Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher Review: A Data-Driven Analysis

Culligan ZeroWater is a new line of products from Culligan that use ZeroWater filter technology. They make bold performance claims, but have extensive performance certifications and have made many improvements on the legacy ZeroWater pitcher design.

Overall Score: 9.33

How We Test & Score

9.65 Contaminant Reduction

9.40 Design

8.00 Maintenance

9.50 Filtration Rate

9.50 Setup

7.60 Company

What We Like

Removed 100% of all metals, minerals, and inorganics

No leaching from filter materials 

IAPMO certified to NSF/ANSI standards for 100% of contaminants claimed to reduce

Simple setup with no filter priming required

What We Don’t Like

Filtered water has an acidic pH and is demineralized

Highest maintenance costs of all filters we’ve tested

Very short warranty (just 90 days)

Price	$24.99+
Contaminants Reduced	25+
Certifications or Testing	NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 & 372
Holding Capacity	7-40 cups
Filter Lifespan	20 gallons
Approx. Annual Cost	$160+

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Culligan makes some bold performance claims, saying the pitcher filter “reduces 5x more contaminants than the leading filter” and is “guaranteed to remove 99.9% of total dissolved solids”.

To see how it matched up in real use conditions, we assembled and used the filter in our own home in Colorado. We conducted a series of objective performance tests, including comprehensive lab testing, to see what it could remove from our water and gauge its suitability for everyday use. 

📊 Scoring Data

All the water filters we test are subjected to our six key performance assessments, with scores awarded in each category based on data. We tested the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher as part of a larger project involving eight countertop water filters, measuring its performance against other popular systems and its standout features. 

Our performance categories are broken into sub-categories, and all scores are combined to reach a weighted average. You can see the scores we awarded to Culligan in the table below. 

🚰 Contaminant Reduction

A water filter is only worth the investment if:

• Your water contains contaminants that the filter can remove
• The filter removes the contaminants it claims to

Unfortunately these days, many manufacturers can claim that their filters remove pretty much anything without sharing any supporting evidence. We want people to spend their money on filters that actually work as advertised, which is why we conduct our own impartial performance testing to see exactly which contaminants these products can remove. 

Our contaminant reduction scoring is most heavily influenced by our Tap Score test results, but we also factor in the presence of official certifications that corroborate a manufacturer’s performance claims.

Our Performance Testing

Score: 9.62

We used Tap Score’s City Water Tests to compare the quality of our water before and after filtering it through the Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher. This involved taking two samples: 

1. A sample of unfiltered baseline water straight from the faucet
2. A sample of filtered water poured directly from the pitcher

We tested for a broad range of contaminants, including heavy metals, chemicals, disinfection byproducts, and minerals. We wanted to see how the filter not only addressed contaminants with possible health effects in our water, but also how it altered parameters that can affect taste and overall quality, including pH and mineral content. 

We received two test reports (one for each sample), so we could see how our water quality was influenced by filtration. To give us a more health-focused comparison, we’ve compared all our data against the more protective Health Guideline Levels (HGLs) rather than the EPA’s more lenient Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).

Health-Related Contaminants

Score: 9.70

9 contaminants with possible health effects were detected in our baseline water sample. 2 of these were present in concentrations exceeding the HGL: 0.032 PPM uranium (exceeding the HGL of 0 PPM), 1.4 PPM fluoride (exceeding the HGL of 0.799 PPM). 

Also detected below the HGL were: 

• Sulfate
• Nitrate
• Zinc
• Strontium
• Copper
• Barium
• Molybdenum

Many of these contaminants can have health effects ranging from skeletal and developmental issues to liver and gastrointestinal effects, cancer, and blood problems if they’re ingested in excess. 

Our filtered water results showed that the Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher had performed excellently, removing 100% of all contaminants with health effects, including the two contaminants exceeding the HGL. 

We also conducted a separate on-site test for chlorine, an aesthetic contaminant that has skin and hair health effects, especially for folks with skin conditions like eczema. Around 2 PPM of chlorine was detected in our baseline sample, and no chlorine at all was detected post-filtration, indicating a complete removal. 

Aesthetics, pH, and Mineral Content

Score: 8.00

Water filters can also have an effect on the taste, smell, and overall aesthetics of the filtered water. This is especially likely with filters that reduce TDS, like the Culligan ZeroWater filter. 

In fact, TDS reduction is a major marketing point for all ZeroWater products since before they were bought by Culligan, and it’s something we’ve always had a bit of an issue with. While elevated TDS can be indicative of higher concentrations of harmful contaminants, it doesn’t tell you exactly what your water contains. 

We prefer the approach of targeting specific contaminants while retaining the healthy minerals that also fall into the TDS reading. However, this is not what ZeroWater offers. 

