What is the best water filtration system for tap water?

Water, for me, is a big paradox. It’s our most important resource, yet we know so little about it and have taken it for granted for a long time. But we can’t afford to anymore. Here’s why.

Before discussing the best water filtration system, it's important to note that I am the founder of Vitaloop. While I’ll try to be as honest and fair as possible, I must admit the solution we’ve developed is unique and innovative. It is made due to the increased complexity around new contaminants, and in all fairness, it's not for everyone since it's a portable water filtration bottle. However, I’ll argue for all water filtration systems, not only mine. This article is also more about tap water than outdoor water, as outdoor water has challenges and often requires a dedicated water filter designed for this purpose.  

The Increasing Complexity of Water Contamination

Most of us rely on tap water for our daily hydration needs, but even municipally treated water can contain contaminants. Over time, and with the increasing impact of climate change on water sources, ensuring your water is free from harmful chemicals and particles has become more complex than ever. With so many filtration systems available, which one is the best water filtration system?

The truth is, there’s no universal “best” water filtration system. The right system depends on the type of contaminants in your water and how you plan to use it. While a basic carbon filter might have been enough in the past, today’s tap water often requires a more sophisticated approach.

Why is that?

Tap water has traditionally been treated with disinfectants like chlorine to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. This is why it’s generally considered safe to drink—but let’s be honest, chlorine makes your water taste horrible and often drives people to choose less healthy beverages. On top of that, chlorine shouldn’t be in your body in the first place.
But it’s not just about chlorine. As our environment changes, so do the contaminants entering our water.

Here are a few examples:

• Lead: Leaches into the water through old pipes or aging infrastructure.

• PFAS: Known as “forever chemicals,” these are increasingly found in water supplies and don’t break down quickly.

• Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles that enter our water through industrial waste, packaging, and even the air.

• Bacteria and Viruses: While rare in well-treated urban water, microbial contaminants can still pose a risk in certain areas or during water system failures.

What does this mean? While a basic filter can remove chlorine and improve taste, it won’t necessarily protect you from more complex contaminants like lead, PFAS, or microplastics. If your goal is to ensure the best water filter for your needs, you need to think beyond basic filtration.

Too complicated? Let's just go back to bottled water!

Actually, no. Bottled water is often nothing more than distilled water with a simple addition of magnesium and calcium. Even worse, microplastics have been found inside bottled water, and it’s a massive environmental problem. But that’s a big article for another time.

What Types of Filtration Systems Are Best for Tap Water?

When choosing the best water filtration system, it’s important to understand what each system can and can’t do. Not all filters are designed to remove every contaminant, so choosing the right system comes down to your specific needs. Here’s a breakdown of the most common filtration systems for tap water:

1. Carbon Filters: Great for Taste, Limited on Contaminants

Carbon filters are probably the most widely recognized type of water filter. They effectively remove chlorine, which gives water a better taste, and they can catch some volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• What it removes: Chlorine, some sediment, and certain chemicals.
• Limitations: Carbon filters do not remove more serious contaminants like lead, PFAS, or microplastics.
• Best for: People looking to improve the taste of their water but not necessarily concerned about complex contaminants.
  
  

2. Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: Thorough But Too Much?

Reverse osmosis is often considered one of the best water filtration systems because it can remove many contaminants, including lead, PFAS, and heavy metals. Water is forced through a semipermeable membrane, which captures even the smallest particles.

• What it removes: Lead, PFAS, dissolved solids, heavy metals.
• Limitations: Reverse osmosis removes contaminants and beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, leaving you with distilled water. This can be unhealthy over time, as these minerals are essential for good hydration. It also negatively affects the taste of water, making it feel flat. Additionally, RO systems are notoriously wasteful, often using several gallons of water for each gallon they filter.
• Best for: People who need to remove heavy metals or PFAS but may need to reintroduce minerals to their water.
  
  

3. UV Filters: A Niche Solution for a Niche Problem

UV filters kill bacteria and viruses by destroying their DNA using ultraviolet light. This method is highly effective in environments where water isn’t treated for microbes, such as outdoor or rural areas with well water. However, microbial contamination is rare in most urban tap water.

• What it removes: Kills bacteria and viruses.
• Limitations: UV filters do not remove bacteria or viruses from the water; they only neutralize them. UV filtration does nothing to address chemicals, heavy metals, or microplastics. It also doesn’t improve the taste of water.
• It is best for Areas where bacteria and viruses are a known issue in water sources. It is generally not necessary for urban tap water.
  
  

4. Advanced Filtration Systems: Meeting the New Challenges Head-On

As our understanding of water contamination grows, so does the need for advanced filtration systems. Systems like Vitaloop combine multiple technologies to address various contaminants, including the toughest ones, such as PFAS, microplastics, and viruses. While Vitaloop focuses on innovation, it’s worth noting that there are other countertop filtration systems available. I haven’t studied them all in detail, but if you're considering one, make sure they use a good carbon filter and a membrane filter capable of removing bacteria for optimal protection. To ensure they remove PFAS and microplastics, the filtration contact time must be long enough for thorough removal.

The newest Vitaloop product, the Vitaloop Defender, uses electrokinetic filtration. This technology applies a positive charge to the filter media, attracting and neutralizing contaminants such as viruses, microplastics, and PFAS.

• What it removes: Lead, chlorine, PFAS, microplastics, bacteria, and viruses.
• Why it’s different: Unlike many filters that only capture contaminants, the Vitaloop Defender's electrokinetic filtration technology actively neutralizes them. Additionally, the system ensures optimal contact time, meaning water stays in contact with the filter long enough to remove even the most difficult contaminants thoroughly.
• Best for People who want comprehensive filtration that can handle modern contaminants, whether at home or on the go.

Why Sophistication and Flexibility Are Now The New Essential

As contaminants in our water become more complex, so must our filtration systems. Gone are the days when a basic carbon filter would suffice. Today’s best water filters must handle not just chlorine but also lead, PFAS, and microplastics—the new realities of urban water contamination.
But sophistication is not the only factor. Flexibility is another essential factor. Many people want to be able to use the same best water purifier at home and while traveling, whether they’re going on vacation or heading out for a weekend camping trip. A versatile system like Vitaloop, which offers advanced filtration in a portable format, means you can have clean, safe water wherever you go.

How to Choose the Best Filtration System for Your Needs

When choosing a filtration system, ask yourself:

1. What contaminants are you most concerned about? If it’s only chlorine, a carbon filter may suffice. But you'll need something more advanced if you’re worried about lead, PFAS, or microplastics.
2. Do you want minerals in your water? If you prefer to keep beneficial minerals, a reverse osmosis system might not be the best choice, as it removes everything, including the good stuff.
3. Do you need flexibility? If you want a system that can work at home and on the go, look for portable systems that offer comprehensive filtration, like the Vitaloop Defender.
   
   

Conclusion: The Future of Water Filtration

With increasing threats from contaminants like lead, PFAS, and microplastics, it’s no longer enough to rely on basic filtration systems. The best water filtration system for tap water today can adapt to your needs—removing tough contaminants and being flexible enough to go wherever you go. Advanced filtration systems like Vitaloop offer another level of protection that older systems simply can’t match, giving you peace of mind no matter where your water comes from.

  
Personal note:

As a coffee enthusiast from Norway, I've always been particular about water quality—after all, coffee is 98% water. Diving into the world of water, I quickly understood its complexity and the new contaminants, such as PFAS and microplastics, that we are now facing. This ignited my passion for ensuring clean, great-tasting water, leading me to found Vitaloop.