If you are like me and value your health over everything else, then an alkaline water filter might be something you need in the future. Combining the best aspects of water filtration and water ionizing, alkaline water filters can turn your boring drinking water into the best-tasting, healthiest water you have ever seen inside a home.
When providing your family with clean drinking water, alkaline filters are widely regarded as the best possible solution. Several options are available from all price points, each with unique benefits and qualities.
I have tested many different types of water ionizers to make alkaline water over the years, and below I share my thoughts on my favorite ones.
By following my step-by-step guide, you will learn everything you need to know (and more) about alkaline water filters. I will provide you with in-depth information that helps you choose the best alkaline water filter for you.
🥇 Best Alkaline Water Filter Reviews: [Updated]
Alkaline water filters use electrolysis to change your water at a molecular level to create antioxidant-rich water flow from your kitchen sink. The benefits of alkaline water are endless, and you will see an immediate improvement in water taste and purity.
1. Perfect Water – TMHP System – Best Undersink Alkaline Filter
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2. Aqua Ionizer Deluxe | Best Countertop Home Alkaline Filtration System
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This countertop unit is small enough to be hidden in plain sight but does not compromise when it comes to providing quality alkaline water. The platinum-coated finish on the system looks great and will add value to any home.
You can choose from 7 different water types using a simple touch of a button. Choose between wellness water and cosmetic water to ensure you are getting the perfect water for the situation.
A stainless-steel hose is included that helps combat bacteria build-up and keeps water clean. The activated carbon filter level removes water impurities before reaching the electrolysis process to ensure you get alkaline water that is clean and pure from contaminants. This unit is priced at below $500 and has loads of benefits.
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3. APEC Water Systems ROES-PH75 Top Tier Alkaline
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When you commit to investing in a water filtration system, the most important thing to consider is the water quality. While it is nice to have all the additional bells and whistles, the most important thing is the healthiness of the water. APEC has consistently provided us with the most high-quality water testing results and does so with an affordable price tag.
The addition of the alkaline filter is one of our favorite features of this system. The calcium-carbonate filter does a fantastic job of increasing the water’s pH level, which makes it the best-tasting water you can find. Combing the alkaline features with the other 5 stages and the reverse osmosis process ensures that you will get the best water quality of the dedicated food-grade faucet. Water testing has proven that you will see a decrease in total dissolved solids (TDS), which are among the hardest contaminants to remove.
The installation process is among the easiest we have seen to this point. APECS’s endless support and instructional videos make it almost impossible to steer wrong while installing the system. The bracket that attaches to your cupboard is made from a quality metal construction and ensures that your system will not move around or tip over.
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4. AQUASPREE Exclusive 7 Stage Alkaline Water Filter
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Countertop filters that rely on gravity are becoming increasingly popular because of their simple design and easy mobility.
The AQUASPREE systems check those boxes and many more. It has a thoughtful design and looks good sitting on your countertop while providing quality alkaline water. The holding tanks are massive with this model as well, ensuring that you have enough water to make it through the day.
Where this system will be great is for people who want to bring their clean water with them. People with RVs or who want clean water at work can pack this up quickly and bring their systems as they please.
It is sized perfectly not to take up too much space on your countertop. The filters do a good job of removing common tap water toxins and are easy to change in and out.
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5. Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 Pro Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine
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The Aqua Ionizer may be your choice when it comes to getting the healthiest water available. It uses 110 volts to ionize your water and filter out common contaminants at the same time. The system was a breeze to install, and because of its slender shape, it takes up virtually no space on your countertops. The included water filter lasts up to 4000 liters, which we have found is the equivalent of around ten months!
Our favorite part of the ionizer was the seven different water settings. You can tell the system what you are using the water for with the touch of a button, and it will produce water for that activity that is scientifically proven to be the best. It will provide multiple drinking water types to avoid over-exposure to alkaline water and track your water usage.
