The Best Water Filter For Your Home

Humans can survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water. To say fresh water is important would be an understatement! But as important as it is to drink enough, it’s equally important to drink clean water! Here are the best water filter options for your home.

A high-quality water filtration system is an important part of a healthy home. Plus it’s one of the easiest switches to make for a healthier life. You can easily find great water filters for any home, from countertop units to whole-house water purifiers.

While our family prioritizes nutrient dense food, healthy water is just as important. Some water sources have hundreds of chemicals, many of which are more easily absorbed from water than food.

The Best Water Filter

Already know you want to get a water filter for your home and want to jump ahead? Spoiler alert: here are my favorite options:

Best water pitcher filter: Clearly Filtered and Soma Water Filter
Best whole house filter: Radiant Life whole house water system
Best under the sink filter: Radiant Life 14-stage water purifier
Best water alkalizer: LifeIonizers

If you’re going backpacking or traveling the Lifestraw is a good portable option.

What’s In Your Water?

If you’re drinking tap water, the answer to that question is 300+ chemicals and pollutants, according to the Environmental Working Group. Test results reveal we have a big problem with our water supply. Among these contaminants are:

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)

VOCs, like pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful chemicals. These chemicals are found in most municipal water sources, well water, and other sources due to agricultural contamination. Research links certain VOCs to damage in the reproductive system, liver, kidneys, and more.

Heavy Metals

You’ll also find metals like lead and mercury in some water sources. Areas that still use lead pipes are a big contamination source. These heavy metals can lead to a host of health problems, especially in young children.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

These chemicals may mimic or interfere with the normal hormones in the body. And they’re being found in increasing amounts in the water supply. These chemicals are known to affect animals when they enter the water supply as well.

Increasing evidence shows these chemicals can cause issues ranging from diabetes to PCOS, to cancer. One of the biggest ways these chemicals get into the water supply? Hormonal birth control pills.

Fluoride

This may be the most controversial of the contaminants in water (if something like water contaminants can be controversial!). It’s purposefully added to the water and there’s much heated debate about the benefits/harm. More and more scientists and doctors are speaking out about fluoride.

And even if fluoride has any benefit, it would be directly to the teeth. Drinking fluoride hasn’t been shown to increase oral health. Plus, fluoride is linked to thyroid problems and other disorders when swallowed.

If that weren’t enough, here are a few more common drinking water pollutants and impurities.

Chlorine bleach (added during city water treatment)
Corrosion from lead and copper pipes
Bacteria, viruses, and harmful microbes
Radioactive pollution
Iron oxides and sediment (hard water)
Arsenic
Nitrogen and phosphorous runoff (from farm fertilizers)

Check Your Water

You can check your local water quality report to see what contaminants are in your water supply. This helps determine what you need to filter out when choosing a filter.

The easiest way to find your local water report is to check your local water company’s website. The report should be publicly available. You can also view detailed water reports for most cities at EWG here.

If you have a well you can have your water tested. If you want to skip testing water, simply opt for a filter that removes all the everyday contaminants.

Choosing The Best Water Filter

So what are the options for those of us not interested in drinking a chemical cocktail every time we pour a glass of cold water? There are options for every home and budget. From filters that just take out the basics like chlorine to ones that remove all contaminants and remineralize the water!

Some filters are ANSI/NSF standard approved. This means they meet certain guidelines to remove specific known contaminants. Looking for these certifications is a good place to start. Some popular options include Aquasana, Brita, and AquaTru.

I’ve tried several dozen of the thousands of options available. Keep in mind this is my own experience and I haven’t tried every option. Here are my top picks and what I’ve tried in order of my least favorite to the filters we use now…

Bottled Water

Bottled water has started falling out of favor lately and with good reason. Mark’s Daily Apple did an in-depth analysis of why, but bottled water isn’t a good option for several reasons:

Chemicals from the plastic bottle itself can leech into the water. Even BPA-free bottles.
In most cases, the water isn’t any different than tap water
Bottled water costs more in many cases that drinking tap water
Water bottles and other plastic waste are a major source of pollution

Verdict: Not the best option on price, taste, or health so I skip it. Some bottled water companies are now starting with healthier water, but once it’s bottled in plastic you have many of the same problems.

That said, bottled water is convenient, and there are some great sustainable options. Instead of plastic bottles, choose a high-quality reusable one. Here are my favorite plastic-free, sustainable, and reusable water bottles!

Best Water Filter Pitcher

Water filter pitchers usually use granulated activated charcoal to remove some contaminants. They are cheaper than other filter options upfront. The downsides are the frequent filling and cartridge replacement (which makes them more expensive in the long run). The filter lifespan isn’t as good compared to some other options. And with 6 kids I need something with a good filter life as replacement filters can get expensive

They may improve the taste but they won’t remove all the toxins. Pitcher filters will reduce chlorine but don’t effectively remove VOCs, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, or fluoride.

This category also includes faucet mount external filters, which use the same technology. Some other popular options include the Brita pitcher and PUR Plus.

Verdict: Better than nothing, but doesn’t remove the worst offenders and is somewhat costly to use compared to other options. If this is the only option that will work in your home, choose a high-quality pitcher. I like this Soma Filter system or Clearly Filtered. If you have the space and the budget though, there are better options.

Charcoal Stick Water Filters

For those tight on space, charcoal sticks are a great alternative too. Charcoal sticks can be used in any pitcher or water bottle and remove contaminants in the same way many pitcher water filters do.

They’re reusable and last for months. You can even use them as a refrigerator deodorizer or in the garden when you’re done with them!

Verdict: These charcoal water filter sticks are a great eco-friendly, zero-waste option for those tight on space. Ideal for couples and those just filtering water for 1-2 people.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Reverse Osmosis filtration uses a membrane that removes many water contaminants. You’ll often see it as an under the sink water filter with a holding tank. While it filters larger particle contaminants, it rejects a lot of water in the process.

