More importantly, Boroux, Rorra, and Culligan have removed nearly all plastic from their gravity-fed countertop water filters, especially from components that come into contact with filtered drinking water. Boroux has gone a step further by earning certification for microplastic filtration. For shoppers concerned about microplastics, this new generation of stainless steel gravity water filters offers added peace of mind.
Best Countertop Water Filter Overall: Boroux Legacy
Among the three gravity-fed countertop water filters I tested, the Boroux Legacy offers the best balance of usability, design, filter life, and independent performance testing. It also holds international certifications to NSF standards through the Water Quality Association for particulate and microplastic reduction, along with lead-free manufacturing.
Independent laboratory testing found that the Boroux Legacy can reduce chlorine, PFAS, and lead. In my testing, it also performed well in water treated with chloramine, reducing total chlorine by more than 95 percent. The filtered water tasted clean, and the system’s polished stainless steel construction makes it one of the most attractive countertop water purifiers available—an important benefit for a device that may remain in your kitchen for years.
Boroux also offers optional fluoride-reduction filters for households concerned about fluoridated water. I could not personally test that feature because I live in Portland, Oregon, the largest metropolitan area in the United States without fluoride in its municipal water supply. However, independent third-party testing supports Boroux’s fluoride-filtration claims.
A major reason for the Boroux Legacy’s filtration performance is its filter technology. The system uses filters that are functionally similar to the original Berkey black filters, combining activated carbon with antimicrobial silver. They are manufactured by Clearbrook, the original producer of Berkey filters, which also sells its own gravity water filter replacements.
Berkey is not currently selling its classic black filters. The company remains involved in a dispute with the Environmental Protection Agency, which issued a 2023 stop-sale notice covering Berkey’s activated-carbon filters. The EPA said that Berkey’s antimicrobial claims meant the systems were being marketed as unregistered pesticides. Berkey’s manufacturer, New Millennium Concepts, has challenged the order in court and has also endorsed the Phoenix filter, which I am currently testing.
Source: www.wired.com