Epic sells a number of different water filters, and arguably its best-known offering is the Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher.
We got our hands on the Epic Pure pitcher, and in this review, weâve shared everything you should know about its performance based on our own hands-on data-driven testing.
What We Like
What We Donât Like
| Price | $70.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 200+ |
| Certifications | Not certified |
| Process | Solid Activated Carbon Block |
| Filter Capacity | 150 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$150 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Table of Contents
đ Scoring Data
We tested the Epic Pure using the same process that we use for all water filters. This involved conducting our own data-driven tests and subjective analysis to evaluate the pitcherâs performance across 6 different testing categories. Weâve shared a breakdown of how the Epic Pure performed across the categories in the table below.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 9.30 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 9.90 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified for any reduction claims |
| Filtration Rate | 2.23 GPH |
| Component Quality | Unsatisfactory |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Outstanding |
| Servicing Requirements | Outstanding |
| Costs | $0.31/gallon |
| Warranty Length | Lifetime |
| Shipping | Free shipping for the Clean Water Club only |
| Returns | Lifetime |
đŹ Video Review
đ° Contaminant Reduction
Score: 9.00We tested the Epic Pure pitcher with a treated groundwater supply. Our unfiltered water test detected a handful of contaminants, and we wanted to evaluate the pitcherâs ability to reduce them.
Since our own testing was limited to the contaminants present in our water, we also looked for official performance certifications, which water filter manufacturers can choose to apply for to prove that their products can effectively reduce specific contaminants from water.
Our Performance Testing
Score: 9.33
After testing our unfiltered water, we tested the water that had been filtered through the Epic Pure system. We used Tap Score tests by SimpleLab, which gave us access to two water quality reports: one for each pre-filtration and post-filtration.
Tap Score has its own benchmarks for contaminants in water, known as HGLs (Health Guideline Levels), which are stricter than the federal MCL and prioritize human health. We used these guidelines when analyzing our results.
Health-Related Contaminants
Score: 9.30
Our unfiltered water contained 8 contaminants which, with long-term exposure to high concentrations, could cause health effects including blood effects, developmental issues, and kidney damage.
| Contaminant | Measurement | Detection | HGL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium | PPM | 0.014 | 0 |
| Chlorine | PPM | 1 | 0.0003 |
| Molybdenum | PPM | 0.0026 | 0.03 |
| Copper | PPM | 0.163 | 0.3 |
| Fluoride | PPM | 1.1 | 0.8 |
| Barium | PPM | 0.0158 | 2 |
| Strontium | PPM | 0.11 | 3 |
| Nitrate (as N) | PPM | 3.5 | 10 |
| Sulfate | PPM | 8.4 | 500 |
| Phosphorus | PPM | 1 | none |
| Magnesium | PPM | 6.32 | none |
| pH | 7.4 | none | |
| Sodium | PPM | 9.63 | none |
| Chloride | PPM | 14.9 | none |
| Calcium | PPM | 25.6 | none |
| Total Dissolved Solids | PPM | 137 | none |
6 of these contaminants were detected at concentrations below the HGL, apart from uranium and fluoride, which exceeded their HGLs of 0 PPM and 0.8 PPM respectively. 0.014 PPM of uranium and 1.1 PPM of fluoride were detected.
The Epic Pure was one of the best-performing pitchers we tested, reducing all health-related contaminants in our water to below the HGLs. According to our test results, the filter reduced 100% uranium, copper, and phosphorus, as well as 92% sulfate, 57% molybdenum, 41% barium, 27% fluoride, and 20% nitrate.
This was without reducing healthy minerals – in fact, calcium, magnesium, and sodium actually increased slightly post-filtration. We were pleased with this outcome given that many of the other water filter pitchers we tested actually reduced the beneficial minerals in our water.
Aesthetic Contaminants
Score: 9.90
The only aesthetic contaminant detected in our water was chlorine. According to our test, 1 PPM of chlorine was present in our unfiltered water. This was reduced down to 0 PPM post-filtration in the Epic Pure pitcher.
Chlorine affects waterâs taste and smell, so we taste-tested our filtered water to see if we noticed a difference. Our unfiltered water didnât contain a whole lot of chlorine in the first place, but we couldnât detect any chlorine tastes or odors in our filtered water, telling us that the filter had done its job.
Performance Certifications
Score: 6.00
We were hoping that Epic would follow in the footsteps of many other water filter pitcher manufacturers and obtain a performance certification for its filter. Unfortunately, the Epic Pure currently isnât certified for contaminant reduction – we could only find third-party performance testing data on Epicâs website.