It results in several gallons of water wasted for every gallon filtered. RO also removes naturally occurring minerals we need (including calcium and magnesium). When we cook with this demineralized water it leaches essential nutrients from the food by up to 60-86% or more.

Not only does RO water not have beneficial minerals in it, but there’s some concern drinking it pulls these minerals from our bodies.

We used this type of filter for a long time but added trace minerals back into the water to replace the ones that were filtered out. It does remove a large amount of contaminants but it’s not the best option.

Pros:

Removes a large amount of contaminants. Many units are stored under the sink and have a simple spigot over the counter for getting water. It reduces arsenic, asbestos, heavy metals, and fluoride.

Cons:

Wastes more water than it produces. Doesn’t reduce VOCs or endocrine disruptors. Requires adequate water pressure to work so it’s not usable if the home water supply is cut off. Takes up to an hour to filter one gallon of water and filters need to be replaced regularly. Removes necessary minerals from the water.

Verdict:

Certainly better than a lot of options out there and it does remove fluoride. But not the best due to water waste and costly filters. My parents have the AquaTru countertop RO system which wastes less water and can be a good option.

Distilled Water

The distillation process uses heat to turn water into steam. The steam then rises and moves to a cooling chamber where it turns back into liquid, leaving behind many contaminants. This type of filtration reduces large particles like minerals and heavy metals. However, it doesn’t remove endocrine disruptors or VOCs since they vaporize at equal or lower temps than water and rise with the steam. It does effectively kill bacteria.

Pros:

Removes a large amount of contaminants. Does reduce arsenic, asbestos, and heavy metals. Does remove fluoride.

Cons:

Doesn’t reduce VOCs or endocrine disruptors. Home distillation systems are often large and expensive. Uses a large amount of electricity and won’t work in power outages. Removes necessary minerals from the water. Long-term use can cause mineral deficiencies.

Verdict:

Better than bottled water, but definitely not the best option out there, especially for home situations.

Solid Block Carbon Filters

Recognized by the EPA as the best option for removing chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and VOCs. Activated carbon block filters remove chemicals, pesticides, bacteria, fluoride (with filter attachment), heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, and parasites. Most are gravity based and can safely transform any type of water into safe drinking water including rainwater, pond water, and even sea water. Though these types of water will clog the filters much more quickly and aren’t ideal.

While these can be more pricey than pitcher filters or other filters up front, they seem to be the least expensive in the long run. Plus they require the fewest filter replacements (a big plus for me!). These types of filters also don’t remove naturally occurring minerals from the water so the water tastes better.

A popular option is the stainless steel Berkey filter and it’s what we used for many years. We now have a whole house and under the counter filter system and I like them better than the Berkey. While I think it’s still helpful, there are better options out there.

Pros:

Filters heavy metals, VOCs, microbes, and particles, depending on the micron size of the pores in the filter. Can be inexpensive per gallon and makes for great-tasting water. Doesn’t require electricity or water pressure to work. Portable options can even be used while traveling.

Cons:

Does require counter space and has to be manually filled. More expensive up front. Doesn’t remove endocrine disruptors and there are some concerns with third-party testing with some brands. There are also some recent reports that indicate these filters may not remove fluoride as well as claimed.

Verdict:

Better than some, especially in places where under-counter or permanent systems aren’t an option. I’d opt for under the counter filters instead or a Clearly Filtered pitcher if you need something on the counter.

Under Counter Multi-Stage Filters:

After years of research and trying all of the options above at some point, we finally found an under-counter multi-stage water filter system. It meets all of my criteria and exceeds them. I review the one we personally use in depth in this post. But in short, it filters water through a 14-stage process that utilizes most of the methods listed above. Plus it uses UV and adds minerals back in.

It removes fluoride, lead, chlorine, MTBE, chromium-6, nitrates, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, water-borne illnesses, and more. This filter has worked well for us for years and I’ve recommended it to my own family members.

Pros:

Removes the widest range of contaminants. Very easy to use with no manual filling required. Spigot attaches near the sink for easy use. And the water tastes great.

Cons:

Must be installed under the sink. We had to hire a plumber for this, though we probably could have figured it out ourselves, but I was reluctant to try. More expensive than other options.

Verdict:

It’s definitely the best option I’ve found and the one we currently use.

A Step Above Filtration

Interested in going above and beyond filtration? There are options that also enhance the water as well as clean it. I’ve spent the last few years researching options like water alkalizer, hydrogen water, and all of the other methods that claim to optimize water in some way.

Here are the ones I’ve personally tried:

Alkaline and Ionizer Water Filter Combinations

These filters are increasingly popular in recent years. Manufacturers claim alkaline drinking water has various health and longevity benefits.

Here’s how it works:

Positively charged calcium and magnesium ions to pass through the membrane and become concentrated at the negatively charged plates. Calcium and magnesium are alkaline earth metals, they are responsible for giving the alkaline water, made by a water ionizer, its alkaline pH.

I have a Life Ionizer system currently installed under my kitchen sink. I like that it has options for regular purified water or alkaline water with easy to control levels of each. This page explains more about how the technology works and all of the options.

Pros:

These systems come with a reverse osmosis system so they filter water. They may also have some added health benefits from the alkalizing process. There are both countertop and under counter options to fit in most kitchens and can be less expensive depending on the model you choose. This process also generates hydrogen in the water, which may have some additional benefits.

Cons:

They do require some space and aren’t the cheapest option. They also must be installed under the sink and require a plumber if you can’t do this yourself.

Verdict:

We’re currently using this alkalizer/ionizer and like the water taste and quality.

Final Thoughts on the Best Water Filters

There are so many water filter options available ( I think we’ve tried most of them over the years!) and the quality can vary greatly. Since drinking clean water is one the most important things we can do for health using the best water filter is at the top of my list! If you’re lucky, you may also be able to find fresh spring water in your area.

What type of water system do you use? Do you drink tap water? Is water filtration a priority for you? Share below!

