- You may have tested your water with one of our water test kits and found the results are not what you expected?
- You wish to ensure you are providing your home, office, school etc the best possible drinking water?
- You may simply be conscious of the water you put into your body?
- You wish to be drinking only the best tasting, clearest looking, purest water?
- You wish to save money by avoiding buying bottled water?
…then a water filter or water purifier could be the solution for you.
(For more information, also read our resource ‘How do I check if my water filter is working?‘)
4 Reasons why you need a water filter in your home:
- Chlorine: Many towns & cities sanitise water with chlorine. Chlorine can react with organic matter in the water, such as vegetation decay, and disinfection by-products called Trihalomethanes (THM’s). THM’s are suspected human carcinogens. Chlorine may also create objectionable taste and odour problems in water. In large amounts, chlorine can be irritating to the skin as well as an eye, nose and lung irritant when exposure to the air is encountered. Ingestion of chlorine can cause stomach discomfort.
- More economical than bottled water: Water filters are good on average for 3,000 litres before you need to change the filter, which works out to just 6 pence a change. Compare this to bottled water, which commonly costs 30–50 pence per 500ml even at multipack prices — and it’s clear that drinking filtered tap water can save you significant money over time, while avoiding water that’s been sitting in a plastic bottle in a warehouse for who knows how long. (*please cheack with each brand as lifetimes can vary from product to product; **prices correct at time of writing this article, prices may vary).
- Fluoride: In many towns & cities fluoride is added to water to help reduce tooth decay. The World Health Organisation sets a guideline maximum of 1.5mg/l, and UK fluoridation schemes target around 1.0mg/l, a level considered safe by the WHO, NHS and Drinking Water Inspectorate. The main recognised effect at these levels is mild dental fluorosis (faint white flecks on tooth enamel), which is cosmetic rather than harmful. Fluorosis affecting bone (skeletal fluorosis) only occurs at concentrations several times higher than UK regulated levels. If you’d prefer to remove fluoride from your drinking water regardless, a water filter can reduce the amount present.
- Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals and Heavy Metals: There can be many trace chemicals and pharmaceuticals contaminating your water – things like prescription drugs, lead, heavy metals, pesticides and even asbestos.
For more information, also read an overview of the potential contaminants in your drinking water.
Top Tip: There are many different types of water filters on the market, ranging from simple water filter jugs (like Brita) to more complex systems like Reverse Osmosis machines or Ionisers. If you have not purchased a water filter yet, then we would recommend to test your water first in order to identify any contaminants. This way you can make an informed decision about which ones you would like removing. Depending on the area where you live, elements like hardness, chlorine, metals content (ie. iron, copper, lead) can vary. A simple water test like the 12-in-One test kit, Total Dissolved Solids test and the Total Metal test can identify the current levels of impurities in your water. Once the water has been tested, you can decide what impurities you would like to remove or reduce with your new filter. That way, you get the right water improvement system / water purifier that suits your water quality and needs.
6 ways to get the best drinking water:
When buying a water purifier / filter, also consider:
- Filters are designed to filter specific contaminants, test your water first to find out what yours are.
- You will have to regularly change the filters, factor in the cost of replacing filters .
- Check how much water your family uses, include water used for cooking. Countertop and undersink filters can usually filter lots of water.
- Filtering water can be slow with some types, carafe and reverse osmosis filters can be slowest.
Designed to mimic the natural flow of water through rocks (etc) by slowly letting the water move through the internal filters, these water purifiers remove potentially noxious elements found in tap water (bacteria, nitrates, chlorine, sulphates, heavy metals, chemicals…*). The success rate of the various filtration stages can be very impressive. They can eliminate up to 98% of the harmful substances and many types of bacteria and microbes*. Some filters also increase the pH of the water, which is ideal for a healthy body and good assimilation*.
*Please check details with each manufacturer.
Features & Benefits*:
- Ideal for family and groups
- No electricity needed
- Provides clean and healthy water for drinking or cooking
- Can remove toxic elements up to 98%
- Easy to assemble
- Uses filter for the various stages to produce purer water
- Savings over bottled water
Click here for water filters, including a shower filter
2. Water Filter Jugs
These usually come as compact size jugs, which fit in your fridge and have a similar filtration method as the gravity water filters, although on a smaller scale. They can have multiple-step filtration systems, removing mostly impurities from tap water, including calcium carbonate, common in hard water areas, which causes the build-up of lime scale in kitchen appliances. Some claim to reduce levels of herbicides, pesticides and chlorine by up to 80%. Please check details with each manufacturer.
Features & Benefits*:
- Fits in the fridge so keeps the water cool
- No electricity needed
- Provides clean and healthy water for drinking or cooking
- Modest removal rate of toxins [not as effective as a gravity water filter]
- No assembly required
- Low price option amongst the water filters, but has probably the least effect on water
3. Water Ionisers
Water Ionisers have become popular in recent years. They are an appliance designed to raise the pH of drinking water by using electrolysis to separate the incoming water stream into acidic and alkaline components. Some also claim to remove chlorine, chloramines, lead, bacteria, rust, arsenic and traces of pharmaceuticals from tap water, though effectiveness varies by product and manufacturer claims should be checked independently. Ranging in price and function, choose from an electric system to a more simple gravity-powered version. Please check details with each manufacturer.
