ZeroWater is one of the better-known water filter pitcher manufacturers, using 5-stage gravity filtration that promises to bring waterâs TDS (or total dissolved solids) down to 0. Lots of people claim that ZeroWater filters are the best out there, and we were keen to see whether theyâre worth the hype.
In our testing, the ZeroWater pitcher did a great job of reducing chlorine, nitrate, fluoride, uranium, and more, but we didnât like that it reduced healthy minerals, and disinfection byproducts appeared in our filtered water.
What We Like
What We Donât Like
| Price | $39.99 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 24 |
| Certifications or Testing | NSF 42, 53 |
| Holding Capacity | 12 cups |
| Filter Lifespan | 25 gallons |
| Approx. Annual Cost | ~$110 |
Table of Contents
đ Scoring Data
Weâve combined quantifiable data with our own subjective testing to rank the ZeroWater filter across 6 different performance categories. Youâll find the scores for the filter pitcher in each category in the table below.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.62 |
| Health Related Contaminants | 83 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Certified for 25% of reduction claims |
| Filtration Rate | 2.62 GPH |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Certified |
| Setup | Outstanding |
| Servicing Requirements | Outstanding |
| Costs | $0.70/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | Vessels 90 days, filters 30 days |
| Shipping | Free shipping on orders above $60 to continental US |
| Returns | No returns |
đŹ Video Review
đ° Contaminant Reduction
Score: 8.34Reducing contaminants is obviously the most important factor when looking for a water filter pitcher, so our main aim in our testing was to collect data on which contaminants the ZeroWater pitcher could reduce from our drinking water supply.
We also looked online to see if the pitcher had been certified by the NSF, WQA, or IAMPO, and these findings also contributed to the overall contaminant reduction score.
Our Performance Testing
Score: 3.82
Weâve used our Zero Water pitcher to filter water in our home in Colorado. We conducted a before-and-after filtration test using Tap Score tests by SimpleLab to see which contaminants the pitcher could remove.
Health-Related Contaminants
Score: 8.30
First, we focused on the health-related contaminants that had been detected in our water, and how effectively the ZeroWater filter pitcher removed these contaminants.
Our water supply is treated well water and contains a number of common groundwater contaminants. Of these, 8 contaminants with potential health effects were detected:
| 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 |
There are a few different health effects associated with these contaminants, including developmental, blood, kidney, and gastrointestinal effects.
We were the most concerned about fluoride and uranium because these were detected in our water above the Tap Score HGL:
- 1 PPM of fluoride was detected, exceeding the HGL of 0.8 PPM
- 0.014 PPM of uranium was detected, exceeding the HGL of 0 PPM
Our filtered water test showed us that the ZeroWater filter had done a great job of reducing 100% fluoride, uranium, barium, molybdenum, nitrate, strontium, and sulfate.
It also reduced 97% copper, bringing the concentration down to just 0.0047 PPM.
These were exactly the results we were hoping for, showing us that we could rely on the ZeroWater pitcher to greatly reduce or remove all the contaminants we were concerned about in our water supply.
However, there was one anomaly that we spotted with our results. While disinfection byproducts werenât present in our unfiltered water, they were present in our filtered water: our test detected 3.4 PPB of chloroform, a common trihalomethane (THM).
We think that chloroform was in fact present in our unfiltered water, but due to its volatility, it had already dissipated by the time it was tested. Chloroform was still present in the filtered water by the point of testing, which is why it has âappearedâ in the post-filtration results.
However, this does tell us that Zero Water doesnât reduce disinfection byproducts very well – something that it doesnât claim to do, but a disappointment all the same. And due to this, the overall contaminant reduction score was greatly lowered.
