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Water
Even in clean-looking tap water, invisible contaminants like PFAS (“forever chemicals”), chromium-6, and nitrates can sneak through. The best water filter for your home depends on your budget and which contaminants are most common in your area. Here’s how top-rated filters from the EWG and Mamavation compare — from budget-friendly basics to advanced toxin removal.
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
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Effectiveness: One of the highest overall performers, removing >99% of PFAS, plus strong chromium-6, fluoride, and heavy metal removal. Independently tested to NSF standards for 365+ contaminants.
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Cost: $120 Initial cost/ $400/year (filter changes every 4 months).
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Pros: Broadest coverage; excellent for PFAS, lead, chlorine, VOCs, chromium-6.
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Cons: Expensive filters ($60–70 each).
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Epic Pure Pitcher
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Effectiveness: Nearly 100% effective at removing many common contaminants; ranked highly for PFAS removal (98%). Chromium-6: Only ~47% removal. Nitrates: Minimal reduction.
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Filter Life & Cost: $70 initial cost / $247 per year.
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Pros: High PFAS removal, long-lasting filter, built-in timer, simple design.
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Cons: Not effective for chromium-6 or nitrates.
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Bottled Water
All plastic bottled water contains microplastics—tiny fragments that break off from the bottle itself and can carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA and phthalates. To date, no brand has been found to be plastic-free. For truly clean hydration, choose filtered tap water in glass or stainless steel instead.
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Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) is generally more effective than carbon filters, but the best choice depends on your goals:
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Effectiveness: RO removes a far wider range of contaminants, including PFAS, fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, and heavy metals that most carbon filters can’t fully eliminate.
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Taste & everyday use: High-quality carbon filters (like Clearly Filtered or Epic Pure) do an excellent job for chlorine, PFAS, and taste improvement, and they’re easier and cheaper to maintain.
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Downside of RO: It also removes beneficial minerals and can waste 2–4 gallons of water for every gallon filtered.
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