Glad you did this test! Appreciate linking the video on my old comment! 😊 I knew years ago when tasted zero water filtered water that this might be the way to go. Glad I did and never looked back.
Thanks for the video! I've been using ZeroWater for a while now and have loved it so far. I add minerals back to it once it's filtered. We have horrible tap water here so it has been a real life saver. The filters are a bit pricey but I feel they're worth it. Now if I only had a way to test how much PFOA/PFOS it removed.
Nice thanks for sharing! Check out Cyclopure's PFAs test tinyurl.com/2kzbrk5e it's the most cost effective test for PFAs I've come accross, and super easy to use
@@autodetail7621 I use KetoChow electrolyte drops. I also add extra potassium gluconate powder just because I have issues absorbing potassium from the food I eat, and also because I like the taste of my water with the extra potassium in it.
@@autodetail7621 We did not remineralize, but you could use one of the methods described in this article waterfilterguru.com/how-to-remineralize-reverse-osmosis-water/
Just like visiting another doctor for a second opinion, it was great to see this video after using ZeroWater filters for a while. It's good to know that as far as off-the-shelf products go, I made the right decision where it matter. Thank you for your experiment!
Yea i am the same as only other option is reverse osmosis and that is not cheap to set up and maintain zero water is pricey for the filters over long time but well worth it and cheaper then the reverse osmosis as zero water is the closes your going to get to clean water that is not distilled or reverse osmosis so worth it really.
When the city was replacing the old lead pipes in our neighborhood, they gave us a ZeroWater pitcher and filters. I didn't like how some of the unfiltered water would get into my glass as I poured it, partly because not all of the water would go through the filter. It would pool above the filter and just sit there. I wonder if they fixed that design flaw.
Our hypothesis is that the filter didn't do a great job at reducing disinfection byproducts in our test (not that unfiltered water came out while pouring into the collection vials)
We had the same issue with our old zero pitcher. We have a new slightly larger 12 cup pitcher and it does not have that issue. They are completely separate and the unfiltered water will not come out when pouring. Get the regular looking pitcher. Don’t get the rectangle looking designed pitcher because when you pick it up by the handle your hand will hit the pour spout and dump water everywhere. We bought it because it was On Sale and looked different or modern but sent it back because of that design flaw. The first time I picked it up, my hand made contact with the pour spout button near the bottom of the handle and made a mess. When my wife got home she said oh, we got the new water pitcher. I said yes. Pick it up and fill the coffee reservoir. She picked it up and her hand hit the button and released water all over our counter. 💦 😂 I knew then it wasn’t just me and that’s probably why it was on sale. 😂 We immediately returned it for the normal looking 12 cup pitcher.
My worry with Zero Water is Consumer Lab's tests finding it added lots of microplastics to the water. The whole reason I switched from bottled to tap is to avoid microplastics.
Tap water can still be contaminated with microplastics, as they are not yet a regulated contaminant and therefore treatment facilities are not required by law to test for or address them. You could consider filtering with reverse osmosis, distillation, or ceramic filters to effectively target microplastics.
@@waterfiltergurui know, but it has less than bottled water. The issue for me isn't zerowater not being good at removing microplastics, it's that it's adding tons of them. I'm using clearly filtered now, i used zerowater for many years.
@@taycinc Do you think clearly filtered is by far the best available option out there? Does it remove all contaminants and also microplastics? I really don't know which one to purchase..I've been researching like crazy over the passed 2 weeks
@@johnkap5740 I've researched quite a lot, from people doing independent tests on channels like this, and also consumer labs. Clearly filtered seems to remove everything up to its promises, except I haven't seen independent testing on microplastics. They do have tests on their website showing they remove almost all microplastics, but it's not clear how the test was done, and I give way more credence to independent testing. I have high arsenic in my water, so simple activated carbon won't work that well for me. I thought about PUR, but I've seen tests showing it actually adds some bad stuff to the water - including lead (maybe from this channel in fact, i can't remember). Britta also added some contaminants according to some tests. Neither one does all that well with pfas or microplastics. EWG found that clearly filtered removed 100% of PFAS. So.. when taking everything into consideration, I think clearly filtered is the best option. Has ion exchange to get rid of things like arsenic, perfect with PFAS, supposedly very good with microplastics, and tests havent shown it adding anything bad to the water. However, I would love to see independent testing to at the very least make sure it's not adding microplastics. It seems unlikely, as out of all the filters CL tested, zerowater was the only one to add any after several flushes. But it appears to do very well against the widest variety of contaminants. It is, however, expensive. So what I do is i prefilter with waterdrop, which is cheap, seems to do quite well on a lot of contaminants, and importantly doesn't add anything bad to the water. That way the expensive filter lasts a long time.
I bought one of these after your initial video, thanks! I've been enjoying it. I wasn't paying too much attention to the water I was using to make my coffee😂. Tap water here is 392, after the ZF it is 0. I do think it tastes way better, I even did a blind taste test 😂. I like it more than the bottled purified water we were buying too.
I use a ZeroWater filter pitcher to filter water for my humidifier to help avoid the "white dust" problem without having to purchase a lot of distilled water.
That will do it, since ZeroWater reduces the hard water minerals that cause limescale (the white dust you see). How often do you have to replace the filter?
@@waterfilterguru - Around once per (winter) season, but my tap water comes out on the lower end of the ppm scale (a bit over 200pm as I recall). Also, I learned the hard way (after starting to notice white dust again) that the meter included with my ZeroWater pitcher gives false "000" readings when the battery gets low.
