Water Filter Reviews: Alkaline, Charcoal, Sediment & Iron

Water is our lifeblood. The purer it is the better, as any harmful substances in it can have serious effects. 

If you’ve tested your water or had it tested by a professional, and have found it to be less than desirable, you’re not alone.

If your drinking water comes from the ground and has been contaminated with too much iron or sediment, you’re one of many.

Even if you’re just feeling as if you could improve the water running from your tap, you’re one of a large number of growing households searching for better water quality.

Alarming, in 2015 77 million Americans were living somewhere where the quality of the tap water violated some kind of safety regulations. 

Thankfully, help is at hand!

Filters are so streamlined now that you can choose to remove only specifically what you need to and be left with what you ultimately want to bring to your family. You're after great tasting, clean water to drink, bathe in, and clean with.

I’ve reduced the best water filters to a list of 5 that do very specific jobs, removing alkaline, charcoal, iron, sediment or chlorine, in that order.

There are a variety of ways to remove undesirables. I’ve included in my list a couple of smaller options and a few larger ones. Read on!

Image	Model	Product Type	Price	Rating
	Alkaline Water Pitcher	Alkaline	$$$
	Black+Blum Eau Good Water Bottle	Charcoal	$$
	Pentek RFFE-10BB Iron Reduction	Iron	$$$$
	Pentek DGD-5005 Spun Polypropylene Filter Cartridge	Sediment	$$	NA
	Aqua Elegante Advanced Tap Water Faucet Filter	Chlorine	$$

The Method: Alkaline Water Filter

As well as removing contaminants, this filter increases the PH of your water (typically from a 7.0 to a 9.0).

Have you heard about the people of the Okinawa Centenarian Project? The longest-lived people on the planet drink alkaline water.

The benefits are numerous: improved weight loss, increased kidney function, increased bone health (reduces the issue of bone loss) among many others!

Specifically

The best alkaline water filter for your household, and probably the easiest to use, is The Alkaline Water Pitcher by Lake Industries. At 2.5 L, it’s a nice size for your family to get the benefits that alkaline water can provide on a consistent basis.

There's no expensive installation or confusing directions. It's just a simple, ergonomically designed pitcher which, using 7 stage cartridges, removes a combination of odors, chlorine, and heavy metals.

The pitcher is made of BPA free food grade plastic and will eliminate the need for plastic bottles. You’re doing not only your body but also the environment a good turn!

Pros and Cons

Some pros to this type of filter are that it’s easy to set up, and fits nicely in your fridge or on your countertop. The use of the filter isn’t confusing and even a child can refill the pitcher.

This is a very inexpensive way to start providing clean water. A con is that the amount of water being filtered is limited at one time unless you buy more than one pitcher.

In Summary

Easy to use is right up my alley! I’m also swayed by the idea that I can take this alkaline water filter home and immediately start getting the benefits of good, alkaline, filtered water.

There’s no waiting a few hours for installation. Just half hour will increase the PH of your water significantly. Once you get started, you can easily keep filling it for a consistent supply.

The Method: Charcoal Water Filter

Pros and Cons

​The Black+Blum Eau Good Charcoal Filter Bottle is a great, portable choice!

One pro I discovered right away with this bottle is that it has a nice wide mouth; no squirt bottles for me, please!

Be aware that sometimes a bit of charcoal will break off and get into your mouth. This won't harm you, but you may find it unpleasant. 

Charcoal may not be the nicest thing to swallow, but it does have numerous health benefits for your gut!

A con for this product is that, while it's very convenient to take with you, it doesn’t fit many standard cup holders.

In Summary

The Method: Iron Water Filter

Sure, we all need some iron in our diet, but an overload of iron in our water is a big problem.

Too much iron in your water can leave a metallic tang in your mouth, and have adverse health risks.

Iron can also leave stains on your clothes or in your appliances – yuck!

An iron filter is a great way of getting the iron content reduced so that your drinking water tastes better. 

