Last Updated on February 8, 2023 by TODD FRANZEN
Many people use plastic water bottles to stay hydrated. But what are you really drinking? Plastic! Even though it is not immediately noticeable, microplastics are present in our water supply. After the recent discovery of microplastics in bottled water, many people became concerned about their health and began taking action by seeking out ways to purify their own drinking water.
On a manufacturing point, microbeads are becoming difficult to filter in sanitation plants as they are causing filters to be back washed more frequently as well as causing more damage to the filters themselves. these were added to help with skin exfoliation. The past few years have seen the rise in microbead-free products.
On December 28, 2015…
President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 which banned plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products.
Microplastics are particles of plastic under five millimeters and typically consist of fragments, fibers, or pellets. Here’s the kicker, They can get down to between 5 and 20 microns. Due to their small size, they often pass through water treatment plants undetected so people around the world drink them every day without knowing it. The problems associated with this range from the microplastics in drinking water potentially causing physical damage to our bodies, hormones, and fertility problems.
A reverse osmosis filter is great for anyone who uses tap water to drink, cook and brush their teeth. Because it filters out so many contaminants that may be present in your drinking water such as microplastics or heavy metals which can cause serious health problems over time. Although this filtration system requires electricity to work, the RO-90 system is excellent for home use.
Activated carbon filters have been around the longest and work great to remove many types of contaminants from water including microplastics, chlorine, or chemicals that can cause bad odors or tastes in your drinking water. This type of filtering is typically used with kitchen faucets but it can also be installed under the sink.
Microplastics are one of many contaminates
The sediment/compostable pitcher filter is great for anyone who wants to remove microplastics from their drinking water on a budget or simply doesn’t want yet another appliance cluttering up space in their home. The activated carbon cartridge removes many types of contaminants that may be present including microplastics which can cause health problems over time.
This gravity-fed Berkey filtration system is great for anyone who wants to use filtered water not only for drinking but also cooking or bathing in their home because it filters out microplastics, parasites, and other harmful contaminants that may be present in your tap water supply. The best part about this filtering system besides the quality filtration is that it only requires the use of gravity to work so no electricity or water pressure is needed!
Last but not least, a nano-filtration filtration system typically consists of a plastic bottle and can filter out microplastics from drinking water as well as other contaminants. This type of filtering system also removes chlorine taste & odor, chemicals, and dirt from your water.
So what are the best filters to reduce microplastics in your drinking water? Pick from one of the top five best filters for removing microplastics because you want to make sure that what you are putting into your body is as clean as possible.
Best Overall
Berkey Filters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
**Full disclosure: I am a Berkey Owner! See the reason below.**
Even though Berkey Water Filters are a little more on the pricy side, The well-roundedness and ability to filter out much small contaminates than microplastics puts all Berkey water filter systems at the top of their class.
This system uses Black Berkey filters, which use a blend of activated carbon and redefined structured matrix to remove harmful contaminants from your water. And for a little more money, can even filter out
These include some heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium III/VI, arsenic, aluminum, microplastics, and more! Click Here for the full list of their third-party lab results of removed contaminates.
The Berkey’s key is their Black activated Carbon Filters. And Berkey Filters do remove all microplastics. This is a huge factor for owning a Berkey Water Filter System!
Check the Current Price of the Big Berkey
Related Article: Berkey Water, Live Clean and Healthy
Best Budget
ZeroWater® 30 Cup Ready-Pour® ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Having clean water is key to life. But all filters are not made the same. Each has its own proprietary formulations to filter water. Zerowater is no diffrent. The focus is on TDS or Total Dissolved Solids. This is the measurement of non-organic and organic sediments dissolved in water. Things like salts, metals, and chemicals.
This is the best filter for microplastics filtration because it can remove 99% of TDS. This includes 96% of total dissolved solids that are water-soluble like 99% of lead, 99% of nitrates, 99% of chromium III/VI, and more!
ZeroWater has also been NSF certified to test against ANSI/NSF protocol #42 for the reduction of certain chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, benzene (a carcinogen), and trihalomethanes.
This is because ZeroWater uses its five-stage filtration system to filter out TDS that may include microplastics or other harmful contaminants. And it does not use any electricity! See Zerowater results here!
