Home water filtration systems are healthier for you, your wallet, and the environment.
You’re not still drinking out of plastic water bottles, right? Of course, an occasional bottle while on the road may be inevitable, but bottled water costs anestimated 2,000 times more than tap water. Not to mention, tests of bottled water found around 240,000 tiny plastic particles per liter, about 90% of which are nanoplastics that can slip into your body's cells and tissues. To top that off, Americans discard about 60 million plastic water bottles a day, creating an environmental hazard.
However, depending on where you live, unfiltered tap water isn’t always the healthiest option either. The good news: there’s a wide range of options for cleaner water at home, most of which cost far less than bottled water.
If you find issues with your water, such as synthetic chemicals known as PFAs, you may want to upgrade your filtration system.
Let it Flow: Water Filtration Options
A simple water pitcher with a filter in it is often the first choice for consumers who want cleaner, better-tasting water. They can cost as little as $20, but they don’t always filter for PFAs, chlorine or lead, so if your testing uncovers some of those chemicals, you may want to investigate faucet and undercounter options.
For example,Kohleroffers a variety of filtration products ranging from a relatively simple but effective carbon filter to pair with a beverage faucet, all the way up to a full undercounter reverse osmosis filtration system or 4-in-1 beverage center with still, chilled, sparkling and instant hot filtered water,according toBraden Schmidt, product manager for kitchen faucets at Kohler.
“Our base line Aquifer filter is built for beverage faucets and retails for a little under $200,” Schmidt says. “It allows you to filter cold water, with certifications for things like lead, PFAS/PFOS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nitrates etc. From there, we have additional options for filters that could go on the cold-water line of a primary kitchen faucet, or options with higher levels of filtration in the $300 to $700 range. We top out around $4,000 to $5000 with our Aquifer 4-in-1 beverage center.”
Consumer Reports recommends checking any filter system for a stamp or seal that lists the contaminants its certified to remove. Third-party labs certifying water filters to accepted NSF/ANSI (American National Standards Institute) include theNSF, theWater Quality Association (WQA), andIAPMO.
“Kohler filtration systems are all NSF and ANSI listed,” Schmidt says. “These are third party certifications that verify which chemicals, microplastics and pharmaceuticals our filters actually remove under rigorous testing. There are some high end faucet filters and pitchers that also achieve these certifications, but our filters are paired with high performing faucets.”
Not all filtration systems are created equal, explains Betsy Froelich, marketing director forZip Water, producers ofHydrotap, which produces instant filtered water.
“While faucet filters and pitchers can improve taste and help reduce certain contaminants, premium under-sink systems generally offer more robust filtration, greater capacity and more consistent performance,” Froelich says. “The Zip Water HydroTap provides filtered water directly from the tap, either just chilled or sparkling water or an upgraded system that includes boiling water as integrated system for cooking, cleaning and entertaining.”
The HydroTap costs about $4,500 and up, or $6,500 and up with the boiling option. The system can be set up as a secondary tap or as a primary faucet that also integrates unfiltered hot and cold water, she says.
“Zip's MicroPurity filtration uses a multi-stage approach that includes activated carbon, a pleated membrane and scale inhibition technology,” Froelich says. “The system is NSF certified and tested to reduce up to 99% of PFAS, microplastics, lead and other contaminants while retaining beneficial minerals that contribute to taste.”
Faucet, Under-Sink, or Whole House Filtration
Faucet-level filters tend to be least expensive option that offers more filtration than a water pitcher and improves the quality of your drinking water.
“A filter attached to the outside of the faucet allows you to filter water where you most desire it, at the point of use,” Schmidt says “It's best in instances where installing a hidden filter would be difficult, like on a showerhead where you'd need to go behind a wall. Kohler has showerheads that integrate filters into the design much more graciously than some of the attachments people are probably used to seeing on kitchen faucets.”
Under-sink systems provide higher-capacity filtration, more advanced contaminant reduction and a cleaner look because the technology is hidden beneath the countertop, according to Froelich.