Sources

Kheradpisheh, Z., et al. (2018). Impact of Drinking Water Fluoride on Human Thyroid Hormones: A Case- Control Study. Scientific reports, 8(1), 2674.
Scientific American. (2009, July 28). Can Birth Control Hormones Be Filtered from the Water Supply? Trace elements of prescription drugs have been found in city water supplies.
Winfield, S. (2022, May 13). 15 Common Water Contaminants and Their Potential Risks. Water Defense.
Kelechava, B. (2022, March 14). NSF/ANSI Drinking Water Treatment Standards. ANSI.
Verma, K. et al. (2014). Demineralization of drinking water: Is it prudent? Medical journal, Armed Forces India, 70(4), 377–379.
Kahn, L. et al. (2020). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: implications for human health. The Lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 8(8), 703–718.
Environmental Working Group. (2023). EWG’s Tap Water Database 2021 update.

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

699 responses to “The Best Water Filter For Home Use (Pitcher, Charcoal, Under-Counter)”

Sonja Norton

February 18, 2013

I live in a place that adds fluoride to their water. I also take alot of epsom salts baths, any recommendations for filtering this water? Thanks!

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sonja

February 17, 2013

thanks for sharing this research and helping my family’s project to find better water! how do you think the nikken pimag aqua pour compares to the berkey? it’s a gravity system with an additional bed of mineral stones. is this beneficial or just fluff?

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Katie Marshall

February 17, 2013

Hi Katie, I’ve done a lot of research & was looking at Berkey as well. The only concern I have is the bad batches of filters that I saw numerous complaints about. Have you had any issue with yours?

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1. Mary Ann Hoeltge-Pack
  
  March 20, 2013
  
  When I had my health food store a few years ago, Berkey had a defective batch of filters. They explained to me what happened in the factory and said they would replace any defective filter. They made good on their word and replaced any defective filter that my customers brought back. Not to worry with this company.
  
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  1. Wellness Mama
    
    March 20, 2013
    
    We haven’t had any complaints whatsoever, but I’d definitely go with a company you trust just in case…
    
    Reply
2. Tiffany Hall
  
  March 28, 2013
  
  We have a Berkey and we did get a few bad filters. They replaced them at no charge to us and we’ve not had a problem since. Other than that, we’ve been very happy with it.
  
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  1. Katy
    
    February 26, 2014
    
    How did you know the filters were bad?
    
    Reply
3. Stacey
  
  April 20, 2013
  
  we recently tried the Berkey (our city water has a distinct taste due to a variety of minerals. the Berkey reduced the taste about as much as a Brita. .. and we couldn’t even find anywhere that said specifically what the filters were made of for the Berkey.. if you try to dig out information, you won’t find it on Berkey filters; shady!
  
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  1. Stacey
    
    April 20, 2013
    
    we have since gotten rid of it. can’t express enough the sketchiness of Berkey products. i think anyone who promotes them is a dealer or something. for real.
    
    Reply
    1. Sandy
      
      October 19, 2017
      
      I bought a Big Berkey after Mike Adams’ lab tested several filters and reported the results. I’ve been to the Berkey factory since it’s on my way from here to there along a route I travel often, and there’s nothing “shady” about this company.
      
      No, Stacy, I’m not a “dealer.” Just a real person who bought a Berkey and love it. I’ve had it long enough to have to shave down the black carbon block filters twice (you can do that to improve flow rate). Sorry you had a bad experience but your bias is misplaced regarding other people’s experiences and comments on this page.
      
      Reply
  2. Wellness Mama
    
    April 21, 2013
    
    They are carbon block filters…
    
    Reply
    1. Stacey
      
      April 22, 2013
      
      look on the website and show where it says they are carbon block filters (or on any of the packaging for that matter). the filters are just described as “mixed media”. if any water would put a test to the quality of this product, it’s ours. and the so-called “test” to see if it’s purifying (with the food coloring), all it takes is charcoal to do that job. just because it removes food coloring does not mean it removes any of the stuff it claims to do (which they cannot provide any proof or test results of). hmmmmmm.
      
      Reply
      1. david
        
        June 9, 2014
        
        Their online rep. on the site just told me the black filters are made of “high grade coconut”. not really sure what to think about this?
Barb

February 17, 2013

We have used the Berkey system for three years and we love it. We do have well water but the well head itself can have contaminantrrs in it occasionally so we feel that the Berkey is good insurance. If you ever use muddy water in the Berkey, do a rough filter (through cloth) first to save the filter life 😉

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  February 18, 2013
  
  Great idea!
  
  Reply
Deb

February 16, 2013

We have a BigBerkey & love it. The water is so clean tasting. I am always concerned about what’s in our food & water which is what le

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jennifer

February 16, 2013

We currently have a RO filter and was wondering what you used to re-mineralize your water.

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Virginia Miner

February 16, 2013

Would the Berkey reduce calcium content at all? We have very high calcium content (and who knows what else) and would love for our tea kettle (for instance) to not be totally calcified.

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  February 17, 2013
  
  It doesn’t remove the minerals, but I’d think it would reduce it some…
  
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2. DaniH
  
  February 19, 2013
  
  We have very high calcium too and started with carbon filters in our berkey, they lasted well over a year, but at $80 to replace them (when they should have lasted nearly 5 years with our usage). And despite following Manufacturers cleaning instructions the carbon filters began to filter slower & slower until it took several days to filter a gallon of water, so we switched to the ceramic filters and have had no more problems.
  
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Jenny

February 16, 2013

I’ve done a thorough check and cannot find a carbon block filter system in the UK that is stand alone. The closest I can find is a stainless steel ceramic system. I am wondering if buying a ceramic is a better choice than just staying with bottled water? Sigh…

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  February 17, 2013
  
  I’d personally choose ceramic over bottled…
  
  Reply
Diane Hall

February 15, 2013

We love our Nikken Waterfall for clean, healthy alkaline water!

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angela

February 15, 2013

We just bought a Berkey with our tax refund! I’ve wanted one for years!!!

It’s been about a week and I notice my kids and husband are drinking more water, which is a great plus. The water tastes fresh and pure.

