This article will help you decide which is the best water filter system. A water filter is essentially a way of removing impurities from water. It typically does this through a fine physical barrier (i.e. an actual filter). A biological or a chemical process.

Each method of filtration cleans water to different extents and for different purposes. For instance, some water filters only make water clean enough for agricultural use.

Others for swimming and some for drinking.

This article will focus on water filtration for clean drinking water and will cover the following topics:

Water Filter Systems Distillation

Water distillation is perhaps one of the oldest forms of water purification. In this method, the water is first heated till boiling point and the steam is condensed into a separate container.

The idea is that most of the main contaminants will stay behind in the original vessel. While the clean “distilled” water will be moved into the new container. It is a fairly straight forward process. So simple that you can do it by yourself at home.

However, this process is not 100% fail proof.

 This is because sometimes “carry-overs” can be found in the distilled water. Also, organic substances like pesticides and herbicides cannot always be removed efficiently. Even with boiling points lower than 100°C. Another potential issue with water distillation is cost. This process typically requires a large amount of time and energy to produce enough clean water.

Finally, the water distillation process takes out most of the minerals you would normally find in water. This means that it often has a “flat taste”. Hence, why it is more commonly used in industrial processes.

Green Plus Arrow Pros Red Cross Cons
  • Removes most of the common contaminants.
  • You can DIY (Do It Yourself) with almost no cost.


  • It needs big amounts of energy, space.
  • It is very slow to filter.
  • Some contaminants might still remain in the filtered water.
  • Requires careful and continuous maintenance to ensure purity.
  • Left with a “flat taste” after all the minerals have been removed.
  • It is not 100% fail proof because sometimes “carry-overs” are left over in the distilled water.
  • Does not effectively remove organic substances like pesticides and herbicides.

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Ion Exchange

 Ion exchange systems efficiently remove  dissolved ions from water. Ion exchange in water treatment is very good for “water softening”.

By water softening I mean removing calcium and magnesium ions from water. Water softening is often a form of water pre-treatment method to reduce water “hardness”.

Another type of ion exchange in water treatment is “deionization”. This water filtration process removes all dissolved solids. DI (Deionization) can be an important component of a larger water purification system because it’s an effective means of removing water hardness and this is particularly true of carbon adsorption and reverse osmosis (RO) filtration systems. DI systems are effective at removing ions, however, they do not effectively remove most microorganisms or organics.

Green Plus Arrow Pros Red Cross Cons
  • Effective at “softening”water i.e. removing calcium and magnesium ions.
  • Effectively removes dissolved inorganics.
  • Is not effective at removing bacteria, particles or pyrogens.
  • DI beds can create culture bacteria and resin particles.
  • Expensive over the long-term.

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Carbon Adsorption (aka Activated Carbon)

“Carbon adsorption” happens when a solid adsorbent material (that contains carbon) filters water. Activated carbon is porous, inexpensive and absorbs or removes contaminants over a large surface area. It comes from almost any feed stock that contains carbon such as coconut shells and products from the coal family.

Carbon adsorption is a popular form of home water filtration. This is because it can efficiently remove bad tastes and odor (including chlorine). it also removes chemicals, gases as well as many microorganisms.

However, it wont remove hardness nor will it dissolve solids or heavy metals. In fact, there are only a small number of certified carbon filter systems that can remove coliform, asbestos, cysts and lead. As a result, activated carbon is popular in commercial product applications. And the majority of wastewater plants use this carbon process to purify water.

There are two types of carbon filter systems

i) solid block carbon and

ii) granular activated carbon.

Both these methods can be used along side a “reverse osmosis system“, which will be discussed next.

Carbon Adsorption
Green Plus Arrow Pros Red Cross Cons
  • Effectively removes bad tastes, odor (including chlorine), chemicals, gases as well as many microorganisms.
  • Does not remove water hardness nor will it dissolve solids or heavy metals.
  • Very slow and time consuming.
  • Unless certified, it will not remove asbestos, cysts and lead.

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Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis (RO) the best water filter system? Well it is  by far one of the most effective methods for removing 90% – 99% of all impurities in water. It works by using a semipermeable membrane (almost like a sponge that filters and purifies water.It will remove molecules, ions as well as other particles from water. This can also happen in nature and this occurs when osmotic pressure pushes water through a membrane. Thereby diluting it and the end result is cleaner water.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most efficient and effective methods for filtering tap water. This filtration type requires proper installation to accommodate specific water issues you might have. Also, it is the best water filter system for nuclear radiation. people who live near nuclear power plants use this filtration system.

Reverse Osmosis
Green Plus Arrow Pros Red Cross Cons
  • Effectively removes most impurities up to 99%, this includes colloids, particles, pyrogens and inorganics.
  • Requires very little maintenance once installed properly.
  • It is a little expensive and a little complicated to set up and install.


> > Reverse Osmosis For DUMMIES

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Conclusion – Which Water Purification System is the Best?

Mr Water Geek ThinkingThis article has highlighted just a few of the most popular water purification systems. Different water filtration systems are appropriate for removing different contaminants. You can not rely on any single filter to remove every possible type of impurity.

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However, the best option is probably a combination of different water filters so that you can achieve the best water quality.

Which is the best water filter system? Reverse Osmosis seems to be the best from this list.

Why? Because it removes most impurities and once set up to work from your tap, it works automatically with very little maintenance. A basic RO water filter system will turn your standard quality tap water into cleaner, purer, better tasting water.

Water Filter Comparison Table Chart

Type of FilterBiggest AdvantageBiggest Disadvantage 
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems
The best at removing the MOST impurities.Also removes healthy minerals and nutrients.
Activated Carbon Filter
Adds healthy minerals and nutrients to your water naturally.No filter replacement indicator.
Distilled Water Filter
Removes almost everything including heavy metals. Takes very long to filter.
UV Disinfection Water Treatment
Ultraviolet light kills off any bacteria.Can be a little complex to set up.
Water Filter Pitcher
No set up required and very fast to filter.Doesn't provide filter water beyond drinking water.
Faucet Water Filter
The fastest on-demand water filtration.Filters need replacing slightly faster than the others.
Whole House Filtration Systems
Provides filtered water to your whole entire home.The most expensive upfront costs.

I'm a health author, science enthusiast and 100% certified geek. My passion is to help you take control of your health and well-being by understanding the true importance of good quality water and healthy hydration.