What is the Best Way to Filter Water?

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Family enjoying a glass of water together

You want to know your drinking water is safe. If you’re concerned about contamination and don’t want to buy bottled water, your best option may be a reverse osmosis system in your home. Below, we discuss different ways to filter water.

Filtration

Some households opt for an in-line filtration system like a faucet mount or fridge filter for regular in-home use. These systems provide good-tasting water – removing chlorine taste and odor. They can also filter out minerals, including zinc, copper, and mercury.
However, these carbon filtration systems can’t filter out many other harmful substances, such as pharmaceuticals in the water supply, lead, arsenic, viruses, and other microorganisms.

Problems with in-line filters for everyday household use:

Ineffective against microorganisms, lead, arsenic, and more
Ineffective against more significant odor and aesthetic issues, e.g., sulfates of 2-3 parts per million
Susceptible to sediment buildup – slowing down water flow
Requires frequent cartridge changes – expensive and time-consuming
Takes up space in the fridge or requires a bulky faucet mount
Cartridges need to be changed regularly, or water quality can decline

While in-line filtration isn’t generally effective for removing microorganisms, lead, arsenic, etc., water filtration systems are still a valuable part of a home water treatment system. Whole home filters can remove tannins, sulfur, iron, and other particulates from your water.

Reverse Osmosis

A reverse osmosis (RO) system is one of the best ways to filter water for everyday use. That’s because RO systems combine multiple carbon filters with a unique semi-permeable membrane to provide a more sophisticated level of water treatment.

Here’s how a reverse osmosis drinking water system works:

Step 1: Water flows through a sediment filter that reduces chlorine and takes out larger sediment.
Step 2: Water is pushed through the semipermeable membrane. Water molecules pass through, but bacteria, viruses, sodium, chlorine, and other larger molecules are stopped.
Step 3: Water flows through two more carbon filters to remove any remaining taste and odor. (This is the only step you get with a standard filtration pitcher, fridge filter, or faucet mount.)

With reverse osmosis, filtered water is stored in a small storage tank so it’s ready on-demand for drinking and cooking. It's convenient and economical to get great-tasting, safe water from your faucet.

Still not sure which is the best method to filter your water? Find a WaterCare dealer!

We have local water treatment specialists in your area who can provide the best advice for water filtration appropriate to your home and situation. Take the first step in getting healthier water by scheduling a free water test or consultation today!