Which Water Filtration System is Best for Drinking Water (7 Types of Systems)?

Whether you are connected to the municipal/city water system or rely on a well, you cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water. According to the United Nations, drinking contaminated water causes more deaths than war and all other forms of violence combined. That’s why it is prudent to use a water filtration system to ensure your family drinks safe water. But Which water filtration system is best for drinking water? Read on to find out.

The best water filtration systems remove the most contaminants. A reverse osmosis (RO) system will remove 99.9% of bacteria. There are also other, more portable systems available if you don’t have the means or ability to install an RO filter. Look for systems that are NSF-certified because they’ve been independently tested and proven to remove contaminants.

For more information on the types and quality of water filtration systems available and which water filtration system is best, read below.

Questions to ask when looking for a good water filter

Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the best home water filter system to choose from.

• How much water do you need to be filtered? If you are looking for a filter for purifying only your drinking water, then you will be okay with the slow filters. But if you are looking to filter lots of water, you want one that is fast and efficient.
• Where do you want to use the filter? Do you want a portable filter for outdoor use? Or are you looking for one to be mounted on your faucet/under the sink for home use only?
• What contaminants do you need to remove? If a water filter is designed to remove germs, there is a good chance that it will not be effective in removing chemicals. Do not assume that any water filter is suited for all kinds of contaminants. You can search the water filter in the NSF database to see what it has been certified to remove from drinking water. A Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter can remove up to 99.9% of contaminants.
• What is the cost of the filter? Water purification systems can cost anything from a couple of bucks to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But the most important cost factor is not just the purchase but the installation and maintenance costs involved. Beware of inexpensive filters that might cost you way more in maintenance.

7 Types of Water Filters

There are at least 7 different types of water filtration systems that can be used in different settings. For example, a faucet-mounted water filtration system won’t help you out much if you’re living in a dorm room with no kitchen and no faucet! Below, you can read about the 7 different types of water filters to determine which water filtration system is best for your situation.

1. The best pitcher water filtration system

Water pitcher filters are designed to be filled with water from the top, and the water then passes through inbuilt filters before it is poured out into a glass for drinking. These are usually inexpensive and require no installation.

However, they are slow, so are not ideal for large volumes of water. Zero Water arguably has the best pitcher water filtration system. Read our review below;

Zero Water pitcher filtration system

If you’re wondering which water filtration system is best, you’ll certainly want to consider this portable water filtering pitcher. The Zero Water pitcher filter was certified in 2018 by the NSF (National Science Foundation) for lead and other contaminants removal in drinking water. You can trust it to eliminate 99.6% of all dissolved solids in your drinking water. It even comes with a light-up TDS indicator, which will help you to know the TDS values of your water.

Compared to other pitcher filters, the ZERO Water filter does a better job reducing the TDS of water. And you can use the meter to prove it. This pitcher will filter up to 7 glasses of water at a go, so it can do fine for small households.

2. The best portable filtration system

Whether you are a backpacker or traveling to some off-grid location, taking a portable filtration system with you is a good idea. The last thing you want is to ruin your trip by getting a waterborne disease. So, which water filtration system is best for portable use?

When it comes to portable filtration systems, most pale in comparison to the membrane solutions water straws portable filter.

Membrane Solutions personal water filter

This portable filtration system is great for hiking, backpacking, scouting, emergency preparedness, and camping trips. You may want to have it handy when traveling overseas as well. It is 6.7 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, which makes it fit in any cup or glass, and you can easily slip it into a cupholder or in your backpack.

Even though small and portable, this is a robust filtration system that uses a four-stage filtration system that includes pp cotton, a coarse filter screen, activated carbon, and coconut shells. The 4-stage filtration process ensures the elimination of 99.9% of bacteria and other contaminants in the water.

You can, therefore, count on the Membrane Solutions portable water filter to give you the safest drinking water in the harshest environments.

3. The best faucet-mounted filtration system

As the name suggests, faucet-mounted filtration systems are installed on the faucet. Faucet-mounted filters work with most standard faucets, but some faucets may not be supported. They also affect the flow rate of water. But the advantage is that you can easily switch from filtered to unfiltered water as you please. So, of these faucet-mounted filters, which water filtration system is best? Read below to find our highest-rated brand in this category.

