Do You Actually Need a Water Filter?
Let's find out. Together. Honestly.
24 years water filtration experience • I'll explain what you might need and why. Once you've found what works for your situation, we've put together our recommendations — brands we trust and use ourselves. We link to Amazon for convenience, and would earn a small commission (it doesn't cost you extra).
Hear from Keith (2 mins)
What Is Filter Authority?
The UK's independent water filtration resource — built on 24 years of hands-on experience, not marketing budgets.
What We Do
- Explain UK water quality in plain English
- Help you understand what's actually in your tap water
- Match you with the right filter (or tell you if you don't need one)
- Provide honest, unbiased reviews based on real testing
Who We Help
- Parents making baby formula or worried about family health
- Homeowners dealing with hard water, limescale, or old pipes
- Health-conscious people concerned about PFAS, microplastics, or chlorine
- Anyone who wants better-tasting water without overspending
Why Trust Us
- 24 years professional water filtration experience
- No manufacturer ties — we recommend what works, not what pays
- UK-focused — we understand British water, not American
- Honest approach — sometimes "you don't need a filter" is the right answer
Latest Investigations
In-depth research into UK water companies, quality issues, and what they mean for your family.
Who Owns UK Water Companies? The Shareholders Behind Your Tap
Over 70% of English water companies are foreign-owned. Fact-checked investigation into who owns Thames Water, Southern Water, and every major UK water company.
Survival Water Filtration: How to Get Clean Water When You Need It Most
Emergency water purification methods, portable filters, and what every UK household should have ready. From power cuts to natural disasters.
Water Filter Certifications Explained: NSF 42, 53, 401 & WRAS (UK Guide 2025)
Complete guide to water filter certifications in the UK. Learn what NSF 42, 53, 401, P473 (PFAS), and WRAS approval actually mean. Includes product examples and how to verify certifications.
RO Systems and Water Meters: The Hidden Cost Nobody Talks About
37.3% of UK households have a secret advantage with RO systems. Learn about waste water costs, pressure requirements, and why unmetered homes save £54/year.
Why Are You Here? (And What Do You Want to Achieve?)
You are probably here because something doesn't feel right about your water.
Maybe it's the taste. The smell. A new health problem. The chalky limescale buildup. Or maybe you're about to make baby formula and want to be absolutely certain you're doing your best for your baby.
Perhaps you've read about sewage dumping in UK rivers, microplastics in drinking water, or PFAS "forever chemicals" — and you're wondering: is MY tap water actually safe?
Those are all valid concerns.
Here's the reassuring part:
UK tap water is among the most regulated and tested in the world. The Drinking Water Inspectorate sets strict standards. Your water company tests it constantly. By law, it must be safe to drink.
But "legally safe" and "perfect for your specific situation" aren't always the same thing.
And there's nothing wrong with wanting the best for your family. Especially when it comes to health and longevity.
That's the gap I help you navigate.
Not with scare tactics. Not by recommending you the most expensive system.
But by understanding YOUR specific concern, YOUR water quality, and finding the right solution — even if that solution is "you don't need anything."
Why You Can Trust This Advice
I spent 24 years working with water filtration in the UK.
Producing ultra-pure drinking water for homes. Window cleaning RO systems. Paint and lacquer industry filtration, where a single contaminant ruins an entire production run. Pre-filtration. Multi-stage systems. Reverse osmosis. The lot.
You only really appreciate how good our water is when you visit other countries. Spain, for instance. Or my recent trip to the Philippines — where you most certainly wouldn't drink the tap water without having a very copious supply of toilet paper at the very least!
That perspective taught me something important:
UK tap water is significantly better than most people realize.
And most UK water filtration companies are selling you fear, not solutions.
I created Filter Authority to do something different:
Understand your specific concern. Help you test or research your actual water quality. Then find the right solution — which might be a £20 jug filter, a comprehensive system, or nothing at all.
No affiliate commission changes that approach. Your situation determines the recommendation, not my profit margin.
Find Your Water Concern
Different concerns need different solutions. Start by understanding what's actually happening with YOUR water.
Baby Formula
Making bottles for your infant? Here's when filtered water genuinely matters, what type you actually need, and what's unnecessary fear-mongering.
Read the guideMicroplastics
Concerned about microplastics in drinking water? Here's what we actually know, what's still uncertain, and which filtration genuinely helps.
Separate fact from fearHard Water / Limescale
Chalky buildup on your kettle? Hard water isn't a health risk, but here's when treating it makes sense (and when it's a waste of money).
Understand the optionsWater Company Scandals
Sewage dumping. River pollution. Rising bills. I don't blame you for not trusting water companies. But here's what that actually means for your tap water.
Get the factsAfter 24 Years in Filtration, Here's What Drives Me Mad
People spending £360 on a comprehensive system when a £20 jug filter would've solved their problem.
Or buying a basic jug filter thinking "job done" — when it doesn't actually address what they're worried about.
It's like buying shoes as an illustration: You wouldn't buy a pair that's too loose and sloppy. You wouldn't buy a pair so tight your toes go numb. You'd buy a pair that actually fits.
Water filters work the same way.
The "best" filter isn't the most expensive one, or the one with the fanciest marketing.
It's the one that actually solves YOUR specific problem.
That might be:
- A £20 jug filter (chlorine taste sorted, job done)
- A £150 under-sink system (removes specific contaminants you've tested for)
- A £300+ RO system (comprehensive filtration for genuine concerns)
- Nothing at all (your water's already fine)
I'll help you figure out which one fits.
🎯 Quick Solution Finder
From basic taste improvement to complete home protection — see what each level removes
Level 1: Jug Filters
£20-40Basic chlorine & taste improvement
Level 2: Undersink Carbon
£80-150Chlorine, taste & basic contaminants
Level 3: Multi-Stage Systems
£150-300Lead, PFAS, microplastics & more
Level 4: Reverse Osmosis
£200-400Near-complete contaminant removal
Level 5: Whole-House Systems
£500-2000+Every tap protected + appliance life
💡 Most UK homes benefit from Level 2-3. Lead pipes or health concerns? Consider Level 3-4.