Pros and Cons

This is an exceptionally well-made iron filter and will do far more than a simple tap hook up system would.

It’s a filter for your entire house. It affects not only the water you wash with, but also the drinking water you’re consuming on a daily basis. It’s easy to use in conjunction with a variety of other filters, too!

A con is that it’s not as simple as, for example, a pitcher. Since this is a cartridge that fits into the Big Blue housing, it does require the purchase of other components to use it. 

In Summary

Big Blue is a great product if you’re looking to have the best iron water filter for your entire house. Pentek is a well known name and they stand behind their products.

Refill cartridges are easily ordered so you don’t have to worry when one has finally given up the ghost.

The housing has an easy to use opening so replacing these filters is a breeze.

The Method: Sediment Water Filter

Imagine taking that first long drink of cold, fresh water, and suddenly you feel it… something has made its way into your mouth! Gross!

This is what’s known as sediment, and it can be a big problem in some households. Sediment can wreak havoc in household appliances like your washer. It can even, over time, clog your drains as you run the taps.

It’ll get left behind in the tub after your bath and just generally be a nuisance.

If you’re noticing any of the above, it may be time to invest in a sediment filter.

Specifically

Pentek hits another home run with their DGD-5005 Spun Polypropylene Filter Cartridge. Just like the iron filter, this fits into the Big Blue housing, which also can be used in conjunction with a whole house filtration system.

This filter will reduce rust, silt, scale and sand in your water system. It combines different layers to maximize its ability to grab, hold, and lock in any undesirables from reaching your household water supply.

Pros and Cons

With 2 separate gradient layers, this filter catches far more than your average filter. It leaves far less room for even the tiniest bits of sand or silt to slip through.

It has a high resistance to bacteria and chemicals, making it work efficiently even in less than ideal conditions.

A con would be similar to that of its iron filter cousin, in that it requires housing and more set up than, say, a simple charcoal filter.

In Summary

Another Pentek product, and once again I’d highly recommend this type of filter for your whole house filtration protection. It’s a well made product and Pentek has done its homework in providing you with the best of what technology has to offer.

They keep in mind that you, the homeowner, have a busy week and don’t have time to mess about trying to get a system set up and running. Easy, simple instructions and thoughtful housings with easy filter changes make this one a winner.

The Method: Chlorine Water Filter

If you’ve read about the detrimental health effects of chlorine in our water, you may be rushing around right now looking for a good chlorine water filter.

Yes, chlorine is added to our water systems to kill bacteria. However, it doesn’t differentiate between the harmful bacteria that accumulate in our shower heads and the ones that are actually beneficial to our bodies.

Chlorine also strips natural oils from hair and skin, leaving it dry and brittle. Even worse, chlorine reacts with organic matter in water to create trihalomethanes such as chloroform, a known cancer causing agent.

Specifically

No need to panic! In steps the Advanced Tap Water Faucet Filter, by Aqua Elegante, the best chlorine filter on the market.

An easy to install device, this one also looks sharp and won’t stand out like a sore thumb against your bathroom or kitchen décor.

Each filter lasts about 4 months, or 200 gallons worth of clean, healthy and chlorine contaminant-free water!

Not only will you be drinking healthier water, you’ll be washing in it too, and all it takes is a quick twist onto any standard faucet, and with a flip of a switch you’re done!

Pros and Cons

A big pro of this filter is the ease of set up and the fact that it takes up no other space in the house – neither in the fridge, on the counter, or in the basement as a large set up would do.

The filter not only eliminates chlorine, but also tackles sediment, asbestos, mercury and lead, among other things.

A con is that for each tap to run good clean water, multiple filters must be purchased.

In Summary

One of the most elegant, sleek designs I’ve seen and one that easily blends into any kitchen décor. Don’t let its good looks fool you, though. This is one workhorse of a filter and will help you get on the path to providing your loved ones with fresh, clean, water.

With easy installation, this one needs to be next on your shopping list!