Across the UK, more people are choosing filtered water as a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable option for daily drinking. Tap water can contain trace levels of chlorine, lead, pesticides, and microplastics—substances you likely don’t want to ingest every day. Filtering your water helps reduce these risks, supporting better health and reducing environmental impact.
In this guide, we explore what filtered water is, how water filtration works, and the seven key benefits it offers for homes across the UK.
What is filtered water?
Filtered water is regular tap water that has been treated to remove unwanted substances that may affect its quality and taste. These can include chlorine, sediment, heavy metals such as lead, pesticides, harmful bacteria, forever chemicals, and microplastics.
Filtration approaches vary in strength. Activated carbon filters improve taste and reduce chlorine and some organic compounds, but they have limits with filtering dissolved solids. Reverse osmosis is more comprehensive. It pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane to reduce dissolved contaminants by up to 99%, including fluoride, nitrates, and heavy metals.
AquaTru combines these strengths in a patented 4-stage process. Water first passes through mechanical and carbon filters to reduce sediment and chlorine. It then moves through a reverse osmosis membrane for advanced purification and a final carbon stage for a clean, neutral taste. This design delivers consistently clearer, cleaner, better-tasting water than unfiltered tap water, making everyday hydration more appealing and reliable.
Why filtered water?
Many households wonder why they should filter water when supplies are already regulated. Although water companies meet legal standards, concerns persist about substances that can remain in distribution networks and older lead pipes. Even when legally compliant, UK tap water can still contain residual chlorine and traces of agricultural runoff.
Filtering tap water at home reduces these unwanted substances and offers peace of mind. It is a straightforward way to improve daily water quality without relying solely on external treatment. As awareness grows, filtration is no longer a luxury but a sensible step towards healthier living.
If you’re concerned about essential minerals, remember that a typical diet is the primary source. Filtration focuses on reducing unwanted contaminants in your drinking water. If you prefer a mineral taste, you can easily remineralise with mineral drops like Perfect Minerals or an Alkaline Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) filter.
Filtration preserves key benefits of tap water such as practicality and cost while delivering cleaner, healthier drinking water from the same source.
If you are unsure what might be in your water supply, recent findings about tap water in the UK highlight the value of home filtration.
Is filtered water good for you?
Yes, drinking filtered water is good for you. It reduces exposure to impurities such as chlorine, lead, nitrates, and microplastics, which are often found in UK tap water. Removing these substances supports safer hydration and improves taste, making it easier to drink enough throughout the day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting enough water is essential for overall health. Proper hydration helps prevent fatigue, headaches, and kidney stones, supports digestion, and aids concentration and temperature regulation. Filtered water also makes it easier to replace sugary drinks with cleaner, calorie-free water.
These are meaningful health benefits for the whole family, helping the human body function optimally while giving you confidence in the quality of the water you drink every day.
Is filtered water better for you than tap and bottled water?
Filtered water is a better choice than both untreated tap water and bottled water. While tap water is treated, it may still carry residual chlorine, chemicals, or contaminants from ageing infrastructure. Bottled water, though convenient, creates significant plastic waste and has a far higher carbon footprint than tap, with UK estimates indicating emissions hundreds of times greater for bottled water.
Soft plastic bottles may also contain bisphenol A (BPA) — a recognised endocrine‑disrupting chemical that can leach into beverages and interfere with hormone systems.
Filtered water provides a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. It reduces harmful elements found in tap water while eliminating the need to buy and discard plastic bottles. You get access to cleaner water without overpaying for convenience or adding to the landfill.
Filtered water: 7 benefits
From better taste to lower environmental impact, filtered water has clear advantages. These benefits of filtered water are easy to notice from the first week, at home and on the go. Here are seven reasons to make the switch to filtered water at home.
1. Removes contaminants
Unfiltered tap water can contain chlorine, lead, nitrates, pesticides and microplastics. Reducing exposure is especially important for infants, children and people with weaker immune systems. The WHO sets guideline values for chemicals such as lead and nitrates and advises minimising exposure where practicable.
Point-of-use reverse osmosis water filters like AquaTru provide a verified barrier for many dissolved contaminants and is performance-certified under NSF/ANSI 58.
