Not all water filters are created equal. Consumers have the option to install a in-ground water filtration system, under-sink water filters, portable water filters, and more. If you are looking to spend several days away from civilization or simply want to put together an emergency kit that will provide ample drinking water for many weeks at a time, you will likely want to invest in a professional portable water filter boasting a pore size of less than 0.3 microns. Many of these require pumping, but some of the most advanced versions rely on little more than atmospheric pressure and patience to do the same job. Many of the same principles hold across the board for water filters in general, whether you are looking for a home filter or the kind you keep in the fridge. With few exceptions, many water filters use activated charcoal and other natural gates to keep harmful bacteria from each glass you pour. Be warned, however: water filters and water purifiers are different devices, and only a water purifier can destroy bacteria that have already found their way into the supply. These days many top brands like Pur have made inroads into the bottled water business by providing a low-cost water filter alternative to all that plastic. The water filter systems are rated highly by countless oversight bodies and make use of your home's regular water supply rather than relying on expensive shipping. Generally these water filters have been proven to improve taste, reduce chlorine and other hard minerals from the supply and keep bacteria out without significantly reducing desired elements such as fluoride. If you want to improve on these one-off water filter systems, however, you may want to consider a full home filtration kit. Most of these provide multi-step filtration right at the juncture of your home's water supply, meaning you never have to worry about contaminants from any faucet. The best such systems can cost thousands of dollars, however, so it is probably worth determining just where the aid of a water filter is needed most.
| 
