From the fruit and vegetables that we eat, to the nutrients that we ingest, government recommendations on the substances that we put into our bodies are ever changing. Water, in particular, is a regular conundrum with health professionals recommending anything between one to three litres of the stuff per day. The trouble is, the quality that comes out of the tap can be seriously dicey, with everything from pesticides to fluorides causing contamination - particularly in built up areas.
It’s hardly a secret that bottled water is killing the planet one ocean at a time – as well as being a huge waste of money - so your best bet for making sure your water is of good quality is to invest in a filtering system.
Though this might seem a little over the top – after all, we live in a country that provides safe, clean water, right? Well, the benefits are pretty impressive. Not only will it taste better and stop your kettle scaling up. What's more, by filtering out chlorine, you could also reduce the risk of developing serious health problems such as cancer.
The most budget friendly option is the water filter jug, which, once bought, only takes the cost of the cartridges (usually around £10 for a multipack) to maintain - and it is simple to put together. While tap attachments are generally marginally more expensive, they offer more efficient filtering for those who want to purify their water for washing and cooking too. Those living in areas with particularly hard water may want to consider investing in a specialised tap with a filtration system built in.
Whatever your needs, the key to choosing a purification system boils down to the taste of the water and the chemicals it’s able to weed out. Here, we’ve tested the waters (quite literally) of the best options on the market so you don’t have to.
Bottoms up…
Jugs
BRITA Elemaris Meter XL Water Filter Jug
Without a doubt the most trusted filtering brand, you can always rely on BRITA to deliver a great glass of water. Seeing as no one has time to wait around for a slow dripping filter, they’ve kitted out the new Elimaris jug with a large top compartment and speedy filtration system, helping to cut down the processing time . A sturdy feeling model, the cartridge is easy to click into place and a digital gauge on the lid will give you a heads up when it’s time to change. Reducing both chlorine and limescale, the taste of hard water was noticeably improved.
£19.99 | Argos | Buy it now *On sale, was £30
Zero Water Filter Pitcher
Though this may not be the prettiest of the bunch, it’s certainly the most rigorous, trumping the usual two step filtration system of most jugs with its impressive five. Claiming to remove 99.6 per cent of all total dissolved solids, it certainly offered a cleaner and sweeter taste than the other models. The plastic is both sturdy and light whilst the push mechanism means you can pour one-handed so that you can fill your glass straight from the fridge.
£34.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Bobble 2L Water Filter Jug
Best known for its jazzy BPA-free filtering bottles, Bobble has moved on to the big stuff. The two-litre jug uses a carbon filter to remove chlorine whilst looking cute doing it. This is the jug you can put out on the dinner table without it looking totally out of place and whist it doesn’t pack as much of a purification punch as the BRITA, it’s good enough for a simple spring clean of your water and will leave it tasting fresh. Simply replace the filter every two months or so for the best results.
£13.55 | Amazon | Buy it now
Aqua Optima Oria Jug
Holding almost three litres, this jug is spacious but still fits easily into the fridge door. With a slide opening in the lid, it proved easy to fill up as well as quick to filter. The five step filtration system can be thanked for the pure and clean taste of your water as it gets rid of everything from pesticides and herbicides, to chlorine and limescale. It’s only drawback is the lack of meter, meaning you’ll have to set up your own notification to remind you to change the filter.
£25 | Argos | Buy it now
BRITA Optiamx Cool Water Jug
Filter jugs are great and all but the need to refill them regularly can become a bit of drag if you’re the forgetful type. That’s where BRITA’s Optimax model comes in. More of a cooler than a jug, it can hold an impressive five litres without compromising on quality or taste. This option will suit those with large families or excess fridge space and it proves extra handy for filling up cooking pans. One thing to watch out for, it’s easy to fill and has a decent pre-filtration capacity, but it can get heavy quickly - particularly if it’s a long walk from the tap to the fridge – so some might find it easier to fill it up with a jug.
£29.68 | Amazon | Buy it now
Taps
Water Filter Faucet
Granted, a whole tap replacement isn’t the most cost effective option for everyone, which is where this cheap and cheerful faucet connector comes in. Though you need to come prepared to fit it on properly – a wrench proved necessary for tightly fixing it into place – for such a low price it proved effective. The inner cup is ceramic (so no metallic taste) and helps to filter out contaminants such as asbestos, mercury and lead, which all appear readily in built up areas. The water speed does slow down a little when it’s in use, but a nifty little switch allows you to turn the system off and on, so you won’t have to use it for your washing up.
£13.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
BRITA Waterbar
This is the ultimate filtration gadget for those willing to make the investment. Whilst you can still turn on the normal water supply with one side of the tap, the other offers BRITA filtered water by storing a supply that’s been pumped through the sink P3000 filtration – an advanced filtration system that helps get rid of lead and copper deposits. Though there is slightly less pressure on the BRITA side, it’s a great long term solution for those in areas with particularly hard or soft water.
£299 | BRITA | Buy it now
Hapilife 3 Way Filter Tap
A slightly more budget friendly filter tap than the BRITA, this one incorporates two separate faucets to deliver hot and cold as well as filtered water. The sleek design will blend well into modern kitchens, although it does spread out somewhat, making it a more practical option for those lucky enough to have large kitchens. We really liked the fact that you can swivel both taps and the separate systems definitely makes it more user friendly.
£59.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Verdict:
For quality and performance the BRITA Elemaris jug takes the filter jug crown – the water tasted pure and the filtration system worked quickly. Whilst we would highly recommend the Hapilife tap system for those who can afford it, the filter faucet proved to be equally as convenient at a margin of the cost.