We bought a Royal Berkey and are happy with it for a family of 4. My suggestion would be to go one size up from the chart that says how many people it’s for. I already don’t notice it on the kitchen counter in our small kitchen.

We are big campers and now looking into the travel one. I use the water bottle but still feel funny about putting tap water into it. I really hope that little filter in the water bottle works!!!

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1. angela
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  What do you do for showers/baths? I see they have a shower head filter, but what about for water for baths from the bath tub faucet?
  
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  1. Wellness Mama
    
    February 17, 2013
    
    We just fill the tub with the shower… not the most convenient, but it works…
    
    Reply
  2. dastra
    
    November 6, 2015
    
    i use a shower filter head to fill the bath, just hook a long hand held hose on it to fill the bath.
    
    Reply
Amanda

February 15, 2013

The Berkey system now has me very interested. I didn’t realize there were other options besides RO for removing fluoride. Does the system initially come with the filters, or do you have to buy them separately from the beginning? Also, how long does it take to filter the water? Is it a slow process, or relatively quick?

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  February 17, 2013
  
  They are additional, but they are offered at 50% off from the company I linked to when you buy the system. They also aren’t very expensive (I think about $30). We have the big unit with 4 black filters and 4 fluoride and it filters 6 gallons in a few hours…
  
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  1. Molly
    
    September 5, 2013
    
    I’m sorry but I don’t see the 50% off…(maybe I’m way too late!) Could you direct me a bit more? Want to buy the system!
    
    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama
      
      September 6, 2013
      
      The fluoride filters are 50% off when you add them when adding the berkey to your cart…
      
      Reply
  2. melody
    
    December 29, 2013
    
    Umm, I thought fluoride was harmful when swallowed And was only supposed to be used topically?
    
    Reply
    1. Laura
      
      February 25, 2015
      
      That’s why they’re filtering it. I wouldn’t use it topically either.
      
      Reply
Mia

February 15, 2013

We live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and have well water. Do you think our tap water would still have contaminants? We are 8500 ft high, out in the woods, about 10 minutes from the nearest small town.

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1. Darcie West
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  I would like to know this answer as well. Although we do not live in the Rocky Mountains, we live in the Appalachian foothills, I am also on well water with a very deep well. We are currently only using a sediment filter.
  
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2. Wellness Mama
  
  February 17, 2013
  
  You could have it tested, but I’d drink it… well water is supposed to be great! 🙂
  
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  1. Susan
    
    October 13, 2014
    
    Actually, people who use well water should be very careful, and should have it tested. Well water can be much worse than tap water, and can contain lots and lots of contaminants, such as E. Coli from nearby animals’ feces, VOC’s, methane, and even radioactive elements, such as Plutonium. I don’t know where these people live in the Rocky Mountains, but I know of two families who found Plutonium in their well water, who live in the foothills just west of Rocky Flats Nuclear Facility.
    
    Guess I’m lucky. I drank mountain spring water from different sources in Colorado for years, and have been drinking tap water for several years. My city tests for everything, and other than chlorine and flouride, our water is good. And just so very slightly hard that it’s nothing to worry about.
    See if you all can sign up for emailed water reports from your city. Probably many people would be surprised that their water is better than they assume. That’s because the EPA now requires cities to filter out many contaminants. Not so with well water. With well water, you’re on your own, and should definitely have it tested every six months or so.
    
    I would not buy a system that takes out most of the minerals. Minerals in water are good to have.
    
    Reply
    1. Laura
      
      February 25, 2015
      
      My ND was concerned that we were on well water. I was happy that we had well water. She said most of the people she sees with cancer are on well water. We get ours tested and it is high in calcium manganese and iron but nothing else. After 8 years we’re still trying to figure out how to get more minerals out! We bought a Mercola well system. It’s not doing enough. I was surprised to see that some of the parts said Aquasana. It is easy to get the water tested and so worth it!
      
      Reply
3. Amber
  
  July 26, 2014
  
  Definitely have your water tested. Well water is usually great but there can be contaminants like arsenic in the ground that can make you sick over time.
  
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4. Ashley
  
  December 30, 2014
  
  It definitely does! Have you seen the chemtrails in the Denver area?! That goes right into the ground and thus your well water.
  
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5. Yanni
  
  October 31, 2015
  
  I would think that you would have some of the cleanest water on the planet…….but I guess you never know these days. I bet your water taste great!
  
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6. Kenneth D Murry
  
  December 25, 2019
  
  You are likely to be alright with the exception of minerals. Mostly, those are good for you unless there are excessive quantities. Safety first, best to test. KM
  
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Alissa

February 15, 2013

O man, I was just thinking that we needed a better filter than our pitcher but didn’t want to delve back into the research, which was so confusing last time. Will be looking into the solid block carbon filter. Thanks!

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1. Sharolyn
  
  September 22, 2014
  
  I agree Alissa, the research task can be so overwhelming, so I really appreciate this article. Thanks Wellness Mama.
  
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Shelly Barrett

February 15, 2013

Thank you for writing this post!!! I have lately felt more and more frustrated in trying to figure out the water issue. This is so helpful, as always! 🙂 What do you do as far as baths for your kids? We currently just use tap water, but that is beginning to concern me; If it helps the body to soak in epsom salt, it has to hurt the body to soak in fluoride and chlorine…would love to know your thoughts on this.

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  Definitely… this is another topic I’ll be covering soon. We have Berkey shower filters on our showers and I use the shower to fill the tub most of the time (not the most convenient) though I’ve heard rumors of a tub filer in the works…
  
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  1. Daiva
    
    September 25, 2015
    
    Their shower filter removes just free chlorine. Most cities now in US have chloramines added, which clog up carbon filters very quickly. I am also wondering, if their other filters are effective for chloramines as well.
    
    Reply
    1. Shirley
      
      September 25, 2015
      
      The local water company told me that chloramines are used mostly in the western part of the US. From what I have read, Vitamin C water filters can remove both chloramines and chlorine.
      
