Fill up a glass of water from your kitchen tap. I'm hoping it's clear and it's also hopefully cool and refreshing. The trouble is you can't really see what is lurking in the liquid.
I read with horror this week a story about a cluster of serious illness cases in a UK workplace where it is thought contaminated water could have played a part.
This week I trialled a ZeroWater filtration jug (gifted #ad) which has a five-stage advanced filtration system which is very different from your average two stage carbon filter.
Here's the official blurb
"ZeroWater is the only water filter brand that delivers the equivalent to purified bottled water into your home. Developed a pour-through system, with an aim to deliver the best filtration possible with their premium five-stage ion exchange technology, this filter removes virtually all total dissolved solids (TDS), a claim which no other filter can make."
ZeroWater is the only gravity-fed filtration system to match the TDS levels found in purified bottle water. This breakthrough filtration system from ZeroWater is certified by NSF International for the reduction of Lead and other heavy metals such as Chromium 3 & 6 and Mercury.
The Good Housekeeping Research Institute have also revealed that ZeroWater removes more total contaminants from water than a regular Brita filter, making it a must have for all homes in the UK.
ZeroWater's 12-cup Ready-Pour™ pitcher is the first in its class that has a sealed lid and reservoir, making it possible to pour water that has already been filtered without spilling water that's still filtering. This means the reservoir can now be kept full, adding a full two cups' capacity to the existing 10-cup design. It also features a one-hand, pull and pour button spout for easy bottle filling.
The 12-cup Ready-Pour™ uses the patented ZeroWater filtration system, which combines FIVE sophisticated technologies that work together to remove virtually all dissolved solids from your water. The result is great-tasting water, straight from the tap, and the only pour-through filter pitcher on the market that’s certified by the NSF to reduce lead."
Still not convinced?
Check out this super cool video of Philip Schofield using a ZeroWater filter to turn wine into water.
So how did I get on with the ZeroWater filter?
It took less than a minute to set up. I just unpacked the jug, reservoir and lid, filter and TDS Digital Meter then removed the packaging and blue protective cap from the filter.
I screwed the filter into the reservoir from underneath (don't try and drop it into the hole from above) and tighten it to create a good seal.
Then I simply filled the reservoir a couple of times until the jug was full.
One thing - it does take a little longer for the water to run through the filter compared to devices I have used in the past. The five-stage filter works a little harder to remove more impurities from the tap water and of course this is going to take longer than a two stage filter.
The best bit about the ZeroWater filter IMHOP is the TDS Digital meter which you can use to test your unfiltered tap water as well as the filtered water. It's there to help estimate the life of each filter and to test your filter water to make sure the filter is still working efficiently.
My daughter was fascinated with the meter and spent time checking all of the water supplies in the house. Cold tap water, hot tap water, fridge dispenser water and then of course, ZeroWater filtered water.
Our TDS ranged from the high hundreds to over 300 which basically means our water has quite a high level of contamination. We learned that with a TDS level of 211 in our cold tap water we can expect our filter to cope with 15-25 gallons before we need to replace it.
What does the filtered water taste like?
The water from the filter tastes pretty much as it did before but our water doesn't taste particularly chlorinated so I didn't notice a huge difference from normal.
It's comparable to good quality bottled water but without the plastic waste or premium price tag. Keep the filter in the fridge and treat yourself to a nice insulated bottle and you can take pure water on your commute, to work, on day trips and pretty much everywhere. Children can take it to school in reusable bottles too.
The jury is still out about the benefits of filtered water but if you are in any doubt about your local water supply this beauty will perform above and beyond when it comes to removing dissolved solids.
I read with horror this week a story about a cluster of serious illness cases in a UK workplace where it is thought contaminated water could have played a part.
This week I trialled a ZeroWater filtration jug (gifted #ad) which has a five-stage advanced filtration system which is very different from your average two stage carbon filter.
Here's the official blurb
"ZeroWater is the only water filter brand that delivers the equivalent to purified bottled water into your home. Developed a pour-through system, with an aim to deliver the best filtration possible with their premium five-stage ion exchange technology, this filter removes virtually all total dissolved solids (TDS), a claim which no other filter can make."
ZeroWater is the only gravity-fed filtration system to match the TDS levels found in purified bottle water. This breakthrough filtration system from ZeroWater is certified by NSF International for the reduction of Lead and other heavy metals such as Chromium 3 & 6 and Mercury.
The Good Housekeeping Research Institute have also revealed that ZeroWater removes more total contaminants from water than a regular Brita filter, making it a must have for all homes in the UK.
ZeroWater's 12-cup Ready-Pour™ pitcher is the first in its class that has a sealed lid and reservoir, making it possible to pour water that has already been filtered without spilling water that's still filtering. This means the reservoir can now be kept full, adding a full two cups' capacity to the existing 10-cup design. It also features a one-hand, pull and pour button spout for easy bottle filling.
The 12-cup Ready-Pour™ uses the patented ZeroWater filtration system, which combines FIVE sophisticated technologies that work together to remove virtually all dissolved solids from your water. The result is great-tasting water, straight from the tap, and the only pour-through filter pitcher on the market that’s certified by the NSF to reduce lead."
Still not convinced?
Check out this super cool video of Philip Schofield using a ZeroWater filter to turn wine into water.
So how did I get on with the ZeroWater filter?
It took less than a minute to set up. I just unpacked the jug, reservoir and lid, filter and TDS Digital Meter then removed the packaging and blue protective cap from the filter.
I screwed the filter into the reservoir from underneath (don't try and drop it into the hole from above) and tighten it to create a good seal.
Then I simply filled the reservoir a couple of times until the jug was full.
One thing - it does take a little longer for the water to run through the filter compared to devices I have used in the past. The five-stage filter works a little harder to remove more impurities from the tap water and of course this is going to take longer than a two stage filter.
The best bit about the ZeroWater filter IMHOP is the TDS Digital meter which you can use to test your unfiltered tap water as well as the filtered water. It's there to help estimate the life of each filter and to test your filter water to make sure the filter is still working efficiently.
My daughter was fascinated with the meter and spent time checking all of the water supplies in the house. Cold tap water, hot tap water, fridge dispenser water and then of course, ZeroWater filtered water.
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| Before... |
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| After. |
What does the filtered water taste like?
The water from the filter tastes pretty much as it did before but our water doesn't taste particularly chlorinated so I didn't notice a huge difference from normal.
It's comparable to good quality bottled water but without the plastic waste or premium price tag. Keep the filter in the fridge and treat yourself to a nice insulated bottle and you can take pure water on your commute, to work, on day trips and pretty much everywhere. Children can take it to school in reusable bottles too.
The jury is still out about the benefits of filtered water but if you are in any doubt about your local water supply this beauty will perform above and beyond when it comes to removing dissolved solids.
The ZeroWater 12 cup ready pour costs £39.99 from ZeroWater.co.uk, smaller jugs start from £24.99.
Disclaimer: I was gifted the ZeroWater 12 cup water filter for the purpose of this honest review.