Your Bottled Water May Be Full of Microplastics. This Filter Actually Removes Them.

We've all heard we should drink more water. But a growing body of research is raising an uncomfortable question: how clean is the water we're drinking?

A 2024 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that bottled water contains up to 100 times more plastic particles than previously estimated—an average of 240,000 detectable plastic fragments per liter. That's not a typo.

Tap water isn't necessarily better. Depending on your location, it may contain chlorine, lead, PFAS ("forever chemicals"), pharmaceuticals, and yes—microplastics too.

The solution? A quality water filter. But not all filters are created equal. We tested several to find one that actually delivers on its promises.

The Problem with Most Filters

Standard pitcher filters like Brita primarily use activated carbon. They're great for improving taste by removing chlorine, but they don't remove:

• Microplastics
• Heavy metals (lead, mercury)
• PFAS chemicals
• Pharmaceuticals
• Most bacteria and viruses

To remove these contaminants, you need more advanced filtration technology—specifically, reverse osmosis (RO) or high-end multi-stage filtration.

What We Tested

We tested four popular water filtration options over 30 days:

• Brita Standard Pitcher — The baseline ($25)
• ZeroWater Pitcher — Budget advanced option ($40)
• Aquasana Under-Sink System — Installed filtration ($150)
• AquaTru Countertop RO System — Reverse osmosis without installation ($449)

The Results

Contaminant	Brita	ZeroWater	Aquasana	AquaTru
Chlorine	✓	✓	✓	✓
Lead	Partial	✓	✓	✓
Microplastics	✗	Partial	✓	✓
PFAS	✗	Partial	✓	✓
Pharmaceuticals	✗	Partial	✓	✓
Overall purity (TDS reduction)	15%	99%	77%	99%+

Our Top Pick: AquaTru Countertop RO System

After extensive testing, the AquaTru emerged as the clear winner for comprehensive water purification. Here's why:

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse osmosis forces water through a semi-permeable membrane with pores so small (0.0001 microns) that virtually nothing but water molecules can pass through. It's the same technology used in kidney dialysis machines.

Why AquaTru Stands Out

Traditional RO systems require professional installation under your sink. The AquaTru is a countertop unit that requires no installation, no plumber, and no permanent modifications to your kitchen. You simply fill the tank, and it produces purified water on demand.

It uses a 4-stage filtration process:

1. Mechanical pre-filter: Removes sediment and larger particles
2. Activated carbon: Removes chlorine and improves taste
3. Reverse osmosis membrane: Removes microplastics, heavy metals, PFAS, and more
4. Activated carbon polish: Final taste refinement

Performance

The AquaTru is NSF certified to remove 83 contaminants, including:

• 99% of lead
• 99% of chromium-6
• 99% of arsenic
• 96% of PFAS chemicals
• 99%+ of microplastics
• 93% of fluoride

We verified these claims with a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter. Our tap water measured 287 ppm. After AquaTru filtration: 12 ppm. That's a 96% reduction in dissolved solids.

Cost Analysis

The AquaTru seems expensive at $449, but let's look at the long-term numbers:

Option	First Year Cost	5-Year Cost	Contaminant Removal
Bottled water (1 gallon/day)	$730	$3,650	Variable (often worse than tap)
Brita pitcher	$95	$375	Basic only
AquaTru	$509	$749	Comprehensive

Over five years, the AquaTru costs less than bottled water while delivering far superior water quality—and without the plastic waste.

What About Taste?

Taste is subjective, but our entire team agreed: AquaTru water tastes exceptionally clean. It has that "pure" quality you might associate with expensive bottled spring water. No chlorine tang, no mineral aftertaste, no subtle off-notes.

Coffee and tea made with filtered water taste noticeably better. So does cooking—especially soups and grains that absorb water.

Living with the AquaTru

After 30 days of use, the AquaTru has become a fixture in our kitchen. The setup took 10 minutes with no tools. The unit is about the size of a large coffee maker and fits easily on a countertop.

The slight inconvenience is waiting for filtration—it takes about 12-15 minutes to fill the 1-gallon tank. We've adapted by refilling it whenever we take water, so it's always ready. The gentle humming during filtration isn't bothersome.

Filter replacement is straightforward, and the unit tracks filter life so you know when to replace them.

Who Should Consider This

The AquaTru makes sense if you:

• Are concerned about microplastics, PFAS, or heavy metals
• Live in an area with questionable water quality
• Rent and can't install under-sink systems
• Currently spend money on bottled water
• Want the cleanest possible drinking water without complexity

Alternatives

If the AquaTru's price is prohibitive:

• ZeroWater ($40): Good for dissolved solids but doesn't match RO for microplastics and chemicals
• Aquasana Under-Sink ($150): Good performance if you can install it
• Big Berkey ($350): Gravity-fed option with good filtration

The Bottom Line

The research on microplastics is concerning, and it's only going to get more attention. We're likely consuming thousands of plastic particles daily through our water—and we don't yet fully understand the health implications.

The AquaTru isn't cheap, but it solves the problem completely. It removes virtually everything from your water, requires no installation, and pays for itself versus bottled water in under two years.

In an era of increasing concern about water quality, having control over what you drink provides genuine peace of mind.

What's your water filtration setup? Have you tried the AquaTru or a similar system? Share your experience in the comments below.