May 2007
Water filters
Simple, effective options
What’s in your water? Match the filter to the contaminants, if any, in your water as well as to your lifestyle.
Illustration by Mark SynderA flood of new filters is making it easier than ever to remove impurities from your tap water. In fact, our tests found two
Best Buys that cost less than $60. What’s at stake might be more than just good taste.
Want to know what’s in your water? One way to find out is to check your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all water systems to provide their customers each year.
The reports aren’t the liveliest of documents, so you might be tempted to toss yours out unread. But that could be a mistake. Our recent analysis of CCRs from the 25 largest U.S. cities revealed that only three claimed no federal water-quality violations. Though none of the other 22 water systems were consistently unhealthy, all had some samples that contained significant quantities of contaminants--things like lead, chlorine, and E. coli. Some samples in Boston, for example, had lead levels more than 45 times the federal limit.
Homeowners whose water comes from private wells on their property can face an even greater unknown because it isn’t surveyed or reported on in CCRs. Fortunately, our tests of 27 water filters--everything from carafes to systems for the entire house--found models suitable for removing many common contaminants. Nor is there any safety reason to reach for the bottle. Often advertised as a “pure” and “natural” alternative to tap water, bottled water, though generally safe, is actually less regulated than municipal water supplies. Indeed, some is filtered from the tap.
Almost as easy as turning on the tap. Water filters have become simpler to install and more convenient to maintain. Several undersink and reverse-osmosis models use simple screw-on plumbing connections instead of saddle valves, which require drilling into the cold water supply line, and can leak. And many refrigerators have built-in filters for their water dispensers. Across types, more filters feature electronic indicators that conveniently signal when it’s time for a replacement. A faucet-mounted model, the Brita Disposable, avoids replaceable filters altogether. You simply throw the whole thing out after a year’s use.
New technology is problematic. The Lotus Tersano carafe claims to sterilize water with ozone. Those we tested worked well enough, at first, but they had many problems. (See A pitcher to skip.) We judged the Tersano Not Recommended.
Analyze your water. First, review your CCR report. It is usually mailed to you, printed in newspapers, or posted on your local government’s Web site. For help deciphering it, go to Deciphering your water report. But remember that these reports tell you about the water in your municipality, not necessarily what’s coming out of your own tap. Only testing your home supply can do that. Call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for the names of state-certified testing labs or for your local health authority, which might offer low- or no-cost test kits, or check out www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.
The Watersafe All-In-One Drinking Water Test Kit, about $18, is another option. It provided quick, accurate results for chlorine, lead, nitrate, nitrite, two pesticides, pH, and total hardness in our tests. Results for bacteria were less reliable and required waiting 48 hours. Ultimately, you might find you don’t need a water filter.
Want to know what’s in your water? One way to find out is to check your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all water systems to provide their customers each year.
The reports aren’t the liveliest of documents, so you might be tempted to toss yours out unread. But that could be a mistake. Our recent analysis of CCRs from the 25 largest U.S. cities revealed that only three claimed no federal water-quality violations. Though none of the other 22 water systems were consistently unhealthy, all had some samples that contained significant quantities of contaminants--things like lead, chlorine, and E. coli. Some samples in Boston, for example, had lead levels more than 45 times the federal limit.
Homeowners whose water comes from private wells on their property can face an even greater unknown because it isn’t surveyed or reported on in CCRs. Fortunately, our tests of 27 water filters--everything from carafes to systems for the entire house--found models suitable for removing many common contaminants. Nor is there any safety reason to reach for the bottle. Often advertised as a “pure” and “natural” alternative to tap water, bottled water, though generally safe, is actually less regulated than municipal water supplies. Indeed, some is filtered from the tap.
Almost as easy as turning on the tap. Water filters have become simpler to install and more convenient to maintain. Several undersink and reverse-osmosis models use simple screw-on plumbing connections instead of saddle valves, which require drilling into the cold water supply line, and can leak. And many refrigerators have built-in filters for their water dispensers. Across types, more filters feature electronic indicators that conveniently signal when it’s time for a replacement. A faucet-mounted model, the Brita Disposable, avoids replaceable filters altogether. You simply throw the whole thing out after a year’s use.
New technology is problematic. The Lotus Tersano carafe claims to sterilize water with ozone. Those we tested worked well enough, at first, but they had many problems. (See A pitcher to skip.) We judged the Tersano Not Recommended.
Analyze your water. First, review your CCR report. It is usually mailed to you, printed in newspapers, or posted on your local government’s Web site. For help deciphering it, go to Deciphering your water report. But remember that these reports tell you about the water in your municipality, not necessarily what’s coming out of your own tap. Only testing your home supply can do that. Call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for the names of state-certified testing labs or for your local health authority, which might offer low- or no-cost test kits, or check out www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.
The Watersafe All-In-One Drinking Water Test Kit, about $18, is another option. It provided quick, accurate results for chlorine, lead, nitrate, nitrite, two pesticides, pH, and total hardness in our tests. Results for bacteria were less reliable and required waiting 48 hours. Ultimately, you might find you don’t need a water filter.
