In the United States, around 44 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, live in apartments. But many water filtration guides focus more on single family houses. Access to clean, filtered water should be available to anyone. Use this handy guide to learn about getting filtered water in your apartment.
Why You Need Filtered Water in Apartments
Municipal water in the US is treated to prevent widespread disease. Still, not all impurities are regulated, and the treatments can even create problems. For example, chlorine is widely used to prevent pathogens in city water, but can cause skin dryness and irritation and kill “good” bacteria in the digestive system. Chlorine may combine with organic compounds to create disinfection byproducts, the most harmful being THMs (trihalomethanes). Consumption and inhalation of THMs long term can cause serious health issues like central nervous system disorders or cancer. Other contaminants in water supplies include heavy metals like fluoride and lead, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastics like PFAs.
Assessing Your Water Quality
How do you know what is in your water? Check water quality reports offered by municipal authorities, or purchase at-home water testing kits online. Once you know what is in your water, you can better understand what to filter.
Types of Water Filtration Options for Apartments
In addition to deciding what to filter, you need to consider what products are allowed in your apartment space. More installation intensive options may not be allowed. Also, consider how much water you will be filtering and your budget for purchase, installation, and long-term maintenance. Here is a look at five common options for apartment filtration.
Sediment Water Filters
An economical filtration option is sediment water filters. Sediment filters can be as small as an inline cartridge or as large as a 4.5” x 50” cartridge. They offer a variety of media choices and micron ratings for the filtration of larger sediment particles to the finest of dust, rust, and dirt. Cartridges can be stand-alone, or used as a pre-filter to prevent premature loading of other cartridges in multi-stage systems. Smaller inline sediment filters are great for apartments as they connect to the fridge or slip in under the sink. They also offer a lot of customization to meet the needs of practically any household.
Under-Sink Water Filters
Under-sink filters can include inline cartridges mentioned above, or can include an entire system like reverse osmosis. RO filters and other larger under-sink systems typically dispense water to a dedicated filtered water faucet installed next to the kitchen sink faucet.
Under-sink systems provide a little more filtered water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning, but often have a more involved installation. Drilling into countertops or sinks, and hooking up multiple lines and valves to existing plumbing is required, which may make them banned from some apartments. Even when allowed, the installation may require assistance from a professional plumber, adding to costs. These systems also take up more room, which can be a problem for smaller apartments.
Countertop Water Filters
To solve space and installation issues, consider a countertop water filter. Countertop filters offer a variety of filtration options, with more and more on the market all the time. These systems are usually compact and portable. Countertop filters do not require permanent installation, meaning no altered countertops or plumbing pipes. They can be as simple as systems that temporarily connect to your kitchen faucet or a hose without the need for electricity, or they can be similar to a coffee maker that plugs into the wall.
The biggest drawback for countertop systems is they won’t be able to provide as much filtered water at once. They are generally for small applications such as coffee or humidifiers. However, they tend to be very easy to install and use, and can be more affordable than under-sink and whole-house filter options.
Whole Apartment Water Filters
Whole apartment or, more commonly, whole house water filters, connect to your apartment’s main water supply to offer filtered water for the entire space. A whole house filter also provides protection to plumbing and appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. They may consist of a single filter housing and cartridge, or may include multiple stages of different filters for more customization.
Like under-sink filters, installation of whole apartment filter systems is more involved. As a result, they may require the assistance of a plumbing professional, and might not be allowed in some spaces. Make sure your apartment building allows a whole apartment system, and that the purchase and installation costs are within your budget.
Pitcher Water Filters
A simple and affordable option for filtered water in your apartment is a pitcher water filter. Pitcher filters usually use carbon filtration to reduce chlorine taste and odour and some reduction of other chemical contaminants. They are smaller, stand-alone products requiring no invasive installs that can fit on your refrigerator shelf. The filters are usually affordable and replacement is simple.
Pitcher water filters can only handle so much water. More than likely, you will be limited to carbon filtration only, and some products offer better filtration than others. They will also be one more thing taking up room in your fridge, which can be a problem for some households.
Additional Tips for Improving Water Quality
Is there anything else you can do to improve the water quality in your apartment? Do you have to purchase a water filter? Let’s take a more in-depth look at some other options.
Boiling water
Boiling water is an affordable option, but will not remove impurities like heavy metals and won’t improve taste and odor. In emergencies, such as when under a boil water ordinance, boiling can kill disease-causing pathogens and should be practiced in such cases even if you have a water filter. Keep in mind that boiling takes time. To ensure adequate reduction of bacteria and viruses, boil water for at least 1-3 minutes.
Using water softeners for hard water (if applicable)
Many areas are affected by high levels of calcium and magnesium, the two minerals responsible for hard water. Installing a water softener can help remove these minerals using ion exchange to swap them for sodium. This creates “soft” water that is better for skin and hair as well as plumbing pipes and appliances. Newer technologies also offer cartridge options that do not use sodium to absorb the minerals or safely transform them so they can no longer create scale deposits.
Avoiding bottled water and its environmental impact
Buying bottled water is a quick, tempting solution to alternate water in the home. However, plastic water bottles create problems by creating a lot of waste in the environment. In addition, many bottled water options are not much better quality than your own tap water. The purchases also add up over time, costing you more money in the long run.
The Bottom Line
Everyone deserves access to clean water, whether in a house or a rented apartment space. The key is knowing what options are available that meet your filtration needs. Once you consider the quality of your allowed filtered products that meet your filtration requirements and budget, you will be well on your way to accessing filtered water in your apartment.