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5. bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine
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There is a TON that we loved about the bawell alkaline filter. First off, the design is great; it features an easy-to-use, read LED touch screen and has two filter slots in the back, hiding them but still providing great water. The eight customized water types are also an excellent feature for those who want to get the absolute most out of our alkaline water filter.
The first thing I noticed was the improved taste in my drinking water. By selecting the drinking water setting, I let the machine do its job and got the best drinking water available. It has a great range of ORP settings from +600 to -800, great for any application. The system is designed to be on your countertop, and its modern look is a nice addition to any kitchen.
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6. EHM Ultra Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher
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The EHM alkaline water pitcher is amongst the best in its class when it comes to self-filtering water pitchers. One of the most common water filtering solutions has evolved over the last decade to do much more with your water than ever before. EHM revolutionized this filtering type by fitting a 6-stage water filter into a small, compact water filtering pitcher.
It has a wonderfully ergonomic design that allows you to easily handle the pitcher, and even though it fits 3.8 liters of water, it will easily fit in your refrigerator’s door. When it comes to its filtering capabilities, it will remove all the common contaminants found in most municipal water supplies and then some. The entire pitcher is made from 100% BPA-Free, food-grade materials, which helps eliminate micro-organisms that may sneak through the filtering process.
The filters will last from 6-8 weeks, which is standard among self-filtering water pitchers, and they are among the easiest to remove and replace within the pitcher. That is one of the most common complaints among people regarding their self-filtering water pitchers.
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7. Tyent UCE-11 Under Counter Water Ionizer
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We were blown away by the Tyent alkaline water filter. The number of standard water filtration features combined with the high-tech modern alkaline unit does a great job of providing fantastic water. The coolest part of this system is that the 9 different settings are entirely controlled by your dedicated faucet. The alkaline system is placed under your sink while the faucet is installed above, hiding the alkaline box while still having complete control over your water.
The filtering quality was top-notch for a combined ionizer and filtering unit. While the Tyent is the most expensive system on our list, it is also packed with the most features. The 11 platinum plates are constructed of a mesh-like design widely regarded as the best material for electrolysis. There is a reason why this is one of the highest-reviewed water filters we have ever investigated.
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8. iSpring RCC7AK High Capacity Reverse Osmosis
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If you are looking for better drinking water and sink water without needing a full-scale water softening unit, look no further than the iSpring under-sink model. Using a 5-stage reverse osmosis process, your sink water will come out crystal clear after the softener, and the filter combo removes over 1,000 different elements that do not need to be in your water.
Another thing we love about this iSpring unit is how easy it is to change the filters out. First off, filters are available from the manufacturer at direct pricing and can be changed in mere minutes.
On average, a filter replacement is needed every three months, but considering this small sink unit does not use salt, you can offset the cost, and besides, there is no value you can place on clean drinking water.
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9. Express Water Reverse Osmosis Alkaline Filtration System
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This Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filtration system comes with all the bells and whistles one could ever want in a water filtration system. It is one of the easiest RO systems to install, thanks to the elaborately detailed instructions and top-notch customer support provided by Express Water. Each of the 5 filters is marked with the role it plays in the filtration process, and they also have a diagram that displays where it goes in the bracket. This helps tremendously when changing filters in and out.
The results of the water filtration process speak for themselves, quite frankly. Between the multi-stage filtration process and the top-notch RO process, you will decrease 99.99% of contaminants and have the cleanest and healthiest water you could ever ask for. The components of the system are also top-notch, as they do not have any plastic fittings or valves anywhere.
The flow rate is among the strongest we have seen from a RO system like this, and it remains solid thanks to the high-flow faucet. One of our favorite features of the system is the leak-detection alarm. If the system detects any water where it should not be, it will shut down all water supplies, which can save you from disaster!
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What is an alkaline water filter?
An alkaline water filter, sometimes referred to as a water ionizer, changes the chemical balance of your water supply to make it the healthiest water possible.