Here’s how aesthetics, pH, and mineral content were affected by the pitcher: 

• We saw a 100% reduction in alkalinity (as CaCO₃), from 81.0 PPM to 0.0 PPM.
• Bicarbonate was reduced by 99.99%, from 98.37 PPM to 0.013 PPM.
• Calcium was completely eliminated, from 26.9 PPM to 0.0 PPM.
• Carbonate was near-enough eliminated, from 0.18 PPM to 0.0000024 PPM.
• We also saw a 100% reduction in magnesium, from 6.58 PPM to 0.0 PPM.
• Unsurprisingly, our water was completely softened, with a 100% reduction in hardness, from 94 PPM to 0.0 PPM.
• Sodium levels dropped from 10.7 PPM to 0.0 PPM.

This extensive mineral reduction reduced TDS by 96.38% from 138.0 PPM to 5.0 PPM. As a result, the pH of our water was also reduced by 13.16%, from 7.6 (slightly alkaline) to 6.6 (slightly acidic).

This is a result that we expected, since the filter is literally marketed to remove 99.9% of total dissolved solids, and there’s even a built-in TDS meter so you can check that it’s working. 

Eliminating TDS is a good way to feel reassured that your water is contaminant-free. But some folks might not appreciate the aesthetic effects (including taste differences) of demineralizing their water, hence the lower score in this category.

Plus, it’s good to remember there are plenty of contaminants that are not part of the TDS measurement which can still be present, such as microplastics and bacteria.

Performance Certifications

Score: 10.00

Trusting a water filter manufacturer’s performance claims becomes much easier when they’re supported by official certifications for contaminant removal. The NSF, WQA, and IAPMO all provide testing and certifications to NSF/ANSI Standards under strict lab conditions, determining a filter’s performance capabilities for removing select impurities. 

Certifications are expensive and time-consuming to obtain, and, since they’re not mandatory, not all water filters have them. But the Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher is certified, and it’s one of the most comprehensively certified filters we’ve tested.

The filter has obtained IAPMO certifications to three NSF Standards for every single contaminant that it’s claimed to reduce: 

• NSF 42, for chlorine taste and odor, and zinc  
• NSF 53, for cadmium, copper, fluoride, lead, mercury, total PFAS, and hexavalent chromium
• NSF 401, for 12 pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and BPA

🚦Filtration Rate

We use different criteria to score a water filter’s flow/filtration rate depending on the category it falls into. For gravity systems like the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher, we measure filtration rate in gallons per hour, or GPH. Gravity-fed filters provide slower, steadier filtration than systems connected to your waterline, as they’re not influenced by water pressure.  

The Culligan ZeroWater filter took just under 7 minutes to filter a full pitcher of water, equating to a filtration rate of 1.9 GPH. This is pretty fast for a water filter pitcher, with most other products achieving flow rates within the 0.5-3.5 GPH range in our testing.

Don’t expect the instant access to filtered water that you’d get with a faucet or powered countertop model, but most folks shouldn’t mind waiting a couple of minutes.

📐 Design

Water filter pitchers can sometimes let us down on the design front with flimsy plastic components and poor-quality builds. But the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher impressed us with a sturdy construction and two design certifications. 

Component Quality

Score: 9.00

Like most water filter pitchers, this Culligan ZeroWater model has a majority plastic design. The filter housing is made from BPA-free polystyrene, and the pitcher is made with BPA-free polypropylene and ABS plastic.

While these materials are all BPA-free, there’s still a potential for microplastics leaching. One 2023 study of disposable polystyrene food containers observed leaching of microplastics and harmful chemicals, especially when exposed to heat and alkaline conditions. Another 2024 study of leaching from reusable plastic water bottles found that dozens of different chemicals leached from various plastic materials, including plasticizers, stabilizers, antioxidants, and photoinitiators—and that polypropylene bottles were among the materials with the highest chemical migration into water.

The potential for chemical or microplastics leaching from water filter pitchers in particular is something that hasn’t been widely studied. Whether or not you’re comfortable using a plastic pitcher is an individual choice. Our scoring in this category mostly focused on the quantitative analysis of plastic type, and our qualitative observations based on look and feel, although the use of plastics in the design prevented the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher from achieving a 10.00. 

Models & Capacities

There are a few different models in the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher and dispenser range, all using the same ZeroWater filter:

• 7-Cup Pitcher
• 10-Cup Pitcher
• 12-Cup Pitcher
• 22-Cup Dispenser
• 32-Cup Dispenser
• 40-Cup Glass Dispenser

The only real difference between these models is how much filtered water they can hold. The Glass Dispenser is the exception, and you may prefer this model if you want to limit your filtered water’s exposure to plastic as much as possible. Just note that this design still isn’t ideal, as the plastic filter housing sits in the filtered water as the pitcher fills.

Filter Materials

There are three key filter materials used in the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher: 

1. Activated carbon
2. KDF (a copper-zinc alloy)
3. A mixed bed of ion exchange resin

The ion exchange resin is responsible for the bulk of the TDS removal, exchanging positively charged ions (known as cations) with hydrogen ions, and negatively charged ions (anions) with hydroxyl ions, effectively reducing ions with both charges from water. 