Awesome, appreciate your work on these consumer grade filters! It would be interesting to see how well they perform in worst case scenarios.. some terrible quality city tap water (think Flint Michigan) as well as some intentionally contaminated samples such as birth control and pharmaceuticals, or other common toxins and potentially harmful water soluble substances. Maybe you could consider it for round two! Thanks again WFG, great job
Great test which seems to suggest, on the go, this is the best filter to have. I have a video running brandy thru zero water and I can tell you it didn't remove the alcohol by much, only the flavoring. I did another video running urine thru and looking at it under a microscope........It cleaned it pretty well however I still wouldn't want to drink it, lol.
Eco viva is a product that I use. It was the most affordable option on Amazon for a countertop ro unit. Can you do a comparison of counter top units including some of the cheapest ones that the majority of the population can afford?
I've used a zero water filter for years, off and on. The water I drink from this just tastes... off, in a not fun way, so I am often looking for something else. I bought a Larq but it is expensive to keep going. So I'm back on tap water for now.
Just discovered this channel. It’s brilliant but could you point me to a video of the filter that was best at removing fluoride . Also the filter you feel is the best all rounder.
Hey Shane, thanks for your comment. There are a number of filters we've tested that performed really well reducing fluoride, including: AquaTru geni.us/chlQv5o Waterdrop G3P800 geni.us/rQekgwp Clearly Filtered Pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1 ZeroWater geni.us/g7NtSZ Waterdrop King Tank geni.us/M8bSq RKIN U1 geni.us/9lWS That said, there is no 'one size fits all' solution. It all depends on what contaminants are in the source water being filtered. What is the application? What type of water are you trying to filter? Have you had it tested? Do you know what contaminants you are dealing with? What type of system (POU vs POE) are you looking for?
I always see people worried about the Consumer Lab's tests finding microplastics, but it should be known that Consumer Labs has refused to say whether they washed the pitcher components with soapy water before testing. It is important to wash the components first and is stated in the instructions shipped with the Zero Water pitcher. Guru, will your tests ever include testing for microplastics and/or Pfas or is it not feasible?
We'd love to include microplastics and PFAs in our testing projects, but as of now testing for these contaminants is extremely expensive which is why we've not included as of yet
@@waterfilterguruwhat is considered extremely expensive? The amount of views you would get would be crazy. You just don’t want the Zero mafia on you. Just end the video with I would never take my own life and you should be alright 😂 but seriously stop being scared, we want the truth!!!
@@Innate47i1 $700 per test for microplastics testing only. If you'd like to contribute and help fund our testing projects, you can do so here. Thank you! buy.stripe.com/00g14zaE90xD1gcfZ0
Do any dehumidifiers (or would a dehumidifier) produce healthy drinking water? How about the drainage from air conditioning units? (Now that RVs and vans more-often have "big" lithium/solar power systems, I'm wondering why they're not using dehumidifiers to replenish drinking supply. I recall a vid from a truck dweller in FL who said his a/c drainage bucket... a 5 gallon bucket... needed to be emptied 3 times a day. I understand that wouldn't work as well in arid states, but rv dwellers everywhere fight moisture issues... why not turn that around into potable water?)
This is a great idea, however I'd highly recommend disinfecting and filtering the water that would be used for consumption. Pathogen contamination would be a risk
I got the zero water Large - 40 cup version , and although it would take tap water and reduce the TDS score - it would not eliminate it. Southern CA Coast water. Further, the taste made it taste like gravel/ sand. Hey possible video idea? do you have any recommended water filter systems for boats? short of a boiling + reverse osmosis + remineralizer for the water maker systems - and rain collectors / tap refills, I am not sure what the best system to use would be. Short of a DIY + sending to labs myself..... would be really cool to see on the channel.
Interesting you say the ZeroWater filter actually imparted a gravel/sand taste to the filtered water. This could be worth investigating. Is the water source municipally treated water or treated well water? Thanks for the suggestion about filters for boats. I'll add this to our list for consideration!
@@waterfilterguru its tap water from municipal source in orange county. Tds is about 200 before filter and drops to about 50 after with consumer test kit
What is the application? Will you be filtering treated water? Or do you want a system for emergency preparedness and/or camping (filtering untreated surface water)
I've had a ZeroWater filter for a few months, and I'm not going to lie-their filter seems to harbor bacteria fast! The first filter started having a fishy smell after just a month, and the second filter developed the same issue after two months. Because I was worried about bacterial growth, I never let water sit in the jug after filtering. I always pour it into another jug immediately, yet I'm still having to throw the filters away this frequently.
@@zhooeelle Yes, that indicates the media has reached capacity and the filter should be replaced. What does the TDS meter read when you start noticing the smell?
Hi Water Filter Guru After buing zero water filter i experienced the taste of the water change to a different taste(like fish or kemical taste) after 1-2 weeks, this is without 006 change. What did you experience according to taste? I prefer water that taste good and are clean. What do you suggest? Best from Charlotte
Hi, what you describe is a common and known issue with ZeroWater filters. The 'fishy' or 'sour' taste you are experiencing is the ion exchange resin in the filter being depleted. This indicates the filter is near capacity and will need to be replaced soon. Check out this hack to extend the lifespan of your ZeroWater filters! th-cam.com/video/HyFgI9YhUFg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the review, excellent as always! Would love to hear your thoughts on the SURVIVOR FILTER™ Max, 2-Stage Fluoride and Chlorine In-Line Home Filter.
Were the disinfection byproducts already present in the Tap water you have tested and filtered, or were they added by the actual ZeroWater filter during the filtration process? I'm asking because I use the ZeroWater filter to purify Spring Bottle Water (to filter microplastics) and I was wondering if the filter would actually make the water worse than what it is.