Because itâs lacking a certification, the pitcher got a lower score from us here.
But we still wanted to see how the manufacturerâs performance claims compared to our own testing data, so we compared the two, focusing only on the contaminants that our water contained.
| Contaminant | Their Claim | Our Test |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfate | 79.6% | +92.86% |
| Nitrate | 88.2% | 20.00% |
| Fluoride | 97.88% | 27.27% |
| Chlorine | 98.4% | 100% |
| Manganese | 99.10% | +100.00% |
| Strontium | 99.73% | +10.00% |
| Barium | 92.70% | 41.14% |
| Copper | 95.80% | 100.00% |
| Uranium | 99.73% | 100.00% |
According to Epicâs third-party testing data, the Pure pitcher can reduce 98.4% chlorine, 99.73% uranium, 95.8% copper, and 79.6% sulfate. It performed equally or better in our own testing for reducing these contaminants.
Epicâs testing results also show that the pitcher reduced 92.7% barium and 88.2% nitrate, but it didnât quite do as well in our own testing – it only reduced 41% barium and 20% nitrate.
As for phosphorous and molybdenum, it was a bonus that the filter reduced these contaminants in our water at all because Epic doesnât claim that any of them can be reduced.
Our only disappointing result was that the filter reduced just 27% fluoride, when Epic claims the filter can reduce 97.88% of this impurity.
We hope that Epic will invest in an official performance certification soon, especially since so many of its competitors – Clearly Filtered, ZeroWater, Brita, etc. – are now certified to reduce at least one contaminant.
Related: Clearly Filtered vs Epic Water Filters Pure: Pitchers Compared
đŚFiltration Rate
Score: 10.00The Epic Pure filtered 0.453 gallons of water in 12 minutes and 13 seconds, which gave it a filtration rate of 2.23 GPH.
This was almost dead-on average when we compared it to the other 8 water filter pitchers we tested (the average filtration rate was 2.30 GPH).
We were pleased with the pitcherâs filtration speed, although we expect that itâll slow down gradually as the filter becomes more saturated with contaminants over time.
đ Design
Score: 6.00Epic sells just one pitcher size, with a 10-cup capacity. There are two lid/handle colors to choose from: white and navy blue.
The Epic Pure pitcher got one of the lowest overall design scores weâve awarded for a water filter pitcher. Itâs basic and practical, but it didnât impress us on the design quality front, it doesnât have a materials safety certification, and we encountered a serious design flaw.
Component Quality
Score: 6.00
The primary material thatâs used in the Epic Pure pitcherâs design is Tritan plastic.
We had an overall better experience with the other water filter pitchers using Tritan plastic, including the Clearly Filtered pitcher and LARQ PureVis pitcher. But Epicâs plastics felt much thinner and flimsier than the other pitchers.
Epicâs component quality score was also reduced due to a design flaw we identified: untreated water from the upper reservoir was able to spill and leak to the lower reservoir when we tried to move or pick up the pitcher while it was completely full.
The water could spill from the top reservoir down both at the front by the spout and the back by the handle. Obviously, this is not good and defies the whole point of filtering your water in the first place.
Certification
Score: 6.00
The Epic Pure pitcher hasnât been certified for materials safety, so it got the lowest score in this category.
Filter Materials
We couldnât find extensive information on exactly how the Epic Pure filters are made, and which materials are used.
All we know is that the filters are solid activated carbon block filter media, and that they blend three types of activated carbon.
Activated carbon uses the adsorption process, which is highly effective at reducing contaminants like chlorine, tastes, odors, and several VOCs.
Given that the Pure filter can also reduce many metal ions, as well as uranium and some fluoride, we think it likely contains other media not disclosed by Epic.
Good to Know: The Epic Pure and Epic Nano filters are interchangeable (remember, the Nano filter is intended for untreated surface or groundwater). You can use either filter in the same pitcher, as theyâre both the same size and shape. So, you could switch from the Epic Pure to the Epic Nano filter in your pitcher while camping or traveling.
âď¸ Setup
Score: 9.50Setup for the Epic Pure was easy because the filter didnât need priming, flushing, or rinsing under the tap.
We just washed and assembled the pitcher and reservoir, then filtered and discarded the first two pitchers of water. This was time-consuming – most other water filter pitchers have faster filter priming/flushing processes – but easy enough.
Setup took about 5 minutes total, not including the time it took to filter and discard the initial batches of water.
Ease of Use
As a water filter pitcher, the Epic Pure is one of the easiest filters to use.