In some cases, homeowners invest in a whole-house water treatment system if their water is deemed unsafe or could damage their plumbing fixtures.
“Whole-house systems treat water throughout the entire home and are often selected to address issues such as hard water, sediment, chlorine taste or odor, or to improve water quality for showers, appliances and laundry,” Froelich says.
Maintaining a Water Filtration System
Even the simplest water pitcher that works with carbon filters needs to be cleaned, and the filters need to be replaced regularly. Other systems may require a little more care.
“We design our filters to be very low maintenance,” Schmidt says. “Even on our most advanced system, the 4-in-1, we have a built in self-cleaning or 'purge' cycle that will run when you start it up after it sits unused for a while to ensure you get fresh, crisp water. The only real maintenance is changing out the filter every 6 months - and swapping in a new CO2 canister if you've got the 4-in-1 system.”
Zip’s system typically requires annual replacement of the filtration cartridge and replacing the CO2 cylinders every 8 to 12 months as needed for sparkling water,Froelich says
Water Filtration Benefits
Access to high-quality filtered water offers health benefits because it encourages hydration and healthier beverage habits, Froelich says.
“From a sustainability perspective, one of the most significant opportunities is reducing reliance on single-use plastic bottles,” she says. “A single Zip HydroTap system can offset thousands of bottled waters over its lifetime while providing instant access to filtered drinking water.”
For homebuilders pursuing green building certifications or wellness-focused design, water quality, hydration and reduction of single-use plastics are increasingly important considerations.
“Zip Water's participation inWELLinitiatives and broader sustainability programs reflects our belief that better access to water can support both healthier people and a healthier planet,” Froelich says.
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsor: ProVia.
Better Water Costs Less Than You Think
Home water filtration systems are healthier for you, your wallet, and the environment.
You’re not still drinking out of plastic water bottles, right? Of course, an occasional bottle while on the road may be inevitable, but bottled water costs an estimated 2,000 times more than tap water. Not to mention, tests of bottled water found around 240,000 tiny plastic particles per liter, about 90% of which are nanoplastics that can slip into your body's cells and tissues. To top that off, Americans discard about 60 million plastic water bottles a day, creating an environmental hazard.
However, depending on where you live, unfiltered tap water isn’t always the healthiest option either. The good news: there’s a wide range of options for cleaner water at home, most of which cost far less than bottled water.
Before you explore filtration options that fit your needs and your budget, find out what’s in your tap water. Community water systems must post an annual Consumer Confidence Report online, but that covers the system, not your individual home. You can test your water with an EPA-certified lab such as SimpleLab or WaterCheck from National Testing Laboratories.
If you find issues with your water, such as synthetic chemicals known as PFAs, you may want to upgrade your filtration system.
Let it Flow: Water Filtration Options
A simple water pitcher with a filter in it is often the first choice for consumers who want cleaner, better-tasting water. They can cost as little as $20, but they don’t always filter for PFAs, chlorine or lead, so if your testing uncovers some of those chemicals, you may want to investigate faucet and undercounter options.
For example, Kohler offers a variety of filtration products ranging from a relatively simple but effective carbon filter to pair with a beverage faucet, all the way up to a full undercounter reverse osmosis filtration system or 4-in-1 beverage center with still, chilled, sparkling and instant hot filtered water, according to Braden Schmidt, product manager for kitchen faucets at Kohler.
“Our base line Aquifer filter is built for beverage faucets and retails for a little under $200,” Schmidt says. “It allows you to filter cold water, with certifications for things like lead, PFAS/PFOS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nitrates etc. From there, we have additional options for filters that could go on the cold-water line of a primary kitchen faucet, or options with higher levels of filtration in the $300 to $700 range. We top out around $4,000 to $5000 with our Aquifer 4-in-1 beverage center.”
