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Save the planet one drink at a time.
By Aly Walansky — Written on Feb 16, 2020
If the debates over plastic straws have taught us anything, it’s that there’s way too much plastic around us — and it’s causing a major pollution situation. Not only does plastic litter our environment, but it plagues our oceans, pollutes the air with toxins, kills wildlife, and most plastics aren't biodegradable.
Plastic has its place, but we need to cut it out anywhere possible, and that includes our drinking water. That means opting for no bottled water, Brita pitchers, or even some faucet filters, many of which have some kind of plastic involved in their filtering system.
The best way to limit plastic in our lives? Stop consuming it — and that means using a water filter that's plastic-free.
Not only is using a water filter that has no plastic healthy, but you're saving the world one glass of water at a time.
1. Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System
The Big Berkey is made with High Grade 304 Stainless Steel. Each Purification Element has a lifespan of 3,000 gallons — that's 6,000 gallons for a two-filter system.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
2. Doulton Stainless Steel Water Filter
This four stage stainless steel system is designed for chemical, microbiological and heavy metals (lead) reduction. The package includes Doulton HIS filter housing, Ultracarb ceramic filter, filtered water faucet, and installation kit.
(Doulton USA, $299)
3. ZeroWater 40-Cup Ready-Pour Glass Dispenser
With an elegant glass tank and no-drip spigot, ZeroWater's 40-cup ready-pour filtered water dispenser uses a five-stage filtration system, and is great for gatherings, offices, or home use. Pour a glass of filtered, clean-tasting water while the reservoir continues to filter.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
4. PUR FM-3700 Advanced Faucet Water Filter
PUR faucet water filters reduce over 70 contaminants, including lead and chlorine, by using activated carbon and ion exchange. Using a PUR water filter for tap water is more affordable than bottled water, and can save households up to $1,000 per year. Not to mention, you're reducing your plastic use!
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
5. AcalaQuell Smart Water Filter System
The AcalaQuell Smart converts tap water into fresh, pure water. It restores natural properties to water, and its activated carbon provides excellent protection against the contamination. The ceramic filter was burnt with a patented process to a highly compressed diametic structure, so no bacteria is able to pass through.
(AcalaQuell, $389)
6. Bamboo Charcoal Water Filter
Adding bamboo charcoal to tap water removes impurities and improves taste. This quality bamboo charcoal is carbonized at high heat, creating a large, porous surface area. Tests show that these pores absorb ammonia, lead, mercury, cadmium, and copper from water, including chloramine, chlorine and chlorides.
(Package Free, $20)
7. GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier
Made of two layers of non-woven ceramic fiber, positively charged mesh of ions, and activated carbon, this design makes clean, purified drinking water in only 15 seconds from any fresh water source. It's perfect for active individuals who love to travel.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
8. IPPINKA Kishu Binchotan Charcoal Slim Sticks
Binchotan absorbs chlorine and other chemicals from drinking water while releasing natural minerals into it. Binchotan has an alkaline effect, which softens and improves the overall taste of water. Made in the Kishu region in Japan, use 1 stick for a personal water bottle or 2 sticks for a carafe.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
9. APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter
APEX Countertop Alkaline Drinking Water Filter System removes impurities and chemicals through carbon block filters that remove mercury, pesticides, chlorine, radon, and more from your drinking water. The APEX water purifier systems also remove sediment and rust.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
10. pH REPLENISH Glass Alkaline Water Pitcher
Made from food grade ultra-strong borosilicate glass and stainless steel, this water pitcher increases pH, breaks down water molecules into structured patterns for easy absorption and better hydration, removes fluoride, chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals, and remineralizes water adding iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, selenium, lithium, iodine and other minerals and trace elements.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
11. ZeroWater 8-Cup Stainless Steel Pitcher With Free TDS Meter
The ZeroWater filter pitcher combines 5 technologies to remove impurities from tap water. Pitcher includes a dissolved solids meter that indicates the quality of tap water, and suggests a precise time to change the filter.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
12. Aquaovo 'The Tower' Water Dispenser
This starter pack includes 1 Tower unit, 1 year worth of filter cartridges (3), 1 rinsing board, and a subscription to the OVO+3 AUTO filter cartridge replacement program and warranty coverage. The tanks are made of glass, and remove chlorine and other contaminants for clean, refreshing water.
(Aquaovo, $664)
13. Thrive Market New Wave Enviro Stainless Steel Crock Water Dispenser
New Wave Enviro’s Stainless Steel Crock is made from food grade stainless steel with a BPA-free spigot. That means no leaching of chemicals, toxins, or undesirable taste in your drinking water.
(Thrive Market, $30.99)
14. Goop Ceramic Water Filter
Handmade and a gorgeous addition to a countertop, this filter purifies water and can hold up to one gallon. Just fill it with tap water and let the filter do its thing.
(Goop, $450)
15. Radiant Life SS Gravity Countertop Filter
This Gravity Countertop Filter is made of stainless steel, and is portable and easy to use. The 2 filter unit produces approximately 12 gallons of sparkling, clean water in 24 hours. The system holds 2.25 gallons of clean water at a time.
(Radiant Life, $60-$279)
16. KOR Water Fall Sustainable Countertop Water Filter System
This filter system uses coconut shells to filter up to 80 gallons. Filter tested and certified to NSF, it removes chlorine, chloramines, bad taste and odors found in tap water.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
17. GOpure Water Pod
Every Pod features an “advanced ceramic core” made from DE and trace silver that performs like a magnet to continuously attract, bind and adsorb every heavy metal, inorganic, bacteria, impure chemical and more. (While the Pod has been proven to remove E.coli and other dangerous bacteria, it is not recommended as the sole source for purification of backcountry water and should be used with potable water only.)
(GOpure, $99.80)
18. The Soma Filter
The Soma Filter turns ordinary tap water into fresh, filtered water, effectively reducing unwanted contaminants like chlorine, mercury, copper, and more. The filter casing is made with sugarcane plant-based materials, meaning a lower carbon footprint, and free from BPA and Phthalates.
(Soma, $60)
19. Propur Big 304 Water Filtration System
The Propur Big 304 is economical, convenient and easy to use. The system requires no electricity to provide reliable water filtration just about anywhere. Each container is made from high quality premium 304 stainless steel for lasting durability, corrosion and oxidation resistance, and attractive appearance.
(Propur, $279)
20. CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter
This filter works beneath any home or office sink to filter up to 50,000 gallons of cold water on demand. The UC-200 reduces a wide variety of organic and inorganic contaminants: chlorine, water soluble cation heavy metals (lead, mercury, chromium VI, cadmium), herbicides, pesticides, sediment, algae, molds, bad taste, odors and other undesirable contaminants that may effect the quality of your water supply.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
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Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her.
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