The pitcher is light enough to hold comfortably, even when full (it holds 10 cups of water), and the flip-top lid made it easy to fill the jug – we could just hold it with one hand under a faucet and let the water run straight in, without the hassle of a lid to pop on and off.
The filter change reminder was another handy feature that made our user experience easy. If youâve never used a water filter before and youâre concerned you wonât know when the filter needs replacing, youâll appreciate being able to use the countdown timer as guidance.
đ§ Maintenance
Score: 9.50We calculated how much the Epic Pure pitcher would cost for long-term maintenance, and combined this with our own subjective opinion about the systemâs servicing requirements.
Servicing Requirements
9.50
Thereâs only one filter to replace in the Epic Pure pitcher, so our servicing requirements were manageable.
Each filter has a 150-gallon capacity, which equates to around 3-4 months on average, depending on your water quality and usage.
According to Epic, If you fill the pitcher up once or twice per day (âlight useâ), the filter should last for four to six months, and if you fill the pitcher more than three times per day (âheavy useâ), the filter will last for two to three months.
In our testing, we needed to replace the filter every 3 months, which is slightly better than the average (2 months) for a water filter pitcher. The timer on the pitcher lid is set to 90 days, so if youâre worried you might forget to replace your filter, youâll have guidance from the pitcher itself.
We had to filter and discard the first two batches of water after replacing the filter, just like we did with the first filter. We also reset the filter change reminder at this time, so it would accurately calculate the lifespan of the new filter.
Aside from replacing the filter, we washed out the pitcher and reservoir 1-2 times a week with a mild dish soap. Epicâs pitchers are dishwasher safe, but the lid should be wiped down separately and the filter should be removed first.
Replacement filters are available on the Epic Water Filters website, and you can sign up for the manufacturerâs subscription delivery service, Clean Water Club, to save 20% on replacement filter costs.
Costs
Score: 9.50
We calculated the ongoing cost for the Epic Pure pitcher as $0.31/ gallon, which is around the typical price range that we see for water filter pitchers.
While some of the pitchers we reviewed had a cost per gallon as little as $0.17, some cost upwards of $0.51/ gallon, so Epic sits nicely in the middle.
| Pitcher | Cost per Gallon |
|---|---|
| Brita Elite | $0.17 |
| Santevia MINA | $0.25 |
| Pur PLUS | $0.27 |
| Waterdrop Chubby | $0.27 |
| Epic Pure | $0.31 |
| Larq Purevis Advanced | $0.54 |
| Clearly Filtered | $0.55 |
| ZeroWater | $0.70 |
The pitcherâs upfront cost is right in the middle, too – it cost $69 when we got it to review. Some of the pitchers we tested cost as little as $25, but others cost $100+, so again, Epic is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive.
Given that the filters have been tested to reduce hundreds of contaminants but arenât certified, we think the value for money is pretty spot on.
đ˘ Company
Score: 8.95Epic got one of the highest company scores of all the water filter pitchers we reviewed. The manufacturerâs warranty and returns policies in particular are better than many of its competitors.
Warranty
Score: 10.00
Epicâs lifetime warranty is incredibly generous given that water filter pitchers are typically only warranted for 60-90 days.
Only a few other manufacturers come close to Epic here: Clearly Filtered, which offers a 2-year warranty, and Brita, Waterdrop, and LARQ, which provide 1-year warranties.
View Epicâs warranty information here.
Shipping
Score: 8.00
Unfortunately, Epicâs shipping policy isnât as impressive. Only customers who sign up for the Clean Water Club (Epicâs filter replacement subscription) are entitled to free shipping on their orders – all other orders incur a shipping fee.
This information wasnât readily available on the Epic Water Filters website, and we had to reach out to customer support with our question.
Returns
Score: 8.50
Most water filter manufacturers offer a 30-day returns policy. Epic goes one step further with its lifetime returns policy, which allows customers to return their product for a refund if theyâre not 100% satisfied.
However, stipulations must be met, and the customer must pay the return shipping fee.
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Why does the sulfate nearly double and the strontium also increase post filtration? Is that something to be concerned about?
It’s hard to definitively say with just one test, but it could be that these increases are coming from the filter media itself.
That said, sulfate at 16.2 PPM is well below the most conservative, human health focused guideline (HGL) of 500 PPM. Same with strontium, just 0.121 PPM is far below the HGL of 3 PPM.
I’m typically not concerned about contaminants detected at such low levels below these benchmarks that prioritize human health.
Thanks Brian, very informative!
Thanks for the feedback, I’m glad it was helpful!