Best Water Filters for Apartment Living — A Comprehensive Review

Water keeps the body looking and feeling healthy — both inside and out. However, clean, pure water is not always available. Living in an apartment can particularly be challenging since tenants may have no control over the quality of well or municipal water supplied. Luckily, families living in apartments can protect themselves using water filters.

Filters are the go-to for people with concerns about toxins in their home's water. They may also be bought for convenience when people simply want better-tasting water. There are, however, a plethora of water filters on the market, each of which removes different contaminants from your water. They also come in all shapes and sizes.

As such, this article is the perfect guide when wondering which type to buy. But first, how does one know whether they need a water filter? Simple! — A water quality test.

Top 6 Apartment Water Filters

To make your research process easier, here are the top choices for all the categories of water filters suitable for apartments:

1. Bottle: LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
2. Faucet Attachment: PUR Advanced Faucet Attachment
3. Filter Pitcher: Clearly Pitcher
4. Distiller: Waterwise 4000 Distiller
5. Countertop Gravity Filter: Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter
6. Countertop Gravity Filter: AquaTru Countertop RO System

Testing the Water Quality in an Apartment

A landlord may supply water from a private well, and it's natural to wonder whether that water is safe. The first step, which is the simplest when it comes to testing, is using one own's senses. Using the eyes, look for cloudiness or particles in water. Using the tongue, detect any funny taste, and finally, using the nose, detect any strange odors.

Most times, to a layman, the water may appear safe. But that's not always the case, and knowing the repercussions of contaminated water, one would rather not take the chances. That said, the next step is to look for a home water quality test kit. These kits are easily found online or at local stores. When exposed to toxins in your water, they usually have strips that change color.

The most efficient method is to obtain a quality test from a state-certified laboratory. The EPA has recommended labs in every state and territory in the United States. As such, carry a sample, and get it tested. Not only will the results say if the water is contaminated, but they will also list the contaminants and their quantities when present.

9 Things to Consider When Choosing a Water Filter for an Apartment

After finding out that the water is contaminated, what's the next step? Walk into a store and pick the first filter one spots, or perhaps the most affordable? No. The next step is to assess which filter suits the family with these 9 considerations:

1. Purpose

Diverse water filtration systems are designed differently, which means they remove a different range of impurities. Chlorine and lead are 2 of the most common pollutants. As such, almost all water filtration system removes them.

More dangerous components like mercury, man-made chemicals, and other pollutants need more advanced systems. Apartments with private wells may also harbor harmful microbes in their water. As such, a filter that removes bacteria and viruses is ideal.

2. Physical Dimensions

The filter to get is also determined by the size of space one has in their apartments. As such, get a filter whose length, width, and height fit into the intended storage location. Getting a huge countertop filter or a distiller, for example, may not be the best choice without sufficient side space.

3. Replacement Filters

A filtration system is only as good as its filters. That said, some filters wear out faster than others in different systems. They may therefore need regular replacement, yet filters are quite pricey. Conclusively, look for a system whose filter life makes sense financially.

4. Portability of the System

When renting, most tenants don't intend to stay in a specific apartment indefinitely. It is therefore advisable to get a portable water filtration system that can be transported from house to home. Nobody wants to be stuck in an apartment for 2 years because the filter has to stay in for 2 years!

5. Capacity

When selecting a filter, consider how much water the family uses. For a dorm or apartment, for example, a smaller pitcher could suffice. However, faucet or under-sink filters may make more sense for larger homes. This is especially for families who would like to clean their cooking water. All these filter types will be discussed next, though they are self-explanatory from their names and work as they sound.

6. Cost

When buying anything, the cost is always a primary factor. The same case applies to water filtration systems. They can cost thousands of dollars or as little as $20.

Since most systems are quite capable of removing pollutants from water, other features like size and efficiency will come into play when looking at the cost. The cheapest may not necessarily be the go-to option even if it works as well as the most expensive one.

7. The Lease Agreement

Some landlords may not allow tenants to make structural changes to their apartments. In such situations, the best options are usually filters that do not require installation at the waterline. If a more permanent system is desired, discussions have to be held with the landlord before installation to avoid conflict later.

8. Universal Connectors

Some filtering systems are not stand-alone, and therefore need to be connected with existing structures in an apartment. Attached faucet filters for example are usually installed on sinks and taps using adaptors. With that in mind, look for systems with universal connectors. This is because they make the setup and installation process fast and easy.

9. Filter Certifications

NSF International and ANSI are popular certifications that verify to clients that manufacturers' water filters function as stated. When a filter is certified to a standard, it has been evaluated by a third party. It is therefore proven to be capable of minimizing a certain contaminant. It's a good idea to seek filters that have at least an NSF 42 chlorine elimination certification.

