Water filter reviews

Water filtration is a big business, and it could get bigger as safety concerns about tap water and the environmental backlash against bottled water continue.

Manufacturers are vying to build a better filter, though one of the biggest names is claiming to do less. Brita, which calls itself the "number one brand in water filtration," doesn't appear in our Ratings of carafes because its products no longer feature claims about lead removal, an important component of the overall score in our Ratings. (We tested one Brita carafe for lead removal because earlier versions were claimed to remove lead, and we found it to score just Fair.)

Though health violations for public-water systems declined in 2010, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the debate over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a drilling technique used to extract natural gas from shale deposits, is stirring up concerns about chemical contamination. Aging water-treatment plants and distribution pipes add to concerns.

Even if you have total confidence in your tap water, the presence of chlorine and other treatment chemicals might give it a funny flavor and odor. Our sensory experts tasted water to see which filters do best. Here are the details:

Hybrid filter options expand. Cuisinart entered the filter market with its Clean Water WCH-1500, a cross between a carafe and a countertop system that dispenses chilled, room-temperature, and heated water. It's adept at removing impurities, but its relatively slow flow rate kept it off our recommended list.

Top models pump up price. Another carafe/dispenser hybrid, the Tersano Lotus LWT-100, filters water quickly and effectively. But its price is up 50 percent, to $230, since 2008. The undersink Aqua-Pure by Cuno AP-DWS1000 now costs $565, a 25 percent increase.

First find out what's in your water. If you pay a water bill, you should receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) detailing contaminants in your water. If you live in an older house, you might want to test for lead leaching from old pipes. Private-well owners should have their water tested by a state-certified testing lab, available through the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline. Depending on your CCR or water test, pick a filter approved by NSF International, which certifies water-related consumer products. Here are the five types:

Carafes/dispensers. These are inexpensive but are meant to filter only a couple gallons of water a day and were only mediocre at improving taste.

Faucet mount. These were easy to install and excellent at improving taste. But they can't be used with most pull-down or spray faucets, and flow rates were slow.  

Countertop. Most of these filters improve taste and filter large volumes without plumbing modification. But they clutter countertops and can't be used with most pull-down or spray faucets.

Undersink. These filter large volumes of clean-tasting water without clutter but require cabinet space and a hole in the sink or countertop for the dispenser.  

Reverse osmosis. These remove the most contaminants but waste 3 to 5 gallons of water for every gallon they filter, and many have much slower flow rates.