The term alkaline water refers to the water’s pH level and being above 7.5. The alkaline water process uses a water separation called electrolysis, where your water will be filtered into an alkaline stream.
This process will also add beneficial minerals like calcium, so you are gaining more from your water supply.
Most importantly, the alkaline water filter will make your water the healthiest and best water for your health.
Why do you need an alkaline water filter?
By increasing the water’s pH level 7.5 or above (most alkaline filters will increase pH levels to 8-9), you are providing your body with the best water possible. Water with a pH of 7 or below is not as healthy and always has additional minerals added, like an alkaline filter. By making your water’s pH above 7.5, you make the water “alkaline,” which can neutralize body acid.
There is evidence that alkaline water will benefit people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Some studies have proven that people who consume water with a high pH level will have increased oxygen delivery throughout the body. Alkaline water can also help with immune system support, weight loss, and healthier skin and nails.
What are the differences between alkaline water and regular water?
The main difference between alkaline water and regular water is the pH balance. Typically, the alkaline water will also have additional minerals that stay with the water throughout the ionizing process that can be beneficial to your health.
These minerals include calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Several questions arise when comparing alkaline water and untreated water. Below are the two most common.
Is alkaline water better than filtered water?
This question is more complicated than it sounds. In a perfect world, your alkaline water filter has built-in water filtering with the ionizer process, or you run the water through it before it hits the alkaline filter. The best water you can have is a high-quality filter removing common tap water contaminants working concurrently with an alkaline water filter.
Be careful when reviewing alkaline water filters. Some filters are built into a standard water filter, and then there are separate alkaline filters, and you should have another water filter to work with it. It is more common for them to be built into the same system but not always. The answer is both when it comes down to which is better alkaline, or filtered water.
Is filtered water alkaline or acidic?
This is a very good question, and the answer will revolve around the pH balance of the water. The magic number for alkaline versus acidic water is 7. If the pH of the water is above 7, the water is considered alkaline. When drinking water, we do not refer to it as alkaline until it reaches 7.5 or higher.
Most of the alkaline filters on the market will increase your water’s pH level to at least 8. In short, water run through an alkaline filter will be classified as alkaline. Without the alkaline filter’s ionization process, even water running through a normal filter could still have a pH of 7 or below.
Water is considered acidic when the pH is 7 or below. Acidic water is said to have negative health benefits if ingested in massive quantities.
Acidity can encourage bacterial growth so you will want to do your best to limit the amount of acidic water you are ingesting. Acidic water can be used for several things, however. Washing dishes, cleaning, and cooking are all places where acidic water is OK.
🧾 How To Buy an Alkaline Water Filter. What To Look For.
Filters
There are a few things you want to look for when it comes to the filters associated with an alkaline water filter. The first and most important thing is to make sure that there is a filtering process within your water ionizer. Some models attack the ionization process and do not have other filtering capabilities. Not filtering the water can remove a lot of the benefits you stand to gain from ionizing your water supply.
Once you have determined the best route for you, you will want to check the filtering capacity of the system you are using. This could be using a separate filtering system from your ionizer or a combined built-in filtering process.
Based on the amount of water your entire household will use, you want to ensure you are not constantly changing filters. They are not free; if you buy filters with a low capacity, you will be buying more filters and spending more cash. Ensure you are accounting for everything you need your filter for, especially if it is used separately from the alkaline ionizer.
Plates
One of the most essential features of the alkaline ionization process is the material and number of plates that are used. If the filter you purchase is designed to be used with electricity, you will have plates in your system. If your system does not use electricity, it will use multiple filtering levels and this section will not be relevant to you.
Plates are used during the electrolysis process, where the plate is electrically charged and as water enters the system, the electrolysis being produced by the plates converts the tap water into alkaline water. When deciding on an electric water ionizer, there are a few things to consider.
Number of Plates
Most systems are now built with anywhere between 5-13 plates and the more plates you have, the more electrolysis the water will undertake and other benefits you will obtain from the plates.
