How to Filter Water at Home: Top Tips for Safe and Clean Drinking Water

how to filter water

Clean, safe drinking water is essential for good health—but not all water sources are equal. Whether your tap water tastes of chlorine, comes from rainwater tanks, or you just want to produce alkaline water at home, knowing how to filter water properly can make all the difference. In this article we’ll walk through the best water filtration techniques, how to produce alkaline water, and what to look for when choosing a home system.

Why Filtering Water at Home Matters

Health Benefits: Filtering water helps remove or reduce contaminants such as chlorine, bacteria, heavy metals, sediment, and sometimes even microplastics. This contributes to better digestion, safer hydration, and fewer risks of illness.
Environmental Impact: Instead of buying bottled water, using a home filter reduces plastic waste and carbon footprint.
Cost Savings Over Time: Investing in a good filter or filtration system can cost upfront, but over time it’s far cheaper than buying multiple bottles of water or relying on replacement filters that don't last.

Top Water Filtering Techniques for Home Use

Here are several tried‐and‐true water purification and water filtering techniques suitable for a home environment. Each has strengths and limitations, so you can pick what suits your needs best.

1. Activated Carbon Filters

These are very common. They work by adsorbing chlorine and many organic compounds that cause taste and odour problems. If your biggest issue with your water is smell or taste, an activated carbon filter is often enough.

2. Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems

RO systems push water through a semipermeable membrane, removing a wide range of contaminants—heavy metals, salts, bacteria, and many others. They can also remove minerals, which may be important later if you want to produce alkaline water. RO systems are more complex, require maintenance, and often produce some wastewater.

3. UV Water Purifiers

Ultraviolet (UV) purification doesn’t remove physical impurities, but it kills pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Useful especially if your water source (rainwater, bore water, or surface water) is prone to microbial contamination.

4. Distillation

By evaporating water and condensing the vapour, distillation can remove a broad spectrum of contaminants, including many chemicals and biological threats. However, this process is energy‑intensive and slow. It also typically strips out minerals, so the water produced may taste flat or require re‑mineralisation.

5. Ceramic Filters

These filters are great for removing bacteria and sediment. They are relatively low cost, easy to clean (by scrubbing), and don’t require electricity. They are less effective on chemical contaminants unless combined with activated carbon or other media.

DIY and Budget‑Friendly Water Filtering Techniques

If you don’t have a big budget, or you need a temporary solution, these techniques can help—though they often have limitations.

Boiling Water: boils kill microbial pathogens effectively. But boiling won’t remove chemical toxins or improve taste caused by minerals or organic matter.
DIY Charcoal and Sand Filter: layering sand, gravel, and charcoal in a container can reduce sediments, improve taste, and filter some impurities. But it’s no replacement for certified filtration systems, especially for chemical or microbial contamination.
Household Items (Cloth, Coffee Filters): Good in emergencies. They catch large particles, reduce turbidity. Not reliable for pathogens, chemicals, or fine particulates.

How to Produce Alkaline Water at Home

Some people prefer water with higher pH (alkaline water) for taste or perceived health benefits. Here are methods to produce or approximate alkaline water.

Using an Alkaline Water Pitcher or Filter

There are pitchers/filters designed with alkaline‑remineralisation cartridges. After stronger filtration removes contaminants, these systems add beneficial minerals back, boosting pH to more alkaline levels.

Adding Baking Soda or Lemon

A small pinch of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can raise pH slightly. Lemon is acidic in raw form, but some belief holds that its metabolic by‑products are alkalising. Use sparingly and know what you’re doing—don’t overdo mineral additions.

Mineral Drops or Alkaline Filters

Another route is using mineral drops (often a mix of magnesium, calcium, etc.) or filters/media that release minerals—e.g. mineral stones. These approaches not only boost pH, but also restore lost minerals after filtration. For example, stone filters with mineral stones can both purify and remineralise water naturally. See this for more on mineral stones water filters and their health benefits. Why a Mineral Stones Water Filter is the Natural Choice for Healthier Drinking Water.

Maintenance Tips for Your Home Water Filter

Even the best system fails if it isn’t properly maintained. Here are tips to keep your filtered water home system delivering clean water reliably.

Replace filters/cartridges according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Clean or backwash filters (if applicable) to remove build‑up of sediment.
Check for leaks, clogged parts, or degradation over time.
If you have a multi‑stage system (e.g. RO plus remineralisation), monitor all stages—not just the final one.

Final Tips for Choosing the Right Filtration Method

Test Your Local Water: Before choosing how to filter water, know what contaminants are present. Local council, certified labs, or simple home test kits can help.
Match the System to Your Needs: If your concern is taste, carbon filters may suffice. If you have microbial risks, UV or RO are better. If you want alkaline water, consider remineralising or mineral stone media.
Consider Long‑Term Costs and Practicality: Not just purchase price, but filter replacement, energy use, and maintenance.

You may also want to compare the different water filtration systems available across Australia to see what best suits home conditions. [Which Water Filtration System is Best for Your Home? Compare the Top 5 in Australia] is a great resource for that. Waterdrop Australia

Conclusion

Filtering water at home isn’t just about removing visible particles or improving taste—it’s about ensuring your drinking water is safe, healthy, and as close to nature as possible. Whether you’re using activated carbon, reverse osmosis, UV light, or mineral stones, understanding how to filter water properly will help protect your health.

If you want a solution that balances water purification with the benefits of natural filtration, especially producing alkaline water and maintaining beneficial minerals, mineral stones water filters are an excellent choice. Genzon Water specialises in stone water filters that combine ceramic filtration with mineral stones, delivering water that is both purified and enriched. With their systems, you get the advantages of durability, low maintenance, enhanced taste, and increased alkalinity—not to mention environmentally conscious design.