How to Make Your Drinking Water Safe
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We should all be drinking lots of water every day, meaning it's crucial that it is as clean and pure as possible. Here's information about how to make your tap water safe plus my choice for water filtration.
In yesterday's post, I gave you a lot of information showing that the drinking water coming out of your tap may not be as safe as you thought.
Today I am going to talk about water filtration choices and will share my Current Recommendation for purifying your drinking water and doing so on a budget.
Our history with water filtration is a long one. It started years ago when my husband and I first married.
Note: Read to the end of this post. I have tried a lot of methods, and I'm so happy with where I am now. There are pros and cons to all of these systems–what you choose is up to you.
I phoned the manufacturers of various pitcher-type and faucet-mount water filtration systems to determine what to buy. Since we were renting at the time, the cost of installing a unit didn't make sense at the time. We later ventured out to other installed options, which I'll cover here too.
Water Filters We Tried
Faucet Mount Water Filter
When we were living in IL, soon after marrying, my research eventually led me to purchase PUR brand's faucet mount filter. It brought with it a nice set of credentials as it apparently had been endorsed and was used at the time by the U.S. Navy if memory serves me correctly.
My husband was a part time youth minister at the time and one of the youth volunteers was married to a man who was a chemical engineer. When I shared with him the conclusion that I had come to about purchasing our PUR filter, he echoed with enthusiasm what a great filter it was, stating that he had seen the research and thought it was the best filter on the market.
PUR Counter Top
When my husband and I lived with his parents for a two-year period just before our oldest son was born, we recommended that they buy PUR's counter-top model instead of the faucet mount. The faucet-mount filter unit had proven itself to be heavy for some faucets, causing problems with leakage and other issues, and additionally the counter-top model was less expensive to use.
We bought the PUR Counter Top Model and loved it. Looks like they don't make it any longer….
Multi-Pure Carbon Filter
However, after moving to Oklahoma for my husband's first tenure-track job as a professor, I became aware of Multi-Pure carbon filters. They were more expensive initially, but the cost per gallon analysis showed that the Multi-Pure was a clear winner.
After again doing extensive research into the amount of and types of contaminants that various filters on the market, we made a change.
Multi-Pure had a great deal at the time wherein we pre-purchased 10 filters (10 years' worth) and the filter housing was then provided for free, resulting in significant savings. So we were locked in for 10 years, but I felt confident in our choice.
Three years later, our oldest son was diagnosed with autism and I was having some troubling health issues. I'd been reading on and off about reverse osmosis, distillation and alkaline water, but was really confused about what the best type of water was.
So I spoke with “experts” in field and perused the internet and researched more.
I already felt that I was a bit excessive in taking my “super-duper carbon-filtered water” with me everywhere in a stainless steel bottle, but I really wanted to the best filter I could find.
There are many articles and resources that I could point you to, but here's the “distilled version” (pun intended).
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis filters were the fourth step in our water filtration journey. However, there are a lot to choose from.
We looked at the pros and cons of the system that Pure Water Products sold versus some others, but we went with the Pure Water one due to feeling we could really trust them. In fact, I was considering a salt-free water softener as well, but Gene at Pure Water talked me out of it!
We purchased a reverse osmosis system that uses our multi-pure carbon filter as one of its filters (we had already pre-paid for these and Gene said that they were a great filter and we should save money and keep them) and then we put a remineralizing cartridge on the filter as well.
We additionally purchased a whole house filter to remove chlorine and sediment as the negative health effects of chlorine in water are something that I wanted to avoid.
Costco also carries some reverse osmosis units that Mr. Franks said were worth considering, but some of those have expensive replacement cartridges.
Anyhow, you would have thought that at this point we had reached the final conclusion in our “Search for the Best Water Filter”, however the journey wasn't over yet.
Concerns About Removing Minerals from Water
One of the factors to consider when choosing a water filter is, do you want to remove minerals or not?
It's a very complicated topic. I prefer to leave the minerals intact, but here are some opposing viewpoints on this issue.
1. One is here that mentions the dangers of drinking distilled water. In a nutshell, the article mentions that distillation removes all minerals from the water, and removing these minerals can lead to health concerns and imbalances.
2. The second article is written by Gene Franks, the owner of Pure Water Products. He discusses reverse osmosis technology and compares it with distilled water in a no-nonsense manner. His thinking is that removing minerals isn't such a big problem.