Alkaline water is water with a pH value higher than 7 (7 is neutral). It has grown in popularity in recent years, though the health claims made for it — such as neutralising bodily “acidosis” — are not supported by mainstream medical or physiological evidence; the body tightly regulates its own pH regardless of the pH of food or drink consumed. Some people simply prefer the taste of alkaline water, which is a valid reason to choose it on its own.
Acidosis is a result of a number of factors including poor diet, stress and environmental conditions. For more information about the Alkaline Diet, please also read our Alkaline Diet Resources.
Features & Benefits*:
- Restructures the water and increases the pH up to 10
- Provides clean and healthy water for drinking or cooking
- High removal rate of toxins through filtration
- Removes acidic water during ionising process
- Fitting can be done by pretty much anyone (no plumber needed)
- Prices vary heavily and it is generally the most costly water filtration system
4. Water Distillers
The only guaranteed way to get pure water is through steam distillation by using a water distiller. Distilled water is 99.8% pure, which means it is purer that any bottled or tap water and purer than using any other type of filtration or purification method. Water is gently boiled to kill off viruses and bacteria. The steam produced is captured in a stainless steel coil where it cools to form pure water. This passes through an activated charcoal filter to remove any trace impurities. It is recommended, to add minerals back to the water, as during the distillation process the water is purified to a point that it could be lacking these essential minerals. This intensive process can have an effect on the taste of water, which may not be to everyones liking.
Features & Benefits*
- Water is heated and then filtered through a carbon filter in the form of evaporation
- Provides 100% pure water
- Very high removal rate of toxins
- Needs minerals adding after the distillation process
- No assembly required
5. Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis is a technology that is used to remove the large majority (98%+) of contaminants from water. The reverse osmosis system works by pushing the water under pressure through a number of increasingly smaller filters and finally through a semi-permeable membrane essentially trapping all contaminants. Depending on manufacturer, tends to remove inorganic elements, like Aluminum, Arsenic, Barium, Benzene, Cadmium, Calcium, Chloride, Chromium VI, Copper, Fluoride, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury II, Nitrate, Potassium, Selenium IV, Silver, Sodium, Strontium, Sulphate, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Zinc. Can also remove organic elements, like Adrazin, Aldrin, Chlorine, Chloroform, Dichlormethane, DOT, Endrin, Fluoranthene, Herbicides, Lindane, Methoxychlor, PCB, Perchlorethylene, Pesticides, Phenole, Tannic Acids, Toxaphene, Trichlorethlene, Trihalomethanes, V.O.C.’s. Please check details with each manufacturer.
The downside is that RO machines may increase water bills by up to one third, due to the waste stream. It also alters the water so that it can taste very differently and much less pleasant.
Features & Benefits*:
- Water is filtered by pressure
- Works well in properties with good water pressure
- Provides excellent filtration especially for heavy metals
- Needs minerals adding after the distillation process
- Installation is required
- Filters range from 4 to 7 stages
6. pH Drops
Although not a water filter, these clever drops add an alkalising boost to your water. A great way to give your drinking water additional minerals after filtration or distillation. These pH drops will restructure the water, enabling the water to hydrate the body more effectively (similar to a water ionizer). For more information, click here.
Click here to view pH drops available from SimplexHealth
* The product information, features & benefits listed here are generic. Please always check details for each product with the manufacturer.
Further Free Resources:
Got a question about water testing? Try our complete list of Free Water Testing Resources. Discounts for bulk purchase available, please contact us to find out more.
Sources & Further Reading
- UK Government, The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/614, as amended) —
legislation.gov.uk - World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality: Fourth Edition Incorporating the First, Second and Third Addenda (2026) —
who.int - World Health Organization, Fluoride in Drinking-water (Chemical Fact Sheet, Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality) —
who.int (PDF) - UK Health Security Agency / Drinking Water Inspectorate, Information on Fluoride in Drinking Water —
PDF - University of Stirling, Navigating Hydration: Separating Science from Marketing Hype (on alkaline water claims) —
stir.ac.uk
Disclaimer: Only opinions based upon our own personal experience or information detailed in academic journals or other publications is cited. This has been done exclusively for anyone who is interested in this subject but is not intended to replace proper analysis. We cannot accept responsibility and liability of any kind which may result from the application of this information. We always recommend to consult an expert to discuss any test results or get a full recommendation on the specific subject and specific to your situation by an expert.
This information is owned by SimplexHealth and you do NOT have the right to reprint, sell, auction or distribute this information.
UK drinking water quality is regulated under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended), which set standards based on guidance from the World Health Organisation.