Our 10 Drinking Water Filter Systems In The US - April 2023

Freestanding or countertop filtration systems usually let you store filtered tap (untreated) drinking waters for later consumption. Some filtration units connected to the plumbing provide an additional storage space.

It’s important when buying a new household appliance to think about whether you need extra space for storing extra supplies.

Pitcher-type filters typically store up to six to ten cupful of filtered tap/well/spring/creek/etc. waters. Countertop models may contain anywhere from two to two hundred gallons of filtered tap/well / spring / creek / etc. waters. Consider the size of the household and how much drinking/cooking/showering/washing you do before determining which type of filter is right for you.

To test the effectiveness of a particular brand of filter, look up whether it's been tested and approved by the WQA or NSF International. In particular, be sure to look at products that have been tested and approved by these two organizations.

A purifier's filtration system could wear out if it becomes contaminated. However, it might be hard to remember when it's time to replace the filter. Therefore, it may be smart to buy a model with an alert to remind you when it's time to get new filters.

If you want to know if a particular pitcher has been used, you can look at its sticker.

Other products have a clock face that you can set with a specific time.

If you want the simplest way to remind yourself to replace your filters, look for a digital indicator that flashes a light so you know when it‘s time to change them.

Water flow rate refers to the number of cubic feet of water passing through a purifier every minute. It is usually expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

Water purification systems with a faster flow can offer you better quality water more quickly. However, the greater the flow, the harder the system can filter out impurities. Therefore, some of the best water purification units have a slower filtering process.

A purifier with an average flow of one-half gallon per hour is usually a good option.

There are four main kinds of filters used in water filtration systems: carbon, ceramic, ultrafiltration, and UV.

- Carbon: Carbon filtration systems utilize activated carbon to absorb contaminants from your drinking supply. Activated carbon works best at removing chemicals, chlorine, heavy metals, and pesticides. They also work great at filtering out bacteria and viruses. Most carbon filters come in two forms – freestanding and attached to a faucet (faucet-mounted).

A water filter can improve the quality of tap water by removing chemical pollutants such as chloramine, radon, pesticides and herbicide residues, benzine, trihalomethanes, and other synthetic chemicals from your tap water. However, these filters cannot remove heavy metals and inorganic toxins such as arsenic, mercury and lead, which may be present in some localities.

- Ceramic: Ceramic filtration systems remove large particulates and chemicals from your drinking supply. They can also help eliminate harmful microorganisms and odors. These units come in two main forms: stand alone units and undercounter models. Standalone units sit on top of a sink or countertop and require electricity. Undercounter units fit into cabinets and drawers below sinks and counters. Both styles work similarly; however, standalone units are generally easier to install and maintain.

- Reverse osmoses: Reverse osmoses are able to filter larger particulates and inorganic chemicals like lead, mercury, arsenic, selenium, and cadmium from your tap. They're directly connected to the piping under the sink, so the purified drinking is ready whenever you need it. Some models can also hold a little purified drinking for emergencies or later use. There is also an attached line that sends contaminated drinking straight to the drain.

- Ultraviolent (UV) radiation: Some people believe that drinking pure filtered water is an effective method of preventing disease. While this may be true, it does not eliminate the risk of contracting diseases such as Hepatitis, Malaria, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Cholera, Polio, Smallpox, Measles, Mumps, Chicken Pox, Diphtheria, Plague, and Yellow Fever. In addition, filtering out these pathogens does not guarantee that you won’t contract any of them. Drinking unfiltered H20 is also dangerous because it contains a wide variety of chemicals and toxins including lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum, fluoride, chlorine, bromine, selenium, and radon. These substances can cause serious health problems ranging from cancer to birth defects.