Are Home Water Filters Effective? Research Says No
With bottled water consumption on the climb and the water crisis continuing around the world, researchers have turned to homeowners to try and learn more about perceptions around tap water. As part of the research, studies have begun to explore the true ability for common household filtration systems to properly eliminate a wide range of contaminants. Much to our dismay, a report by the Environmental Working Group indicates that these household filters are often missing the capture of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as well as microplastics. And even worse, consumers are shockingly unaware of the issues they face. Leaf Home surveyed over 2,000 respondents this year to learn more about their perceptions of tap water and their water supply:
Only 13% of Americans know about forever chemicals (PFAS)
Only 17% understand microplastics
Nearly 1 in 4 people have received a boil water advisory (and shockingly, this advisory didn't impact the trust in drinking water for 41% of those affected).
Water taste, appearance, and smell are the top factors used by Americans to determine the safety of drinking water.
“To the surprise of many consumers, home refrigerator filters and pitchers are ineffective in protecting against harmful PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals,' in drinking water," shares Jon Bostock, CEO, Leaf Home. "These types of water filtration systems rely on activated carbon filters which removes chlorine, taste, and odor from your water. However, these filters aren’t designed to capture forever chemicals, due to the tiny size of the PFA molecules, which slip right through them."
He adds, "The health risks of PFAS in drinking water include changes to the immune system, increased risk of certain cancers and more. In fact, a recent study from our team at Leaf Home found that among Americans that use some form of home filtration, the most common were in-fridge filtration (50%) and pitcher-style filtration (41%), exposing them to harmful forever chemicals."
Why are refrigerator filters unreliable?
"Refrigerator filters also only touch a small amount of household water, so they cannot protect the home from hard water that causes mineral buildup or scaling in plumbing, water heaters and fixtures," explains Bostock.
"Our study also found that more than half (63%) of Americans have never had their water tested and that 69% of surveyed respondents use single-use plastic water bottles for at-home water, nearly a 17% increase since 2022. These survey results clearly show the disconnect between people’s water quality concerns and the actions they’ve taken to address them."
"Rather than rely on ineffective refrigerator filters, homeowners can invest in whole-home water solutions, such as reverse osmosis water filtration systems. These whole house systems improve water at all taps and protect from bacteria, viruses, and many PFAS.”
Related: Leaf Home Predicts 2024 Trend in Home Water Filtration Systems
Water Filtration Pitchers You Can Trust
Not all hope is lost, though. Some water pitcher filters work better than the standard filter cartridge. There's a price tag on these systems for sure, but if you want the best-of-the-best, EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters includes:
Travel Berkley Water Filter (longest filter life)
Zero Water Pitchers (lower cost of entry for good water filter pitchers)
Next Trend: Reverse Osmosis Water Systems
A reverse osmosis water treatment system effectively removes harmful contaminants from water by utilizing water pressure to push tap water through a semipermeable membrane, eliminating up to 99% of impurities. The team at Leaf Home sees it as the next trend in home water filtration. When run, the purified water is stored for future use, ensuring no contact with contaminants. This system is ideal for homes using private well water or city water with quality concerns.
Related: How to Clean A Refrigerator Water and Ice Dispenser
