Countertop Water Filters

[zeuspaul]

I usually buy my water in three gallon bottles at the water store for 35 cents per gallon + transportation costs. The water is reverse osmosis (RO) with some additional filtration. I want to supplement this supply to reduce the trips to the water store.

I had an under sink RO system in the past. I don't want to go this way again. I didn't know countertop RO systems existed. I opted for a SimPure Y7P-BW UV Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter, with a pair of extra filters on sale at Amazon for $279. (product number B0BR3SWDF4) An electrical outlet is required, rated at 30watts. No sink is required. The waste water is stored in the internal tank. Four parts RO water and one part waste. Five gallons water yields four gallons RO water and one gallon waste.

A pair of replacement filters is about $50 and lasts for 500 gallons so the ongoing cost of water is about ten cents per gallon.

No mention of chloramine removal in the description. It does have a carbon filter which removes chlorine. Carbon filters also remove chloramine but require a lot more contact time. Most water filters have carbon filters but most only mention chlorine with no mention of chloramine.

My water utility indicates 4 ppm chloramine in our water supply.

I bought some test strips and measured the chloramine concentration and couldn't detect any. I don't trust my test because there must be some chloramine in the water.

I fired up the SimPure countertop machine and ran several gallons through it to clean out the filters.

Then I started producing water.

I get about a gallon of RO water from one fill. However it requires two pushes of the *flush* button which is used for a continuous flow. It takes about five or ten minutes to fill the .45 gallon internal tank with RO water and about five minutes to disperse the RO water into a 1/2 gallon container. I keep my *clean* water in one gallon glass jugs sitting on the counter.

I purchased Trace Minerals (Amazon product number B000AMUWLK) to add back minerals to the RO water.

[zeuspaul]

In an effort to remove chloramines I purchased an Amazon Basics Water Filter Pitcher for Fridge - 10-Cup Water Pitcher with Filter Compatible to Brita Water and a Brita Metro Elite Water Filter Pitcher.

Both have carbon filters and both indicate chlorine removal but neither one indicates chloramine removal.

First I filtered in the Amazon pitcher and then poured the Amazon filtered water into the Brita. Then I poured the double filtered water into the RO machine to make the final product. My thought is I have now about trippled the contact time and hopefully have removed a significant amount of the chloramine.

The Brita Elite filters are good for 120 gallons and work out to about 7 cents per gallon.

The Amazon filters are good for 40 gallons and work out to be about 9 cents per gallon.

7 cents + 9 cents + 10 cents RO water = 26 cents per gallon compared to the 35 cents I pay at the water store.

I prefer the Amazon pitcher due to its larger size and ease of use. I should have bought the Amazon instead of the Brita pitcher and bought the Brita Elite filters separately. The Brita Elite filters fit in the Amazon pitcher. Also the Amazon filters are made in Germany. I don't know where the Brita filters are made.

[zeuspaul]

Alternately on my wish list is the Epic Water Filters Pure Filter Pitchers for Drinking Water, 10 Cup 150 Gallon Filter
(Amazon product number B015N617CK)

This one does indicate 98 % chloramine removal.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1681/ ... 1707949969

This one uses a carbon block instead of granular carbon. My guess is a carbon block makes the difference. Also Epic filters are made in the USA.

Replacement filters are $28 and are good for 150 gallons or 19 cents per gallon.

Adding 19 cents per gallon to my existing group of filters seems a bit much, I'll have to think about it. This option could replace my RO machine and the pair of pitcher filters. Also the Epic claims to leave the *good* minerals in the water.

I could replace the Amazon and Brita with the Epic and use the Epic with the RO machine for a cost of 29 cents per gallon (10 cents RO + 19 cents Epic) per gallon, still cheaper than the 35 cents per gallon I am paying now.

[zeuspaul]

I prefer the Amazon pitcher due to its larger size and ease of use. I should have bought the Amazon pitcher instead of the Brita pitcher and bought the Brita Elite filters separately. The Brita Elite filters fit in the Amazon pitcher. Also the Amazon filters are made in Germany. I don't know where the Brita filters are made.

First a correction. My Brita filter pitcher is the six cup model so of course it is smaller than the ten cup Amazon. Brita also makes a ten cup pitcher which is the one I should have purchased. I still like the Amazon filter access better.