Apartment-Friendly Water Filteration Systems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

After coming up with a list of the features one is looking for based on the previous considerations, it is then time to look at the available options. This helps to narrow down to the right type of water filter, one that meets all the requirements. Here they are:

Whole-House Filtration Systems

Whole-house water filtration systems filter all the water that enters a home. They make the most sense in apartments with a hard water supply. This is because hard water is hazardous for pipes and water fixtures. Note that they are not ideal when leasing an apartment since they are costly and time-consuming to install. Only go for this one after buying an apartment and want a soft water supply for the entire house.

Under-Sink

Just like the name hints, they are usually connected under the sink that supplies a family with drinking water. They are types of point-of-use filters. In this sense, they are placed at the location where they are needed to filter water. They are normally used in conjunction with whole house filtration systems since the latter do not filter out toxins.

Faucets Attachments

They provide rapid access to filtered water in a location where people normally get drinking water, such as the kitchen sink. They work like under-sink filters, only that they are attached to the faucet. Most ordinary sinks can accommodate them, but they won't work with more unusual sink configurations, such as a pull-down faucet with a spray nozzle. They can be set to let unfiltered water pass through for activities like dishwashing, but still filter drinking water.

Countertop Gravity Filters

Countertop water filtration systems redirect water from the sink into a filtration system with its own tap, similar to faucet filters. Some types have to be refilled manually. They tend to be bigger than pitchers but hold more water hence need less regular refilling. Their greatest advantage is that they can be stored anywhere in a home, just like a water dispenser. They also require minimal installation and provide filtered water at any time.

Distillers

Distillation is an excellent method for removing contaminants completely. Distillers use distillation to separate impurities and pure water. They are also types of countertop filtration systems and are relatively more portable than their counterparts.

To use them, all one has to do is plug them into a water source and outlet. Water is then heated, after which it evaporates and then condenses during the distillation process. It is then collected and all impurities converted to a gaseous form.

Bottle Filters

Water bottles are also a revolutionary filtration system today. They come with quality water filters and are therefore NSF and ANSI approved. They may filter water as one consumes it or as they fill the water bottle. People who want to drink filtered water in their apartment and on the move could go for this option. Notably, they're also a great alternative to buying water bottles.

It is very important to note that some bottle filter brands are designed to eliminate pollutants from treated water. As such, water from natural sources like creeks and rivers could still contain contaminants even after bottle filtration. Campers and other outdoor enthusiasts would therefore need a filtration system that can eliminate germs and other creatures prevalent in the environment.

1. LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle

2. PUR Advanced Attachment Faucet

It is certified in removing chlorine, lead, and some toxins from pesticides. It only works with cold water, and has quite a limiting filtering capacity, standing at 100 gallons, equivalent to 3 months. Luckily, it can be turned on and off easily, when a person wants to fetch drinking water. 

3. Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Unfortunately, its glorified filter only lasts 4 months or 100 gallons. This is quite a short lifespan, even though the device itself has a lifetime warranty. People can however by the filers in packs for economies of scale. Notably, it is an affordable option and a terrific choice for people with small apartments or those looking for a filter that won't take up much space.

4. WaterWise 4000 Water Distiller

This distiller is easy to set up, can be placed anywhere near a power source, and is attractive as well. Better yet, it is one of the most noteworthy filtration technologies, alongside reverse osmosis. Moreover, it does not require any installation of a water line.

5. Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

In simple words, the Big Berkey promises one irresistible thing: pure water. Considering it takes its time to filter, it's not a surprise that the water is that great. To make the most use of it, refill it at night for the next day's drinking water.

The Big Berkey, true to its name, has a large chamber to hold enough water for 6 in a day. It is also large to accommodate the different filters that come with it. As such, replacing the filters can be a bit daunting. This is because they all have different lifespans.

That said, people who opt for the Big Berkey have got to be extra careful in monitoring and replacing the different filters. Luckily, getting them is stress-free since they are all available on Amazon. Note that the Berkey PF-2 Elements are the ones that need to be changed the most, and they can handle 1000 gallons of water before they need to be replaced.

6. AquaTru Countertop RO System

As mentioned before, it has 4 filtration stages. These include a mechanical and RO pre-filter, the reverse osmosis membrane, and a final activated carbon post-filter. Unlike the previous systems, however, there won't be any confusion since the system notifies owners when it's time to replace a filter through a digital display.

The AquaTru can remove up to 99.9% of total dissolved solids (TDS) and because of its reverse osmosis system, gives wastewater as well. The AquaTru has a 1:4 ratio of produced to wasted water, which makes it more efficient than other reverse osmosis systems.

Apartment Water Filters - FAQ