Zero water filter does not get rid of Microplastics from your water. In fact they’ve been tested to add a ton of Microplastics to the water. Use Brita for Microplastics
Love these studies, thank you Brian! In your experience, what's the best water filter manufacturer you recommend overall? That is to say, what do you use?
Thanks for the feedback! There is no 'one size fits all' solution - what's best for my situation might not be best for yours. Have you had your water tested? Do you know what contaminants need to be addressed?
@@waterfilterguru I haven’t and I don’t drink from the tap. I fill up at a springwater source in Enumclaw, Washington. I used to filter it with a PUR filter but everyone there says not to filter it at all. I should get it tested
@@Swissalchemist definitely recommend testing. Even if the water seems clean, you won't know until you lab test. The most nefarious contaminants are undetectable by our 5 senses. Check out the Tap Score spring water test tinyurl.com/4s26vb3u (mytapscore.com). The PUR filter wouldn't do much for filtering spring water, as it's not capable of addressing many of the common groundwater contaminants that might be found in spring water like pathogens, fluoride and uranium
I have loved zero water for years and was disheartened to find it adds microplastics and now chloroform. I feel like it’s the best tasting water, but what filter would you recommend to get rid of anything zero water adds to it?
Just to clarify, I don't suspect the chloroform detected in our test came from the filter itself. Rather, that the chloroform was present in the tap water and the ZeroWater did a poor job reducing it.
I too am worried about microplastics. Would it be stupid to filter through my Zero Water filter and then through a Brita? I heard Brita was good at removing microplastics but Zero Water is good at TDS.
I'd recommend reverse osmosis or distillation if you are concerned about microplastics. Unfortunately these contaminants are so prevalent in our environment its difficult to completely eliminate our exposure. If you were going to double filter, I typically recommend filtering through the cheaper filter (Brita) first, then the more expensive (ZeroWater) second. Check out the explanation in this video th-cam.com/video/HyFgI9YhUFg/w-d-xo.html
@@waterfilterguru When it hits .005 i use it up and wash everything. My son use last glass and put back in fridge empty when I was taking it apart I saw the mold.
I watched a lot of your videos , would you say zero water is the 2nd best pitcher option after clearly filtered ? clearly filtered is in the states and shipping + money conversion(Im in Canada) makes it very expensive so im looking for the 2nd best option . thanks
ZeroWater and Clearly Filtered provided the most significant contaminant reduction in our testing, however ZeroWater is more expensive over the long term due to filter replacement costs. If you didn't see our pitchers comparison video th-cam.com/video/Pkncz7PoBFs/w-d-xo.html it covers all this in detail 🙂
It depends. There is no 'one size fits all' solution. It all depends on what contaminants are in the source water being filtered. What is the application? What type of water are you trying to filter? Have you had it tested? Do you know what contaminants you are dealing with?
@@Tampsey reverse osmosis. Here are a few to look into: Best countertop RO - Aquatru bit.ly/3w7nsB5 Best conventional - Cloud RO cloud-water-filters.sjv.io/jrOrdP Best tankless - Waterdrop G series waterdropus.pxf.io/MX4Jm2
@@waterfilterguru Yes it makes some pretty big claims BRITA Water filter for tap on tap Pro V-MF including 1 filter cartridge (600 l) - reduces 99.99% bacteria, chlorine, microplastics and heavy metals / digital LCD display shows residual capacity
ZeroWater filters have been certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42 & 53 for the reduction of a number of contaminants, but not 401: info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=1K760&Standard=042 info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=1K760&Standard=053
To my knowledge currently they've not been tested nor certified for microplastic reduction. Our real-life test did not analyze for microplastics, unfortunately, so we don't have any firsthand data on this
@@Smiler7 Most pitchers that use activated carbon media should be able to reduce chloroform - I'm not aware of any that are specifically certified for chloroform reduction. Clearly Filtered is a high performing pitcher that should be able to reduce chloroform and many other contaminants that may be present geni.us/VsUZHW1
@@waterfilterguru ok because I saw this video and it said the TDS meter only tests for charged minerals NOT chemicals since they aren't charged. It makes sense since the meter uses electrodes....
Am thinking of getting the beefy 52 Cup version an having a second method just for those straggler byproducts an to make up for the positive minerals that are removed just down nuts an fruits XD
Did you see this ZeroWater hack video? th-cam.com/video/HyFgI9YhUFg/w-d-xo.html I think this is what you're talking about to address the straggler DBPs
You said the lab detected some in the PPM but was like 0.0047 so not that bad really as does only says removes 99.6% so that is about right on what they clamed and the PPM tester is ok just not lab grade like the test was as just a cheap tester with the zerowater and don't know if you missed it the testing showed chlorofrom but that was in the PPB parts per billion so very very very small amount of it as in the billion not million parts so that could of been contaminated some how with that low amount. I been using zerowater for well over a year now it is pricey on the filters but is well worth it as i cant even drink normal tap water now after zero water and it made me drink more water as well so worth it.
PPM and PPB are units of measurement, not contaminants themselves. PPM = Parts Per Million PPB = Parts Per Billion Disinfection byproducts, including chloroform, are regulated and most often measured in parts per billion.
I’ve been using a glass ZeroWater filter for the past 5 months, during which I’ve only consumed the filtered water. Interestingly, despite never having changed the filter, the TDS meter consistently shows a reading of 0. This situation leaves me somewhat baffled.
Very interesting. Have you noticed any other sign the filter is reaching capacity/ getting close to the end of it's life? Odd smell/ taste? Some folks describe it as acidic or fishy. Noticeably slower filtration rate? Unless there is an issue with the TDS meter, it sounds like the filter is still working and not yet time to replace, which indicates that water may not be too contaminated to begin with.