Water Drop stainless steel water faucet filter

The waterdrop stainless steel faucet-mounted filtration system is NSF-certified for chlorine and lead elimination in water. Most households in America unknowingly drink water that is contaminated with lead from plumbing, but this can easily be avoided by installing a waterdrop faucet filter.

Unlike most other faucet-mounted systems, you won’t have to worry about your water’s flow rate because this system has a 0.5 gpm. It also has a 360-degree swivel, allowing you to use the faucet at any angle.

4. The best faucet-integrated filtration system

A faucet-integrated filtration system refers to a system that is designed with inbuilt filters as opposed to mounting one on the faucet. These are usually more technical, and you might require the help of a plumber to install them. Just like the faucet-mounted ones, you can also toggle between filtered and unfiltered water.

Appaso drinking water faucet

This inbuilt faucet water filtration means you don’t have to waste space by installing an auxiliary faucet filter. The Apasso drinking water faucet combines both hot and cold water in one faucet with easy controls to toggle between the two. This saves you the trouble of drilling through marble or granite to install a secondary Ro faucet, saving you lots of cash, time, and space. The manufacturer offers a 90-day money-back guarantee with a 5-year warranty.

5. The best under-sink water filtration system

Under-sink water filtration systems are installed under the sink. These systems are great for the filtration of large volumes of water, and they are also loved because they do not waste space.  However, they might need some modifications to your plumbing, especially if you live in an old house. These systems will likely have some sort of faucet, which can be installed next to your sink’s faucet. For this reason, they’re also sometimes called countertop water filters.

The Waterdrop under-sink integrated dual carbon system

The waterdrop under-sink water filtration system is arguably one of the best water filtration systems for drinking water at home.

It was designed to meet the NSF standards for water quality and safety and will remove 99% of fluoride, arsenic, mercury, lead, and odors, thereby giving you safe drinking water that tastes and smells great. It comes with a smart indicator that allows you to see the working condition of your filters at a glance. It is very easy to install, and you can have it up and running in less than 30 minutes.

6. The best RV water filtration system

If you are an RVer, then you must use a water filter in your RV. Some of the water you will get at campgrounds and other off-grid locations is contaminated with bacteria and other contaminants.

Some RVs come with preinstalled carbon filters, which can leave the chlorine taste in water. So, you may still want a filtration system that will give you the best quality drinking water that tastes great. So, which water filtration system is best for RVs and campers? Here is our number one recommendation.

Camco TastePURE RV Water Filter

This RV filtration system will eliminate chlorine, sediment, bacteria, odors, and bad taste, which are the commonest contaminants in campground water. Once you install it, you can rest assured that you will always have clean drinking water from your faucets.

This filtration system adopts a 2-stage process, which helps prolong your filter’s life. It also has a high flow rate, so you will have sufficient water in your kitchen and a continuous flow of water in your shower.

7. The best whole-house water filtration system

Whole-house filtration systems purify all the water entering the house instead of only filtering the drinking. Whole-house filtration systems should be used in areas with hard water or for water with volatile organic compounds. For instance, if you use well water, installing a whole-house water filter might be a good idea.

Not only does it guarantee safe drinking water, but it also protects your appliances from corrosion. Here is our top recommendation for whole-house systems.

iSpring 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

As the name suggests, this filtration system uses a 3-stage filtration process to guarantee the purest and safest water for domestic use. If you’re wondering which water filtration system is best, you have to consider this whole house system. You can trust it to eliminate iron, manganese, and other heavy metals that would seriously damage your appliances.

The 3-stage process also deals with sediment, rust, herbicides, pesticides, chlorine, industrial solvents, volatile compounds, and many other contaminants. And the icing on the cake is it has very easy-to-follow guides that you can use to install it without the need to hire a contractor.

Summary of which water filtration system is best for drinking water

So which water filtration system is best? The best water filters for you will depend on what you are trying to achieve. If you need clean drinking water in your home, you will need a different filter from someone traveling overseas and needing a portable solution. We have given recommendations for the best water filtration systems for drinking water for most of these different scenarios, so that should make it easier for you to decide.

Although we have done extensive research to recommend filters that will work best for you, we encourage you to check customer reviews of verified buyers on Amazon to see what other customers think of the systems we have recommended.