2. Boosts health
Good hydration supports digestion, skin and energy. The NHS recommends 6 to 8 drinks a day, adjusting for activity and heat. Water that tastes or smells unpleasant can reduce intake, so improving acceptability at the tap can help people drink enough.
Point-of-use filtration reduces residual chlorine and by-products that affect palatability, while maintaining ready access to safe, appealing water. In practice, many households find that better-tasting water encourages higher daily consumption and more consistent hydration habits across the family. For most people, this is a simple step toward everyday wellbeing.
3. Minimal maintenance
Modern filtration systems are designed for ease of use. Most require only occasional filter changes—every 6 to 12 months depending on the model—and very little cleaning.
Compared to boiling water or constantly purchasing bottled water, filtered systems are straightforward to manage. The filters themselves often come with indicators or alerts, so you’ll know when it’s time to replace them. Maintenance is minimal, and the benefits last for years.
4. Better taste and odour
Tap water can meet safety standards yet still taste or smell of chlorine. People can detect chlorine at very low levels, so even small amounts affect how pleasant water seems. A good carbon filter or a reverse osmosis system reduces these residuals and removes other compounds that dull flavour. The result is water that tastes clean and smells neutral. When the taste improves, households usually drink more and use it more confidently for tea, coffee, and cooking. Improving aesthetic quality at the tap supports everyday hydration without changing routines, and it makes a noticeable difference in every glass.
Everyday routines, from brewing tea to preparing meals, benefit from better-tasting water — reinforcing why water quality matters more than ever.
5. Cost savings
Bottled water costs can add up quickly, especially for families or workplaces. A single household could spend hundreds of pounds per year buying bottled water for drinking and cooking.
A one-time investment in a home water filtration system pays for itself over time. Most systems require only occasional filter changes, and the cost per litre of filtered water is significantly lower than that of bottled alternatives. In the long run, filtered water is a far more economical choice.
6. Reduces plastic waste
Switching from bottled to filtered tap water cuts single-use plastic and lowers environmental impact. It is a straightforward change that complements national efforts to curb plastic pollution. The Marine Conservation Society estimates the UK buys around 12 billion plastic drinks bottles each year and still loses many to landfill or litter, despite high collection rates. Beach surveys also continue to find large numbers of drinks-related items, underlining the scale of the problem. From production to disposal, the environmental impact of bottled water is far greater than most people realise.
7. Convenience
This is one of the simplest benefits of a water filter that you’ll notice every day. Having filtered water available at home makes life easier. There’s no need to boil water, carry heavy bottles from the shop, or worry about running out.
Whether you need water for drinking, cooking, or filling a travel bottle, it's ready at your tap or countertop. This daily convenience saves time and supports healthier habits—especially for busy households and workplaces.
How to enjoy the benefits of drinking filtered water?
Getting started is simple. First, choose a filtration system that suits your home—whether that’s a compact countertop unit or a plumbed-in under sink model. Look for one that meets your needs in terms of capacity, filtration strength, and budget.
Once installed, use your filtered water daily for drinking, cooking, and filling reusable bottles. You’ll quickly notice the difference in taste, smell, and peace of mind. Making the switch helps protect your health, reduce plastic waste, and simplify your water routine.
Understanding how to select the best reverse osmosis filter ensures you get the most value and performance for your home setup.
AquaTru: your new water filter system with many benefits
AquaTru uses a patented 4-stage reverse osmosis process to remove up to 99% of contaminants, including lead, chlorine, fluoride, and microplastics. What makes AquaTru unique is the combination of four proven techniques: a mechanical filter, a pre-carbon filter for chlorine and chloramine, a reverse osmosis membrane that removes complex contaminants like medicine residues and metals, and a final activated coconut carbon filter for pure taste. This system is independently tested by IAPMO to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 58, and 401.
Our compact countertop models (Classic and Carafe) are plug-and-play with no plumbing required. The Under Sink option integrates neatly for higher capacity and automatic refill. Filters are long lasting and easy to change, which keeps maintenance low and running costs predictable.
Choose AquaTru to enjoy cleaner water, better taste and a more sustainable routine at home.
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