You will notice that the water flow will be less with fewer plates, and you will also have a higher pH level with more plates, which means the water will have more alkaline characteristics. I typically suggest that people do not purchase an ionizer with less than 9 plates. This solid number still handles flow rate and electrolysis well enough to garner the benefits of alkaline water.
If you have the means, 11 and 13 plate models are the absolute best quality and will give you the best performance from your alkaline water filter. You will see that there are models available with 15 plates, but we have found that these are usually used in industrial settings and are too big to use in the home.
Material of Plates
Alkaline water filters have been around for a long time. The material used during the electrolysis process has evolved, and we believe we are at a point where we can finally tell you the best material for plates. You want to purchase an ionizer with plates constructed from titanium and platinum. Ensure that these are the only two materials you should be looking for. If you see the word, “alloy,” you need to run away.
Pure platinum and titanium plates have been proven to be the best combination for electrolysis over time. The titanium will usually be the outer layer. It is there because it will be the best option to resist water erosion, and it is an ultra-strong material that will last many years.
Platinum is the best option because it is proven to be the best metal at speeding up electrolysis. Thousands of different metal compounds have been tested, which are widely regarded as the best possible combination.
Surface Area of Plates
In addition to the material and number of plates, you also want to look at the size of the plates. Smaller plates will produce less electrolysis within the water supply, and you will notice that the pH levels and ORP levels will not be where you need them to be.
Larger plates can conduct more electricity and expand the ionizer’s ability to add alkaline elements to your water. Make sure you are not buying a model that boasts 13 plates, but they are all super small. Ensure that the surface area of your plates is large enough and that you are getting everything possible out of your alkaline water filter.
✔️ PH and ORP Levels
We have discussed numerous things related to pH levels throughout this buying guide, but we will hit the essential pieces again. pH refers to the water’s alkaline or acidic properties. If a pH level is below 7, it is known to be acidic and is not as healthy as water with a pH level of about 7, referred to as alkaline water. The higher the pH the more alkaline the water is.
ORP stands for Oxygen-Reduction Potential. To make this as simple as possible, I will start by saying when looking at ORP levels, you want the number to be negative. The lower the ORP level, the more electrons the water will have free to combat the contaminants within your body.
Most systems will be able to customize your ORP levels, depending on how you want to use your ionizer at that moment. You can usually set the ORP level on many ionizers to between +600 and -600.
For cooking, cleaning, and washing veggies, a positive ORP is not a big deal. When drinking water, you want the ORP to be in the negatives. This is because when you consume the water, the electrons within the water can do their jobs and give you the healthy benefits of alkaline water. ORP is measured in millivolts (mV) and you can test this by using an ORP meter.
Flow Rate
Most water filtrations systems, including alkaline systems, will reduce the flow rate of your water by at least a little bit. It makes sense because the water is running through several fine-grain filters that remove every contaminant it can find. Flow rates will vary from system to system, depending on how fast the ionizing process takes within the electrolysis. The more plates and the larger the surface area of the plates, the faster your water will be delivered.
Keep in mind, that many of the models that we reviewed had multiple settings that you could choose from on the alkaline filter. If you choose to forego ionizing, the water will be delivered quickly from the filtration system. Flow rates are extremely important to me, and I always look for a flow rate of at least 0.5 Gallons-Per-Minutes (GPM.)
Cleaning
Cleaning your alkaline filter will depend entirely on the system you buy. If you buy an under-sink water filter with all the filtering and alkaline properties built into one system (non-electric), you will have a little more work to do with the cleaning. Filters must be flushed with cold water and shaken up to loosen the filtering particles.
If you decide that an electric ionizer is the best option for you, then there are a few notes to remember when cleaning them. If it has a built-in carbon or sediment filter, cleaning will be separate from the ionizer’s cleaning. You will still need to back-flush pure water filters as necessary. But when it comes to cleaning the ionizer and the alkaline system, you will have a much easier time.