Here is a table of our complete ZeroWater lab test results:
| Contaminant | Measurement | Unfiltered | ZeroWater | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | PPM | 0.0158 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Bicarbonate | PPM | 85.14 | 8.53 | -89.98% |
| Calcium | PPM | 25.6 | 0.2 | -99.22% |
| Carbonate | PPM | 0.1 | 0.004 | -96.00% |
| Chloride | PPM | 14.9 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Chlorine | PPM | 1 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Chloroform | PPB | ND | 3.4 | n/a |
| Copper | PPM | 0.163 | 0.0047 | -97.12% |
| Fluoride | PPM | 1.1 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Magnesium | PPM | 6.32 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Molybdenum | PPM | 0.0026 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Nitrate (as N) | PPM | 3.5 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Phosphorus | PPM | 1 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Sodium | PPM | 9.63 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Strontium | PPM | 0.11 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Sulfate | PPM | 8.4 | 0 | -100.00% |
| Total Dissolved Solids | PPM | 137 | 8 | -94.16% |
| Total THMs | PPB | ND | 3.4 | n/a |
| Uranium | PPM | 0.014 | 0 | -100.00% |
Aesthetic Contaminants
Score: 9.90
We used the included chlorine test strip in our Tap Score testing kit to do our own water chlorine test at home. There was no point in getting our water tested for chlorine at the lab as the results wouldnât have been accurate – chlorine is highly volatile and dissipates from water quickly.
The test detected around 1 PPM of free chlorine in our unfiltered water, which is pretty normal for treated water supplies – up to 4 PPM of chlorine is considered safe in drinking water.
The post-filtration test showed us that the ZeroWater pitcher had eliminated chlorine to undetectable levels, which was the ideal result for us.
We also noted that the filtered water was free from all associated tastes and odors, and had a cleaner, purer taste. The filter contains activated carbon media, which is widely used in water filters for reducing chlorine, tastes, and odors.
Minerals, Hardness, & Other Water Parameters
The ZeroWater filter pitcher is a bit different from other more âconventionalâ filter pitchers.
A big part of Zero Waterâs marketing is that its 5-stage filter can greatly reduce TDS. We have issues with this since TDS is only an indicator of water quality – weâve discussed this in more detail later.
Most other water filters are designed to reduce the bad stuff (chemicals, heavy metals, and so on), while retaining minerals and healthier or non-harmful impurities. So, we wanted to know how the ZeroWater filter differed in this respect.
Calcium, magnesium, and sodium were all detected in our unfiltered water, as well as 137 PPM of total dissolved solids (TDS) and 90 PPM of water hardness.
Post-filtration, our waterâs calcium concentration had been reduced by 99%, and magnesium and sodium by 100%. Weâd prefer to retain these healthy, taste-enhancing ions. Still, our waterâs pH only dropped by 0.4, from 7.4 to 7.0, so at least it was still in the neutral range.
As for our waterâs TDS concentration, this was unsurprisingly reduced to 8 PPM – only slightly falling short of ZeroWaterâs promises to reduce TDS to 0.
Interestingly, our included TDS meter gave a reading of 0, and continued to give this same reading a few weeks later. This is likely due to the higher precision of the lab’s instruments compared to the handheld meter, but was interesting to us given that ZeroWater actually recommends replacing the filter once the TDS meter reads 006.
The filter also reduced hardness down to 0 PPM, which isnât a very useful ability of a point-of-use water filter – softening water only really has plumbing/appliance benefits and isnât safer or healthier to drink.
Performance Certifications
Score: 8.00
We scored the ZeroWater pitcher in the performance certifications category by comparing how many contaminants the filter has been certified to reduce with how many the manufacturer claims it can reduce.
The Zero Water 5-stage water filter is NSF certified to Standard 42 and Standard 53 for the reduction of 6 contaminants: chlorine taste and odor, chromium 6, lead, mercury, PFOA, and PFOS.
The manufacturer has obtained independent testing using EPA-approved methods to demonstrate the filterâs ability to remove 24 different contaminants from tap water (view the independent lab testing data here).
We appreciate ZeroWaterâs transparency, but we think the manufacturer could have obtained certifications for reducing a broader range of contaminants. As it stands, the filter is only certified to reduce 6 out of the 24 contaminants ZeroWater claims it can reduce.
We also wish the filter could be tested to reduce additional contaminants of concern, including pesticides, chloramine, pharmaceuticals, radionuclides, microplastics, and VOCs – especially given that some of its closest competitors have been tested to remove 200+ or even 300+ contaminants.