@@waterfilterguru No, I haven't noticed any change in the smell or taste of the water, nor a slower filtration rate. I've tested the TDS meter multiple times, and it seems to be showing the correct values. To verify, I added salt to my ZeroWater, and the TDS meter indicated a higher value. It is quite strange.
That's not what's inside the zero water filter doesn't have activated carbon inside it has these little orange tiny iron beads in there not activated carbon you must be using the fake filters don't piss me off
ZeroWater filters use a mixture of cation and anion exchange resin primarily, with a small percentage of granular activated carbon. I hope this helps explain and I didn't piss you off friend 😀
The MCL for uranium in drinking water is 30 ug/L, so legally water systems only have to reduce uranium concentrations to 30 ug/L or less. Non-enforceable health guidelines say zero should be the goal.
@@waterfilterguru auch, that's terrible. I hope all that uranium comes from a vein close by and not from nuclear tests or power plants waste. Thanks for the info! This is fascinating and scary.
Uranium? You said "uranium" several times. The stuff that's used as fuel in Nuclear reactors? It's in the water supply? Well, that just sums 2024 up for me. 😳🤣
@@waterfilterguru Your whole video was to test zero water and then you couldn't give a proper conclusion because 'Oh the chloroform might have been because it hasn't dissipated.' Test it again then you lazy beast.
You're right, distillation is one of the best methods to purify water. The downsides are the high time and energy inputs required for relatively small volumes of distilled water
🔥 Check out ZeroWater here ➡ geni.us/CqEqL6
Glad you did this test! Appreciate linking the video on my old comment! 😊
I knew years ago when tasted zero water filtered water that this might be the way to go. Glad I did and never looked back.
Right on! Thanks for watching
Thanks for the video! I've been using ZeroWater for a while now and have loved it so far. I add minerals back to it once it's filtered. We have horrible tap water here so it has been a real life saver. The filters are a bit pricey but I feel they're worth it.
Now if I only had a way to test how much PFOA/PFOS it removed.
Nice thanks for sharing!
Check out Cyclopure's PFAs test tinyurl.com/2kzbrk5e it's the most cost effective test for PFAs I've come accross, and super easy to use
@@waterfilterguru Thanks!!
What did you use to add minerals back to the water after filtering it
@@autodetail7621 I use KetoChow electrolyte drops. I also add extra potassium gluconate powder just because I have issues absorbing potassium from the food I eat, and also because I like the taste of my water with the extra potassium in it.
@@autodetail7621 We did not remineralize, but you could use one of the methods described in this article waterfilterguru.com/how-to-remineralize-reverse-osmosis-water/
Just like visiting another doctor for a second opinion, it was great to see this video after using ZeroWater filters for a while. It's good to know that as far as off-the-shelf products go, I made the right decision where it matter. Thank you for your experiment!
Thanks for watching and for your comment!
Yea i am the same as only other option is reverse osmosis and that is not cheap to set up and maintain zero water is pricey for the filters over long time but well worth it and cheaper then the reverse osmosis as zero water is the closes your going to get to clean water that is not distilled or reverse osmosis so worth it really.
Please repeat test after 30 days of regular daily use! This would be awesome to see how well the filtration holds up.
Thanks for the request!
When the city was replacing the old lead pipes in our neighborhood, they gave us a ZeroWater pitcher and filters. I didn't like how some of the unfiltered water would get into my glass as I poured it, partly because not all of the water would go through the filter. It would pool above the filter and just sit there. I wonder if they fixed that design flaw.
Our hypothesis is that the filter didn't do a great job at reducing disinfection byproducts in our test (not that unfiltered water came out while pouring into the collection vials)
Zero Water has options other than pitchers.
We had the same issue with our old zero pitcher. We have a new slightly larger 12 cup pitcher and it does not have that issue. They are completely separate and the unfiltered water will not come out when pouring. Get the regular looking pitcher. Don’t get the rectangle looking designed pitcher because when you pick it up by the handle your hand will hit the pour spout and dump water everywhere. We bought it because it was On Sale and looked different or modern but sent it back because of that design flaw. The first time I picked it up, my hand made contact with the pour spout button near the bottom of the handle and made a mess. When my wife got home she said oh, we got the new water pitcher. I said yes. Pick it up and fill the coffee reservoir. She picked it up and her hand hit the button and released water all over our counter. 💦 😂 I knew then it wasn’t just me and that’s probably why it was on sale. 😂 We immediately returned it for the normal looking 12 cup pitcher.
Let the filter finish filtering before you pour.
Honestly I don't know how some of you people put your shoes on in the morning.
@@aluisious I'm sorry that you have hate in your heart. I truly hope that you find peace.
My worry with Zero Water is Consumer Lab's tests finding it added lots of microplastics to the water. The whole reason I switched from bottled to tap is to avoid microplastics.
Tap water can still be contaminated with microplastics, as they are not yet a regulated contaminant and therefore treatment facilities are not required by law to test for or address them. You could consider filtering with reverse osmosis, distillation, or ceramic filters to effectively target microplastics.
@@waterfiltergurui know, but it has less than bottled water. The issue for me isn't zerowater not being good at removing microplastics, it's that it's adding tons of them. I'm using clearly filtered now, i used zerowater for many years.
