Choosing any of the available water filter technologies is a personal decision based on financial or health needs. Prices vary on between various water filter technologies but it's better to choose the best, not minding the price, that will effectively give you healthy and refreshing water instead of bottled water. Some expensive filters may not be as good as most cheaper ones. Yet, some are expensive because they can perform much better than the cheap systems. Also, an independently tested and certified filtration systems are more reliable than non-certified systems.
Explore some of these water filter technologies and choose the best.
Filter Technologies | What’s good about them | What’s bad about them | Recommended Brands |
| Filtration |
| Activated Carbon Filter | Reduces chlorine, taste and odor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon concentration , and other taste and odor problems. Solid carbon block can filter a wider range of contaminants than activated carbon.
This type of water filter technology was developed and perfected by Multi-Pure.
It’s used in all their counter top, and under sink filters. Also, used as pre- and post- filters in their MP750PlusRO reverse osmosis filter. | - Cannot filter nitrate, bacteria or inorganic compounds.
- Filter cartridge requires periodic replacement depending on the level of water contamination.
- Can harbor bacteria if not replaced as recommended.
| Multi-Pure |
| Mechanical Filtration | Best for filtering small particles and suspended solids, ferric iron, clay, silt and sand. Can also filter some pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, and colloids (suspended matter).
Sediment filters can be inline at the water main as whole house filtration or installed as pre-filter for ROs. | Filter cartridge replacement can become expensive. Replacement is based on the level of water concentration, pressure head loss, and the amount of water to be filtered. | Aquasana  |
| Ceramic | Water is passed through an inlet to ceramic filter element or candles. Filtered water flows upward for dispensing. This type of filter technology is common in countries like India, Bangladesh, and some other African nations. Good for removing suspended particles, arsenic, taste and odor.
Another type of ceramic filters is water crocks. Water is filtered by gravity and fresh filtered water is dispensed via a spigot or a faucet. | Filtered impurities on the candle needs to be washed off regularly to prevent clogging. | Big Berkey
New Wave Enviro |
| Activated Alumina | This technology is very effective against fluoride and arsenic. In fact, it’s the most recommended filtering option for fluoride. | May require a post-treatment system for bacteria removal. | Multi-Pure |
| Reverse Osmosis | Reduces wider range of contaminants than other filter technologies except distillers. It will filter some organic chemicals (not volatile or semi volatile), pesticides, bacteria and viruses.
Commonly used under the sink and whole house. Some portable ROs are available. | - Will not remove all organic chemicals, such as chloroform.
- May allow some chemicals to pass through unfiltered.
- Waste more water than other filter technologies.
- Installation can be expensive
| Watts |
| Ion Exchange |
| Water Softeners | Water softeners are cation exchange systems. Designed to remove positively charged ions, inorganic compounds that cause water hardness. It will remove radioactive materials, iron and manganese ions, arsenic, chromium, and hard water minerals - calcium and magnesium. Also acts as anion exchanger to remove negatively charged ions such as nitrates, bicarbonate, selenium, and sulfate.
Mostly available as whole house installations. There are few portable RV water softeners. | - Soften water often high in sodium.
- Periodic backwashing and regeneration required waste a lot of water.
| WaterBoss |
| Distillation |
| Distillers | Boils water to vapor to remove dissolved minerals, trace amounts of metals, and some toxic organic chemicals. Will completely remove contaminants producing pure water. | - Distillers may produce flat-tasting water.
- Distillation may be slow.
- Units are often expensive.
- Not effective against most volatile and semi-volatile chemicals and some bacteria.
| WaterWise |
| Disinfections |
| Ultraviolet Radiation | Will effectively inactivate and kill vegetative and sporous forms of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic microorganisms. | Not effective if water is too cloudy. Also not recommended if the untreated water contains high levels of total coliform bacteria. Will not improve the taste, odor, or clarity of water. | Everpure |
| Chlorination | Similar to UV, disinfection technology is used to kill viruses and bacteria; and to treat dissolved iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide; iron, manganese and sulfur bacteria | May require a post-treaatment using activated carbon to remove taste and odor, and even aluminum residual. | Everpure |
| Check out more water filter technologies . . . |