Berkey Filters
Berkey Filters are the top choice for a lot of frugal natural-minded people and for good reason. Their filters are inexpensive and retain minerals in the water. However, I have some concerns about these filters.
We moved to the Berkey after reading about reverse osmosis systems removing beneficial minerals from the water. We had a remineralizing cartridge on our RO system, which puts some minerals back into the water, but felt I wanted to go more in the natural direction and just not remove the minerals at all.
Berkey Concerns: Fluoride, Bacterial Contamination, and More
Do Berkey Filters Remove Fluoride?
Berkey became my choice for a portable water filtration system and can be great in-home if you have monitored the pH of your water. Unfortunately, Berkey's fluoride filtration system isn't dependable unless your pH is in the optimal range. The problem is that I have read varying reports about what that optimal range is, so I encourage you to do your own research.
Bacterial Growth in Berkey Filters?
Furthermore, you really need to clean the reservoir out regularly. This is the case with any filtration system that holds the filtered water.
Standing water grows bacteria and when it stands in your filter, that is no exception.
We did end up going with Berkey for awhile, and it's a great portable option for water filtration that apparently can even filter really dirty water (think emergency situations). I love that you can take this with you easily on a trip or camping and you can easily bring it with you if you move. This smaller unit is a great size for camping. And for a REALLY portable option, these Sport Berkeys filter right as you drink!
Heavy Metals in Berkey Filters?
In 2021, there was a report made by a consumer about heavy metals being detected in Berkey filtered water. The report seems to be legitimate, but of course anyone can report anything. It's important to keep an open mind and find out the real data as much as possible.
If you feel still would like a Berkey after reading this (and a lot of people do trust them), here's where you can likely get a great deal on Berkey filters.
You can also find Berkey here but for the better warranty, buying direct from this Berkey site is best.
Berkey Buying Tips
- If you still wish to use the Berkey, I highly recommend that you purchase at least 1 size larger than you think you need. The most common complaint I hear from people is that they wish they'd bought a larger unit.
- I also recommend the sight spigot and the Berkey primer. The sight spigot allows you to see the water level in the filter without removing the top. The primer allows you to prime the filters without using a water faucet. The priming can be pretty messy so the primer is definitely worth it.
My Favorite Water Filter
PureEffect Water Filters
PureEffect Water Filters are possibly the BEST filters out there. They raise alkalinity and remove: Radiation, Fluoride, Pharmaceuticals, Microorganisms, Heavy Metals - VOC's, Chloramine/Chlorine, THM's, HAA's, NDMA, PFAS, Pesticides/Herbicides, Sediment/Particulate, Nano and Micro Particles/Plastics, Bad Tastes/Odors
I LOVE PureEffect filters. We've been using them for quite a few years and the water tastes amazing and the owner is extremely detail oriented. He set out to make the best water filter possible, and he might have done just that.
What These Filters Remove
- Radiation
- Fluoride
- Pharmaceuticals (Drug Residues)
- Microorganisms (Bacteria, Viruses, etc.)
- Heavy Metals
- VOC's (petrochemical byproducts)
- Chloramine/Chlorine
- Disinfection Byproducts (THM's, HAA's, NDMA)
- PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, etc.)
- Pesticides/Herbicides
- Sediment/Particulate
- Nano and Micro Particles/Plastics
- Nitrates and Nitrites
- Bad Tastes/Odors & More!
For complete results you can see PureEffect Water Filter test results on their site.
You can get extra UV protection as well.
The owner can walk you through installation if needed, doesn't try to “upsell” you, and the filters are very reasonable.
We chose an under the counter model, but you can go with the countertop as well.
My husband isn't that handy (sorry, honey–well, he'd tell you that himself), but he and my son installed the PureEffect Filter by themselves.
No Minerals Removed
No minerals are removed using the PureEffect filters. You can read more about the potential health problems from removing minerals from your drinking water here.
Radiation Removal
You can even get a radiation filter with this unit–amazing and very helpful especially for people on the West Coast of the US (in the wake of Fukushima).
With PureEffect, you can get either an over or under the counter filter that removes just about everything, but it leaves the natural minerals intact.
Can You Filter Softened Water with PureEffect Filters?
The answer is yes. Sodium is naturally occurring so it bypasses the filter.
Do PureEffect Filters Remove Glyphosate?
According to the EPA, glyphosate is removed effectively using activated carbon. Since the PureEffect filters have a lot of this in their filters, one should expect that glyphosate is removed using their filters.
What PureEffect Filter Should You Buy?
We bought the Under the Counter Ultra UC Disinfect. We actually haven't used the UV light yet but wanted it in case we needed it. If you need to save money, I would go without that.
I really love this filter system and if we didn't have a whole house chlorine filter already, I would be purchasing one of those as well.
Do You Need a Shower Filter?
The answer is a resounding YES!
Who wants things like chlorine running all over your body?
I mean, you can use a Swim Spray after showering, but that doesn't take care of the problem of chlorine that you inhale while showering.
Thankfully, PureEffect has a great shower filter too.
It removes Chlorine, Chlorination Byproducts, VOCs, Hydrogen Sulfide, Radon and more, and it does all of this at a great price.
Where to Buy a Tub Filter
This Bath Ball Water Filter is great quality and pretty affordable per gallon. It filters out:
- chlorine / chloramine
- chlorine and chloramine byproducts
- odors
- perfluoroalkyl polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- iron oxides / rust
- sediment and more
and filters up to 2500 gallons before needing to be replaced.
So while there are a lot of toxins that you really don't want in your water, there are a lot of great ways to remove the junk and enjoy truly clean water for your whole family!
How have you chosen to make your tap water safe?
If you haven't already, what do you think you will do?
Am looking into purchasing a good water filter system for my house. Appreciate your reviews and updates. Does the water filters that you are using has NSF certification? If not, do you question why they don’t go through this certification? If the water is tested to remove so many things even flouride (which is Very difficult to find beside RO), I think they should get the NSF certification to give customer the sense of quality. This is the main reason that am holding off from buying a berkey water filter system.
Hello Jane.
Thanks for reading and for writing.
This is the response of the PureEffect System company regarding their system and NSF.
I hope that helps!
Have you compared the Pure Effect Filter to the Aquasana Countertop filter? We have used Aquasana for years but are in the market for another filter and are wondering how these 2 compare. Appreciate your awesome blog!
Hello there.
I just got this information from the owner of Pure Effect. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have more questions. If you are comparing their countertop to Aquasana’s countertop, then here is the comparison:
Comparing to their Pure Effect Ultra:
Wow! Thanks so much for this helpful info.
You are so welcome. I think you will love the filter should you try it.
We have been using R/O water as our drinking water for the last four years. I have had low sodium level problems for at least a year now and am wondering if the R/O water could be part of the problem despite taking mineral supplements orally. I’ve just read a WHO report that states R/O water is definitely not the right thing to do because of the demineralization that takes place. Our tap water will have to do until I get this low sodium problem sorted out.
Yes, isn’t that interesting? The PureEffect filters do not remove minerals and that is one of the reasons that I like them. I hope to write more about this. Thanks for sharing and I hope you do better in the future.
Hi Adrienne,
While researching, did you come across the Alexapure Pro unit? Just curious if you have any information about it. Thanks!
Hi there. That’s a gravity system, right? There are a lot of differences between the PureEffect filter and gravity filters. One of them being the chance for contamination in the lower chamber or the gravity filter, something that we experienced ourselves. Does that help?
Were you compensated by any of these companies to install these products, or to review them?
Hello Colie,
I bought my Berkey and Pure Effect Filters at a discount. There was no contingency on that stating that I needed to give any kind of a review. Feel free to ask any question you like. I am very careful about what I recommend and have left companies due to issues with their products, even though it came at a financial loss to me. I hope that helps.
Hi again! I have been looking into pure effect and only see positive reviews plus a lot of websites/blogs that get paid if someone buys it. I say this, because I am looking for very neutral feedback. Also, do you remineralize your water. I read somewhere to put a tsp of Himalayan salt in per gallon of water and let it sit over night.
Do you use a water softener? If so, which one?
Have you tested your water with the pure effect filters?
Hi Kelley.
Happy to help. Can you tell me why the positive reviews are a problem? I personally do like the filter very much. I plan to do a more detailed review, but am swamped at the moment. The Pure Effect filter doesn’t remove minerals so there is no need to remineralize.
I have a whole house non salt softener from Pure Water Products. It is this system: https://amzn.to/28xgYcl (affiliate link)
I haven’t tested the water, but I know the company has tested it. I’m trying to get a way to link to the results for you. Thanks for your patience — working on it!
Only lots of positive reviews tends to make me think incentives are being offered. Kind of how there tend to be a lot of those on Amazon. Just want to make sure all these reviews are truly unbiased.