      Reply
      1. Daiva
        
        September 25, 2015
        
        It is true, that many of them are on the West Coast, but not only. Here is the list on one website:
        http://www.ezclearwater.com/chloramine-info.php
        And it is growing each year. I understand, that vit. C does bind with chloramines and make them less toxic. I suppose we could add it to the water, but it would still clog up carbon filters very quickly and possibly make them ineffective for cleaning out other things as well.
Krista Stufflebeam

February 15, 2013

So, after reading about the alkaline water, I’m curious about some of the claims. Your body is capable of neutralizing the food that comes into it. I buy that, but can that neutralizing process cause damage to your body? Like, if you eat too much acidic food, will your body actually draw from its most plentiful calcium source, bones, to neutralize the food, and in turn cause osteoporosis? I’m simply looking for the truth, and I’m getting very annoyed at all the made up junk that’s out there.

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1. Krista Stufflebeam
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  To answer my own question: https://sciencebasedpharmacy.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/your-urine-is-not-a-window-to-your-body-ph-balancing-a-failed-hypothesis/
  
  Reply
2. Laura Moretti
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  You have the right idea Krista! Everyone’s body has buffering a buffering system that has to maintain a certain pH. For example your blood pH can not fluctuate outside the parameter of 7.34 to 7.46 pH which is slightly alkalined or you would die. There are more acidic factors in our environment that cause our body to work in overdrive to neutralize and maintain the ph. All processed foods are acidic. Most meat dairy and cheese is acidic. Cofee’s, tea, soda and sports drinks and most bottled water and well water is acidic. Pharmaceuticals, air pollution, chemicals in our environment are VERY acidic and stress causes a lot of acidity in our body as well. So the more we keep our body alkalined the less our body has to work in overdrive to balance it out. And yes, acidity usually lacks and depletes minerals from our body so it can cause osteoporosis and other contributing factors. “Alkalize or Die” by Theodore Baroody is a great book that gives a lot of information. When it comes to water I choose Kangen water but not just because it’s alkalined but mostly because of the antioxidants and the micro-clustering which really allows the water to penetrate at a cellular level instead of sloshing around in you stomach like regular water. We have seen some pretty amazing things the water helped with in my whole family and people I have shared it with. I hate seeing these negative things on the internet to from people who have not researched or tried the water. It is more to it than just being alkalined.
  
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3. Emma
  
  March 21, 2015
  
  Yes that is 100% true, however the only only way for the body to neautrulize the blood is to draw phosphate out, so the calcium phosphate from our bones is used.. We use the phosphate but have no use for the calcium so it is excreted from our bodies
  
  Reply
Chantel Lawliss Barber

February 15, 2013

awesome. getting some sort of water filter is on my 2013 agenda. you have done all my research for me. Thank you! (Can’t wait for birth story #5!)

Reply
Cassandra Roy

February 15, 2013

Santevia! It’s a ceramic filter on top, which does a prefilter, then goes through a carbon filter, then through several layers of different mineral stones to naturally filter it and put back minerals, then into the holding tank which also has mineral stones in it. So it’s completely filtered, and then has minerals put back. I got it on sale for $100 and then about $100 a year for replacement filters. It’s also small, with the holding tank only taking about 2 gallons, so I have to refill it usually twice a day. Also it’s plastic, and their ceramic model is crazy expensive. But if you’re broke and in serious need of a good filter, go for it. Our rental house has rusted pipes so we definitely needed it despite the downsides. I’d take a bit of plastic leaching over rusty water.

Reply
1. Carol Bosmeny
  
  February 18, 2013
  
  I wondered how the Santevia and Berkey filters compared, and found this: https://www.consciouswater.ca/santevia-reviews/
  
  Reply
2. julie
  
  June 20, 2013
  
  aboslute best in my book! I love mine!
  
  Reply
3. Anastasia
  
  October 9, 2014
  
  The Santevia looks EXACTLY like my Nikken filter, same exact thing, just different brand. I always loved the water we get from it, it tastes amazing. We got it on eBay and we get filters from Nikken directly.
  
  Reply
  1. Dawn Marie
    
    December 14, 2014
    
    I was thinking the same thing when I saw the Santevia. Looks so much like Nikken`s former PiMag Water System. My friend has had the Nikken PiMag for several years and we were thinking of getting it because the water tastes great. Then when we went onto Nikken`s website recently we saw a completely different system. We listened to a video featuring their top representative who said they had to redesign their filter system because a few other companies copied their system as Nikken had not had a patent on the PiMag at that time. Now their new product is patent-pending. Good for them.
    
    Reply
4. Linda
  
  July 9, 2018
  
  Santevia uses non-organic sources of minerals (stones), but our bodies need organic sources in order to utilize the minerals. Otherwise they get deposited in our joints. I used Santevia for about a year and the knuckles in 3 of my fingers became arthritic — knobby and stiff. I’ve been off it for about a year now and the arthritis has not spread any further.
  
  Reply
Andrea

February 15, 2013

We use the AquaSana system for our drinking water and I like what it filters…but I am looking for a whole-house filter that will filter the water that we use to water our plants and that we bathe in. Do you have any good recommendations for that? I don’t want just a showerhead filter because I fill the tub with the spigot for our daughter’s bath. Thank you! 🙂

Reply
1. Kelly Castiglione
  
  February 20, 2013
  
  This interests me aswell, following =)
  
  Reply
2. Lisa Marie
  
  February 20, 2013
  
  I love my Aquasana whole house water filter, its great!
  
  Reply
3. Bethani
  
  March 19, 2013
  
  I would like to know also!!
  
  Reply
4. Emily
  
  December 16, 2017
  
  I’m looking for a whole house filter as well. Looked into Aquasana, Pelican, Radiant Life….. SO overwhelming!
  
  Reply
  1. Angela bloch
    
    September 9, 2021
    
    What did you end up with?
    
