Water Filter

Key points

• Municipal water chlorination kills pathogens but chlorine disrupts the gut microbiome at the concentrations found in tap water
• Heavy metals (lead, arsenic) accumulate in older pipes — especially in Indian cities with ageing infrastructure
• Microplastics are now found in tap water globally — filters with sub-micron pores remove them
• Reverse osmosis removes nearly everything but also removes beneficial minerals — add a remineralisation stage
• Gravity-fed carbon filters are a good mid-tier option for most households