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    Water Filter Picker

    From pitcher to under-sink to whole-house.

    First — find out what\'s in YOUR water

    Search EWG\'s Tap Water Database at ewg.org/tapwater. Type your zip code. See exactly what\'s found in your local supply. Then pick the right filter for what\'s actually there — not what\'s scary on TV.

    Brita pitcher

    $30 + $5/filter

    Cheapest. Removes chlorine taste, mercury, copper. Doesn't remove "forever chemicals" (PFAS).

    Best basic taste filter.

    PUR pitcher

    $30 + $5/filter

    Similar to Brita.

    Brita alternative.

    LifeStraw Home pitcher

    $50

    Removes more contaminants (lead, PFAS, bacteria).

    Best mid-range pitcher.

    ZeroWater

    $40

    Very thorough — removes most dissolved solids. Includes water-quality meter.

    Best for taste-test results.

    Berkey gravity system

    $300-400

    Premium. Removes nearly everything — lead, fluoride (with extra filter), PFAS, bacteria. Sits on counter, no plumbing.

    Best portable thorough filter.

    Reverse Osmosis under-sink (APEC, iSpring)

    $200-400 + install

    Best whole-glass-of-water filter. Removes nearly everything.

    Best dedicated drinking water.

    Whole-house filter

    $1,000-3,000 install

    Filters every faucet + shower in the house. Stops chlorine showering.

    For sensitive skin / sensitive lungs.

    Test water at home

    • Lead test strips — $10-20 from hardware store. Particularly important if home was built pre-1986.
    • Tap Score (mytapscore.com) — $50-300 mail-in. Most thorough analysis.
    • Annual EPA report — your water utility must mail you one each year. Read it.
    • Free city test — many cities offer free lead testing.

    Common myths

    • "Bottled water is safer" — usually FROM tap water and less regulated.
    • "All filters remove everything" — most pitchers don\'t remove lead or PFAS.
    • "Reverse osmosis wastes water" — newer systems are 80%+ efficient.
    • "Soft water is bad to drink" — it\'s fine; people without sodium-restricted diets needn\'t worry.

    Quick recommendation

    For most homes — a LifeStraw Home pitcher ($50) covers 95% of taste/odor issues + removes lead. If you have an old home with lead pipes — under-sink RO ($300). If well water — get a full water test first; results determine which filter.