A countertop water purifier can save you money on bottled water and reduce the amount of plastic waste. These systems are simple to use and come in a variety of sizes.
The best countertop water filters remove many common contaminants like fluoride, chlorine, heavy metals and more. They also provide a range of health benefits.
1. Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is one of the best and most trusted methods of water purification. The process works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants like chlorine, chemicals and dissolved solids. Countertop reverse osmosis systems typically have two filter cartridges: the first is an activated carbon cartridge that uses adsorption to reduce chlorine, chemicals and bad taste; the second is the reverse osmosis membrane that removes nearly all dissolved solids.
The result is pristine, safe drinking water. A good countertop reverse osmosis system will have an NSF 58 certification that means it meets the National Sanitation Foundation’s rigorous standards for reducing harmful pollutants like lead and hexavalent chromium.
Another important feature to look for is the system’s storage capacity. You want to be able to fill glasses, pitchers and other containers for use without having to wait too long. This can be a challenge with countertop reverse osmosis systems that don’t connect directly to your faucet, which requires you to fill up a detachable tank with water before using the filters.
Some reverse osmosis models also have alkaline remineralization filters, which reintroduce healthy minerals to the filtered water after removing the harmful toxins. This can improve the taste of your water as well as add health benefits. Often, these are available as separate attachments for the system or as part of the whole-home system.
2. Alkaline
Many people are intrigued by claims that drinking alkaline water can help boost the body’s pH levels and improve overall health. While some research supports these claims, much of it remains inconclusive. If you’re considering buying a countertop water filter to get the benefits of alkaline water, be sure to test your tap water’s pH level first. A good way to do this is by using a home water testing kit, which typically includes color-coded strips that you dip into your water. The higher the pH number, the more basic your water.
If you want to test your water’s alkaline level, most of these kits come with a chart that shows where different colors fall on the scale. Ideally, you’ll want to drink water with a pH of 7 or higher.
Most alkaline countertop water filters use a multistage filtration process to remove harmful contaminants and introduce healthy minerals to your water, increasing its pH. They also usually feature an ionizing stage that makes the water more acidic and boosts its antioxidant properties.
These systems generally hook up to your kitchen faucet and don’t require any plumbing installation, making them easy to use and move around the house. They’re also slim and compact, so they take up less counter space and are an ideal option for apartments, condos, RVs and vacations.
3. Carbon
Carbon, either elemental or activated, is a versatile material that can be used for water purification. It is a natural adsorbent, and it can remove a range of contaminants from tap water. It’s particularly good at removing hydrogen sulfide gas (that “rotten egg” smell that some well water has), as well as chloramines. It’s also a popular choice for removing fluoride and some heavy metals.
Most countertop water filters use carbon to filter out the bad stuff, but some models also include a remineralizer that restores any beneficial minerals that might have been removed during the filtration process. One model, the RKIN U1, does both of these things with a sleek, modern design that looks great in most kitchens. It also has a handy digital display that lets you know when it’s time to change the filter.
The Big Berkey is another popular model that removes many contaminants, including chlorine, radon and sediment, from tap water. What sets it apart from other gravity-fed water filters is that it retains the good minerals in your water, and it doesn’t require any electricity to operate. It also has a long filter life, so it can save you some money in the long run. But it doesn’t meet NSF standards and has no official certification. It does, however, come with a lifetime warranty.
4. Whole-Home Systems
If you’re concerned about your tap water quality and want to ensure that the water you and your family consumes is safe, it’s time to invest in a whole-home water filter. These devices provide a cost-effective, convenient, and easy-to-use solution to the issues surrounding home water quality. They are ideal for anyone worried about the safety of their tap water, including individuals that suffer from health conditions such as asthma and allergies.
While these devices do not address every concern people may have with their tap water, they can help reduce the amount of contaminants found in it by removing chlorine, cadmium, lead, copper, PFAS, and herbicides. They can also reduce the presence of bacterial growth and volatile organic compounds in the water.
The best countertop water filters will have NSF certification. This means that it has been tested by a third party and meets the required standards. This is important because it’s a sign that you can trust the product and that it will work as advertised.
These units are also typically easy to use and require little to no installation. This makes them a great option for renters or those that don’t want to make permanent changes to their plumbing. They are also very affordable and can save you a lot of money by cutting down on the need to buy bottled water. Many of these systems will also have a handy digital display that tells you when it’s time to replace the filters.