I have done a little research on remineralizing RO water.

The Trace Minerals I am using cost $36 for 8 ounces at Amazon. Estimates vary but there are about 500 drops in an ounce. Trace recommends 40 drops as a daily dose--I am using 20 drops per gallon. We use about two gallons per day between the two of us which is half the recommended dose.

Doing the math 4000 drops per eight ounce bottle for $36 works out to be 18 cents per gallon. 26 cents for all of my filters + 18 cents for minerals is 44 cents per gallon

Using just the Epic which leaves the minerals in is looking better at just 19 cents per gallon. However one might think taking everything out and then reintroducing minerals would have some advantage.

Generally remineralizing RO waters is recommend. However a diet rich in minerals can take the place of remineralized RO water. Whole grains for example are rich in minerals.

I am using half the recommended dose of trace minerals because I assume I am getting minerals from my diet and take a vitamin pill with a small amount of minerals. Perhaps I could reduce the minerals I add from 20 drops to 10 drops making my cost of remineralized water 35 cents per gallon compare to the 35 cents per RO gallon I get at the water store which contains no minerals.

[zeuspaul]

A note of caution on the Epic filter.

I have been trying to talk myself into the Epic Pure water pitcher in an effort to obtain chloramine free filtered water without removing minerals. I have been reading Amazon reviews. 505 five star reviews but significantly 252 one star reviews.

The positive reviews are primarily based on the quality of the water. Fluoride removal is mentioned often.

The negative reviews are about the quality of their new pitcher and the lid. The biggest negative is the speed of filtration. Many indicate it is good for a week or two but then slows down a lot. Others say it is good for longer than that but slows down significantly towards the end of its 150 gallon life. Some say it may take 8 hours at end of life so set it up to filter over night. Different speeds MAY be due to water input characteristics.

Not necessarily bad news for my style of filtering. I don't use it as a water pitcher. I pre filter using the pitcher but then store in one gallon jugs so I always have water available. I don't have to wait for filtered water.

My preference is to have a longer contact time so slowness is a plus. My guess is the slowness is due to the solid carbon block in the Epic compared to the faster filtering granular carbon in the Brita and the Amazon. I filter a quart at a time because that's about the size of the chambers on top of the pitcher. It takes about five minutes. The number I hear for the Epic is about ten minutes before it starts to slow down.

If I talk myself into the Epic I will pre filter with the Amazon and the Brita as I do before I filter in the RO machine. I rotate between first the Amazon and first the Brita. Prefiltered may help keep the speed up in the Epic.

I use two gallons a day. I could make one gallon with the Brita, Amazon and the Epic which contains minerals and one gallon with the Brita, Amazon and the RO machine with added Trace minerals. This way I would use half the amount/cost of the added minerals.

[bower]

I find it a little odd to add back minerals. Regular well water or spring water (including bottled stuff) is really variable, what kind of minerals in it and how it affects the taste. Most bottled waters taste bad to me - my well water is sweet, and some bottled waters taste downright bitter to me.
We have a berm filter on the water intake to the house. At one time (and maybe from time to time) we had iron and sulfur in excess, and the reason for the filter. First one I had was permanganate, and what a nuisance that was. I finally got rid of it and got the berm instead, which has been wonderful. Nothing to add, it renews itself. Great product.
Anyway it is great to have tap water that's sweet and cold on demand, for one upfront price and very occasional maintenance.
But I never think of the water as a source of dietary minerals.

[zeuspaul]

Too many variables, too many unknowns and too much information to find a one size fits all solution.