@@taycinc Do you think clearly filtered is by far the best available option out there? Does it remove all contaminants and also microplastics? I really don't know which one to purchase..I've been researching like crazy over the passed 2 weeks
@@johnkap5740 did you see our Clearly Filtered pitcher test? th-cam.com/video/Ki33mbA2jPM/w-d-xo.html
@@johnkap5740 I've researched quite a lot, from people doing independent tests on channels like this, and also consumer labs. Clearly filtered seems to remove everything up to its promises, except I haven't seen independent testing on microplastics. They do have tests on their website showing they remove almost all microplastics, but it's not clear how the test was done, and I give way more credence to independent testing. I have high arsenic in my water, so simple activated carbon won't work that well for me. I thought about PUR, but I've seen tests showing it actually adds some bad stuff to the water - including lead (maybe from this channel in fact, i can't remember). Britta also added some contaminants according to some tests. Neither one does all that well with pfas or microplastics. EWG found that clearly filtered removed 100% of PFAS.
So.. when taking everything into consideration, I think clearly filtered is the best option. Has ion exchange to get rid of things like arsenic, perfect with PFAS, supposedly very good with microplastics, and tests havent shown it adding anything bad to the water. However, I would love to see independent testing to at the very least make sure it's not adding microplastics. It seems unlikely, as out of all the filters CL tested, zerowater was the only one to add any after several flushes. But it appears to do very well against the widest variety of contaminants. It is, however, expensive. So what I do is i prefilter with waterdrop, which is cheap, seems to do quite well on a lot of contaminants, and importantly doesn't add anything bad to the water. That way the expensive filter lasts a long time.
I bought one of these after your initial video, thanks! I've been enjoying it. I wasn't paying too much attention to the water I was using to make my coffee😂. Tap water here is 392, after the ZF it is 0. I do think it tastes way better, I even did a blind taste test 😂. I like it more than the bottled purified water we were buying too.
Right on! Thanks for sharing 🙌
I got this brand a year ago and ill never buy any other brand. Its been auper reliable and i feel so much better using them.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you for this testing and review
You're welcome, thanks for watching
I use a ZeroWater filter pitcher to filter water for my humidifier to help avoid the "white dust" problem without having to purchase a lot of distilled water.
That will do it, since ZeroWater reduces the hard water minerals that cause limescale (the white dust you see). How often do you have to replace the filter?
@@waterfilterguru - Around once per (winter) season, but my tap water comes out on the lower end of the ppm scale (a bit over 200pm as I recall).
Also, I learned the hard way (after starting to notice white dust again) that the meter included with my ZeroWater pitcher gives false "000" readings when the battery gets low.
Awesome, appreciate your work on these consumer grade filters!
It would be interesting to see how well they perform in worst case scenarios.. some terrible quality city tap water (think Flint Michigan) as well as some intentionally contaminated samples such as birth control and pharmaceuticals, or other common toxins and potentially harmful water soluble substances.
Maybe you could consider it for round two! Thanks again WFG, great job
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions!
Great test which seems to suggest, on the go, this is the best filter to have. I have a video running brandy thru zero water and I can tell you it didn't remove the alcohol by much, only the flavoring. I did another video running urine thru and looking at it under a microscope........It cleaned it pretty well however I still wouldn't want to drink it, lol.
Interesting, thanks for sharing.
Eco viva is a product that I use. It was the most affordable option on Amazon for a countertop ro unit. Can you do a comparison of counter top units including some of the cheapest ones that the majority of the population can afford?
Thanks for the suggestion, this is a great idea. I'll add it to our list of projects!
@@waterfilterguru you’re epic. Thanks bro
I've used a zero water filter for years, off and on. The water I drink from this just tastes... off, in a not fun way, so I am often looking for something else. I bought a Larq but it is expensive to keep going. So I'm back on tap water for now.
Did you see our LARQ video? th-cam.com/video/sF9rALA9XgU/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for doing zero it's better then I thought .now what's the best way to add minerals and what to use have a wonderful day 😊
You're welcome
Celtic salt & black rock salt are great additives. You can also safely process & eat fresh-ground eggshell from chickens.
Just discovered this channel. It’s brilliant but could you point me to a video of the filter that was best at removing fluoride . Also the filter you feel is the best all rounder.
Hey Shane, thanks for your comment. There are a number of filters we've tested that performed really well reducing fluoride, including:
AquaTru geni.us/chlQv5o
Waterdrop G3P800 geni.us/rQekgwp
Clearly Filtered Pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
ZeroWater geni.us/g7NtSZ
Waterdrop King Tank geni.us/M8bSq
RKIN U1 geni.us/9lWS
That said, there is no 'one size fits all' solution. It all depends on what contaminants are in the source water being filtered. What is the application? What type of water are you trying to filter? Have you had it tested? Do you know what contaminants you are dealing with? What type of system (POU vs POE) are you looking for?
Appreciate the test!! 😃 god bless you
My pleasure!
I always see people worried about the Consumer Lab's tests finding microplastics, but it should be known that Consumer Labs has refused to say whether they washed the pitcher components with soapy water before testing. It is important to wash the components first and is stated in the instructions shipped with the Zero Water pitcher.
Guru, will your tests ever include testing for microplastics and/or Pfas or is it not feasible?
We'd love to include microplastics and PFAs in our testing projects, but as of now testing for these contaminants is extremely expensive which is why we've not included as of yet
@@waterfilterguruwhat is considered extremely expensive? The amount of views you would get would be crazy. You just don’t want the Zero mafia on you. Just end the video with I would never take my own life and you should be alright 😂 but seriously stop being scared, we want the truth!!!
@@Innate47i1 $700 per test for microplastics testing only. If you'd like to contribute and help fund our testing projects, you can do so here. Thank you! buy.stripe.com/00g14zaE90xD1gcfZ0
Would love to see Waterchef's countertop filter and shower filter tested!
Thanks for the request!
I also use the Waterchef countertop filter.
Is there a whole house filter similar to zero water?