This makes Zerowater’s products a great way to filter out microplastics. Its size makes it great for storing and chilling water in the refrigerator. As we see more and more events happening, like power outages, floods, hurricanes, and other weird natural events, having a clean water source is important on two levels.
- Being proactive and being self-reliant on where your water source is coming from.
- Reduce the number of contaminants in the water you drink. Helping prevent disease!
It’s that simple!
Check the Current Price of the Zerowater 30 Cup Ready-Pour
Best Travel
GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The GrayL GEOPRESS is an example of a great water bottle filter. Its generous 24-ounce size and ease of use make this a great go-to for any traveling anywhere in the world. With its filter capacity being about 65 gallons, and consuming on average of 80 ounces per day, this filter should last a little over 100 days.
GrayL GeoPress
There are other filters that may work better depending on where you are traveling to. The simplicity of this filter makes it a great companion on your adventures away from home.
A benefit is you can carry it easily and use it on demand. Like if you go hiking or camping for a few days. But don’t have the space to pack in a bigger capacity filter system.
Even when traveling abroad, the GrayL is the type of product that would be ideal. You will always have a water bottle available for use. And you don’t have to worry about carrying around a lot of extra weight.
A good, reliable travel filter will help put your mind at ease knowing your water situation is taken care of. An emergency can happen at any time. Think about natural disasters and extended power outages(#7). These are a couple of ways to be prepared for whatever life throws at you!
***UPDATE*** The Grayl GeoPress is now part of my filtration collection. This Christmas gift came to me after using a friend’s out of a stream this past summer to fill up my water bottles. Stay tuned for a deeper dive on the Grayl GeoPress.
Check the Current Price of the GrayL GeoPress
Best Under $50
LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lifestraw is the original personal water filter. Over the years, they have expanded their product line to involve a number of filtration devices. This is a simple filter straw, with an entire water bottle. The LifeStraw product you are looking for is the Go Water Filter Bottle.
LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle This model filters out 99% of bacteria and protozoa like E-coli, Giardia, Vibrio cholerae (cholera), Salmonella typhi which causes Typhoid fever. Because of its filtration, It does a great job at removing microplastics as well. Lifestraw has a good track record of producing quality water filter solutions. The bottle is 21 ounces, with its filtered capacity being 24 ounces. This will last you about 36 gallons at the rate of 80 oz per day. So this should serve as your main drinking source for around 100 days! For under $50 dollars retail price, it’s not bad.
Lifestraw has been around for over a decade! And is considered one of the premier filters able to filter microplastics, bacteria, viruses, and more. Its compact size and clear bottle allow you to see how much water you are intaking.
It comes in two sizes, 22 Oz and 1 liter.
Check the Current Price of the Lifestraw GO Water Bottle
Best Runner Up
The ProOne Inline Connect FS10 – Undersink System ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Even though you need to hook this up to your supply line at your kitchen sink, its ability to remove even the finest microplastics is uncanny. In fact, it main purpose is to remove fluoride from water which is a dissolved solid. If you are able to use this in line with a whole house filtration system, This will help guarantee you do not have microplastics in your water.
The ProOne FS10 uses Their ProMax Full Spectrum Hybrid Filter technology. And with very impressive statistics from 3rd party labs. Click Here for the full list of their third-party lab results of removed contaminates.
With flows rated at 2 gallons a minute, the FS-10 is designed to meet the needs of any home and any family. Its ProMax Full Spectrum multi-stage filter targets over 220+ different contaminants ranging from VOCs, pharmaceuticals, parasites, pesticides, SVC’s, disinfectants, inorganic non-metallics, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, PFOA, PFOS, and micro-organisms, and a reduction in fluoride.
Even though The ProOne Inline Connect FS10 is a more expensive product at $370, what this filter is able to accomplish is quite remarkable. As well as a possible 2000 gallon filter life!
FAQ
What does “potable water” mean?
A potable water source is a drinking water supply that meets the health-based, quality standards of a public health authority.
What kind of standards are manufacturers heald to?
There are none. The industry is quite unregulated. Manufacturers have gone through the process of getting accredited and are guided by multiple organizations. The EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency)Guide Standard Protocol, NSF certified(National Sanitation Foundation), WQA (Water Quality Association), and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).
What should I be aware of?
- Water found in its natural environment
- Don’t trust the tap water
- Some street vendors cut corners during food prep
- Sanitation standards may not be as strict
- Most likely more microplastics in your water source