The Importance of Adding Minerals to RO Filtered Water
Our water can provide us with up to 20% of our daily minerals*, and while people need differing levels of vitamins and minerals in their diet, many people fail to get adequate amounts from food alone**, leaving them deficient.
https://www.mineralpro.com/blog/importa ... red-water/

My best guess is some days I get the daily value of magnesium in my diet and some days not. Magnesium is one of many essential minerals but is often mentioned wrt RO water.
.
.

magnesium.png

MagnesiumContent.png

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magne ... fessional/

Follow this link for too much information.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/P ... quirements
The amount of dietary magnesium required to maintain positive balance depends on numerous factors including the patient population as well as dietary and lifestyle choices. Indeed, magnesium balance decreases when calcium intake is over 10 mg/kg/day.21 Thus, the minimum required magnesium intake to maintain positive balance is not universal. Indeed, ‘Magnesium, like other dietary components, interacts with several nutrients and its requirement is modified not only by their levels but also by their form or type. The American diet is low in calcium and fiber as well as in magnesium, and high in protein and phosphorus’.21 Excess calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D may also lead to increased magnesium loss increasing magnesium requirements.60

[JayneR13]

I use a Multipure countertop filter, formerly known as the SSCT. It's a solid carbon block water filter that leaves the minerals in while filtering out lots of other toxins. While costly up front, I've found them a good value over the years. Being single, I need replace the water filter every 2-3 years. It attaches to my kitchen faucet and a simple diverter valve gives me all of the fresh, cold, clean water I can use!

https://www.multipure.com/

[zeuspaul]

The Aquagear 10 cup water pitcher looks like competition for the Epic. It also uses a carbon block filter. Third party sellers of replacement filters claim their filters are compatible with both the Epic and the Aquagear so I assume the filters are interchangeable. The Aqugear filter lasts for 120 gallons vs 150 gallons for the Epic. Also the Aquagear filters I have found cost more than the Epic filters. I have not yet found comparison lab tests of their filtered water.

The Aquagear website has some good info on Granulated Activated Carbon and solid Block Carbon Block filters.
https://www.drinkaquagear.com/blogs/new ... CBe79ZMTc-

Carbon Block

What is a Carbon Block Water Filter?
A solid carbon block water filter is just that, a block of finely ground and compressed carbon that water passes through during filtration. A carbon block filter acts like a magnet; microscopic contaminants like PFAS are filtered out while clean water passes through. These carbon filters can be used in combination with other technologies like reverse osmosis, or used on their own.

Water filtration using a carbon block may seem like a straightforward process, but there are actually several ways to do it, including:

mechanical filtration
electrokinetic adsorption
physical adsorption

The mechanical filtration process is all about particle size. Think of it like a strainer: small water particles pass through while larger contaminant particles get held back. Electrokinetic adsorption is more technical. As water passes through the outside layer of the filter, this layer acquires a positive ionic charge, thus attracting negatively-charged contaminant molecules. The carbon block itself, in conjunction with physical molecular binders, can also attract particles of different sizes from your drinking water. This process is known as physical adsorption.

What are the types of Carbon Block Filters?
The two most common types of carbon block filters are compressed and extruded. Both carbon filter types are actually a mix of carbon, mixed media, and a binding element. The difference is in how these filters are created. Compressed carbon block filters are constructed individually at high heats using a mold. Extruded carbon block filters are heated, die-cast, extruded (hence the name), and cut to size.

Carbon compression is the more labor-intensive of the two processes, and not surprisingly, yields the higher quality results. Because of the high heat involved, highly porous binding agents are used to make compressed carbon block filters, making them ideal water filters. Compressed carbon block filters are also more expensive. Whether you choose a compressed or extruded carbon block filter, you’re making a great investment in healthy drinking water.

Carbon Block Filters vs. Other Carbon Filters

Zooming out a bit, let’s compare two different types of activated carbon water filters. Among these carbon water filters, there are two common types: carbon block, and granular activated carbon (GAC). Let’s dig into the differences and examine which may be better for you.

[zeuspaul]

Epic also has a lot of info on Granular and Block filters. Their Carbon Block filters are compressed which is supposed to be better than extruded. I don't know if the Aquapure is compressed or extruded.

Prefiltering is probably a good idea based on--- solid carbon block filters are so tight that they can often get plugged up with matter, forcing owners to replace them on a more regular basis

https://www.epicwaterfilters.com/blogs/ ... Qvf26z8ya9

Filter Design

Granular activated carbon filters have loose granules of carbon that look like black grains of sand. Solid block carbon filters have blocks of compressed activated carbon that are formed with the combination of heat and pressure. Both filters are made from carbon that’s ground into small particulate sizes. Solid carbon blocks are ground even further into a fine mesh 7 to 19 times smaller than the granular activated carbon filters.