Whole house reverse osmosis, or a multi-stage system employing a water softener, anion exchange filter and carbon filter
Do any dehumidifiers (or would a dehumidifier) produce healthy drinking water? How about the drainage from air conditioning units?
(Now that RVs and vans more-often have "big" lithium/solar power systems, I'm wondering why they're not using dehumidifiers to replenish drinking supply. I recall a vid from a truck dweller in FL who said his a/c drainage bucket... a 5 gallon bucket... needed to be emptied 3 times a day. I understand that wouldn't work as well in arid states, but rv dwellers everywhere fight moisture issues... why not turn that around into potable water?)
This is a great idea, however I'd highly recommend disinfecting and filtering the water that would be used for consumption. Pathogen contamination would be a risk
I got the zero water Large - 40 cup version , and although it would take tap water and reduce the TDS score - it would not eliminate it. Southern CA Coast water.
Further, the taste made it taste like gravel/ sand.
Hey possible video idea? do you have any recommended water filter systems for boats? short of a boiling + reverse osmosis + remineralizer for the water maker systems - and rain collectors / tap refills, I am not sure what the best system to use would be.
Short of a DIY + sending to labs myself..... would be really cool to see on the channel.
Interesting you say the ZeroWater filter actually imparted a gravel/sand taste to the filtered water. This could be worth investigating. Is the water source municipally treated water or treated well water?
Thanks for the suggestion about filters for boats. I'll add this to our list for consideration!
@@waterfilterguru its tap water from municipal source in orange county.
Tds is about 200 before filter and drops to about 50 after with consumer test kit
@@williamm.3612my water in London Uk is 350 - used zero water for 3 years and every time 0 tds reading lasts me about 4 weeks on 4 litres a day
Do you have a favorite gravity water system? I’m leaning towards pro one after doing some research and watching some of your videos
What is the application? Will you be filtering treated water? Or do you want a system for emergency preparedness and/or camping (filtering untreated surface water)
Another great video thanks :) you should test the Epic Water Pure Pitcher or the Epic Pure Dispenser next.
Coming soon 😉
Epic Pure pitcher test is live! th-cam.com/video/FwBiAHNoIxk/w-d-xo.html
I've had a ZeroWater filter for a few months, and I'm not going to lie-their filter seems to harbor bacteria fast! The first filter started having a fishy smell after just a month, and the second filter developed the same issue after two months. Because I was worried about bacterial growth, I never let water sit in the jug after filtering. I always pour it into another jug immediately, yet I'm still having to throw the filters away this frequently.
The fishy smell is due to the ion exchange resin in the filter reaching capacity, not bacteria.
@@waterfilterguru I see! Thanks for the information. That still means it's already unusable right?
@@zhooeelle Yes, that indicates the media has reached capacity and the filter should be replaced. What does the TDS meter read when you start noticing the smell?
@@waterfilterguru It's 206 ppm, almost the same as directly from the tap.
@@zhooeelle That's what I thought. Time to replace the filter, it's reached capacity and now water is just flowing straight through it
Hi Water Filter Guru
After buing zero water filter i experienced the taste of the water change to a different taste(like fish or kemical taste) after 1-2 weeks, this is without 006 change.
What did you experience according to taste?
I prefer water that taste good and are clean. What do you suggest?
Best from Charlotte
Hi, what you describe is a common and known issue with ZeroWater filters. The 'fishy' or 'sour' taste you are experiencing is the ion exchange resin in the filter being depleted. This indicates the filter is near capacity and will need to be replaced soon.
Check out this hack to extend the lifespan of your ZeroWater filters! th-cam.com/video/HyFgI9YhUFg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the review, excellent as always! Would love to hear your thoughts on the SURVIVOR FILTER™ Max, 2-Stage Fluoride and Chlorine In-Line Home Filter.
Thanks for the feedback and request! I'll put it on the list
Id like to see what is in the zero water output when the tds meter goes up above 006.
Thanks for the request, this is a great idea
I appreciate your work, but why do you ever discuss contaminant removal without mentioning lead?
Our unfiltered water sample didn't show any lead, so we couldn't assess lead reduction performance in this test.
Were the disinfection byproducts already present in the Tap water you have tested and filtered, or were they added by the actual ZeroWater filter during the filtration process? I'm asking because I use the ZeroWater filter to purify Spring Bottle Water (to filter microplastics) and I was wondering if the filter would actually make the water worse than what it is.
It was in the unfiltered water, it wouldn't have been added by the ZeroWater filter
Zero water filter does not get rid of Microplastics from your water. In fact they’ve been tested to add a ton of Microplastics to the water. Use Brita for Microplastics
@@andreabeckman6281 Do you have any proof for that?
Love these studies, thank you Brian! In your experience, what's the best water filter manufacturer you recommend overall? That is to say, what do you use?
Thanks for the feedback! There is no 'one size fits all' solution - what's best for my situation might not be best for yours. Have you had your water tested? Do you know what contaminants need to be addressed?
@@waterfilterguru I haven’t and I don’t drink from the tap. I fill up at a springwater source in Enumclaw, Washington. I used to filter it with a PUR filter but everyone there says not to filter it at all. I should get it tested
@@Swissalchemist definitely recommend testing. Even if the water seems clean, you won't know until you lab test. The most nefarious contaminants are undetectable by our 5 senses. Check out the Tap Score spring water test tinyurl.com/4s26vb3u (mytapscore.com).
The PUR filter wouldn't do much for filtering spring water, as it's not capable of addressing many of the common groundwater contaminants that might be found in spring water like pathogens, fluoride and uranium
@@waterfilterguru okay I’ll get the test and test the tap and the well water and report back. Thanks!
