From under-sink water filters to more elaborate whole-house water filtration systems, home water filters have become increasingly popular in Canadian households.
They’re relatively inexpensive to buy, easy to install, and provide peace of mind that your water is free from potential health risks.
While Canada is known for its excellent quality of drinking water, it’s still not perfect. Filtering your home water supply is a great way to ensure that you’re drinking the purest water possible.
Keep reading to learn more about home water filters. We’ll also highlight the best home water filtration systems you can find in Canada this year.
Our Top Picks:
- Best For Your Entire Home: Express Water 3-Stage
Jump to Review - Best With Reverse Osmosis: APEC RO-PH90 6-Stage
Jump to Review - Best Budget-Friendly: Express Water RO5DX 5-Stage
Jump to Review - Best Tankless Under-Sink: Waterdrop 17UB Tankless
Jump to Review - Best Under-Sink With Tank: iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage
Jump to Review
Should You Filter Your Tap Water in Canada?
We benefit enormously from the water purification process that our municipal water goes through in Canada. However, the end result is still not perfect. Depending on many factors, including the area you live in and the age of your home’s plumbing system, contaminants still make their way into your water supply.
The most common contaminants include microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, lead from old pipes, and even the chlorine that is intentionally added to our drinking water.
A home water filtration system could help ensure that your tap water is as pure as possible.
The 5 Best Home Water Filters in Canada in 2025
Express Water RO5DX 5-Stage RO Water Filtration System
Express Water’s RO5DX filtration system is one of the most affordable under-sink reverse osmosis water filters you can buy. The system filters over 108 known contaminants and has a removal rate of up to 99%. The RO5DX can produce up to 50 gallons of filtered water per day and comes with a 3.2-gallon water storage tank. Make sure you have room for the tank and the filters under your sink.
Despite its elaborate 5-stage process, the RO5DX is easier to install than most RO filtration systems. That’s because many of its components arrive pre-assembled. Each individual filter is color coded to help ensure that the system is correctly installed.
The RO5DX conveniently comes with a year’s worth of replacement filters. It’s recommended to replace the pre-filters twice a year and the other filters at least once a year. Luckily these filters are easy to buy on Amazon or any big box hardware store in Canada.
Costing just over $300 and filtering up to 50 gallons of water per day, the RO5DX is a great water filter for families on a budget.
Express Water 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter
Express Water’s Anti-Scale Filtration System is one of few water filtration systems that filter your entire home’s water supply. Instead of being installed under each sink, this carbon filtration system is installed on your home’s main water supply. This means you can enjoy purified water from any faucet in your home. It also means you can shower in purified water, protect your water-based appliances from mineral deposits, and more!
The 3-stage filter removes over 65 contaminants from your water. In addition to removing sediments and preventing the formation of scale, its carbon filter eliminates chlorine, organic carbon, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and more. The 3-stage process will also help reduce water hardness without needing a water softener. While it won’t remove dissolved solids (TDS) from your water, the company also offers a Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System that removes solids from water.
Depending on your household water consumption and water quality, the filter will need to be replaced every 100,000 gallons. Since the average person uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water per day, a family of 5 could require a filter replacement every 6 months.
Despite being a great whole-house water filter, there are some downsides. Installing and optimizing this filter for your home could require some basic plumbing knowledge. Depending on your current water pressure level and household water usage, you could expect to lose a bit of pressure.
APEC RO-PH90 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
The APEC RO-PH90 is amongst the best under-sink reverse osmosis water filtration systems on the market. In addition to heavy metals, it removes over 1000 known contaminants from tap water. The APEC also comes with a calcium carbonate add-on that increases the pH level of your water. If you’re concerned about TDS in your tap water, APEC uses FilmTec™ for its reverse osmosis membrane, which is the gold standard when it comes to rejecting dissolved solids from water.
As a 6-stage water filtration system, there are more pieces to assemble and the installation process could be daunting for some. Depending on your comfort level under the sink, you might need an extra hand to get it set up. That said, instructions are easy to follow and are accompanied by helpful images.