    Reply
Krista Stufflebeam

February 15, 2013

Currently we have an RO system paired with a water softener. The water softener is mostly to save our pipes, because the water in our area is super hard. Recently we have discovered that the RO makes our water more acidic than tap water, which was alarming. I’m curious about what the solid carbon block does as far as acidity, since our entire family runs on the acidic side, and we think it might be causing some of our health problems.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  It allows the minerals to stay in so it ends up on the neutral/slightly alkaline side…
  
  Reply
2. Laura Moretti
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  You will have to test the pH of your original source water and then test the pH of the water after the filter. From the testing that I have done It may and in most cases it does cause it to be a little more acidic.
  
  Reply
3. Osmio
  
  September 21, 2013
  
  This is a non issue as RO water is only mildly acidic (similar to rain water). By the time the water reaches your stomach it will then become acidic due to the acids in your stomach.
  
  Reply
4. willaim
  
  October 8, 2013
  
  when you say it makes the water more acidic that complete crap. what they mean is it takes everything out of the water which is its job. the acidity is in your own body . which is why people who drink coke and eat fast food die young. alkaline your body natures way by eating green vegetables. rainwater has no minerals in it, i don’t hear people complaining about its acidity.
  
  Reply
5. Gravlore
  
  April 2, 2014
  
  PH going into the Berkey was 6.5 and came out at 7.8. That was with town water. Now I use rain water and haven’t checked.
  
  Reply
  1. Lydia
    
    June 29, 2015
    
    Thanks for the direct answer. This is very helpful as I am considering the Berkey as we have had to stop using our nice RO system due to the high acidity. The acidity is not a huge issue for the body but it is for the teeth. Once my enamel wore away, my teeth became nearly translucent on the lower half. It unfortunately took me a while to realize it was the reverse osmosis water that was doing. Our RO water tests at 4.5 and our tap at 6.0. Remineralizing drops and even alkaline drops had almost no effect. Thankfully, the process has begun to reverse somewhat with great care (following much of the Mama Wellness post on remineralizing teeth!)
    
    Reply
    1. Rachel
      
      September 13, 2015
      
      What water are you having now, and how is your enamel? I bought a Berkey 1 1/2 years ago, and the enamel started falling off my teeth a few months after purchasing. It made me wonder if the minerals were getting stripped with the Berkey and causing my problem. Did you get the Berkey? And did your teeth heal?
      
      Reply
6. Hannah Tess
  
  August 4, 2014
  
  invest on a good home water purification system. it will benefit your family’s health and safety. we also use Reverse Osmosis water system which is really the best as it can remove contaminants such as arsenic, nitrates, sodium, copper and lead, some organic chemicals, and the municipal additive fluoride.
  
  Reply
7. eric
  
  March 5, 2015
  
  Depends on the system but ultra pure systems and point of use raises pH to 9.5
  
  Reply
Mary Car

February 15, 2013

This post came on time!!!!! Our family has been looking for a water system. Thanks!!!

Reply
1. Rose
  
  February 15, 2013
  
  For me too. I’d read about the Berkey on another site and there seemed to be quite a few complaints about the spigot and questions about whether it really does the filtering it claims to do. Anyone know what kinds of research have been done on Berkey filtered water?
  
  Also, apparently, there is a Youtube.com video instructing you how to make your own Berkey; then you’d just need to buy the filter.
  
  I was planning to look into the reverse osmosis option, so I’m glad to have this opinion. Thanks!
  
  Reply
  1. Wellness Mama
    
    February 15, 2013
    
    I’ll try to find the studies I found in research and link the article above. YOu can definitely make your own, but all the ones I saw use plastic, and I wanted a plastic free option so we went with the Berkey…
    
    Reply
    1. caleb
      
      October 26, 2013
      
      I’ve been looking for one without plastic as well; are you saying the berkey doesn’t use it?
      
      Reply
    2. Sharan
      
      April 7, 2014
      
      Thanks for the information. Your blog didn’t specifically say that carbon block filters remove endocrine disruptors – just want to double check if they do. Thank you!
      
      Reply
      1. Katie – Wellness Mama
        
        April 10, 2014
        
        From my research they remove as much as any filter can
      2. John C.
        
        October 21, 2015
        
        She also failed to mention that most water distillers also incorporate an activated carbon filter.
    3. Carolyn
      
      January 12, 2015
      
      I found a YouTube video on how to make a Berkey type filter with two stainless steel stock pots. (Apparently some have stainless rivets and some have aluminum- so check.) This seems almost as easy as the plastic and a lot safer. Hetcher is the name of the video maker.
      
      Reply
    4. Chris
      
      November 3, 2015
      
      What Berkeley water filter is the best” we have city water
      
      Chris
      
      Reply
      1. Wellness Mama
        
        November 3, 2015
        
        I purchased ours here: https://wellnessmama.com/go/water/. The size will depend on your family’s needs.
    5. Trayce
      
      December 9, 2015
      
      So, I have been trying to stay away from BPA and cut out as much chemicals as possible in my drinking water. I read this article, thought, Yes! This is what I need. I click the link, and read some more about it, research it out and decide I want to try this out. 30 day warranty! I get this product in the mail. One of the Carbon filters is cracked around the top. Like I can put a butter knife in this crack. I tried to prime it and the filter would only sweat about 4 inches up the chamber. I think, no big deal. I will call and let them know and get it replaced.
      
      I wish it were that easy. I can’t seem to wrap my brain around this whole struggle of not being able to get good clean food and water and wading through the truth, shew! Money will certainly cause people to go bananas, huh?
      
      I call the company I thought I had ordered from, they tell me they have no record of my order. So, I call New Millennum, they don’t know me, but through the symbol on my email, we figure it out. Now mind you 2 companies have already said, let me replace this filter, what’s your address, this is where they discover they have no record of my order. The berkey filters company–the one I ordered from–says no, your good. No need to worry about it.
      
      Now, let me just step back. First, I paid the same price as anyone else, I deserve 4 non broken filters! That’s what I paid for. I don’t want a broken product, and neither do any of you. Right? Second, why would 2 out of 3 say yes, you need it replaced? What’s a girl to do now?
      
      I call back new millennium and they agree to send me a new filter, but not without jumping through hoops. I have to send my broken filter, that I didn’t break first, before they will send me a new one and guess who pays the shipping–yours truly! I wonder how long this will take? My 30 days to decide if I like it or not, well– I guess that’s on hold too, only it’s not. Time stops for no man, after all.
      
      My take on this whole thing, who knows?! Maybe it works, maybe it doesnt! When I searched what to do about a broken filter, seems Berkey has a history of filters coming free from the plastic base and issues with defective filters!
      
      So, why post all this here? 2 reasons, I trusted this blog enough to purchase it and the ladies here seem to be honesty women, and my favorite part, I sense Godly women. I’d like some truth! I’m upset, but is it worth the wait? Send it back and keep looking or keep it, because it is worth the wait?
      
      Reply
    6. Charise
      
      February 5, 2016
      
      Thank you for this post. Just need to know if the last one, the under the counter system, removes endocrine disruptors? This is very important for me. Thank you : )
      
      Reply
  2. Bernard Walker
    
    October 4, 2013
    
    I’m using berkey product for water filtration, and I can say that it’s effective.
    
    Reply
  3. Dorothy
    
    July 31, 2014
    
    Hi Katie …. We recently moved out to California which means we are faced with some major water issues like water shortages, and high levels of lead, nitrates and arsenic in our water which obviously means we need SOME sort of water filtration. I came across your article while we were researching water filters and looked into some of the ones you mentioned. I (like several others on your site) liked what you said about the Berkey … no waste and good filtration.
    
    The problem I ran into with it was that we can’t use it out here in California. They don’t have a lead free certification which prohibits them from selling in CA. I talked to one of their reps and was surprised to learn that they actually have NO certifications, they have done some independent testing but haven’t ever tried to get NSF certifications which most filtration systems have. She said she thought it was because of the cost but it definitely made me wonder about it!
    
    After weeks of looking and calling different companies we finally found one here that sells an ion exchange system (LINX Drinking Water Systems) that does everything we needed it to do. Certified to remove our list of contaminates and there is no water waste which is what we need since we have water bans quite often here.
    
    Anyway, thanks for all the great information in your post, we are now drinking our fill of water without any worries =)
    
    Reply
    1. Jen
      
      August 27, 2015
      
      Hi,
      
      You are right, they have no certification at all, and the University Of Phoenix where they claim they were tested is not a real University it is an online one.
      
      This company is a complete rip off of the British Berkefeld gravity machine. They were the North American distributors but they have since started making their own with carbon filters instead of ceramic. Beyond their own exaggerated claims, there is no evidence at all that their carbon filters do what they say. They are cheaply made in China and numerous people have had problems with them breaking. Many have also sent their water for lab tests and the results were not good.
      
      At some point someone is going to get seriously sick or die by filtering water that is not going to be as safe as they claim. I was going to buy one of these till I stumbled upon that research. They are apparently importing them this side of The Pond now, even though the original is still available. It’s all very odd.
      
      If you are going to buy one of these machines, buy the original British Berkefeld – that DOES have the necessary certification and is still used today by the British Military and in disaster zones. The machine and the ceramic filters are manufactured in Britain not China, so have the required UK safety standards. Ironically, most ripoff clones of something are usually much cheaper than the originals except in this case – the British Berkefeld is almost half the price of the clone! Figure that one out!!
      
      If you already have a Berkey (the American version) then exchange the carbon filters for the ceramic (just google for Doulton ceramic filters, they will sell them on Amazon – get the ATC if you can, as they also filter heavy metals). Unlike the fake claims of the carbon filters (and the claim that they only need to be replaced every 11 years), ceramic filters have stood the test of time, have genuine certification, but need to be replaced every 6-12months, though some people manage with them for a few years if they take care of them. Depends how dirty your water is to start with. Ceramic filters are fairly cheap so it’s not a big deal.
      
      You can also use the Flouride filters with either machine, though I’m not sure how effective they truly are. I know of somebody with an American Berkey sent the water for lab testing flouride and it was something like 30 parts – when it was 36 parts in his tap water (or however the measurement is rated). In other words, it didn’t reduce it by very much at all.
      
      Reply
      1. Jen
        
        August 27, 2015
        
        Meant to add: the ‘red dye’ test American Berkey are fond of – it has no scientific basis AT ALL – it is pure marketing spiel.
        
        Seriously peeps, do some more research and send your water off to be tested if you want to be sure. However a search online will reveal others who have done so (see Amazons reviews as well).
        
        Most people are using tap water to filter but if TSHTF and they must use less clean water from streams or ponds, they will have a worrying confidence in those filters that simply is not warranted.
      2. Scott
        
        August 31, 2015
        
        University of Pheonix is a real accredited univerisity with campuses, there is one about an hour away. I personally have no experience with them since their prices are far above those of good state colleges.
      3. Faith R
        
        December 4, 2015
        
        Thank you so much. Plastic makes this option a poor choice as well, although it is hard to avoid plastic entirely. I was wondering because I live in Baja California Norte, and get mail from the USA, and I cannot order a Berkey anyway. We all get taken by imitations, so I’m sure we all could use a reality check.
      4. Carolyn
        
        December 10, 2015
        
        But will the ceramic filters fit the American Berkey…?
        
