Engineering Breakdown
Master Water Filtration Technology Comparison
An objective, clinical comparison of the four primary residential drinking water technologies. Understand what each can and cannot remove.
| Filtration Metric | Reverse Osmosis (RO) | Solid Carbon Block | Gravity Pitcher | Ultraviolet (UV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pore Size (Microns) | 0.0001 µm | 0.5 – 5 µm | Variable (Intercambio iónico) | N/A (Luz UV 254nm) |
| PFAS ("Forever Chemicals") | 99.9% Removed | 70% – 95% (NSF 53) | 80% – 99% (ZeroWater) | 0% Ineffective |
| Lead & Toxic Heavy Metals | 98% – 99.9% | 90% – 99% | 95% – 99% | 0% |
| Fluoride & Arsenic | 92% – 98% | < 15% | < 30% | 0% |
| Microplastics & Nanoplastics | 100% Blocked | 99% | 98% | 0% |
| Bacteria & Pathogens | 99.99% | 50% – 90% | Inconsistente | 99.99% Sterilized |
| Flow Rate | 0.5 – 1.0 GPM (Rápido) | 1.0 – 2.5 GPM | Lento (Gravedad) | 3.0 – 12.0 GPM |
| Governing Standard | NSF/ANSI 58 | NSF/ANSI 53 / 42 | NSF/ANSI 42 / 53 | NSF/ANSI 55 Class A |
| Upfront Equipment Cost | $240 – $699 | $80 – $200 | $35 – $65 | $150 – $400 |
| Annual Replacement Cost | ~$70 / yr | ~$50 / yr | ~$60 – $100 / yr | ~$40 / yr |
Still Unsure Which Technology Your Home Needs?
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