Epic Water Filters sent me their "Pure" water pitcher to test, and I have been using it daily for several weeks now. They are a small American business with a genuine focus on reducing single-use plastic: their filters are 100% made in the USA, and they run a recycling program for used filter cartridges so they do not end up in a landfill. That part matters to me. There are a lot of water filter brands out there, but the combination of American manufacturing, a recycling program, and the specific contaminants this filter targets is what made me interested enough to actually test it. Here is my full honest review.
Why I Wanted to Try This
PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals," have been showing up in water supply news for a while now. The reason they are called forever chemicals is because they do not break down in the environment or in the human body over time. They accumulate. And the research on long-term exposure is not encouraging.
Living in Arizona, where the tap water already has a notable mineral content and a distinct taste, I was already running our water through a refrigerator filter. But I started wondering whether the refrigerator filter was actually addressing the things I cared most about, or just improving the flavor. That question is what led me to look at Epic Water Filters specifically, because their lab testing results for PFAS and fluoride removal are publicly available and independently verified.
Design and Build
The pitcher has a clean, minimalist look with a bamboo handle. It is genuinely attractive sitting on the counter, which is not something I take for granted with kitchen appliances. A lot of filtration products look like they belong in a science lab rather than a home. This one looks like it was actually designed by someone who thought about aesthetics alongside function.
It is made from medical-grade Tritan plastic, the same BPA-free and BPS-free material used in baby products. Both BPA and BPS are endocrine disruptors, meaning I do not want either of them leaching into my water, so the material choice here is important and not just a marketing line. The plastic feels sturdy and well-made, not flimsy or cheap.
There is a built-in timer that tells you when to replace the filter. Each filter cartridge lasts about 150 gallons, which works out to roughly 3 to 4 months of regular household use. The math on single-use plastic replacement is meaningful: one filter cartridge replaces over 1,000 individual plastic water bottles over its lifespan. Over the course of a year, if you are someone who was buying bottled water regularly, the cost savings stack up considerably.
What It Actually Filters
This is the part that matters most, and honestly the main reason I was interested in testing this product.
According to independent lab testing, the Epic Pure filter removes:
- 99% of PFAS (the "forever chemicals")
- 98% of fluoride
- Nearly 100% of lead
- Many other contaminants commonly found in tap water including chlorine, chloramine, and various heavy metals
The PFAS and fluoride numbers are the standout results here. Most standard Brita-style pitchers do not filter either of those at meaningful levels. PFAS filtering in particular is relatively rare in consumer pitcher-style products at this price point.
This is not just about making water taste better. It is about what you are choosing not to consume over the course of years, especially when you are using filtered water for cooking, not just drinking.
Setup
Very straightforward and the whole process takes about five minutes:
- Rinse the filter cartridge for 1 minute to release trapped air
- Screw the filter into the reservoir and drop it into the pitcher
- Fill the reservoir and discard the first two rounds of filtered water to fully prime the filter
That is genuinely it. No tools, no instructions beyond the basics, no anything complicated. The filter clicks into place easily and the pitcher is ready to use from that point forward.
Taste Test: Tap vs. Fridge vs. Epic
I compared three sources side by side with fresh glasses of each.
Tap water: Hard and flat, with a noticeable mineral quality and a slight chemical edge. Our Phoenix-area tap water is not terrible but it is definitely distinct.
Refrigerator filter: Much smoother than straight tap. This has been our daily standard for a while, and it does a good job with taste.
Epic filter: Very close to the refrigerator filter in terms of smoothness and overall taste. Clean, light, and refreshing. In a blind taste test I am not sure I could reliably pick one over the other based on flavor alone.
What I cannot taste but can verify through the lab data: the Epic filter is doing significantly more work on the contaminant removal side than a standard refrigerator filter. The taste test result was reassuring in confirming that the filtration is not removing anything that makes the water feel stripped or flat. It just tastes clean.
I also use this water for cooking now, not just drinking directly. Knowing that the water going into pasta, rice, soup broth, and anything else I make is filtered to this level gives me genuine peace of mind that goes beyond just taste preference.
Practical Notes After Daily Use
A few things worth knowing after actually living with this pitcher:
The flow rate through the filter is slower than a standard pitcher, which is typical for filters that are doing more intensive contaminant removal. I fill it up before bed and it is ready to go by morning. Once you build that habit it is not an issue at all, but if you are used to instant flow from a refrigerator dispenser it is an adjustment.
The pitcher capacity is good for one to two people in a household using it for drinking and cooking. For a larger family, you might want to look at their multi-pitcher or larger-reservoir options.
The bamboo handle is a nice detail that holds up well in daily use. No cracking or wear after extended testing.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Removes 99% of PFAS (forever chemicals) and 98% of fluoride: better contamination removal than most consumer pitchers
- Medical-grade Tritan plastic, BPA-free and BPS-free
- American-made with a filter recycling program
- Clean, attractive design with bamboo handle
- Built-in filter replacement timer
- Each filter replaces 1,000+ single-use plastic bottles
- Straightforward setup with no technical difficulty
Cons:
- Flow rate through the filter is slower than standard pitchers
- Does not have a large reservoir, so may need frequent refills in bigger households
- Available primarily online rather than in physical retail stores
Is It Worth It?
Yes, particularly if you are health-conscious about what is in your tap water, or if you have been relying on refrigerator filters and wondering what they are actually removing. The PFAS and fluoride filtration is the main reason to choose this pitcher over cheaper alternatives, and the lab testing data backing those claims is publicly available and independently verified.
The discount code CHO15 gets you 15% off your first Epic Water Filters order, which brings the entry cost down meaningfully. Given that one filter lasts 3 to 4 months and replaces hundreds of plastic bottles, the cost per gallon of filtered water is quite low over the long run.
If you are already filtering your water and just want better contaminant removal, this is an easy recommendation. If you have been drinking unfiltered tap water and wondering whether you should change that, this is a clean, well-designed, and genuinely effective starting point.
Discount code: Use CHO15 at checkout for 15% off your first Epic Water Filters order.