        Thanks
      5. Julie
        
        September 11, 2016
        
        Thanks for the information about the British Berkefeld. I was surprised that Berkey seems to have either purchased the company since their products are also advertised on the site(?) The cheapest standing water filtration I find on the site is $337.00 (a dented version at $270 something). Were you able to find the British Berkefeld system cheaper in the States somewhere??? An online link would be great! I went to the British Berkefeld website and I see Berkey products offered on it as well….I’m desperate to filter my drinking water (I’m also renting) but am also living on a very strict budget. Cleaning the ceramic filters appeals to me rather than buying so many replacements through-out the year. Thanks!
      6. Laura
        
        April 8, 2018
        
        Jen, could you please explain what ATC stands for ao that I know exactly what to search for and purchase? Also is there a website to purchase the original British Berkfeld water filter machine?
  4. Rebecca Lee
    
    October 23, 2014
    
    I bought the Berkey filtration system about 3 months ago and I love it, no more having to run to the store for nasty bottled water, and expensive water. I primed it when I bought it and Im thinking its time to prime it again since its getting a bit slow, keep in mind it is a bit slow to begin with because it has a great filter system I also bought the fluoride filters so mine has two filters on each side to clean my water. I highly recommend this product and Im going to be buying the travel one so I have water on the go, also look into Mercolas glass water bottles with screw on caps or any glass travel bottles, I use them 24/7
    
    Reply
    1. Paula Horn
      
      January 31, 2015
      
      Rebecca, I have a Berkey for more than five years, and I have looked for a way to ‘prime’ our filter. I have no idea where to look, ask, or read about priming the back filters. One seller in Texas says he takes it outside and hooks it up to a garden hose, but never says anything about connectors etc. Can you point me in the right direction. We live in Germany and Berkey is not as hot an item like in the UK and the US.
      
      Thanks, Paula
      
      Reply
      1. Dan
        
        February 28, 2015
        
        Paula: Berkey now offers a device to “Prime” the black filter elements. I Have one and it works well. It can also be used to “Clean” the filters when the time comes. Didnt cost much either from what I can recall. Less than 20USD.
2. James
  
  April 16, 2014
  
  I bought filters from this Seller on Amazon and they work great. I just ordered a replacement RO system and ill let y’all know the quality when i get it!
  
  https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?me=A3JVO9PJXTSCRK&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&linkCode=ll2&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=251adbc67892a5a97134bad16e91309a&language=en_US
  
  Reply
3. Rebecca
  
  June 4, 2014
  
  We’ve used the LINX Drinking Water System for the last several years and it produces AMAZING water. I had never heard of if but when we bought our Sub-Zero refrigerator the appliance shop recommended it to us. The Reverse Osmosis systems don’t have enough water pressure to support an ice maker in our fridge but the LINX system does. The best part is that it is truly a high-efficiency water filtration system, there is virtually NO water waste, it filters out chlorine, fluoride and all the other nasty stuff in our water but you can adjust the amount of minerals you want left in. They call it Dial a Taste … it is seriously the best drinking water I have ever had and would highly recommend it.
  
  Reply
  1. Cari
    
    April 20, 2015
    
    Could you give an idea of what the LINX system costs? Their website wants my contact info for a quote. Thanks!
    
    Reply
  2. Ashley B
    
    February 23, 2020
    
    Thanks for sharing! I’m going to check out the LINX Drinking Water System out!
    
    Reply
4. Renae
  
  July 14, 2014
  
  Hi WM, what are your thoughts on whole house water filters? I came across one on the GAPS Australia website and thought it looks like a good option?
  
  Reply
  1. Ariana
    
    May 16, 2015
    
    I’d like to know your thoughts one whole house filters as well. Don’t want to bathe in VOCs either…
    
    Reply
5. Heidi Edwards
  
  July 19, 2014
  
  Seychelle Water Filtration is the best…. they provide filter bottles to Service men and women who need to get water out of mud puddles. The EXTREME filter even takes out radiation.
  
  Reply
  1. Dan
    
    April 20, 2015
    
    I’ve been using the Seychelle filters for years now and highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for an emergency water filtration system. I use it for camping as well as my Emergency supplies in case of disaster. I simply can’t say enough good about them.
    
    Reply
  2. Tad Cupic
    
    May 20, 2015
    
    Hi
    please advise where can I buy those Seyshell Filters and how do they look like?
    Any photo ?
    
    Are they same as Solid Block Carbon Filters ?
    
    Best Regards
    
    Tad
    
    Reply
  3. Rahmon
    
    May 4, 2016
    
    That’s interesting, this is the second filter that I’ve heard that removes radiation. The first is one that I got which is an under counter 3 stage filter from Pure Effect…
    
    I looked into the gravity fed, reverse osmosis…etc etc. But I chose the under the counter filter. It was the only one that I could find at the time that filters two things that almost never get filtered out at the same time….Flouride and Radiation. It caught my eye because of those two. Of course it does the rest of the stuff Pharmaceuticals, VOC’s …pesticides etc etc.
    
    And as I read earlier, its true that if the right minerals are contained within it, the water alkalinity changes and this water is slightly alkaline.
    
    I bought the Ultra-UC and give it a huge thumbs up. Installation is really simple as I’m not much of a handy guy but was able to manage it just fine.
    
    Reply
6. kiran P
  
  April 21, 2015
  
  I think this forum has lised all diffrent type of water purification except Ozone. Is there any reason or its not a good option.
  
  Reply
7. Rachel L
  
  August 9, 2016
  
  Great! Thanks. We living in United Kingdom and we followed your advice few months ago and bought a Big Berkey waterfilter system and this filter system is amazing! I also wanted to tell you how much i love your website. Your website has been on my bookmarked pages for the last 2 years 🙂
  Thanks and al the best. Rachel Lamson, Kent UK.
  
  Reply
  1. Nancy
    
    May 30, 2021
    
    Katie, you have 2 systems under sink? One to filter and one to add back minerals?
    
    Reply
    1. Katie Wells
      
      May 30, 2021
      
      Yes and no. We have a whole house filter which is connected to the main water supply running into the house and a second filter under the sink that adds the minerals back in…
      
      Reply
8. Teri
  
  October 29, 2017
  
  We bought the Alexandre pro counter top filter and changed the plastic spigot fo a stainless steel one.
  
  Reply
9. Stephanie T
  
  January 24, 2019
  
  We use Clearly Filtered and have been for years! It is the best water filter that we have come accross and you can’t beat the price. It actually removes more contaminants than Berkey does and even does the crazy stuff like radiation and bacertia! We had their pitcher forever and just bought the 3-stage system that hooks to our kitchen sink. Couldn’t recommend it enough.
  
  Reply