How much money could a water filter help you save?

If extraterrestrials ever visited Earth, they might be fascinated by the abundance of fluid-filled plastic bottles seen everywhere in America. Some are simple and inexpensive, while others boast fancy labels promising benefits like making you smarter, faster, and healthier. Americans spend over $4 billion annually on bottled water, a figure that's been rising for years [source: FDA]. At about a dollar per bottle, that equals 4 billion bottles, most of which are thrown away or, hopefully, recycled. Producing all that bottled water requires a lot of energy, and shipping and handling costs contribute significantly to the overall price. Given the environmental impact, bottled water’s carbon footprint would likely make eco-conscious individuals uneasy.

Why do Americans love bottled water so much? It's not surprising when you consider the clever marketing tactics used by bottled water companies, from associating their products with pristine tropical artesian wells to showcasing polar bears playing in untouched wilderness. It's tough for a simple metal faucet to compete with that imagery.

But is choosing bottled water the wisest option? Could we save more money—and maybe help the planet—by switching to a reusable cup filled with filtered water? In the next section, we’ll compare the annual cost of bottled water for a family of four with the cost of using a water filter.

Cost Breakdown: Bottled Water vs. Water Filters

Most health guides agree on a simple water intake guideline: Drink about eight 8-ounce glasses (64 ounces) each day [source: Mayo Clinic]. For a family of four, that totals 2 gallons daily. If you’re relying on 12-ounce plastic water bottles, the costs can quickly add up. Let’s assume you spend around $6 for a case of water, which equates to $0.40 per bottle. That’s an annual expense of:

$0.40 per bottle x 5.3 bottles per person = $2.13 x 4 people = $8.53 x 365 (days per year) = $3,114.67

Now, let’s contrast this with the expense of using a water filter. There are various filter models, but we’ll focus on the basic pitcher-style filter, priced at about $20, requiring a new filter every 40 gallons [source: Brita]. For a family of four, this means changing the filter 18.25 times annually, with each filter costing roughly $6.50, totaling $119. Add to this the cost of $12 water bottles for each family member, which totals $96 per year. Also, consider the cost of tap water, which is approximately $1.50 per 1,000 gallons in the U.S. A family of four typically uses about 730 gallons annually (2 gallons per day), costing around $1.10. The total annual cost of using a pitcher-style water filter for a family of four is:

$119 (filters) + $96 (water bottles) + $20 (pitcher) + $1.10 (tap water) = $236.10

A family of four could potentially save $2,878.57 annually by switching from bottled water to a water filter, reducing their annual water costs from $3,114.67 to just $236.10. If you consider that most tap water in the U.S. is safe to drink, you could save an additional $235 per year by skipping bottles and filters entirely, lowering the total annual water cost to only $1.10. However, be aware that some municipal water supplies might not meet safety standards and could have unpleasant odors even when deemed safe. In such cases, using a water filter is a smart choice. Keep reading to explore various types of water filter systems.

Water Filter Types

Now that you’ve done the calculations and realized how much you can save by eliminating bottled water, you may still want to keep the luxury of filtration for your drinking water. That’s understandable – everyone wants clean, great-tasting water, and filter systems are readily available. The good news is, there’s a wide variety of water filters to choose from, ranging from affordable pitchers to cutting-edge high-tech systems. Let’s take a look at some of the most common water filtration methods.

The most widely used type of water filters are those based on absorption, which typically use activated carbon. As you may recall from high school chemistry, carbon has the ability to absorb many different substances. When packed into a filter, carbon molecules attract and trap particles that pass through it. Over time, the carbon becomes saturated with these particles, reducing its effectiveness, which is why filters need to be replaced periodically. This method is the foundation of most fridge, faucet, and pitcher-based filtration systems.

There are also many lesser-known yet effective methods for water filtration. For example, ultraviolet (UV) light can purify water, typically delivered through a pen or wand that you swirl in a water container for about a minute. Magnetic fields have also been shown to filter water effectively, along with technologies like reverse osmosis or ion exchange. No matter what water filtration method you choose, ensure it removes harmful substances like mercury, lead, arsenic, benzene, and microbes. Most filters will specify what contaminants are removed and the concentration levels of those that may remain. Additionally, when selecting water bottles, avoid those made with bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic chemical used in plastics since the 1960s.

Your body is made up of approximately 70% water, and these tiny H₂O molecules are essential for all the biological processes happening inside you. Keep this in mind as you choose water for yourself and your family. The decisions you make regarding water can significantly impact your health, the planet, and your finances.

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