Water quality has come up a lot in the past few years, and with good reason. A slew of contaminants have been detected in municipal and well water across the country, pushing some people to search for the best water filters for their homes.
There has been a series of eyebrow-raising research on water quality lately, including an August 2023 government study in Environmental International that detected “forever chemicals” in nearly half of the country’s drinking water, and another December 2020 study in Environmental Health Perspectives that found arsenic in hot spots in tap water.
In part due to this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this year that it will identify and replace lead pipes in water systems within the next 10 years. (Though, of course, it’s fair to want cleaner water now.)
Whether you’re concerned about contaminants like lead or fluoride in your water or just prefer a fresher taste than what your tap is providing, investing in a water filter can help. We talked to four water quality experts for insight on what to look for in these helpful products, plus how to select a high-quality water filter.
With their advice in mind, we’ve selected these water filters to help you pour a better glass of H2O at home.
The best water filters, at a glance:
- Best faucet water filter: Pur Plus Faucet Mount Filtration System
- Best pitcher water filter: LifeStraw Home Water Filter Pitcher
- Best countertop water filter: Boroux Legacy Gravity-Fed Countertop Stainless Steel Water Filter System
- Best under-sink water filter: Aquasana AQ-5300
- Best shower water filter: Berkey Shower Filter
- Best home system: Aqua-Pure 3M Water Filter System AP904
Shop the 6 best water filters
Certification: ANSI/NSF
Capacity: 100 gallons
Contaminants removed: Lead, mercury, some pesticides
The Pur Plus Faucet Mount Filtration System is an affordable, all-in-one system that weeds out most major contaminants. This ANSI/NSF-certified filter attaches to your faucet with one click and can be flipped on and off as needed. There are also three adapters to help fit snugly onto your faucet.
The filter removes 70 contaminants, including lead, mercury, and select pesticides. It also can filter up to 100 gallons of water before needing a replacement, which means you have about three months of use per filter. (A hand indicator light on the side lets you know when it’s time.)
Keep in mind that this has an upper temperature rating of 100 degrees, so you don’t want to use it to filter really hot water. Otherwise, it’s good for most water filtration needs.
Pros:
- Sleek look
- Easy to install
- Removes 70 contaminants
- Can be turned on and off
- ANSI/NSF-certified
Cons:
- Limited colors