KDF media removes heavy metals like lead, mercury, and copper, as well as chlorine and certain contaminants that don’t have an ionic charge. It’s also bacteriostatic; meaning it prevents bacteria growth inside the filter itself. KDF is commonly used in water treatment and generally serves its purpose well. Activated carbon is another of the most commonly used media in water filters and is primarily intended for reducing or organic contaminants as well as chlorine and associated tastes/odors.

Materials Safety Certification

Score: 10.00

The Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher is IAPMO certified for materials safety as a component of its performance certifications. It also has a separate IAPMO certification to NSF 372, for lead-free design, earning it the highest score in this category.

As with performance certifications, materials safety certifications aren’t a legal requirement. But they’re reassuring to have, especially for a filter with a plastic-heavy design, like ZeroWater.

⚙️ Setup

Like most water filter pitchers, the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher was quick and easy to set up, taking less than 5 minutes from start to finish and requiring no special tools or DIY experience. The assembly instructions in the user manual are clearly explained and easy to follow.

We cleaned & rinsed the reservoirs, then assembled the pitcher and ran the filter element under water for a minute to rinse it before use. There’s no tricky filter priming process, so we could start filtering our water almost immediately. 

🔧 Maintenance

The pitcher is also quick and easy to maintain, but its filter replacement cost brought its score down in this category.

Servicing Requirements

Score: 10.00

There are two simple maintenance tasks for the Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher: washing the pitcher with soapy water (we did this around twice a week) and replacing the filter. 

Water filters don’t last forever. Eventually, the filtration capacity is used up, and the filter is unable to effectively remove contaminants. ZeroWater recommends replacing the filter when the TDS meter (which is now integrated into the pitcher for convenience) detects a TDS of more than 6. 

There’s a light on the indicator that illuminates once this happens, so it’s obvious when a new filter is needed. We appreciated not having to make our own calendar reminders or try to use flow rate to gauge when to replace the filter. And unlike the Legacy ZeroWater pitcher, the TDS meter is now integrated into the pitcher itself so it’s always measuring the TDS. No need to manually use the meter to measure the water once dispensed like you use to have to.

Costs

Score: 6.00

One of the biggest setbacks of the Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher series is its ongoing maintenance cost. We calculated the filter replacement cost at $0.90/ gallon, making it the most expensive to maintain of all the countertop filters we’ve tested so far.

A big reason for this is the filter’s very short 20-gallon capacity (we pulled this directly from the certification listings.

Replacement filters cost $18 per filter if you buy the smallest pack of 2, although you can get a discount if you buy a larger pack. 

How does this translate to replacement frequency? How often you’ll need to change the filter depends on your water quality and usage, but generally, the filters will last for a few weeks to 3-4 months, max. 

🏢 Company

Culligan’s shipping policy is pretty decent, but its warranty is on the shorter side, and its returns policy is confusing to say the least. 

Warranty

Score: 7.00

Culligan with ZeroWater Technology products are all warranted for 90 days, entitling customers to replacement parts for pitchers with manufacturing defects within a 90-day period after their purchase. 

The ZeroWater filters themselves have a shorter 30-day warranty against manufacturing defects, entitling customers to free replacements if they meet the warranty terms (customers will need to cover shipping costs). 

You can see the full warranty terms here.

Shipping 

Score: 9.00

According to Culligan’s shipping policy, all orders made on the Culligan website that exceed $99 are shipped for free. You’ll need to be based within the continental US, with a 1-2 day average processing period and a 3-5-day shipment time. 

Returns

Score: 7.00

Culligan’s returns policy left us confused about what we were actually entitled to. The manufacturer uses ambiguous return language, saying that each return is treated uniquely. To us, that sounds like your entitlement to a return is determined by whichever customer support agent you speak to, based on their interpretation of your situation.

We awarded Culligan a lower score for returns since there’s no specific guarantee of free returns within a time range.

Culligan’s shipping and returns policy can be viewed here. 

💰 Value For Money

Based on our performance testing, particularly the filter’s ability to remove all contaminants with health effects and its extensive certifications, we think the Culligan ZeroWater Pitcher is pretty great value for money, especially given its low upfront cost of around $25 (price varies depending on the pitcher size you choose).

That’s not to say this is the perfect water filter, and it might not be for you. Our two biggest issues are the complete mineral removal/pH decrease and the expensive filter replacements. You may end up spending money on additional remineralization solutions to boost the pH of your filtered water, and the high ongoing maintenance spend may be unappealing. 

Ultimately, if you’re willing to trade comprehensive contaminant removal for water that’s completely devoid of minerals and alkalinity, and you don’t mind the higher filter replacement cost, this pitcher might be exactly what you’re looking for. 

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