@@Swissalchemist Sounds good - feel free to share you test reports with us at info@waterfilterguru.com and we can take a look and provide any insight
I have loved zero water for years and was disheartened to find it adds microplastics and now chloroform. I feel like it’s the best tasting water, but what filter would you recommend to get rid of anything zero water adds to it?
Just to clarify, I don't suspect the chloroform detected in our test came from the filter itself. Rather, that the chloroform was present in the tap water and the ZeroWater did a poor job reducing it.
I too am worried about microplastics. Would it be stupid to filter through my Zero Water filter and then through a Brita? I heard Brita was good at removing microplastics but Zero Water is good at TDS.
I'd recommend reverse osmosis or distillation if you are concerned about microplastics. Unfortunately these contaminants are so prevalent in our environment its difficult to completely eliminate our exposure.
If you were going to double filter, I typically recommend filtering through the cheaper filter (Brita) first, then the more expensive (ZeroWater) second. Check out the explanation in this video th-cam.com/video/HyFgI9YhUFg/w-d-xo.html
Do you have one video comparing this one with the Ecofilter?
Not yet
How do u make sure u get it mineralized back when drinking ?bc its distilled water
You can use the methods discussed in this guide to remineralize waterfilterguru.com/how-to-remineralize-reverse-osmosis-water/
I have changed the filter for a month and a half and now suddenly it narrows sourly and the meter shows 205 ppm. What is it due to?
That indicates the ion exchange resin in the filter is depleted. Time to replace
@@waterfilterguru Ok, thanks👍 And me who thought it would last 3 months for me😅
@@marieolsson2488 Yeah, check out this chart zerowater.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/zerowater_tds_chart_gb_1-1_large.webp?v=1683317507
I had a case of mold in the fill tank, what am I doing wrong
How often are you cleaning the entire pitcher vessel (not the filter itself) with soap?
@@waterfilterguru When it hits .005 i use it up and wash everything. My son use last glass and put back in fridge empty when I was taking it apart I saw the mold.
@@waterfilterguru Should I wash it every time I fill it?
@@jamesmcgarity614 The pitcher vessel should be thoroughly washed with soap and water _at least_ once a week!
I watched a lot of your videos , would you say zero water is the 2nd best pitcher option after clearly filtered ?
clearly filtered is in the states and shipping + money conversion(Im in Canada) makes it very expensive so im looking for the 2nd best option . thanks
ZeroWater and Clearly Filtered provided the most significant contaminant reduction in our testing, however ZeroWater is more expensive over the long term due to filter replacement costs. If you didn't see our pitchers comparison video th-cam.com/video/Pkncz7PoBFs/w-d-xo.html it covers all this in detail 🙂
This is really great to hear as I own 1
Glad it was helpful
@@waterfilterguru It was thank you
Please test Water2, a water filter with some big claims!
We'll look into it! Thanks for the request
"you might wanna consider something else" what would that be?
It depends. There is no 'one size fits all' solution. It all depends on what contaminants are in the source water being filtered. What is the application? What type of water are you trying to filter? Have you had it tested? Do you know what contaminants you are dealing with?
@@waterfilterguru generally speaking I would like to filter hormones and medical by products any recommendations?
@@Tampsey reverse osmosis. Here are a few to look into:
Best countertop RO - Aquatru bit.ly/3w7nsB5
Best conventional - Cloud RO cloud-water-filters.sjv.io/jrOrdP
Best tankless - Waterdrop G series waterdropus.pxf.io/MX4Jm2
@@waterfilterguruThanks a alot
@@Tampsey happy to help
they should improve the activated carbon part, there is too little. or rather use smaller mesh size
Agreed
Hi im curious about britas onTap water filtration systems they say it removes almost all micro plastics and metals
The faucet attachment filter?
@@waterfilterguru yes the pro v-mf
@@waterfilterguru Yes it makes some pretty big claims BRITA Water filter for tap on tap Pro V-MF including 1 filter cartridge (600 l) - reduces 99.99% bacteria, chlorine, microplastics and heavy metals / digital LCD display shows residual capacity
@@balkan2097 Are you based on Europe? Looks like that product is not available to the North American market
@@waterfilterguru yeah I'm in Europe that's unfortunate
. Are dissolves solids the same as heavy metals?
A total dissolved solids (TDS) reading is the amount of dissolved substances in water, which can include heavy metals as well as minerals.
Does Zero Water filters meet NFS/ ANSI Standard 401 ?
ZeroWater filters have been certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42 & 53 for the reduction of a number of contaminants, but not 401:
info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=1K760&Standard=042
info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=1K760&Standard=053
Huge fan of Zero Water filters. Use for all my drinking and cooking water
Right on 👍 what are the most concerning contaminants it's removing for you?
Does zero water filters. filter out microplastics
To my knowledge currently they've not been tested nor certified for microplastic reduction. Our real-life test did not analyze for microplastics, unfortunately, so we don't have any firsthand data on this
Is micro plastics considered "total dissolved solid" or no? @@waterfilterguru
No, microplastics are suspended solids
@@waterfilterguru ok thanks
Which is the best filter to remove Chloroform?
Are you looking for a pitcher specifically?
@@waterfilterguru
Yes.
@@Smiler7 Most pitchers that use activated carbon media should be able to reduce chloroform - I'm not aware of any that are specifically certified for chloroform reduction. Clearly Filtered is a high performing pitcher that should be able to reduce chloroform and many other contaminants that may be present geni.us/VsUZHW1
@@waterfilterguru
Thank you.