Compare ZeroWaterâs contaminant removal claims with its performance certifications in this table.
| Contaminant | 15 Gallons Filtered | 130 Gallons Filtered | 20 Gallons Filtered | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antimony | 99% | 96% | 99% | – |
| Arsenic III | 98% | 85% | 63% | – |
| Arsenic V | 98% | 93% | 94% | – |
| Barium | 99.9% | 99.9% | 96% | – |
| Beryllium | 97% | 97% | 94% | – |
| Cadmium | 97% | 97% | 97% | – |
| Chromium 3 | 98% | 94% | 93% | – |
| Chromium 6 | 99% | 99% | 93% | NSF 53 |
| Copper | 99.9% | 99.9% | 93% | – |
| Iron | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99% | – |
| Lead | 99% | 99% | 85% | NSF 53 |
| Manganese | 99% | 99% | 49% | – |
| Mercury | 92% | 91% | 92% | NSF 53 |
| Selenium | 99% | 98% | 79% | – |
| Silver | 99.9% | 96.0% | 37% | – |
| Thallium | 99% | 98% | 91% | – |
| Zinc | 99.9% | 99.9% | 95% | – |
| Asbestos | 99% | 98% | 89% | – |
| Chlorine | 99% | 99% | 95% | NSF 42 |
| Cyanide | 99.9% | 99.0% | 85% | – |
| Fluoride | 99% | 91% | 3% | – |
| PFOA | 95.1% | 94.9% | – | NSF 53 |
| PFOS | 95.1% | 94.9% | – | NSF 53 |
| Nitrate | 98% | 78% | 48% | – |
| Nitrite | 99% | 88% | 93% | – |
Our Problem With ZeroWaterâs TDS Removal Marketing
We mentioned earlier that ZeroWater puts a big emphasis on the fact that its filters can reduce TDS, or total dissolved solids, down to 0 in tap water.
We understand that many folks like knowing that theyâre removing virtually all their waterâs dissolved solids, and using the TDS meter for proof.
The problem we have with this is that it has misled a lot of customers into believing that reducing TDS down to zero is absolutely essential, and that all dissolved solids are bad.
Some customers are also led to believe that if another water filter isn’t capable of doing this, then it is inferior.
This isnât true: Some dissolved solids, like healthy minerals, for instance, are good for us. But these minerals get reduced by the ZeroWater 5-stage filter.
Plus, some contaminants donât affect TDS, including non-ionic compounds (disinfection chemicals, byproducts, and pesticides), dissolved gasses like nitrogen, and suspended solids like silt, clay, and microorganisms. None of these can be measured by a TDS meter. Even if your waterâs TDS is low, it might still contain certain harmful impurities.
That said, in ZeroWaterâs case, there is an activated carbon component that should adsorb many of these other organic contaminants that arenât detected by the TDS meter. This Drinking Water And Health evaluation found that disinfectant chemicals like chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and ozone âreact readily with carbonâ and are effectively adsorbed by an activated carbon filter (something we confirmed in our own testing).
We personally prefer to retain certain healthy dissolved solids in our water. We would much rather see more certification evidence that ZeroWater filters can remove specific contaminants that weâre concerned about, instead of knowing that they can remove TDS as a whole.
đŚFiltration Rate
Score: 10.00To award the ZeroWater pitcher a score in this category, we timed the filtration process to see how long it took to filter our water.
We expect gravity filters like the ZeroWater pitcher to filter water more slowly because they donât have the benefit of water pressure from a plumbing system.
This is one of their setbacks compared to other types of filters, like faucet filters and under-sink filters, which are connected to a water line and deliver filtered tap water on demand.
But the Zero Water filter system had a pretty quick filtration rate of 2.62 GPH (gallons per hour) in our testing, based on its ability to filter 0.391 gallons in 08:56 minutes.
We tested a new filter, so we expect that filtration rate will slow as the filter media becomes saturated with contaminants.
đ Design
Score: 8.80We awarded the ZeroWater pitcherâs design score once weâd had a chance to have hands-on experience with the pitcher and get a feel of its component quality. We also looked for any materials safety certifications that the pitcher might have obtained.
The ZeroWater products we have personal experience with are:
For this review, we tested the 12-Cup Ready-Pour Pitcher, but all ZeroWater pitchers and dispensers use the same 5-stage filter.
The concept of water filtration is simple: you fill the top compartment of the pitcher or dispenser, then wait for the water to filter through into the bottom compartment. Then, depending on whether youâre using a pitcher or a dispenser, you can pour water from the spout or open the spigot.
The package we received contained the following items:
- The pitcher body
- The upper reservoir
- The first filter
- The lid
- A TDS meter
We found that the 12-Cup Ready-Pour Pitcher was lightweight and easy to carry â we could carry it with one hand even when it was full.