Consumer Reports recommends checking any filter system for a stamp or seal that lists the contaminants its certified to remove. Third-party labs certifying water filters to accepted NSF/ANSI (American National Standards Institute) include the NSF, the Water Quality Association (WQA), and IAPMO.
“Kohler filtration systems are all NSF and ANSI listed,” Schmidt says. “These are third party certifications that verify which chemicals, microplastics and pharmaceuticals our filters actually remove under rigorous testing. There are some high end faucet filters and pitchers that also achieve these certifications, but our filters are paired with high performing faucets.”
Not all filtration systems are created equal, explains Betsy Froelich, marketing director for Zip Water, producers of Hydrotap, which produces instant filtered water.
“While faucet filters and pitchers can improve taste and help reduce certain contaminants, premium under-sink systems generally offer more robust filtration, greater capacity and more consistent performance,” Froelich says. “The Zip Water HydroTap provides filtered water directly from the tap, either just chilled or sparkling water or an upgraded system that includes boiling water as integrated system for cooking, cleaning and entertaining.”
The HydroTap costs about $4,500 and up, or $6,500 and up with the boiling option. The system can be set up as a secondary tap or as a primary faucet that also integrates unfiltered hot and cold water, she says.
“Zip's MicroPurity filtration uses a multi-stage approach that includes activated carbon, a pleated membrane and scale inhibition technology,” Froelich says. “The system is NSF certified and tested to reduce up to 99% of PFAS, microplastics, lead and other contaminants while retaining beneficial minerals that contribute to taste.”
Faucet, Under-Sink, or Whole House Filtration
Faucet-level filters tend to be least expensive option that offers more filtration than a water pitcher and improves the quality of your drinking water.
“A filter attached to the outside of the faucet allows you to filter water where you most desire it, at the point of use,” Schmidt says “It's best in instances where installing a hidden filter would be difficult, like on a showerhead where you'd need to go behind a wall. Kohler has showerheads that integrate filters into the design much more graciously than some of the attachments people are probably used to seeing on kitchen faucets.”
Under-sink systems provide higher-capacity filtration, more advanced contaminant reduction and a cleaner look because the technology is hidden beneath the countertop, according to Froelich.
In some cases, homeowners invest in a whole-house water treatment system if their water is deemed unsafe or could damage their plumbing fixtures.
“Whole-house systems treat water throughout the entire home and are often selected to address issues such as hard water, sediment, chlorine taste or odor, or to improve water quality for showers, appliances and laundry,” Froelich says.
Maintaining a Water Filtration System
Even the simplest water pitcher that works with carbon filters needs to be cleaned, and the filters need to be replaced regularly. Other systems may require a little more care.
“We design our filters to be very low maintenance,” Schmidt says. “Even on our most advanced system, the 4-in-1, we have a built in self-cleaning or 'purge' cycle that will run when you start it up after it sits unused for a while to ensure you get fresh, crisp water. The only real maintenance is changing out the filter every 6 months - and swapping in a new CO2 canister if you've got the 4-in-1 system.”
Zip’s system typically requires annual replacement of the filtration cartridge and replacing the CO2 cylinders every 8 to 12 months as needed for sparkling water, Froelich says
Water Filtration Benefits
Access to high-quality filtered water offers health benefits because it encourages hydration and healthier beverage habits, Froelich says.
“From a sustainability perspective, one of the most significant opportunities is reducing reliance on single-use plastic bottles,” she says. “A single Zip HydroTap system can offset thousands of bottled waters over its lifetime while providing instant access to filtered drinking water.”
For homebuilders pursuing green building certifications or wellness-focused design, water quality, hydration and reduction of single-use plastics are increasingly important considerations.
“Zip Water's participation in WELL initiatives and broader sustainability programs reflects our belief that better access to water can support both healthier people and a healthier planet,” Froelich says.
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsor: ProVia.
Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.
By Michele Lerner, Associate Editor
Michele Lerner is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, and author who writes about real estate, personal finance, and business.Also Read