How to Remove Microplastics from Drinking Water

Microplastics have been found in 93% of bottled water brands tested and in tap water systems across every continent. A 2019 study estimated that the average American ingests over 50,000 microplastic particles per year from water alone, and that number is higher for people who drink exclusively from plastic bottles.

The good news is that the right water filter can remove the vast majority of microplastics from your drinking water. The bad news is that most popular filters don't do nearly as much as people assume. This guide breaks down exactly which filtration technologies work, which don't, and how to choose the best system for your home and budget.

What's Actually in Your Water

Before choosing a filter, it helps to understand what you're filtering out. Tap water can contain:

• Microplastics (particles larger than 1 micron, from pipe degradation, water treatment plants, and environmental contamination)
• Nanoplastics (particles smaller than 1 micron, harder to filter, and potentially more harmful because they can cross cell membranes)
• PFAS ("forever chemicals" from industrial contamination, found in 97.5% of American blood samples)
• Heavy metals (lead from old pipes, arsenic, mercury)
• Chlorine and chloramine (disinfection chemicals added by water utilities)
• Pharmaceutical residues (trace amounts of medications that pass through wastewater treatment)

Your specific water contamination depends on where you live. The EWG Tap Water Database at ewg.org/tapwater lets you enter your zip code and see exactly what's been detected in your local water supply. Start there before buying any filter.

Filter Types Compared

Not all water filters are created equal. Here's how the main technologies perform against microplastics specifically, based on published filtration research.

The Best Option: Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is the gold standard for microplastic removal. RO systems force water through a semipermeable membrane with pores as small as 0.0001 microns. For context, the smallest microplastics are about 1 micron, so RO filters catch essentially all of them, including many nanoplastics.

Beyond microplastics, RO systems also remove:

• 95 to 99% of PFAS ("forever chemicals")
• 95 to 99% of lead, arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals
• 95 to 99% of fluoride (if you prefer to remove it)
• 90 to 99% of chlorine and chloramine
• Pharmaceutical residues
• Bacteria and viruses

Under-Sink RO Systems (Recommended)

An under-sink RO system connects to your cold water line and has its own dedicated faucet on your countertop. Installation is straightforward and most handy homeowners can do it in an hour.

Top picks:

• APEC ROES-50 ($180 to $200). Five-stage system, NSF certified, excellent track record. The best value option for most families.
• Waterdrop G3P800 ($350 to $400). Tankless design saves space, faster flow rate, smart filter life monitoring. Premium option.
• iSpring RCC7AK ($200 to $220). Six-stage system with alkaline remineralization stage that adds back beneficial minerals after filtration.

Countertop RO Systems

If you rent or don't want to modify your plumbing, countertop RO systems plug into your existing faucet and sit on the counter. They're portable and require zero installation.

• AquaTru ($350 to $450). The most popular countertop RO system. NSF certified to remove 83 contaminants. No installation needed. Fill the tank and it filters into a clean water reservoir.
• Bluevua RO100ROPOT ($180 to $220). Budget countertop option with solid performance.

The Budget Option: Carbon Block Filters

If reverse osmosis is beyond your budget right now, a quality carbon block filter is a significant upgrade over no filter or a basic pitcher. The key word is block, not granular. Solid carbon block filters have much smaller pore sizes than loose granular carbon.

Top picks:

• Clearly Filtered Pitcher ($80 to $90). One of the few pitchers independently tested to remove microplastics (up to 99.5%), PFAS (98%+), and over 365 contaminants. Far superior to Brita or PUR.
• Epic Pure Pitcher ($60 to $70). Another high-performance pitcher with independent lab testing showing strong microplastic and PFAS removal.
• Berkey ($250 to $350). Gravity-fed countertop system using proprietary carbon block elements. Large capacity, no electricity needed. Note: Berkey has faced some controversy around testing claims, so verify current certifications.

What Doesn't Work Well

Many common filters give people a false sense of security:

• Standard Brita and PUR pitchers use granular activated carbon (GAC). They improve taste by reducing chlorine but have limited effectiveness against microplastics and minimal PFAS removal. The newer Brita Elite filter is better than the standard, but still not comparable to carbon block or RO.
• Refrigerator filters are typically basic GAC filters. They reduce sediment and chlorine taste but are not designed for microplastic removal.
• Faucet-mount filters (like Brita or PUR faucet attachments) are a small step up from pitchers but still use GAC technology with limited microplastic filtration.
• Boiling water does not remove microplastics. In fact, some research suggests it may concentrate them by reducing water volume.

Don't Forget Cooking Water

This is the step most people miss. You filter your drinking water but then boil pasta, rice, and soups in unfiltered tap water. All the contaminants you're filtering out of your glass end up in your food.

If you have an under-sink RO system, use filtered water for all cooking. If you use a pitcher or countertop system, keep enough filtered water on hand for cooking too. It takes a bit more planning but makes your filtration investment much more effective.