Models & Sizes
The 5-stage ZeroWater filter can be used in a number of pitcher and dispenser models and sizes/water-holding capacities. These are:
- 7-Cup Ready Pour Pitcher
- EcoFilter 10-Cup Pitcher
- 10-Cup Pitcher
- 10-Cup Ready Pour Pitcher
- 10 Cup Round Ready Pour Pitcher
- 12-Cup Ready Pour Pitcher
- 12-Cup Ready Read Dispenser
- 20-Cup Ready Pour Dispenser
- 22-Cup Ready Read Dispenser
- 30-Cup Dispenser
- 32-Cup Ready Read Dispenser
- 40-Cup Glass Dispenser
- 52- Cup Ready Read Dispenser
Most pitcher/dispenser models come in ZeroWaterâs blue and white brand coloring and arenât available in other colors. Theyâre all made from plastic apart from the Glass Ready Pour Dispenser, which (in our opinion) has a more modern, attractive-looking design.
Component Quality
Score: 8.00
The majority of the Zero Water filter pitchers and dispensers are made of BPA-free polypropylene and ABS (a terpolymer).
Polypropylene is a super popular material used for water filter pitchers because itâs durable, flexible, and highly resistant to moisture absorption, as well as being free from BPA and BPS. ABS is a food-grade plastic, which is non-leaching and mold-resistant. We did find that the plastic feels a bit thinner and flimsier than pitcher/dispenser units made of Tritan plastic.
We know many folks want to avoid using plastic as much as possible, and in that case, ZeroWaterâs Glass Ready Pour Dispenser might be the best option. But itâs not the most practical or portable due to its extra weight – it comes in at 12.5 pounds (in comparison, the 32-cup Ready-Read dispenser weighs just 5.5 pounds), and thereâs still plastic in some of its components, like the spigot and the filter cartridge.
Certification
Score: 10.00
The ZeroWater pitcher has a materials safety certification as a component of its performance certifications.
Thatâs exactly what we were looking for – it tells us that the pitcher meets the standards of the official testing organization (the NSF) for the quality and safety of its materials.
Filter Materials
The Zero Water filter cartridge thatâs used across all dispensers and pitchers combines five filtration stages, including 3 layers of physical filtration, ion exchange resin, and activated carbon media.
There are no surprises here – all these materials are widely used by water filter manufacturers and are considered safe and effective for their purpose.
This filter media sits inside a BPA-free polypropylene casing.
âď¸ Setup
Score: 9.50We set up our ZeroWater pitcher ourselves, so we could evaluate how easy the process was, and how long it took.
We found that the pitcher, and the other ZeroWater pitchers and dispensers weâve used, were easier to assemble and set up than many similar systems.
The big advantage for us was that we didnât have to prime or soak the filter, so we could just attach it to the unit and start filtering straight away.
Most similar pitcher filters at least need to be flushed under running water, but ZeroWater filters donât.
ZeroWaterâs 7-step assembly instructions in the user manual are really simple to follow, and the process took us less than 5 minutes in total. We just cleaned the pitcher in warm water and mild soap, twisted the filter into the bottom of the reservoir, and filled the reservoir with cold water to be filtered.
đ§ Maintenance
Score: 8.25The data we used for this category combined our own subjective analysis of the ZeroWater filterâs servicing requirements and an objective calculation of the filterâs cost per gallon based on information provided by the manufacturer.
Servicing Requirements
9.50
Replacing the filter in our pitcher was the main servicing requirement, and it was easy – like the new filters, the replacement filters didnât need to be primed, soaked, or flushed before they could be used.
As we mentioned, our ZeroWater pitcher came with a TDS meter. This can be a handy tool for checking whether the filter needs to be replaced – ZeroWater recommends changing the filter when the TDS reading is 006.
You can also go off taste, since we and many other customers noticed a distinct taste to their water when a filter change was needed. But the TDS water tester is a more accurate way to determine the filter performance.
The only other servicing requirement was to wash the pitcher and reservoir in warm, soapy water every few days. ZeroWater pitchers and dispensers must be hand-washed and arenât dishwasher-safe.
