Home water treatment systems are the most important and essential part of the house because they help us get clean and healthy water. The system helps treat all sources of water, including tap water, rainwater, surface water, and underground water.

Before we learn more about the types of home water treatment systems, let’s first learn in depth about water.
Water is one of the most vital elements for life, as both people and other animals are known to rely on it. Your body is fully dependent on water to function because it is 75% water overall, with 80% water in the skin and 90% water in the blood.
However, water is the primary cause of so many major ailments, despite the fact that it may be the most essential element for survival. Statistics from the United Nations show that contaminated water is to blame for 80% of diseases around the globe. The world health organization has also shown that giving kids access to clean, high-quality water on its own can cut down on diarrhea in youngsters by 50%, posing a severe threat to young kids’ lives.
Despite government efforts to provide people with treated, clean water, the numbers above from the United Nations show that the water we receive at home is harmful to drink. The water leaves the treatment facility pure, but as the human industry has grown, people are contaminating it with a pump, old, rusted pipes, used water storage containers, and infected existing home plumbing.
Furthermore, several communities still don’t have access to municipally provided piped water; instead, they rely on tainted rivers, wells, and rainwater.
It is obvious that action must be taken to address the problem and that only private citizens—not the government—can do it. The most common way people treat their water before drinking or cooking it is by boiling it. Boiling the water kills all the microorganisms, parasites, and bacteria that may be in it. But this doesn’t remove heavy metals or treat hard water, which is now a common water pollutant. Considering how frequently fuel costs fluctuate, it is expensive.
Boiling water is not always an option. The only way to guarantee that we get high-quality, hygienic water is to install home water treatment systems, including water filters, water purifiers, and softeners, in our houses.
What are the different types of home water treatment systems?
Types of home water treatment systems options
- Home water filtration systems include water filtration systems for point-of-use water filtration systems (such as a countertop, showerhead, or faucet filter) and whole-house water filtration systems.
- The home water purification system
- Home hard water treatment systems include water conditioners and water softeners that help solve hard water problems such as scale build-up on plumbing fixtures and household appliances, dry skin and hair, clogged pores, and slow-draining sinks.
Home hard water treatment systems
When it comes to hard water, it is water that has excess mineral content. Hard water is not only difficult to filter out, but also leaves behind a white residue on your shower head and faucet handles. It also builds up the scale of the house plumbing and household appliances like heaters, boilers, washing machines, kettles, and dishwashers.

Best home hard water treatment systems categories
Home water filtration systems
The home water filtration system includes whole-house and point-of-use water filtration systems.
The whole house water filtration system is installed at the main water supply and help treats all the incoming water into your house.
Read our unbiased review of the best whole-house water filter.
The point-of-use water filtration systems are installed at a specific location in the house such as countertops, kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, showers, and under sinks.
The best point-of-use water filtration systems include
- Countertop water filter
- Under sink water filter
- Faucet water filter
- Water filter pitcher
- Shower head filters
- Alkaline water filter
Countertop water filter
A countertop water filter is a water filtration device that is designed to fit on the kitchen sink tops, water filter stand, tabletops, and in the refrigerator without connecting it to a tap or faucet.
There is another type of countertop water filter that is connected to the faucet and comes with a diverter valve so that you can switch between filtered water and tap water.
The device has two reservoirs (top and bottom). Unfiltered water from the tap is filled at the top reservoir and gravity pushes water through the filter in between both reservoirs where all contaminants are removed. The bottom reservoir holds the filtered water, ready for human consumption.
The best countertop water filter includes:
- Glass countertop water filter
- Countertop with UV filter
- Countertop water filter for well water
- Stainless countertop water filter
- Countertop UF water filter
- Countertop water filter dispenser
- Countertop water filter faucet
- Countertop gravity
- Countertop RO
- Countertop Alkaline
Under sink water filter
The under-sink water filter is mounted directly into the main water line under the sink in your kitchen without taking up the countertop space.
There are different types of under-sink water filter systems including
- Inline under sink water filter
- Alkaline under sink water filter
- Under sink ultrafiltration water filter
- Under sink water filter for well water
- Waterdrop under sink water filter
- Under sink water filter with faucet
- Under sink RO
Faucet water filter
A faucet water filter is a system that is installed on the faucet and filters water as you use it.
The best faucet water filter system includes
A water filter pitcher
A water filter pitcher is a jug made of plastic or glass that has a filter that helps in removing contaminants and improves the taste of the water. They are designed to be easily portable, with a handle for carrying and a lid for pouring. It’s a simple device that you can use at home, in offices, or when on go.
The best water filter pitchers include:
- Stainless steel water filter pitcher
- Alkaline water filter pitcher
- Brita water filter pitcher
- Water filter pitcher for hard water
- Activated carbon water filter pitcher
- Glass water filter pitcher
Shower head filters
The shower head filter is placed at the end of your shower hose and it filters out the minerals from your water before it reaches your shower head. The minerals are what cause all of those problems, like dry skin and hair, clogged pores, and slow-draining sinks.
The main function of a shower filter is to remove chlorine and other chemicals from the water while also preventing the buildup of minerals.
Some filters are designed to work with specific types of water, such as hard or softened water.
Shower head filters for hard water are a great way to eliminate the problems that come with hard water.
Hand-held shower filters are designed for use with hand-held shower heads. They are installed on the end of the hose that connects to your existing faucet. The filter contains an activated charcoal layer that removes chlorine and other contaminants from the water as it passes through it on its way out of your shower head.
Best shower filters include:
- Handheld shower head with filter
- Best shower head filter for hard water
- Best vitamin C shower head filter
- Handheld shower filter with Vitamin C
- Handheld shower filter with beads
Alkaline water filter
Alkaline water filters are a type of filtration system designed to remove impurities from water and raise the pH level of the water. This helps neutralize the acidity in tap water and makes it more suitable for drinking.
The best alkaline water filter includes:
- Alkaline water filter pitcher
- Alkaline water filter bottle
- Countertop alkaline water filter
- Alkaline water sticks
- Alkaline drop
- Alkaline reverse osmosis system
- Alkaline under sink water filter
The home water purification system
A water purification system helps in eliminating excess minerals (such as calcium and magnesium), physical contaminants (such as sand and suspended particles), chemical contaminants (such as agricultural chemicals, chlorine by-products, and metals), biological contaminants (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, E. coli, and Legionella pneumophilia), and radiological chemicals.
The water purification system involves methods such as reverse osmosis, Ultraviolet (UV), and Ultra-filtration (UF).
Reverse osmosis water filtration
Reverse osmosis water filtration is a process that uses pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane, which removes contaminants and impurities. This process is used to purify drinking water.
Best Reverse osmosis water filtration include:
- Whole house reverse osmosis system
- Best water softener with reverse osmosis system
- Reverse osmosis with UV light
- Tankless reverse osmosis system
- Countertop reverse osmosis system
- Under sink reverse osmosis system
UV water purifier
A UV water purifier is a device that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to kill bacteria and other microorganisms in water.
Best UV water purifiers include:
Ultrafiltration water treatment systems
Ultrafiltration water treatment systems use UF membranes to remove particles and contaminants from water. The best Ultrafiltration water treatment systems include: