The best water filters for any situation

Brita is one of the best-known brands of water filter jugs. The Brita Marella Fridge Water Filter is its basic, flagship model and gives you exactly what you want at this price: clean, filtered, healthy water that’s always to hand.

It works with MAXTRA+ MicroFlow Technology, which uses Micro Carbon Pearls to reduce chlorine and other impurities — such as lead and copper — while improving the taste. It also prevents limescale build up.

The jug itself has a total capacity of 2.4 litres, or a capacity of 1.4 litres with the filtration system in place. A slim design helps fit easily into your fridge door. It also comes with an included MAXTRA filter, which works for an impressive 100 litres of water — the equivalent of 200 plastic bottles. 

For busy family households, a simple jug just isn’t enough. If you’ve got a brood of active, thirsty kids, the Waterdrop Slim Water Filter Tank is a great option. As the name suggests, it fits easily on the kitchen counter — or in the fridge if yours is big enough — giving everyone access to filtered water as and when they need it. And with a capacity of 5 litres, you’ll get around 18 cups of water from this tank — more than enough on hot, hectic days.

Pour the water into top filter compartment and it flows down into the tank. It flows at the four times the speed of competing models, so you always have filtered water available. The filter uses a five-stage filtration and last for 60 days — that’s the equivalent of almost 760 litres worth of filtered water.

While it tackles the taste and odour of chlorine — as well as magnesium, copper, mercury, and more — it doesn’t reduce TDS. If that’s an issue with your water supply, you may want to look elsewhere.

This Invigorated Water Replenish Pitcher is a touch of class — not to mention a touch of glass, which makes this a higher quality option than the standard plastic filters jugs. It's also a step towards totally eliminating plastic from your life. 

And this pitcher does more than filter your water — it actively purifies it too. It does this with a 'pH on the go' alkaline water filter, which sits in the centre of the pitcher. The filter is packed with little balls of goodness, all of which increase the pH level and add minerals — such as zinc, magnesium, selenium, and iron — while removing any unwanted nasties at the same time. 

As a bonus, the Replenish Pitcher is stylish — more aesthetically pleasing than most countertop filter systems. It’s sure to suit any modern kitchen.

For a water jug with a few more bells and whistles, check out the ZeroWater Filter Jug. It comes with a meter for testing water quality, along with a spigot at the base for easier water dispensing. 

The ZeroWater filter utilises a five-step system to remove solid and chemical impurities, including rust and lead. One downside is that its filtration cartridge does not last as long as the Brita equivalent, with a typical range of 100 to 150 litres — or roughly one to two months’ worth. This can vary and depends on your initial water quality. 

But where the ZeroWater filter falls short in lifespan, it makes up for in performance, removing more impurities than Brita’s everyday filter pitcher. It’s pretty much the same size as the Brita jug too, which will give you around ten cupfuls.

If you're someone who’s always on the go, you generally don't have access to the home water filter. In that case, we suggest taking one wherever you go. Take the LifeStraw water bottle, for instance, another top recommendation.

A filter is attached to the straw, so your water goes through filtration before it hits your mouth. It's made for travelling, hiking, and outdoorsy adventures. The bottle allows you to scoop water straight from any lake, pond, stream, or puddle. The LifeStraw ensures the water is perfectly safe to drink by filtering 99.99% of waterborne bacteria and waterborne parasites.

LifeStraw's filter also tackles microplastics, as well as chemicals such as chlorine, pesticides, and herbicides. The bottle holds 0.65 litres — obviously smaller than home filters — but includes a carabiner for convenient carrying.  

The Brita On Tap Filter System is an upgraded version of a tried-and-tested model. And don’t worry about it not fitting on your kitchen taps. It comes complete with five different adapters, so it should fit easily over most taps — whatever the size and design you have at home.

You can rest easy about the filter lifespan, too. There’s a built-in LCD display that keeps you up to date. It tells you exactly how many more litres you can run before the filter needs replacing. And it lasts for a seriously competitive 600 litres – that's six times the amount you’ll get with a standard Brita filter jug.

This filter system will also spruce up your water delivery. It has three water delivery options — filtered, continuous unfiltered, and a hand shower. Though you might find the flow isn’t as strong as your regular tap action.

The Big Berkey Water Filter allows you to keep plenty of filtered water on hand. Due to its size, this is a true countertop water filter (unless you have a massive refrigerator that will squeeze it in). It’s especially great for large families or parties. If you have a decent-sized car you can take it camping, too.

In fact, it’s made for the outdoors. In addition to tap water, the filter will handle water from wells, rivers, and lakes. This is more than just a filtration system though — it purifies the water too, removing viruses, pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites, and unwanted chemicals and metals.

With two purification elements included, the Berkey can filter 23,000 litres before you have to buy new filters. The dispenser itself is long-lasting, with a robust stainless steel construction that can handle partying or trips away.

If you're serious about water filtration, an under-sink system might be best for you, and this reverse osmosis system from iSpring is highly rated and praised by Amazon customers. This filter is suitable for both city and well water and removes more than 1,000 contaminants. It's a long-term option.

Users recommend switching out the filter every four to six months, which is a much longer filter life than you'd get with a pitcher or tap attachment.

As this is a whole system, it does require some installation. In order to install a reverse osmosis system, you will either have to drill a hole or use an existing one to place the system. There are other bonuses, such as the fact it connects to your fridge, so you can have ice cold, filtered water.