Costs
Score: 7.00
The ZeroWater pitcher has a higher projected ongoing cost than many of its competitors, at $0.70/ gallon. ZeroWater gives different filter lifespan estimates for different use situations. We calculated the filterâs ongoing cost using 25 gallons based on the âtypicalâ information on this chart:
| Tap Water TDS | Contaminant Level | Description | Expected Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000-001 | Meets FDA Standards | No known municipalities. | N/A |
| 002-050 | Moderate | Naturally occurring in only a few cities. Can still contain dangerous impurities such as lead. | ⼠40 gallons |
| 051-200 | Typical Range | Most water in the USA falls into this group. | 25-40 gallons |
| 201-300 | High | Expect slightly lower capacity. | 15-25 gallons |
| 301-400 | Exceptionally High | Most users will notice shorter filter life. | 8-15 gallons |
| 401+ | Extreme | The highest TDS water. Expect lower capacity when reducing your water to 00. | ⤠8 gallons |
This is a pretty high cost per gallon compared to similar pitcher filters. For instance, we calculated the Brita Eliteâs cost per gallon as just $0.17, and the PUR Plusâ ongoing cost as $0.27 per gallon.
There are a couple of factors at play here. The first is that the lifespan of the 5-stage ZeroWater filter is one of the worst weâve seen for a gravity filtration system. Then thereâs the fact that ZeroWater filter replacements are expensive given their short lifespan.
The ZeroWater 5-Stage Filter can filter just 40-50 gallons of water before it needs to be replaced.
Experts recommend that we aim to drink around half a gallon of water per day. Letâs say you have two people in your household, so you filter a gallon of tap water a day in the ZeroWater pitcher.
That means itâll last you around 40-50 days, or 5-7 weeks on average. We found that our filters lasted around 1-2 months, but some customers said their filters only lasted 2-3 weeks – it depends on your water quality and daily water usage.
đ˘ Company
Score: 7.50We assessed ZeroWater in this category by examining its warranty, shipping, and returns policies.
Warranty
Score: 7.50
ZeroWater offers a 90-day warranty for all vessels (pitchers, dispensers, reservoirs, etc.) and TDS meters, and a 30-day warranty for its filters, against manufacturing defects from the date of purchase.
The warranty doesnât guarantee a specific filter life, so you canât make a warranty claim if your filter doesnât last 30 days – it only applies to manufacturing defects.
Find ZeroWaterâs warranty information here.
Shipping
Score: 9.00
ZeroWater currently offers free shipping on all orders above $60 to customers in continental US. That means youâll probably have to pay a shipping fee if you go for one of ZeroWaterâs pitcher filter systems. The fee depends on your location.
Returns
Score: 6.00
We were disappointed to see that ZeroWater doesnât have a specific returns policy. The companyâs returns and refund policy page lists the same information that appears on the warranty page.
According to this information, ZeroWater will replace defective parts free of charge, but thereâs nothing to suggest that customers can obtain refunds in any situation.
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Great article, thank you so much for the analysis. I just bought my mother a ZeroWater pitcher around Christmas, I’m glad to know I made a good choice! I chose a Clearly Filtered one for me, do you have any testing on that brand?
We do! Our Clearly Filtered pitcher review is where you will be able to find our test results data when it’s updated
What are your thoughts on Ion-Exchange / Alkaline filtration? I started with Brita, then Zero Water, RainSoft (waste softener & reverse osmosis) the best by far in my opinion. And due to divorce my ex has theâŚso in my rental I am trying the ion / alkaline filtration. I am happy but also have many questions. Care to comment?
Hey Jay, thanks for your comment. There are two types of ion exchange: cation and anion. Each process removes different substances, depending on ion charge. Learn more here https://waterfilterguru.com/what-is-ion-exchange/
A water softener uses anion exchange to remove hard water minerals, protecting your home’s plumbing and water based appliances.
A reverse osmosis system on the other hand pushes water through a semipermeable membrane, greatly reducing or removing essentially everything. It’s a good idea to pre-treat the water with a water softener before the RO if the water is really hard. This serves to protect the RO membrane and internal system components. Because reverse osmosis demineralizes water, you might want to consider remineralization to add healthy minerals back to the treated water which will increase pH and palatability.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Would you prefer clearly filtered water pitcher over the zero water ? Also we just bought a house that has a Rain Soft reverse osmosis system installed under the kitchen sink. Do you know if this is a good water filtration system.
It depends on what contaminants are present, and your own preferences. Depending on the contaminants, I would personally go for Clearly Filtered, but ZeroWater is a solid choice too. That said, if you already have a reverse osmosis system then an additional water filter pitcher would not be necessary (assuming the RO is working as intended)