Less Contact Time

Flow channels also develop between the granules in the granular activated carbon filters, leading to less effective filtration as there’s less contact between the water and carbon. Solid carbon blocks are much tighter and won’t even let through microbial cysts like giardia and cryptosporidium. However, solid carbon block filters are so tight that they can often get plugged up with matter, forcing owners to replace them on a more regular basis. This is why when you are using a Brita water pitcher filter (granular carbon), the filter will keep going and going long after it has stopped removing any water contaminants. Why bother?

[zeuspaul]

I don't know if the Aquapure is compressed or extruded.

Both the Epic and the Aquapure use carbon derived from coconut which seems to be the preferred carbon. I am guessing the Aquapure is also compressed carbon block. The carbon filtration is likely very similar. The ion exchange media is likely to make a difference between the two,

How does the Aquagear filter work?
The Aquagear filter is made of a proprietary blend of filter media that works like a magnet to draw in and trap contaminants instantly. Aquagear water filters are made out of activated carbon and a formulation of ion exchange materials. All Aquagear water filters are made out of the following materials here in the USA:

ACTIVATED COCONUT CARBON:
Absorbent carbon derived from coconut shells removes organic compounds and pollutants from water. As contaminated water passes through the Aquagear water filter, absorbent carbon media traps waterborne pollutants. These toxins include disinfectants like chlorine.

PROPRIETARY BLEND OF ION EXCHANGE MEDIA:
A blend of proprietary media bonded in a matrix effectively removes dozens of health-related contaminants like lead and other heavy metals using adsorption, absorption, chemical bonding, and depth filtration.
https://aquagear.reamaze.com/kb/custome ... ilter-work

[zeuspaul]

I use a Multipure countertop filter, formerly known as the SSCT. It's a solid carbon block water filter that leaves the minerals in while filtering out lots of other toxins. While costly up front, I've found them a good value over the years. Being single, I need replace the water filter every 2-3 years. It attaches to my kitchen faucet and a simple diverter valve gives me all of the fresh, cold, clean water I can use!
https://www.multipure.com/

The Multipure may or may not create better water than the Epic Pure? Some filters are better at filtering out contaminant 'A' while others are better at filtering contaminant 'B'. A major complaint of the Epic is that it may be slow (depends on the water source?). Attaching the filter to the faucet would result in filtering at faucet pressure resulting in better flow rates. The Epic and all other water pitchers that I know of are gravity fed which is a very low pressure. The granular filters generally have good flow rates. The carbon block filters tend to be slower.

My preference is for a stand alone countertop water filtering system. I have issues with my kitchen faucet. The RO machine does have to be placed near an electrical outlet.

A positive review of the Epic---rated best water pitcher---best bang for the buck. I haven't seen a 16 cup? (typo?) pitcher. The ones I see are 6 or 12 cups. There are a lot of inconsistent reviews. Top rated by one generally is not top rated by another.

Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher Review
Last Updated on November 3, 2023 by Ava
Model: Epic Pure Filter Pitcher | Type: Solid Carbon Block | Capacity: 16 Cups | Contaminants Removed: 200+ | Filter Life: 150 gallons | Testing: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401, & P473

Best water filter pitcher
Our Rating 5/5 ★★★★★
Ease of use 5/5 ★★★★★
Design 5/5 ★★★★★
Taste 5/5 ★★★★★
Unit Cost: ~ $69

With dozens of filter pitchers on the market that we’ve tested, only one gives us the best bang for our buck and that’s Epic filter pitcher.

Read on to learn why we like this over household names like Brita.

Highlights

Comprehensive contaminant reduction
Space-saving design
Easy-fill top
Safety-certified
Lifetime warranty

Best for: Anyone looking for a filter pitcher that’s BPA-free and eliminates over 200 common tap water contaminants efficiently.

Overview

Filtration pitchers are simple, affordable solutions for improving the quality of your drinking water. But while some models are designed solely to address taste impurities, others like the Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher are like having a personal water treatment plant in your kitchen.