Hi Kelley. You are an investigator like me!
I just got this response from the owner:
Hope that is helpful!
Hi Adrienne! I love that you give updates because technology is always changing. I hate to read an article such as this then realize it’s a few years old and the info has surely changed at least a little since then. My first thought is usually worry that the past recommended products will have been discontinued… So, thank you for your updates! My question is, do you know of, or can you recommend an inexpensive option for the very short term. We already own a large piece of property in the country. There we will have well/spring water. Our dream house is 6-10 years down the road. However, we are getting ready to fix up our current house to sell, then place a modular unit on our property for living until we can build that dream home. So, we do not want to invest a lot in our current home knowing we may only be here for a year or so; we’d prefer to put it into the necessary updates. Thank you for any advice you can offer.
Hi Tiffany – thanks! I try to keep up but it isn’t easy and I don’t always do it. I personally think the Pure Effect filter would still be a great one for you. My husband isn’t handy and he and my son put the under the counter filter in by themselves. Took longer than expected, but then you wouldn’t have to buy a new system so I think it would be worth your time to do it now, then just remove it and take it to your new place.
Would that work? If not, come back and comment and I can give you a second option. Of course, the above counter system would be easier but I prefer the below for long term.
Your blog is very informative and I appreciate your opinions on products. I will check out your link to Pure Effect. Thank you.
Also, did you get the UV feature on your system? Thanks.
I did end up getting it. We don’t have it activated now since we have to get the necessary GFCI plug. It was a toss up for me, but figured better to have the option rather than regret not having it later. And you can turn it on and off as you desire to reduce cost of usage and replacement.
Thank you so much! I am very pleased with their filter.
So does the whole house system work like a water softener as well?
Here is the response from the Pure Effects company owner:
Thank you for this post! Which under counter unit did you choose? Can you link it? If I purchase one, I’ll be sure to click the affiliate link. You did the research and I trust your opinion! I have been seriously considering a Berkey, but my husband wants it under the counter. ::)
You are so welcome. I went w/ the more expensive one though it might have been overkill: https://www.pureeffectfilters.com/filter-units/pure-effect-ultra-uc-disinfect.html
I think this one is very competent. You would be missing a few things so just decide what you think is most important to you. The water from this filter is oxygenated, which I really like and I am confident in the removal of the contaminants. The owner is extremely knowledgeable. Let me know if I can help further – https://www.pureeffectfilters.com/filter-units/pure-effect-ultra-uc.html
Thank you so much! I just sent it to my husband for his opinion. lol 🙂 What do you mean I would be missing a few things?
I just mean that if you get the less expensive version you won’t have everything that the most expensive one has. I felt that w/ all of the things going on in the world today (ISIS and other terrorist threats, etc.) that I wanted to be able to filter radiation and bacterial contamination. Better safe than sorry. Hope that helps!
OK got it! I’ll have to call because I don’t understand why one filters viruses, bacteria & parasites but the other one doesn’t. That seems important! lol Just not sure I want to spend quite that much money on a unit.
Hi Lisa.
I got info back from the owner. Most filters on the market do not address those things. They should not be an issues, but could in these situations:
1. Non-Disinfected Well Water
2. City Water (extra protection, and in case there is disinfection treatment failures)
3. Protection from Terrorist or Hacker infiltration of the drinking water supplies, viz:
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/03/muslim-hackers-infiltrate-water-utilitys-control-system-change-levels-of-chemicals-used-to-treat-tap-water
4. Where Chloramine is used (both system will remove chloramine, however, chloramine forms a very toxic byproduct called NDMA, which UV light is good at breaking down).
Hope that helps!
Hi, I am just about to purchase a Berkey but am wondering if their systems strip the nutrients from the water? The Berkey system sounds so great that I can’t figure out why it’s not NSF certified. I know that you are no longer using it but wonder if you still recommend it? I really appreciate your opinion! Thank you in advance.
Hi Becky.
I don’t know if you noticed but I updated the post to say that I am not using the Berkey anymore. Well, I am currently but I just bought a new filter from Pure Effect. The link is at the bottom of the post. I read a post where the Berkey wasn’t found to really remove as much fluoride as they claim and that is really important to me. The Pure Effect filter leaves all minerals in the water. I would highly recommend you call the company or shop online. Please do tell them that I referred you. You will be very impressed with the owner’s knowledge.
Let me know if I can be of more help.