The pollution in tap water is steadily increasing, retrofitting the waterworks is too expensive and so the demand for water filters for home use in the USA is increasing.
The water filter market is extremely confusing and, in addition to a large number of suppliers, there are also a large number of different systems that sometimes pursue different application goals.
So that you can choose the best water filter for your home, various types of water filter systems are described below and compared with one another in terms of their performance, functionality, and advantages and disadvantages.
Reasons for a water filter
To be able to answer the question about the best water filter, you need specific motives. Is lime scale the biggest problem for you or do you just not like your tap water? Do you have a thorn in the side of hauling the boxes?
For us, the most important argument, in addition to its environmentally friendly properties, is the quality of the water and its absence of harmful substances. But one after another:
Reason 1: Our tap water is anything but the best drinking water
According to environmental studies, the pollution of drinking water is increasing, particularly from drugs and pesticides, but also from everyday objects such as plastic bags and packaging materials. As a result of this pollution, local sewage treatment plants are often no longer able to completely remove pollutants from the water.
In addition, the multitude of substances in the water creates new chemical compounds, which makes it impossible to know and control all pollutants.
This naturally raises the question of whether you will always be provided with high-quality water with such a small proportion of pure drinking water use.
Suitable water filters types:
Powerful water filter systems that remove as many or all of the pollutants as possible from the water. These include high-quality activated carbon block filters or reverse osmosis systems. So you need to keep a water filter on your kitchen.
Motivation 2: The ongoing issue of lime and its proportion in tap water
The amount of calcium in the pipes varies from household to household. Water with a high proportion of lime is called “hard” water. Lime consists of the two minerals magnesium and calcium, which are very important for the human body.
The main difference between “hard” and “soft” water is therefore in particular the taste, which means that calcareous water is not viewed as a health hazard. However, if you place particular emphasis on taste nuances when preparing tea and coffee, you should prefer de calcified water.
Reason 3: protect your wallet and the environment
Tap water can be obtained conveniently and cheaply at home from the tap, while you have to transport mineral water from the supermarket home and often pay a lot for it. Apart from these practical reasons, the question also arises: is the mineral water buy always free of pollutants?
There is a separate ordinance for the sale of mineral water, the Mineral and Table Water Ordinance, or MTVO for short. Their task is to monitor and define all mineral water production processes. And since mineral water usually extracts from natural, deep deposits, it is generally better protected from contamination. Occasionally, however, pollutants are found in it.
Which water filter system is the best or which one do I even need?
After considering the aspects mentioned, let’s take a look at the most common types of water filters and their strengths and weaknesses:
However, you should not expect a complete cleaning of the tap water here. Pesticides, parasites, bacteria, and other pollutants are not filtering out of the water with these devices. Hardly any manufacturer gives specific information on potential filter performance. The table jug filter is primarily using to improve the taste.
