Key Takeaways

  • Though most tap water is monitored by government agencies, there is still a chance that there are contaminants in your tap water.
  • Along with filtering out contaminants in drinking water, water filters can also be used in your faucets and shower.
  • We like the Brita Water Filter Pitcher, along with a few other types of water filters you can use throughout your home.

Ever had that sip of water at 3 a.m.? Tastes good, feels good, right?

What about taking a sip of water from a bottle, a fountain at a park, or a friend’s place? Have you ever noticed a different taste?

That’s most likely because the water in that bottle, that fountain, or your friend’s place has different minerals passing through its systems before it gets to your taste buds.

Having a water filter can be helpful for various reasons, especially if you don’t like that coppery taste of water at your friend’s place. Here are three reasons why you need a water filter.

Tap water vs. bottled water may continue to be an age-old debate on which is better for you. However, you can never be too careful about the number of contaminants that can pass through your tap water, municipal filters, and other safeguards in place.

Technically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate the quality of bottled water and tap water, respectively. Both agencies make sure the manufacturing processes, sanitation efforts, and testing processes are inspected and meet industry standards.

The EPA also passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, which regulates the minimum standards of drinking water. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) helps keep you informed by sharing information on the number of contaminants found in tap water in your area. You can search by state and zip code to check your area’s water quality and water safety standards.

No matter how clean the water is, though, there’s always a chance of contamination. Your building’s pipes could be bringing in harmful chemicals, contaminants, and even microbiomes and microorganisms (germs). Is the water tank in your building cleaned regularly? How old are the pipes that carry your water in?

In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected tap water from homes across the nation and found that at least one type of detectable “forever chemical” — or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (manufactured substances that take a very long time to break down) — could be present in almost half of the tap water in the United States.

PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals that are difficult to degrade. They have been used in everyday products worldwide since the 1950s. The USGS found that PFAS concentrations were similar between public supplies and private wells.

Having a water filter, especially for drinking water, can help keep you safe from any potentially harmful contaminants that make their way into your faucet.

Some water filters can filter for specific minerals, too, like chlorine, lead, nitrate, and more. Take a look at these options.

Do y’all know the difference between hard water and soft water? Lemme tell you. The difference is real. At least, it was for me.

Hard water is the amount of dissolved metals, mainly calcium and magnesium, in your water. Ever had that rush of orangish-brown water when you turn on your bathtub or shower? Yup, that’s hard water.

If you do have hard water in your faucets, you may notice that it’s harder to keep things clean, or that there’s something off about how the dishwasher is working or how your hair feels after a shower. These dissolved metals make it more difficult to clean anything, whether it’s the dishes or your hands, and can cause scale buildup in pipes and plumbing.

Having a water filter in your home may have lasting benefits for almost everything in your home, including yourself. Some studies have found that water hardness can have negative effects on hair texture, hair strength, and skin texture.

A 2018 study compared soap residue after washing in hard water and soft water. Researchers found that hard water left soap residue on skin, which can irritate and dry the skin while also affecting the proteins and pH levels of the skin. Soft water, on the other hand, helped protect the skin and removed soap more effectively.

From personal experience, my hair and skin felt a lot smoother after getting a showerhead filter. When I visit my parents, I can feel a clear difference between the water at their home and my apartment. If this sounds like it could be helpful for you, check out this shower filter:

Saving the planet is a pretty loaded topic. But the International Bottled Water Association proclaimed that in 2024, around 16.2 billion people consumed bottled water. And, that most bottled water is packaged in “100% recyclable PET #1 plastic and HDPE #2 plastic.”

However, according to a 2019 report for the Department of Energy, only about 5% of plastics are being properly recycled. Around 9% of plastics are combusted, and the remaining 86% go to landfills.

That’s a lot of plastic.

And PET — polyethylene terephthalate — is considered a single-use plastic that loses quality and becomes unsafe after more than one use. Though advanced recycling is becoming more widely known, the data available is conflicting on whether or not PET is actually recyclable.

Along with the plastic use, microplastics are also being found in our bodies and water sources even more due to the amount of plastic waste we generate.

So, the most surefire way to help save the environment from plastic waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution is — you guessed it — to not use plastic water bottles.

There are various reusable water bottles available on the market. Some even have water filters, which could be handy if you need help filtering water on the go. Using water filters at home can help keep these water bottles filled, fewer plastic bottles in the trash, and ultimately, in our drinking water.

Water filters may not be a necessity depending on your location. If you live in an area more prone to certain microplastics or contaminants, consider getting a water filter to ensure you’re getting the cleanest water possible.

To find out more about water quality, how to test your water quality, or to find products certified by the Water Quality Association, here are some resources for you to check out: