By Jenn Ryan | Published 8:25 AM, April 28, 2021
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It is not difficult to choose the best well water filtration system for clean drinking water. It is easier when you know what pollutants are in the water, because there are different filtering systems that can filter out different pollutants. When looking for a well water filtration system, it is also important to determine if you have hard water and which water flow is best for your specific needs.
Although the well water filtration system for each home is not the same, there are some options that can be the most effective system to meet your needs. Read on to learn about the functions of the well water filtration system and check out the following list of the best well water filtration systems for your entire family.
Before purchasing a well water filtration system, it is best to test the water first to understand what contaminants (if any) are present. It can also let you know the amount of these pollutants and whether the content is high enough to ensure that they are filtered out.
Water quality test kits can be purchased online or completed at home. Some are mailed to the laboratory for testing, while other test kits can be done at home. These household kits contain strips that change color according to the presence of contaminants. You can also hire a local water company to test the water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual testing of well water.
When looking for the best well water filtration system, it is important to consider several factors, including the contaminants that the system will filter out, filter size, flow rate, and filter type. Evaluating these factors will help you choose the right water filtration system for your home.
Different filtering systems filter out different pollutants to obtain clean drinking water. Some filtration systems are designed to filter out heavy metals, while others are better at filtering bacteria. This is why it is so important to find out which pollutants you are dealing with before investing in a well water filtration system for your home.
Common pollutants in well water include:
The whole house filtration system uses different types of water filters to treat well water. These include activated carbon, resin, reverse osmosis, water ionizer, ultraviolet filter and infrared filter.
Some systems also allow the use of multiple filters to filter out contaminants. For example, if there are bacteria in the water, a UV filter will help. If there are other contaminants, such as organic chemicals or lead, add an activated carbon filter. The filter can also use a series of stages to filter out contaminants to obtain clean drinking water. For example, the first stage will filter out deposits, while the fourth stage will filter out organic chemicals. Many systems can add ultraviolet light to the system to kill bacteria.
Different water filtration systems have different filter sizes. The size affects where the system can be installed in the home, such as under a sink, and how much water can be filtered at one time.
Some systems are more than 50 inches in height, while others are less than 30 inches in height. The filter size also determines how many gallons of water can be purified before the filter needs to be replaced. Some manufacturers also set a time limit for filter replacement.
Generally speaking, the water filter needs to be replaced every few months. Some need to be replaced every 3 months, while others can be replaced every 9 months or a year. This depends on the type of filter and the amount of water it filters and the amount of contaminants that need to be removed.
The water filtration system will also have a certain flow rate, which means that the amount of water that the system can filter can be used at any given time. This measurement is usually in gallons per minute (GPM).
Some whole house filtration systems have 7 GPM, while others are as high as 15 or 20 GPM. Households may require a certain flow rate, so when looking for the best well water filtration system, this is worth a try. The flow rate in the home can be checked by collecting and measuring the water flowing from a given faucet in the home. Collect 10 seconds of fully pressurized water from the fixture in the bucket, and then multiply the collected gallons by 6 to find the number of gallons per minute for the fixture.
The average household needs 6 to 12 GPM of traffic, depending on the size of the house and the number of people living there. However, it can also depend on personal preference, based on the speed at which water needs to be obtained from the filtration system.
Some whole house water filtration systems have a built-in water softener. This is ideal for families with hard water. Hard water is water with high mineral content, especially calcium and magnesium, which can damage electrical appliances and water pipes over time.
The filtration system can use a salt-based or salt-free mechanism to soften the water. Well water filtration systems with built-in water softeners usually use a salt-free method to regulate the water. They don't actually demineralize the water, but they "soften" the water to prevent the accumulation of minerals.
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification of water filtration products means that the product's claim has been verified and meets the requirements of the company's statement. For example, if an NSF-certified water filtration system says that it can remove three parts per million (ppm) of iron, then I believe the product will do it.
Not every filtration system is NSF certified. NSF-certified products are also made of ingredients that do not immerse more pollutants in water, such as plastics made of bisphenol A (BPA), which is a synthetic chemical related to human hormone disorders substance.
Some whole house filtration systems are easier to install than others. Although some systems are easy to install yourself, others require professional help. Some filtration systems have an installation kit to make installation easier. If you are not familiar with pipes, other systems will recommend professionals to install filter systems.
Although ease of installation is of course a factor to consider when looking for the best well water filtration system, it may not be the only deciding factor. After all, ensuring that the system can filter out specific pollutants in the water is more important than the installation process.
Our first choice for the best well water filtration system is based on the pollutants removed by the system, cost, certification, efficiency, ease of installation and maintenance. The following options are some of the best options for whole-house filtration systems that provide clean drinking water.
This whole house water filtration system uses three stages to remove more than 80 common pollutants from well water, including heavy metals, chlorine, pesticides, sediments, bacteria, iron, and organic chemicals. The first stage uses a microfiber sediment filter. The second stage uses a carbon filter to filter out lead, sulfur, iron, bacteria, etc. The third stage uses an additional carbon filter to remove drugs, pesticides and other organic chemicals.
The system allows a flow rate of 0.25 gallons per second, which means 15 GPM. The filter needs to be replaced every 100,000 gallons, possibly every 6 to 12 months, depending on the amount of water used. This is the best overall choice for its water flow, the amount of pollutants filtered out, and the price.
The whole house water filtration system is designed to filter out heavy metals, chlorine, pesticides, iron and sediments through a three-stage filtration process, and also uses an activated carbon filter. The filter needs to be replaced every 100,000 gallons, which is approximately once a year for a family of four.
The system is designed for simple DIY installation and can provide up to 15 GPM water flow. It is smaller than some other whole-house systems, which makes it easier to integrate into remote spaces in the house. Although it is not designed to filter bacteria and does not have a built-in water softener, the system is an economical choice for filtering organic contaminants, iron and sediment to clean drinking water wells.
Aquasana's whole house filtration system removes pesticides, chlorine and heavy metals. It has a built-in salt-free regulator, which is very suitable for hard water. The design life of the system is 1,000,000 gallons, or up to 10 years, whichever comes first. The filtration system uses activated carbon filters to remove pollutants, so it is very suitable for heavy metals, sediments and organic pollutants, but not for well water contaminated by bacteria.
It is recommended to replace the filter every 3 months for best performance, which is more frequent than recommended by some other water filters. It also provides a water flow of 7 GPM, which may be suitable for some households, but not enough for others.
Pelican's UV water treatment and disinfection system can provide 9 to 16 GPM and kill viruses, bacteria and other pathogens in well water. It can eliminate 99.9% of pollutants, including E. coli, and will not produce any pollution by-products, which means that the decontamination process will not affect the taste or smell of the water.
The UV lamp needs to be cleaned frequently and needs to be replaced once a year. The system has a notification display that can alert when the bulb needs to be replaced.
It is not recommended to use this system for water contaminated with iron or sulfur, as both pollutants will prevent UV rays from properly destroying bacteria. However, the system has passed NSF certification.
This combination of water softener and iron filter is suitable for the entire house and can remove up to 8 parts per million (ppm) of iron. It can remove manganese, sediments (including sand) and rust, and can remove the sulphur smell in drinking water.
The built-in water softener function is very suitable for families with hard water and a lot of iron in the well water. It uses a resin filter that lasts longer than a carbon filter and provides better water flow. It also has a digital interface that can indicate when to add salt again. The system is designed for simple DIY installation.
The system removes up to 95% of iron, manganese, sediment and other pollutants from the well water through a three-stage filtration system. The system uses a carbon filter at a rate of 15 GPM to prevent pollutants from entering the water. The system has a multi-gradient density sediment filter, which can physically prevent sediment particles from entering the water and filter out finer sediment particles. It has a convenient size and can be installed as a DIY project or with professional help.
The filter needs to be replaced every 95,000 gallons, which is approximately once a year for a family of four. However, it is not designed to remove bacteria or chlorine in the water, and it does not have a built-in water softener.
Now that you have a better understanding of the water filtration system of well water, there may be new or lingering problems. The following are answers to some common questions about how the water filtration system works and how to choose the best whole house water filter.
No, not all water filters can remove hard water. Some water filters have a built-in soft water system that can regulate hard water.
If your system meets your GPM requirements, you should not lower the water pressure.
First test the water to see which contaminants need to be filtered out. Then, determine the household’s GPM needs and whether a water softener is needed to offset the impact of hard water.
Each system has specific maintenance requirements, but it usually requires regular replacement of filters or UV lamps.
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