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96 Comments

  1. Thanks for also talking about the amount of research needed to be able to have the right kind of water filtration system. I’m interested in looking for a good water filtration system installation service soon because I’m thinking about having a new water well dug up in my property. I have to make sure that the water there wouldn’t be too dirty.

    1. Hi Annette! Please type the words “shower filter” in the search bar on our website – you’ll see a shower filter listing pop up!

  2. Hello! Can you please share any opinions on the ClearlyFiltered Universal Inline Fridge Filter? I was told it’s one of the top filters, especially for plastics.

    Thank you so much.

  3. It makes sense that you should find one that will be able to remove lead. My sister was at my house yesterday afternoon for lunch, and she talked about how she and her fiance have been thinking about getting a filtration system installed for their home within the next couple of weeks, so they want to make sure they choose the right one. I’ll pass these tips along to them so they can know how to find a good water filtration system.

  4. Good evening! I’m looking at the Ultra UC disinfect water system from pure. For the disinfection level do you recommend standard or maximum? Thank you for all your research and time you have put into this!

    1. Hello Erin! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You and for your kind feedback! As for the water system, have you contacted the company’s customer service with your question? What did they tell you?

    1. Hi Ani! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels For You! Yes, we do recommend Pure Effect whole-house filtration system.

  5. If I use Tap Score to test my water should I use tap water or my refrigerator filtered water? Thank you for all the research you have done regarding water filter systems.

    1. Hi, Gail! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You! The purpose of Tap Score is to determine contaminants in your water so that based on this information you could purchase a water filtration system suitable to your needs. Usually, water filtration systems are installed in the kitchen under the sink or on the counters, i.e. they filter tap water. We hope this helps!

    2. Hi Gail, I did the test and they give you very specific instruction. We got the whole house water filtration system from Aquasana and are very happy with it. They customer service is very helpful. Good luck to you!
      Pavla

  6. Irina mentions pure effect as her favorite, but doesn’t say what pure effect options she considers to be the best. Can you specify which collection of pure effects products were used in determining their quality?

    1. Hi, KP! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You! The specific Pure Effect water filtration system used by the members of IRLFY is described here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product/pure-effect-water-filtration-systems/ We also underscore that the same filtration system may work differently on different water, and that our conclusions are based on our personal experience and are not to be taken as absolute truth. We encourage individual research of our readers so we could influence the consumer market together! Thank you for your active participation in healthy living and changing the market for the better!

  7. Dear Irina,

    I’ve been following you for a while now here and on insta! Thank you so much for your work. I have changed so many things and started with vitamins from SeekingHealth, and Crunchi skincare.

    But now I am concerned about water. I bought Shungite stones because it says it purifies water. Do you think it’s same as filter or only shungite stones are not enough?

    Much appreciated,
    Jelena 🙂

    1. Hi, Jelena! Thank you for following I Read Labels for You! We are happy about the healthful changes you’ve made in your life – good job!!! As for the Shungite stones, there is a chance they somewhat filter your water. However, we prefer to use a multi-stage filtration system such as Pure Effect (all members of the IRLFY team use this system). As another option, it’s a great idea to contact Clean Water Revival (CWR) that will help you choose the best water filtration solution for your water among the filters they make and sell. Please, read the details here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product/easy-solution-water-filtration/

  8. Hello Irina,
    Have you heard of Santevia- a Canadian company? Thank you for all the great information and research you do.
    Pavla

  9. Hi Irina! How often will filters need to be replaced on the Pure Effect system? I’m having trouble finding an answer on their site. Thank you <3

    1. Hi Audra! This is what their website says, “Filter Replacement: Every 6-12 months (dependent upon usage) for consistently superior performance.” We hope this helps!

  10. Hello Irina,

    Thanks to your always amazing research and wealth of information, I am purchasing the Pure Effects under counter filtration system. Would love to know if you added on the UV (virus removal) feature also, and whether you feel that is a necessary addition. Are you able to share with us what exactly you ended up purchasing, including any accessories? Again thank you so much, God bless you and your team!

  11. Hello Irina,
    First of all thank you for your research and opinion, I am a follower of EWG b/c I believe in toxic free life.
    I am looking, not just for a filter to remove contaminates but also for non toxic water filter and I am really confused b/c the more research I do, it gets more harder for me to choose the right one for me and my family. We live in apartment so i can not do for whole house system…. but that will be a later thing I will discuss with you when we buy our house. Do have any suggestions in mind for me?
    Is pure effect toxic free? What are the cartilages made of? Any plastic in this?
    And I am requesting everyone who come across to my post, please share ur opinion and experience to choose the right filter for me. Really appreciate it and thank you all and Irina.

