Tap water filtration systems from reputable companies come backed with scientific proof of their ability to clean water. Some systems, however, do little more than filter money out of your wallet. When you look for a system, keep the following in mind.

The real meaning of “pure.”

Unfortunately, there’s no scientific definition of “pure.” A manufacturer can claim their filter will “purify” your water when all it does is make it smell better. For specifics, check the performance data on exactly what the filter can remove.

The no-maintenance myth

A “set and forget” filtration system sounds great and advertisers know this. In fact, some claim their tap water filtration systems require no filter changes ever. The catch? After about six months, the whole system has to be replaced!

Understand the prices

Sure, your health is worth $1000 and then some, but you don’t need to shell out that much for any of the effective tap water filtration systems. Be as wary of the high-priced filtration as you would of the cheapies.

Water filtration quackery

Energized, magnetized, ionized and oxygenated – just name it and you can find a filter that will do it. Unfortunately, the fancy terms are more indicative of marketing spin than they are of health benefits. These types of tap water filtration systems probably won’t harm your health, but they won’t help it much, either.

There are many excellent tap water filtration systems on the market, but there are also a few that aren’t worth the plastic they’re made out of. Before you buy, read up each systems your considering so you can stay clear of the scams.