Taste is not the only thing water filters can improve upon — an effective water filter can remove or reduce contaminants and impurities such as lead, chlorine and parasites’ cysts. The May, 2007, issue of Consumer Reports (CR) features Ratings of 27 water filters — everything from carafes to systems for the entire house — which were tested for lead and chloroform removal, flow rate, clogging and bad-taste removal.

 

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Two filters that performed well at removing common contaminants and off-tastes in CR’s tests were the faucet-mounted Pur Horizontal FM9400, $40, which doesn’t take up any counter space or have unsightly visible tubing, and Kenmore’s 34551, $50, a CR Best Buy. It is a countertop-type that filters water quickly and costs less to operate than the Pur.

Other models featured in CR’s water filter report include products manufactured by Brita, GE, Whirlpool, Shaklee, Omni, e-Spring, Culligan, Aqua Pure, Everpure and Lotus.

The challenge for consumers is to identify which contaminants are present in their water and find the right filter to remove them. All water systems in the United States are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to publish a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for their customers. While deciphering CCRs can be cumbersome, these reports can provide crucial information about water quality. For help understanding how to read a CCR, consumers can log on to www.ConsumerReports.org/water_report.

Consumer Reports notes that consumers shouldn’t automatically reach for bottled water, often advertised as a “pure” and “natural” alternative to tap water. While generally safe, bottled water is subject to less government oversight than tap water.

How to Choose

A flood of new filters is making it easier than ever to remove impurities from tap water. Below are some tips from CR on how to get started:

 

• Analyze the water. CCR reports provide a good starting point, but testing the home water supply is the only way to determine what is coming out of the tap. Samples can be brought to state-certified testing labs or the local health authority. CR found that the Watersafe All-In-One Drinking Water Test Kit, about $18, provided quick, accurate results for chlorine, lead, nitrate, two pesticides, pH and total hardness.
  
  
• Choose the right filter. CR recommends choosing a type that matches lifestyle as well as water problems. A family of four that consumes several gallons of water a day will need more than a carafe to do the job.
  
  
• Read the fine print. Contaminant removal claims vary by product, so match the claims with the impurities found in the home’s tap water and reference CR’s Ratings to gauge each device’s efficacy.
  
  
• Consider long-term costs. All but one of the filters CR tested must be replaced periodically. The Ratings list each model’s yearly replacement cost, which range from $20 to $330.

Types of Filters Available

CR notes that contaminant removal varies even within type and that all filters are designed to be used with cold water only.

For those on a budget, CR recommends the following types of water filters.

• Carafe. Best for filtering small quantities inexpensively, without the hassles of installation. These types of water filters generally cost between $15 and $60; however, some are slow and prone to clogging and require frequent filter changes.
  
  
• Faucet-Mounted. Best for filtering drinking and cooking water with minimal installation effort and allows easy switching between filtered and unfiltered water. But this type, which can cost between $20 and $60, can slow the flow of water and can’t be used on all faucets.
  
  
• Whole House. Best for inexpensively removing sediment, rust and for some, chlorine, from household water. This type tends to have a long cartridge lifetime and costs between $35 and $80. But most are not designed to remove most other contaminants such as cysts, metals and VOCs, and the system requires professional installation.

Other options include:

• Countertop. Best for filtering large quantities of water without plumbing modification and is less likely to clog than carafes or faucet mounts. This type can clutter countertops, can’t be used on all faucets and are priced from $50 to $300.
  
  
• Undersink. Best for filtering larger volumes of water without modifying the existing faucet or cluttering the counter. But this type, which costs $55 to $350, takes up cabinet space and requires plumbing modifications because a hole must be drilled through the sink and/or countertop for the dispenser.
  
  
• Reverse Osmosis. Best for removing a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved solids, and is the only filter that is certified for arsenic removal. However, this type requires plumbing modifications and must be periodically sanitized with bleach. The system, which costs between $160 and $450, is extremely slow, creates three to five gallons of waste water for every gallon filtered and takes up cabinet space.

 

About Consumers Union

Consumer Reports® is published by Consumers Union (CU), an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, CU tests, informs and protects. To maintain its independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of information products and services, individual contributions and a few noncommercial grants.