Home water filters have come a long way since the basic pitchers that are mostly good for improving taste. There are water filter systems designed to remove bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants, such as lead, from water. While not everyone needs one of these filters, they can be useful if you live in an area with higher lead levels in your drinking water, if you’re immunocompromised and are particularly concerned about infection, or if you have a well.
The EPA recognizes three ratings organizations for the purposes of determining the effectiveness of a drinking water filter. These include the National Sanitation Foundation/ American National Standards Institute(NSF/ANSI), the Water Quality Association, and Underwriters Laboratories. When you’re looking for a filter that has been tested and verified effective for what it claims to do, these are the ratings you should look out for.
According to the EPA, filters that reduce lead include reverse osmosis filters, distillation filters, and some types of carbon filters. If you have had your water tested and it has levels of lead above .10 PPB, you should take precautions, especially during pregnancy and if small children will be drinking the water. You can choose to install a point of use reverse osmosis filter that attaches to your plumbing and will filter the water that goes to your tap, or you can choose a countertop model that doesn’t require installation. You should look for an NSF/ANSI rating of 58 to make sure you’re getting a safe product. You can also choose to use a distiller to treat your water, although it might taste flat because distillation will remove naturally occurring minerals as well. A good distiller will have an NSF/ANSI rating of 62. Some carbon filters can reduce lead, but you should make sure to look for an NSF/ANSI rating of 53 for a product that will be effective.
Reverse osmosis and distillation will also work to reduce bacteria and viruses from your water, so if you have multiple water safety concerns, these can be the way to go. If your water is lead free, but you have concerns about bacteria or viruses because of a compromised immune system, ultraviolet light filters are also an option. These water filters use light to kill bacteria and viruses in water. Look for an NSF/ANSI rating of 55 to ensure that your UV or LED filter meets safety standards. It’s important to note that the best way to prevent cryptosporidium infection from drinking water is to boil it.
Hard water is a problem in some areas where the mineral content of the local water supply can cause build-up in pipes, appliances, and fixtures. These filters are not intended to improve water safety, but they can extend the life of your plumbing and fixtures. These systems are usually installed as whole-house fixtures to protect all of the plumbing and fixtures in your home at once, so it’s best to consult a pro before deciding on what type of filter you need.
For improved taste, most filters will simply slip onto your tap or you can find a pitcher version. These filters usually use carbon to remove chlorine or chloramine from your water and have an NSF/ANSI rating of 42. These filters make no claims on the safety of your water, but if you live in an area that has a chlorine flavor to the water, they can definitely improve the taste.
