, as well as pesticides, heavy metals and more.

The Big Berkey is easy to use, too. Just fill the tank up in the morning, and in around two hours, the upper chamber will be filtered into the bottom chamber. You can then pour the water out from the bottom via the included spigot.


Best Water Bottle With Filter

An On-The-Go Option With A Built-In Filter

Amazon

Philips Water GoZero Everyday Insulated Stainless Steel Filter Water Bottle

For those who regularly fill up their water bottle from various sources throughout the day, the Philips Water GoZero Everyday Bottle has a built-in filter that ensures your drink is always clean. The bottle comes in 22- and 18.6-ounce sizes, as well as a range of colors, and it’s made from stainless steel to keep your drink cold for longer. Its activated carbon filter removes chlorine, bad tastes and particulates from the water, and it simply needs to be replaced every 40 gallons—roughly two months.


Best Water Filter For Hiking Or Camping

A Clever Option For Safely Drinking From Natural Water Sources

Amazon

Katadyn Vario Water Filter With Dual Technology Microfilter

When you’re out in the wilderness, you need a reliable water filter to ensure no harmful bacteria makes it into your water, and the Katadyn Vario Water Filter is a top choice. The compact filter uses a combination of activated carbon, ceramic and glassfiber to remove bacteria, protozoa, cysts, algae, spores and sediments from water, allowing hikers and campers to safely drink from natural water sources.

The Vario Filter produces up to two quarts per minute on fast mode or one quart per minute on its longer life mode, and its base can be attached directly to water bottles or used with an output hose to fill hydration systems or larger containers. The whole unit weighs just 15 ounces, making it lightweight enough to hike with, and each cartridge can filter up to 500 gallons of water.


Best Glass Water Filter

A Sleek And Stylish Option You Can Bring To The Dinner Table

MOST POPULAR

Hydros

Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher

Hydros is a relatively new brand on the water filter scene, and possibly one of the only few that make a glass water filter. Made using premium, crystal-clear borosilicate glass, the brand’s Glass Slim Pitcher is lightweight, durable and dishwasher friendly. It’s so sleek and stylish that you’ll proudly want to bring it to dinner table.

As for the filter, Hydros makes them using 100% coconut shell carbon that’s encased in a BPA-free plastic casing. The brand also offers a filter recycling program wherein you can return old, used filters that are responsibly recycled via TerraCycle.

Which filter is best for drinking water?

Reverse osmosis filters are top of the line for removing a large percentage of contaminants out of the water, potentially including dangerous waterborne bacteria. The filters work by pushing water through the reverse osmosis membrane using pressure.

What is the healthiest way to filter tap water?

There are three ways to clean water: distillation, reverse osmosis and carbon filtering. Of the three, carbon filtering is the quickest and easiest, but it also largely provides aesthetic improvement, which is all the simple affordable filters do.

Which water filter removes the most impurities?

Reverse osmosis systems are some of the best options for your water. The Reverse osmosis system in the 4 stage design is a design that will help you remove the maximum number of contaminants from your water.

Which water filter is best for home?

HUL Pureit Copper Water Purifier| Best Water Purifiers for Home. ... .
LG Puricare WW150NP Water Purifier. ... .
Faber FWP MAT + Vitamin C + RO Purifier. ... .
Eureka Forbes Aquasure from Aquaguard Delight (Smart Plus) Water Purifier. ... .
AO Smith Z9 Green RO Smith Water Purifier. ... .
Blue Star Excella Water Purifier. ... .
Kent Grand Plus Water Purifier..