Water makes up anywhere from half to three-quarters of the human body, and a large portion of Americans (over 30 million!) don’t have access to safe sources of this life-giving liquid, according to a 2019 EPA study. Many of these people live in areas with poorly designed or failing infrastructure, which often means harsh, toxic metals are plentiful in their drinking and bathing water. We all know that deadly contaminants like lead have no place in our bodies, but when the water coming from our taps is poisonous, there often feels like little recourse. While there may be plans for infrastructure repairs or replacements in the future, many living without clean water need actions to take immediately to help purify and filter water for their families.

Buying cases and jugs of water by the pallet isn’t a cheap solution for your wallet or the environment, so what else can you do to provide safe and clean water for your family? We’ve got a few remedies, sorted by budget, to help!

$200 or Less

Aquasana AQ-5200 – $100-$150

Aquasana’s under-sink filter systems are prevalent right now, and for good reason. This budget-friendly under-sink system is straightforward to install, commonly taking an hour or two. It comes with a variety of faucet finishes to choose from while filtering out 77 different pollutants commonly found in tap and well water, including pharmaceuticals! This system works instantly, and though the filters come at $60 a pop, they only need to be changed every six months, depending on your water.

$200-$500

Anchor 3-Stage Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filtration System – $360

Anchor’s whole home water filtration system has an incredible value with three stages of filtration and a painless installation process. This system can be installed at Point of Entry or Point of Use, meaning this tiny lifesaver can go outside the home at your water line and be mounted to the house, or it can be placed beneath a counter or at individual water lines. As a three-stage filter, Anchor’s Whole Home system can remove sediment, heavy metals, and heavy chlorine and its byproducts. The replacement filters can be purchased for $30-$50, ensuring your family’s drinking water is safe and granting your appliances extra life.

$500-$800

Aquasure Fortitude Pro Whole-Home Water Filtration System – $630-$750

Aquasure’s Fortitude Pro filtration system runs much like Anchor’s but has a 1.5 million gallon, six-year guarantee and a five-year manufacturer warranty. Lauded as a “pipe in, pipe out” system, the Fortitude Pro is simple to install and features gauges for every filtration stage to show you exactly how the system is performing. The Fortitude will keep water clean at 20 gallons per minute for your whole home, keeping heavy metals and sediment from collecting in your appliances, clothing, and body!

$800 and up

Pentair PSE1800-PUV-7-P PENTAIR Pelican Whole House Filtration – $3,800

This mighty whole-home filtration system uses ultraviolet light to purify water, unraveling the DNA of bacteria and viruses and preventing them from reproducing. With three stages, Pentair avoids recurring costs with a sediment pre-filter that needs replacement only once every 6-9 months, a second stage filter needing replacement every five years, and the final stage that will last the unit’s lifetime.

With water insecurity running rampant throughout the United States and beyond, finding affordable options for whole-home water filtration is critical. These systems can help ensure the safety of your drinking water and the lifetime of your home appliances.