Something else to consider is that the filter adds an extra faucet to your sink. Also, keep in mind that you will need enough space under your sink for the filtration system itself as well as a water tank that is about the size of a standard propane tank.
The APEC’s high-capacity filters last up to 12 months and are quite easy to replace when the time comes.
Waterdrop 17UB Tankless Water Filter System
The Waterdrop 17UB filter is a tankless water filter that’s perfect if space is limited under your sink. With very few components and no water tank to worry about, the Waterdrop filter takes about 3 minutes to install. With only one filter required, you will not have to worry about replacing multiple filters.
How does it work? The filter uses a polyester membrane to reduce particles and sediments from the water. An activated carbon block is used for reducing chemicals and improving the overall taste and smell of the water. It also uses kinetic degradation fluxion (KDC) to reduce heavy metals and prevent the growth of bacteria and algae.
Compared to other Waterdrop filter models, the 17UB version has the highest filtration capacity. The filter will last 19,000 gallons or up to 3 years before needing to be replaced. It also has a high flow rate of 2 gallons per minute with a standard water pressure of 60 psi. This is an essential detail since there is no water tank to store water.
A potential downside is that this filter is only suitable if your sink has space for an extra faucet. To install the filter’s faucet, your sink will need about a 1-inch hole. The faucet is included so you won’t have to think about buying one separately.
Overall, I recommend Waterdrop’s under-sink filter for anyone with space for an extra faucet or limited space under the sink. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for an under-sink water filter that’s affordable and easy to install.
iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis System
If you want great-tasting and contaminant-free water, the iSpring RCC7AK is another water filtration system worth considering. With its ultra-fine reverse osmosis filter, it’s one of the best under-the-sink water filters on the market. It’s excellent at removing contaminants from your water, especially lead, chlorine, and minerals.
The iSpring RCC7AK filters 99% of over 1000 known contaminants, including 98% of lead, arsenic, chlorine, fluoride, calcium, and more. With its 6-stage process, the RCC7AK produces filtered water with balanced alkalinity, providing you with natural-tasting tap water.
It’s also great for its high capacity of 75 gallons per day. This large capacity makes it suitable for big families or offices. It operates very quietly, so you won’t even notice it’s there. In order to use this filter efficiently, however, you’ll need a water pressure in your home of at least 45 to 70 psi.
Overall, if you’re looking for a permanent reverse osmosis filtration system that can easily be installed under your sink, the iSpring RCC7AK is an excellent choice.
Should You Filter Your Home’s Water?
Canada is known for its excellent drinking water, so the question whether or not to filter your home’s water supply is a common one. While it’s not absolutely necessarily in most municipalities across Canada, here are the main benefits of filtering your water:
Removes Chlorine, Fluoride & Other Chemicals
Chlorine is the leading contaminant found in tap water. While we rely on it to destroy dangerous pathogens and microorganisms, it’s technically like drinking bleach. Next is fluoride. While this mineral is scientifically proven to prevent tooth decay, the health consequences of long-term exposure are still under debate.
In addition to chlorine and fluoride, there are tons of other chemicals that make their way into our water supply: pharmaceuticals, cleaning agents, car emissions, and more.
Removes Potential Contaminants
These include heavy metals like lead, microplastics, pesticides, and bacteria. Specific contaminants will vary based on the city you live in and even the home you live in. Older homes with lead pipes are more at risk for lead exposure in their tap water.
Improves Taste & Smell
In addition to that unpleasant chemical smell of chlorine, dissolved solids (TDS) can leave your tap water with an unpleasant taste, smell, and cloudy look. The most common dissolved solids in our drinking water are inorganic compounds such as sodium, calcium, potassium, and sulphates. Small amounts of organic compounds also make their way into our water.
May Balance Its pH / Acidity
This largely depends on the kind of water filtration system you decide to get. If your water’s pH value is a concern to you, opt for a water filter with an alkaline component. Since alkaline water is a borderline controversial topic with many unproven claims, I suggest doing your own research.