Almost all the electronic ionizer systems now are self-cleaning models. And on top of that, most systems have a scheduled cleaning time, usually after each use. It uses reverse polarity to wash the plates and ensure there are no leftover contaminants from the alkaline infusing process.
Installation
When selecting your perfect alkaline water filter, you will want to consider the installation difficulty. There are two situations we will discuss here.
If you are looking for alkaline water filtering combined with an under-sink filtering system, you must install the full system. This entails connecting your current cold-water sink line to the filtering system so you can use the water line installed. Almost all these systems are simple enough to be installed by the homeowner, and many come with great instructions on video support to make it simple.
If you are looking for a higher-end ionizer that will most likely end up on your countertop, then the installation is slightly different. These systems will require power and connection to the waterline. A lot of homeowners will be able to handle this on their own. But we do suggest ensuring that the alkaline filter you are going to purchase works for your space. Nearby power supply and access to connect it to the waterline.
Warranty
Like any consumer product, the warranty is essential. Accidents and issues will always occur during production, and it may end up being you who gets the only bad device from the manufacturer. Fear not; within the water-ionizing world, warranties tend to be great.
You can find them up to 5 years, and many will go longer; some even have lifetime warranties. This is important to me when dealing with electric filtering, as things with more wiring can be damaged in shipment or anywhere along the manufacturing process.
If you are going with a higher-end alkaline system with a few plates, remember to ensure that you can get replacement parts for the manufacturer in case any plates or specific parts are damaged over time.
🤔 Countertop Alkaline Filter Units vs. Under Counter Alkaline Units
When deciding on the style of alkaline water filter, there are some things to consider. Each type has pros and cons, and you will need to decide which you prefer.
Countertop units are more popular when it comes to higher-end water ionizers.
They will connect to a power supply and water line, and you will directly access your alkaline water from the unit. The best part about the countertop units is that you can adjust settings like pH levels and ORP without needing to crawl under your kitchen sink. Many have a sharp look and are ultra-modern, but some folks do not like losing the countertop space and prefer something hidden.
There are a few types of under-counter or under-sink units. Systems that combine standard filtration and alkaline filtering are very popular because they combine the water purification qualities of a filtration system and have a level where the alkaline properties are added to the water. They are hidden below the sink and out of sight. Because this style has only one static level of alkaline properties, you will not have as much customization over your alkaline water output.
Some alkaline electrical filters are meant to be placed under the counter; some even use their dedicated tap system. These are very high-end and can be expensive, but their water testing results speak for themselves. Remember, if an electrical unit is under the counter or sink, you must get down there to make any adjustments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are alkaline water filters safe?
This is a very common question, and the answer is yes, for most people at least. Science has proven over time that alkaline water’s benefits can positively impact the human body.
What are the dangers of drinking alkaline water?
In some cases, consuming too much alkaline water can agitate your body’s normal pH levels, leading to nausea.
Do alkaline filters remove fluoride?
This is a common, but somewhat complicated question. The actual ionizing alkaline process does not remove anything. It is the filters that are combined with this process that do the work removing contaminants and toxins from the water. Check and see the filtering capabilities of your system to get an exact answer on fluoride. Many on the market will combine alkaline capability and fluoride removal.
How often do I have to change the alkaline filters?
The filters that come with the alkaline system will be changed depending on that specific filter’s longevity. They will range from 100 gallons up to 500, investigate how long the filters will last to avoid having to purchase them often.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, an alkaline water filter will have amazing benefits for you and your family. The customization is endless, with many alkaline models, and the health benefits are something we can not overlook. We understand that finding the best alkaline water filter can be daunting, and there is so much information out there, it can all be confusing.
Considering everything we have included in our buying guide, we are confident that you will choose the best alkaline water filter for your situation.
We sincerely thank you for tuning into our article and hope we helped you further understand the benefits and advantages you can obtain from an alkaline water filter.