Pros

Few filter pitchers match the filtration capability and impeccable engineering of the Epic Pure.
It’s BPA-free and eliminates up to 99.99% percent of more than 200 tap water contaminants, including the most harmful to children, such as lead, fluoride, glyphosate and PFOAS.
If you have kids in the house and worry about toxic contaminants that could be lurking in their cups, you need the filtration capability only an Epic can offer.
Top-quality solid carbon filters are laboratory tested and exceed most NSF/ANSI Standards.
Epic publishes the full test reports for transparency.
The sturdy Tritan pitcher holds a generous two liters and is crafted for convenience.
Features from a water dam that prevents spills to and an easy-fill flip top lid make it a breeze to use, even for kids.
Your family gets the best-tasting, purest water money can buy, and its hassle-free — only Epic makes it this easy.

Cons

Pitchers are not dishwasher-safe

My Take

Water pitchers aren’t rocket science, but the Epic Pure comes close. If the point of filtering water is to make it as safe as possible and enhance its taste, nothing does it better. The refined design eliminates the most common complaints about lesser pitchers — it’s simple to fill, well-balanced and pours perfectly.

I wish it were dishwasher-safe, but it’s a small sacrifice for what might be the best water filter pitcher on the market. The initial price is higher than its competitors, but you get what you pay for — sign up for It’s a spend you won’t regret.

<snip>

https://qualitywaterlab.com/pitchers/epic-pure-review/

[rossomendblot]

I prefer the Amazon pitcher due to its larger size and ease of use. I should have bought the Amazon instead of the Brita pitcher and bought the Brita Elite filters separately. The Brita Elite filters fit in the Amazon pitcher. Also the Amazon filters are made in Germany. I don't know where the Brita filters are made.

Brita is a German company and I think they also make the generic filters for Amazon and supermarkets.

EDIT: I just checked a box of generic filters - they're made in Germany and imported by a company with the same office address as Brita UK.

[zeuspaul]

I use a Multipure countertop filter, formerly known as the SSCT. It's a solid carbon block water filter that leaves the minerals in while filtering out lots of other toxins. While costly up front, I've found them a good value over the years. Being single, I need replace the water filter every 2-3 years. It attaches to my kitchen faucet and a simple diverter valve gives me all of the fresh, cold, clean water I can use!
https://www.multipure.com/

we believe under-sink or faucet-mount filters are a far better option

If you’re seeking the easiest way to get filtered drinking water at home, we recommend the Brita Elite Filter, to be paired with the 10-cup Brita Standard Everyday Pitcher or (if your household goes through lots of water) the 27-cup Brita Ultramax Water Dispenser. But before you opt for any of these, know that after almost a decade of covering home water filtration, we believe under-sink or faucet-mount filters are a far better option. They last longer, deliver clean water more quickly, can reduce a broader range of contaminants, are less prone to clogging, and take only minutes to install.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... r-pitcher/

[JayneR13]

You do you, @zeuspaul I'm assuming you've quoted me twice because you're looking for an online fight. No thank you. You do you and I'll do me. I like my Multipure filter. If you prefer your Brita, help yourself. I'm out of here.

[zeuspaul]

@JayneR13 Quite the opposite. I posted an article that favored your approach to filtration over the one I am using. It clearly stated that the author thought faucet filters were better than water pitchers. The intent was to support your use and contribution to this thread.

[zeuspaul]

Something else to worry about--microplastics. Found in just about everything. No way to completely avoid them but minimizing them would be a good idea.

We try to store all food in the refrig and freezer in glass. Never cook or heat in plastic. However even the purified water I used to get at the water store in 3 and 5 gallon jugs has been stored in plastic made for the purpose of transporting and storing. After a little research I found even those water bottles add microplastics.

Now my home made filtered water goes directly into glass. Also I was never concerned about tea bags. Now I feel fortunate that we make all of our tea from bulk tea brewed in stainless steel balls.

Study finds high levels of microplastics in human brains that appear to be increasing over time

By Sara Moniuszko
Edited By Paula Cohen

February 4, 2025 / 10:41 AM EST / CBS News

Human brains contain higher concentrations of microplastics than other organs, according to a new study, and the amount appears to be increasing over time.

In the study, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers found microplastics in human brains have increased 50% over the past 8 years. They also found that people with dementia had up to 10 times as much plastic in their brains as everyone else.

Microplastics are tiny fragments of degraded polymers that are found in the environment, including our air, water and soil, a news release explained. Previous studies have already shown these substances have made their way into the human body.