    1. Hi, Savita: I think it’s a long road to take and it may lead to a lot of frustration and stress, which is counterproductive to our health. Instead, you might test the filtered water, which should show not only how well the filter works but also whether the materials used to make the filter leach into your water. Good luck. ~Irina

  12. Thanks for the update on water filters Irena – do you know why PureEffect has temporarily discontinued their whole house water filter for city water?
    Their website also mentions countertop and under counter filters are optimal for drinking / cooking water and their shower water is good for showers. I wonder if you have thoughts on why this would be the case? A whole house water filter sounds like it would be the best case scenario!
    Thanks!

  13. Hi Irina,

    Thank you so much for sharing this information. Do you still recommend Aquatru? I know in the past you marked it as “best” in an Instagram post.

    Thanks!

    Megan

    1. Hi, Megan: I believe that you should choose a filter based on the contaminants in your water, your health, your preferences, etc. In my Instagram, I estimated which filters will work the best to remove fluoride. Since Aquatrue is certified to remove fluoride and it is RO that are best suited for fluoride, I put it in the best category. However, personally I would not want to use for me because it sits on the countertop, demineralizes water, and the water sits in plastic. You can learn more about which filters I tested here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/what-you-can-do-about-uranium-in-water/ ~Irina

        1. Maybe it was a recent addition, but Aquatru now offers an alkaline version that re-mineralizes the water. I also dislike the fact that it wastes water and the tank is plastic, but would you agree that this makes it a better option?

  14. Hi Irina! This post is super helpful, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us! I’m currently using an aquatru then I add minerals back in with Concentrace. Since the Aquatru wasn’t one of the systems you reviewed here I was curious if you have heard of that brand and had any thoughts?

  15. Hi there!
    I’ve just moved to the new house and it seems that the water here contains a huge amount of arsenic. It turns tubs and clothes orange due to buildup over time. Luckily, Berkey water filter could help me improve significantly that bad situation. The filtered water tastes very clean and pure. Although it is large and takes up vertical space.

  16. As you’ve described above, we must filter water before drinking it. I agree. But It also true that sometimes we found a different taste of water after filtration. That’s for the materials countains in the water. Drink safe, live safe.

  17. Express is a high quality product. The canisters are enclosed in a metal frame that helps protect them. Also, it comes with three very nice liquid filled pressure gauges which are pre-wrapped with teflon tape. It also includes o-rings for the gauges, which makes it easy to install – just hand tight.

  18. Hi! I always find your posts so valuable. Have you heard of Radiant Life water filtration systems? Just wondering if you’ve had any experiences with them (good or bad).

  19. Hi Irina!

    Thank you so much for sharing this information!

    I just looked up my water and the levels of arsenic are sickening – 397x higher than EWG’s health guideline 🙁
    https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=WI2680253

    That being said, it sounds like the Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum is my best option? Do you know what the tank is made of? Any other recommendations since writing this post?

    Thank you!!
    Jenny

  20. Thanks so much, Irina for your response to my question. I am just wondering how/why the Japanese are so gung-ho for alkaline water in their hospitals if it’s not good for you. They are probably trying to treat the whole system, perhaps, not just the stomach??? Intriguing question.

  21. Hi Irina
    I would love to know what you think of Ultrapure Aragon Under sink filter as I’m moving into a new apartment and need to invest in one. I’m in Australia and that’s an Australian company. I’ve done your check of lead, chlorine and fluoride ( no cloramines though). I would appreciate your thoughts before I commit to buying it. Thanks so much. I love your work.

  22. Thank you for all of this valuable information! Do you know if the Pure Effect filters are NSF certified?

        1. They haven’t because it is very expensive. Also, because of the unique structure of the water filter, there is no right NSF standard for them that would fully capture the essence of their technologies. ~Irina

  23. Hellow, Irina
    I am still using Propur 304 stainless ProOne-G filter system and you still recommend this water filter
    unit?

      1. Hi Irina,
        Yes, it will grow mold if it’s not cleaned out every two weeks or so. Hope this helps. My long term goal is to have a whole system, but for now we have a propur or now called proOne.
        Thank you.
        Megan

  24. Thank you for this information!
    I’m curious whether you’ve ever looked into or heard of MultiPure?
    We currently have their AquaVersa undercounter model.

  25. Hello, Irina.

    I would love to know your opinion what kind of water is best for internal human consumption. There are so many conflicted studies out there, as with any other topic… So, what should we choose: filtered water, distilled water, hydrogenated water, reverse osmosis water, ionized water, energized water, etc.? There are so, so many and the topic about water is so, so, vast… I more I read about this topic, the more confused I am. =))

    Thank you.