Extends The Lifespan of Your Appliances
Just like they’re not optimal for our health, the contaminants found in tap water can wreak havoc on your dishwasher, laundry machine, coffee machine, and even your houseplants! Mineral deposits are a common reason why dishwashers stop working, or automatic coffee machines need to be descaled periodically.
If you have a few plants in your home, you may have noticed white or yellow buildup around the rims of your pots or stains on foliage, also known as calcium deposits. Filtered water can eliminate these issues.
What Are The Different Types of Water Filters?
The three most common types of water filters are water pitcher filters, countertop water filters, and under-the-sink filters.
Water Pitcher Filters
Water pitcher filters, such as the Brita Water Filter Pitcher, are the most common water filters for the home. They’re affordable, simple to use, and can be purchased at any home hardware store nowadays. Water pitcher filters are small enough to fit in the fridge, so you can enjoy cold filtered water. Their portability makes them convenient to move around the house or even take on a camping trip.
The main disadvantage of a water pitcher filter is that you’ll have to remember to refill it or replace the filter more often. For multi-person households, this tends to become a problem. Water pitcher filters also tend to filter out fewer contaminants than their countertop or under-counter versions.
Countertop Water Filters
Countertop water filters are installed through your faucet and accessible from your countertop. For that reason, countertop water filters are bulkier than under-sink filters. Countertop filters generally remove more contaminants than pitcher filters but less than under-sink filters. This makes them a good filter option if you want to take it up a notch but your budget is limited.
Under-Sink Water filters
Under-sink water filters remove the highest number of contaminants from your drinking water, making them the best water filtration system out there. They’re an excellent choice if you can handle the more lengthy installation process and are willing to pay a higher price upfront. The only downside is the more complicated installation process and potential uninstallation process if ever you move.
Whole House Water Filters
Instead of being installed under the sink, whole-house water filtration systems are installed at your home’s main water supply. Whole house water filters are great if you want to enjoy filtered water from every faucet without having to install a separate filter under each sink.
With filtered water running through your entire home, the lifespan of your dishwasher and washing machine could also be extended. You can essentially say goodbye to calcium deposits and chlorine stains. Another perk is being able to shower with filtered water. Chlorine and salts are often the underlying cause of dry hair and premature fading of dyed hair.
Tankless Water Filters
Tankless water filtration systems are great for sinks with limited space underneath. They’re generally easier to install and maintain and tend to be more affordable. However, since they don’t come with a tank to store filtered water, they’re not ideal for homes with low water pressure. Be sure to check the daily capacity of a tankless water filter before making a purchase decision.
Most Popular Water Filtration Methods
There are many methods for filtering home water supplies. Here are the most popular types of water filtration systems in Canada:
Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Due to their complex multi-stage process, reverse osmosis (RO) filtration systems are the most effective methods of filtering your home’s water supply. In addition to chemicals and common contaminants, they also remove dissolved solids (TDS) such as salt and organic matter.
They are also effective at removing all known microplastics. The only potential downside is that RO filters are more expensive to purchase and maintain. The RO filtration process is also slower than other types of filtration systems, so you will ideally need space for a water tank to store your water.
Carbon Water Filters
The most common types of home water filtration systems use activated carbon to absorb contaminants. Carbon filters are great at improving the taste and smell of tap water by absorbing unwanted chemicals, contaminants, and particles.
The main downside with carbon filters is that they do not remove total dissolved solids (TDS) from your water. While the health risks associated with TDS in tap water are less concerning, for some people this can be a dealbreaker.
Is Bottled Water Better Than Tap Water?
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, there is no evidence that bottled water is safer to consume than tap water. Bottled water is regulated by Health Canada as food under the Food and Drugs Act, and therefore is not tested for the same rigid criteria as tap water.
On the other hand, tap water is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The act ensures that public drinking water adheres to a 28 page document that defines the maximum levels permitted for 90 potentially harmful substances. Municipalities must constantly test their water supply to ensure that they are within these limits.
Despite the fact that tap water is safer than bottled water, it is not necessarily perfect.