The lead researcher, toxicologist Matthew Campen, said the rate of accumulation they found mirrors the increasing amounts of plastics waste on the planet. And he said in the news release that their findings should trigger alarm about the potential impact on human health.

"I have yet to encounter a single human being who says, 'There's a bunch of plastic in my brain and I'm totally cool with that,'" he said.
<snip>
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/microplast ... ins-study/

Plastic from water bottles found INSIDE human brains - this may be causing dementia, warn experts
READ MORE: A single tea bag can release billions of microplastics into your body
By COLIN FERNANDEZ SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT

Published: 11:00 EST, 3 February 2025 | Updated: 11:00 EST, 3 February 2025

Human brains now contain more microplastics than ever and may cause dementia, new research suggests.

Scientists analysing the brains of people who died in 2024 compared them with those who died in 2016 — and found that the amount of plastic that had accumulated was 50 per cent higher.

They also found higher amounts of tiny plastic particles in the brains of people who died with dementia than people without a dementia diagnosis.
<snip>
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/arti ... entia.html

UNM Researchers Find Alarmingly High Levels of Microplastics in Human Brains – and Concentrations are Growing Over Time
University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have detected microplastics in human brains at much higher concentrations than in other organs – and the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased 50% over just the past eight years.
Microplastics – tiny bits of degraded polymers that are ubiquitous in our air, water and soil – have lodged themselves throughout the human body, including the liver, kidney, placenta and testes, over the past half century.

Now, University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have found microplastics in human brains, and at much higher concentrations than in other organs. Worse, the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased by 50% over just the past eight years.

In a new study published in Nature Medicine, a team led by toxicologist Matthew Campen, PhD, Distinguished and Regents’ Professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy, reported that plastic concentrations in the brain appeared higher than in the liver or kidney, and higher than previous reports for placentas and testes.

The rate of accumulation mirrors the increasing amounts of plastics waste on this planet, Campen said. “This really changes the landscape. It makes it so much more personal,” he said. Additionally, they observed that much of the plastic appears to be much smaller than previously appreciated – in the nanometer scale, about two to three times the size of viruses.

The findings should trigger alarm, he said.
<snip>
https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2025/02/hsc-ne ... rains.html

Microplastics in food: What you need to know
When it comes to microplastics on our dinner plates, there’s a lot we still don’t know.

ByMaddy Lauria
December 13, 2023

It’s no great secret that there are traces of bugs and other unpleasantries in processed foods like coffee and chocolate. But much of what we eat and drink also contains tiny bits of plastic. Microscopic chips fall into drinks from bottle caps, and we unknowingly sprinkle particles on our plates when we add a pinch of sea salt.

Microplastics in food trace back to nearly every corner of the world—from the soil our grub grows in, to the waterways where we catch fish, to the packaging of our favorite cookies. Our dinner plates and pantries, it turns out, are pretty polluted.
<snip>
https://one5c.com/microplastic-in-food-136931463/

Scientists find about a quarter million invisible microplastic particles in a liter of bottled water

Science Jan 8, 2024 4:38 PM EST

The average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever so tiny nanoplastics, detected and categorized for the first time by a microscope using dual lasers.

Scientists long figured there were lots of these microscopic plastic pieces, but until researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities did their calculations they never knew how many or what kind. Looking at five samples each of three common bottled water brands, researchers found particle levels ranged from 110,000 to 400,000 per liter, averaging at around 240,000 according to a study in Monday’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
<snip>
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/sc ... tled-water

[Paulf]

My first time to read this thread. I am so glad our public water system is safe and dependable. Our source is a county wide system and they are required by the state to add chloramine but a very reduced rate as a safeguard against pathogens. Our water has no taste of chemicals or minerals. We do have a whole house filter mainly to eliminate manganese and iron. I change the $5 filter about once per year whether it is necessary or not.

I have been reading about the nano-plastics and luckily with our system the water does not come into contact with plastics. Our cost for water is right at $3/thousand gallons. At 35 cents per gallon, a bottled water user would pay $350 per thousand and that would include plastics which we don't have.

Like I said, we are lucky to have a pure water source of fresh, clean, safe water.