    1. Iona: I described the two brands that I think are good. The type of water you choose should be based on understanding what the water is. I can address all your questions in a consultation. ~Irina

  26. Hey Irina! Yes, a water filtration system must be able to clean your water of all the pollutants. Because polluted water could be very dangerous for our health. Thank you for your recommendations on choosing the best water filter system. Keep sharing, keep blogging!

  27. Do you still recommend the unit you mentioned last year? I think the name was Ever pure…
    Is that the system you current use?

  28. Hello Irina. Have you done any research regarding alkaline water? I received a link to a company called Turapur (pro.turapurwaterpitcher.com). I’ve read alkaline water can have many benefits for your health and this company claims their particular method of alkalizing the water creates even more health benefits than traditional alkaline water. I’m curious if you’ve heard of them or have any thoughts. Thank you!

      1. Dear Irina,

        I would love to know why you don’t recommend alkaline water. We have two Kangen water machines. When we bought them it was because these machines were being used in Japanese hospitals with wonderful results for healing. In as much as the cause of so much illness seems to be over acidity, it seems alkline water is perfect to decrease acidity. (By the way, the Kangen machines allow for acid water for cleaning, etc.

        1. Hi, Linda: there is no scientific basis that alkaline water alkalizes the body. Eating green vegetables does. Moreover, our stomachs have to be acidic. The acid in our stomachs has to be of a pH of 2. It is necessary for breaking down foods and killing off bad bacteria. Drinking alkaline water can raise the pH of your stomach acid resulting in indigestion, poor absorption of nutrients, and increased potential for getting sick from pathogenic bacteria. ~Irina

          1. Wow!! What an educated and detailed answer! Thank you so much, Irina!! Praise God for you!

    1. Hi, Dmytro: I would have to contact them and find out if they disclose specific filtration media they use. This is how we can get comfortable with their impressive claims because they are not NSF-certified. I can do that for you for a fee. ~Irina

  29. We distill our drinking water. From the research I have done, this is the superior method for extracting contaminates. It’s a stainless steeler distiller with glass pitcher. What are your thoughts about distilled water?

    1. Hi, Stephanie: I believe distillers will remove minerals and volatile organic compounds, but some pesticides & herbicides are not properly
      removed in distillation systems unless there’s an activated carbon pre or post filter. Also, there is a controversy about demineralization. Have you looked into that? ~Irina

  30. I have been using the Big Berkey system and going to also buy their shower filter. The only downside is when I travel for extended periods, their Flouride filter can only be stored in the refrigerator so it does not dry out inside for 14 days. I could ask someone to pour water thru it once a week but hate to do that. But these filters are affordable for filtering Flouride and Arsenic.

    1. Hi, Sylvia, what specifically are you asking about? Ion exchange can be used as a water softening standalone system or as a filtration medium in drinking water filter systems. Ion exchange is a water treatment method where undesirable contaminants are removed from water by another substance, usually sodium. The drinking water is exposed to a resin that usually contains electrically-charged sodium ions. As these ions escape the resin and enter the water, contaminants in the water are replaced with sodium. This process produces a salty brine. Ion exchange systems are used not only for water purification but also for water softening. Water softening is used for hard water, which means that it has a high content of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals.

      Does this help? ~Irina

  31. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge with us. We’ve been using Clearly Filtered for a few years now. We use both the water pitcher and shower head filters. A whole home filter is definitely on my list of future investments. Have you heard of Clearly Filteted? If yes, would you recommend their products?

    1. Hi, Chelsea: Their website does not have information to arrive at a conclusion. I would need to give them a call to learn what type of filter media they use and what chemistry of water they used for their testing. I would definitely be happy to consult with you on this. As I said in the post, one size does not fit all. One thing I can say though, I do not like that the water pitcher is plastic. Looking at the picture, I assume it is plastic. I wonder what type… Thank you for your question, Chelsea. ~Irina

      1. Hi Irina, Clearly Filtered updated their pitchers last year to be made of Tritan, which I understand to be fairly safe (even though it’s still plastic) and non-leaching? I’m not sure if this applies to the interior plastic reservoir that initially holds the water as it’s filtering down, or just the pitcher itself.

        1. Thank you, Chelsea. I think the more important question here is that what water contaminants you need to remove or reduce and whether the Clearly Filtered pitcher deals with those contaminants. ~Irina

      2. What are your thoughts on Berkey water purifiers?
        it’s the system Chris Wark uses and reviews are very positive.

        Thank you

        1. Hi, Karen:

          I like Chris Wark’s work. It depends. Some people do not like a water filter sitting on the countertop. The best way to find out is to test the input and output water to see how the water filter performs on your water. Are you considering to buy Berkey or do you own it already? ~Irina