Whole-House vs. Point-of-Use

Point-of-use systems (under-sink, countertop, pitcher) filter water at the tap where you drink. These are the most cost-effective for microplastic removal because they only need to filter the water you actually consume.

Whole-house systems filter all water entering your home, including showers, laundry, and toilets. These are significantly more expensive ($1,000 to $5,000+) and primarily make sense if you have serious well water contamination or want to reduce chlorine exposure during showering. For microplastics specifically, a point-of-use system at your kitchen tap is more practical and effective.

If shower water concerns you (chlorine and some microplastics do absorb through skin), a separate shower filter ($30 to $60) with KDF media is a reasonable addition.

Filter Maintenance Matters

A neglected filter can be worse than no filter at all. Bacteria can colonize old filters, and saturated carbon loses its ability to adsorb contaminants. Follow these guidelines:

• RO membranes: Replace every 2 to 3 years (pre-filters every 6 to 12 months)
• Carbon block pitchers: Replace cartridges every 2 to 4 months or as the manufacturer specifies
• GAC filters: Replace every 2 to 3 months
• Track your replacement dates. Set a calendar reminder. Don't wait until water tastes different because many contaminants are tasteless

What About the Plastic in the Filter Itself?

This is the question nobody talks about. You buy a water filter to remove microplastics, but the filter housing, tubing, and cartridges are almost always made of plastic. Are you solving one problem and creating another?

The short answer: the tradeoff is still overwhelmingly in your favor, but it's worth being intentional about.

The reality of filter plastics

Most under-sink RO systems use polypropylene housings, polyethylene tubing, and plastic filter cartridges. Pitcher filters are made of Tritan or polypropylene. Even "stainless steel" systems like Berkey use plastic spigots and internal components. The water you drink passes through these plastic parts before it reaches your glass.

The key difference is that static contact with food-grade plastic at room temperature releases far fewer particles than heating, cutting, or pressurizing plastic. A plastic cutting board being sliced with a knife releases millions of particles. A BPA-free filter housing sitting under your sink at ambient temperature releases comparatively very little.

How to minimize filter-related plastic exposure

• Choose systems with stainless steel tanks over plastic tanks when possible. Most quality RO systems (including the APEC ROES-50) already use steel pressure tanks.
• Flush new filters thoroughly. Run 2 to 3 gallons through a new system before drinking. New plastic components release the most particles during initial use.
• Keep filters out of heat. Under-sink systems in a cool cabinet are ideal. Never place filter systems near a stove, dishwasher, or in direct sunlight, as heat accelerates plastic degradation.
• Replace cartridges on schedule. Degrading, old filter cartridges can shed more plastic particles than fresh ones.
• Store filtered water in glass, not plastic. Once your water is filtered, don't put it back into a plastic pitcher or bottle. Use glass or stainless steel containers.
• Consider glass-carafe pitcher filters. The Bluevua RO100ROPOT uses a borosilicate glass carafe instead of plastic, reducing contact between filtered water and plastic surfaces.

The math still works

Unfiltered tap water contains roughly 5 to 15 microplastic particles per liter. An RO system removes 99.9% of those. Even if the plastic housing adds back a tiny fraction of particles, you're still drinking dramatically cleaner water than before. The net reduction is massive. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Filter your water, store it in glass, and you've eliminated the vast majority of waterborne microplastic exposure.

Look for These Certifications

When shopping for any water filter, look for independent testing certifications rather than relying on marketing claims:

• NSF/ANSI 42: Aesthetic effects (chlorine taste and odor, particulates)
• NSF/ANSI 53: Health effects (lead, cysts, VOCs)
• NSF/ANSI 58: Reverse osmosis systems
• NSF/ANSI 401: Emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, PFOA)
• NSF P473: PFAS reduction specifically

A filter with NSF 53 + NSF 58 or NSF P473 certification has been independently verified. Claims without third-party certification should be treated with skepticism.

Quick Action Plan

If you're feeling overwhelmed, here's what to do in order of priority:

1. Check your water. Look up your zip code at ewg.org/tapwater to see what's in your local supply.
2. Stop using plastic water bottles immediately. They contain more microplastics than most tap water.
3. Get a Clearly Filtered or Epic Pure pitcher today. This is the fastest, cheapest meaningful upgrade (~$70). Use it for drinking and cooking water.
4. Plan for an under-sink RO system. When budget allows, an APEC ROES-50 (~$190) is the best long-term investment. This is the "set it and forget it" solution.
5. Use filtered water for cooking. Not just drinking. This is the step that most people skip.
6. Set filter replacement reminders. A dirty filter is worse than no filter.

The Bottom Line

You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to dramatically reduce microplastics in your drinking water. A quality carbon block pitcher ($70) removes the majority. An under-sink reverse osmosis system ($200) removes essentially all of them. Either option is a massive improvement over unfiltered water or plastic bottles.

The most important thing is to start. A good filter today is better than a perfect filter you're still researching six months from now.

Frequently Asked Questions