Water Filter Buying Guide: EWG's Tap Water Database (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest type of filter water? ›

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Talk about a good bang for your buck – reverse osmosis filters are incredibly popular for a very good reason. Reverse osmosis filters are top of the line for removing a large percentage of contaminants from the water, potentially including dangerous bacteria associated with waterborne diseases.

To determine the ideal option you need, consider factors like the types of contaminants present (i.e., your local water quality), your budget, and the scale of filtration you're looking for.

And use a solid carbon block like we do here at Epic Water Filters, this is the only way to remove endocrine disruptors from your tap water and remember, drink water out of glass containers only.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

A reverse osmosis system combined with a carbon filter is most effective at removing water contaminants.

Both have their benefits and the extent to which one system wins out over another is usually a matter of degree rather than principle. That is to say, all filtration and purification systems will clean your water supply, but some will remove 95% of impurities, while others may remove 99%.

Taste test participants described Brita water as “most clean," “tasted pure," and “most neutral." However, the Brita water didn't win in a landslide. The Pur water was a close second, and testers commented that it tasted “clean and refreshing” and had “no aftertaste.”

In the US, PFAS is present in 45% of tap water, with six in every 10 people believed to be exposed to the chemicals. Thankfully, filters can help remove these harmful chemicals.

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are efficient at reducing high levels of microplastics, as well as most other contaminants, in water. Standard reverse osmosis systems utilize three phases in the filtration process, while some systems contain four or five stages.

What is the best treatment? Of all the E. Coli water treatment filters, UV filtration is the one with the most advantages. Chlorine, chloramine, and other chemical treatments may leave a bad taste or form disinfectant byproducts.

How to get water without endocrine disruptors? ›

Running water from the tap through an NSF-certified water filter can, when properly installed and maintained, decrease the level of some endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

The good news: Clearly Filtered's water filtration systems can remove up to 99.9% of the different forms of estrogen and other estrogenic compounds. See below for the forms of estrogen we target and head to our Lab Test Results page for a full breakdown of our performance data.

The biggest advantage of an RO water purifier is that it protects you against waterborne illnesses. An RO purifier effectively eliminates microscopic pathogens like bacteria and viruses, which result in drinking water that is free from contaminants.

Mineral water and alkaline water may be some of the healthiest types of water because they provide your body with essential nutrients, but simply drinking safe, uncontaminated water should be your number one priority.

It is best to use a point-of-entry filter system (where your water pipe enters your house), or whole-house filter system, for VOCs because they provide safe water for bathing and cleaning, as well as for cooking and drinking. Activated carbon filters can remove some VOCs.