@@Smiler7 You're welcome, let me know if you have any other questions
Can you test the Brita hub compact countertop filter
Hey thanks for the request, I'll add it to the list to look into
What is the definition of total dissolved solids? Just minerals and heavy metals? Or also chemicals?
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a measure of the combined content of all inorganic and organic matter which is found in solution in water
@@waterfilterguru ok because I saw this video and it said the TDS meter only tests for charged minerals NOT chemicals since they aren't charged. It makes sense since the meter uses electrodes....
Am thinking of getting the beefy 52 Cup version an having a second method just for those straggler byproducts an to make up for the positive minerals that are removed just down nuts an fruits XD
Did you see this ZeroWater hack video? th-cam.com/video/HyFgI9YhUFg/w-d-xo.html I think this is what you're talking about to address the straggler DBPs
Can you review bluedot ?
I'll look into it, thanks for the request
You said the lab detected some in the PPM but was like 0.0047 so not that bad really as does only says removes 99.6% so that is about right on what they clamed and the PPM tester is ok just not lab grade like the test was as just a cheap tester with the zerowater and don't know if you missed it the testing showed chlorofrom but that was in the PPB parts per billion so very very very small amount of it as in the billion not million parts so that could of been contaminated some how with that low amount.
I been using zerowater for well over a year now it is pricey on the filters but is well worth it as i cant even drink normal tap water now after zero water and it made me drink more water as well so worth it.
PPM and PPB are units of measurement, not contaminants themselves.
PPM = Parts Per Million
PPB = Parts Per Billion
Disinfection byproducts, including chloroform, are regulated and most often measured in parts per billion.
Does ZeroWater remove bacteria?
No
Please test aarko filters
Thanks for the request!
Test it with rain water please!
ZeroWater shouldn't be used to filter untreated water (like rainwater) alone. It's not capable of disinfecting the water to address microorganisms.
@@waterfilterguru would sill like to see it tested. Would be a good video for preppers.
What about microplastics.
It's not tested or certified to reduce microplastics
I’ve been using a glass ZeroWater filter for the past 5 months, during which I’ve only consumed the filtered water. Interestingly, despite never having changed the filter, the TDS meter consistently shows a reading of 0. This situation leaves me somewhat baffled.
Very interesting. Have you noticed any other sign the filter is reaching capacity/ getting close to the end of it's life? Odd smell/ taste? Some folks describe it as acidic or fishy. Noticeably slower filtration rate?
Unless there is an issue with the TDS meter, it sounds like the filter is still working and not yet time to replace, which indicates that water may not be too contaminated to begin with.
@@waterfilterguru No, I haven't noticed any change in the smell or taste of the water, nor a slower filtration rate. I've tested the TDS meter multiple times, and it seems to be showing the correct values. To verify, I added salt to my ZeroWater, and the TDS meter indicated a higher value. It is quite strange.
Test the berkey water filter
Already have, twice 😉
Test 1 th-cam.com/video/AVZmZwTxnMc/w-d-xo.html
Test 2 th-cam.com/video/1QL3McV20YM/w-d-xo.html
TY
YW, thanks for watching
😊 thanks
Welcome 😊
That's not what's inside the zero water filter doesn't have activated carbon inside it has these little orange tiny iron beads in there not activated carbon you must be using the fake filters don't piss me off
ZeroWater filters use a mixture of cation and anion exchange resin primarily, with a small percentage of granular activated carbon. I hope this helps explain and I didn't piss you off friend 😀
Does it remove fluoride? Yes. Found it in the video
Yes it does 😉
should be used on tap water
Yes, it can only be used with treated water
hahaha!! that explains why it would last two and I had to throughout using tap water in California @@waterfilterguru
Uranium on drinking water? How is that even legal.
The MCL for uranium in drinking water is 30 ug/L, so legally water systems only have to reduce uranium concentrations to 30 ug/L or less.
Non-enforceable health guidelines say zero should be the goal.
@@waterfilterguru I agree with that, any detectable amount of uranium sounds pretty bad to me.
Thanks for the video! I use one of those filters.
@@CesarAnton Yep, and uranium is more commonly a problem in well water which isn't regulated and up to the homeowner to treat themselves
@@waterfilterguru auch, that's terrible. I hope all that uranium comes from a vein close by and not from nuclear tests or power plants waste.
Thanks for the info! This is fascinating and scary.
@@CesarAnton Uranium is naturally occurring and comes from deposits in the ground
They leave the fluoride in now, boo for zero water.
Not true. In our test at least, fluoride was 100% removed. See 1:20
Uranium? You said "uranium" several times. The stuff that's used as fuel in Nuclear reactors? It's in the water supply? Well, that just sums 2024 up for me. 😳🤣
Yes, uranium. It's commonly occurring in groundwater in much of the west.
@@waterfilterguru I will check to see if my pee is glowing. (only kidding, but I was quite surprised.)
Do brita plz
Coming soon! Stay tuned
Bit it takes out all minerals and americans are dying from mineral deficiencies.
Can you share the source where you found this information about Americans dying from mineral deficiencies caused by demineralized water?
@@waterfilterguru It's called sarcasm
zero water is junk... i've had a pitcher for a couple of months and just realized my water smells like dead fish. trash.
The fishy smell is caused by the ion exchange resin in the filter that's been exhausted. It means the filter is at capacity and needs to be replaced.
So why didn't you test it again? Not much of a guru.
🤦
@@waterfilterguru Your whole video was to test zero water and then you couldn't give a proper conclusion because 'Oh the chloroform might have been because it hasn't dissipated.' Test it again then you lazy beast.
get a water distiller and never have worries. THANKS.
You're right, distillation is one of the best methods to purify water. The downsides are the high time and energy inputs required for relatively small volumes of distilled water