The Best Water Filters for the Office: How to Choose the Right One

What Should I Consider When Choosing a Water Filter for the Office vs. Home?

When it comes to water filtration, the needs of an office are very different from those of a home. While the fundamental goal remains the same — to provide clean and safe drinking water — the scale, usage patterns, and even the types of contaminants can vary.

Scale and Usage

An office typically serves a larger number of people than a household. This means the water filter system needs to have a higher capacity to ensure a steady supply of clean water throughout the day. A system that works well for a family of four might not be sufficient for an office of 20 or more employees.

Types of Contaminants

Residential water filters are designed for common household water issues, but office settings often have different needs based on location and the building's plumbing system. For instance, older office buildings with lead pipes might require a filtration system to remove heavy metals. Office plumbing can also sit dormant overnight, on remote workdays, and on weekends, allowing contaminants to leach into the water, especially if the office is in an industrial or agricultural area.

Space and Installation Constraints

In a residential setting, there's often more freedom to install larger systems or make significant modifications. However, in an office environment, especially in areas like shared kitchens or break rooms, space can be a limiting factor. This makes compact, easy-to-install solutions particularly attractive. For instance, countertop water filters and under-sink water filters are great water treatment choices for many office settings. They offer effective filtration without requiring a lot of space or complex installation processes, making them suitable for more constrained office environments.

What Is the Capacity of the Best Water Filters for the Office?

When choosing the best water filters for the office, picking the right capacity is vital. If your water filter doesn’t produce enough water for all your staff and visitors, you may be stuck providing expensive bottled water to bridge the gap.

The capacity of a water filter is typically measured in terms of how many gallons it can purify per day. Here’s how to figure out the capacity you need for your office.

Number of Users

The main thing to consider is the number of people regularly accessing your water faucet. This includes employees and visitors. It stands to reason that the more people you have using your water supply, the more work your filter is going to need to be capable of.

Average Consumption

For proper hydration, it’s generally recommended that an individual drinks about half a gallon of water per day. This can vary based on individual needs and environmental factors. While it's unlikely everyone in the office will drink that much, other uses like cooking and making coffee and tea can quickly send the per-person average back up. 

Capacity Guidelines

With the number of people and the average consumption of each person in mind, we can come up with a good idea of the capacity your office will need. Keep in mind that if you have peak times like a common lunch time, you might need to size up, so you have water when you need it:

• Small offices (up to 10 people): A smaller office might only need a filtration system capable of handling 5-10 gallons per day. This accounts for drinking water and occasional usage for making beverages like coffee or tea.
• Medium-sized offices (10-30 people): For a medium-sized office, a system with a capacity of 20-50 gallons per day would generally be sufficient.
• Larger offices (30+ people): In larger offices, you might need a system that can handle 60-100 gallons per day or more, depending on the exact number of employees and specific water needs.

What Water Quality Concerns Should Be Addressed by Office Water Filters?

Choosing the best water filter for the office requires understanding the specific water quality issues you could be facing. While these can vary depending on your location, building age, and water source, the primary concerns typically include:

• Chemical contaminants: Chemicals like chlorine and chloramines are often used in municipal water supplies for purification. While effective decontaminants, they can leave you with foul-tasting water.
• Heavy metals: In older office buildings, pipes may leach heavy metals like lead and copper into the water, posing significant health risks.
• Microbial hazards: Water sources can contain harmful contaminants like bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, requiring a filtration system capable of addressing these biological contaminants.
• Physical contaminants: Sediments, rust, and other solids, including microplastics, can enter water through corroded or aging pipes, affecting its clarity and safety. Total dissolved solids (TDS) measure these and other dissolved particles.
• Environmental pollutants: Water might be contaminated with pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial activities and agricultural runoff, requiring an advanced water purifier.

If you’re not sure what impurities are flowing from your office spigot, try getting a water test so you can figure out what type of filter removes it.

What Certifications Should Office Water Filters Meet for Safety and Quality?

As a responsible water filtration company, we hold ourselves to very high standards. To ensure our products do exactly what they say they will do, our filter technology is put to the test by international certifying agencies with very rigid standards.

It's important to look for these certifications that guarantee the safety and effectiveness of your product. These certifications indicate that the filter meets the standards for removing contaminants and providing safe, clean water. Here are the certifications to look for:

• NSF International: NSF sets standards for water treatment systems. Look for NSF/ANSI 42 for aesthetic effects (like taste and odor), NSF/ANSI 53 for health effects (like removing lead and other contaminants), and NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse osmosis systems .
• Water Quality Association (WQA): WQA certification means the filter has been tested and meets industry standards for performance and removal of specific contaminants.
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL): UL certification makes sure that the water filter system meets rigorous safety standards.

Which Is the Best Water Filtration System for Offices?

The best water filter for your office depends on several factors including space, usage, and specific water quality concerns. Let’s explore some common types of filters and the filter technologies that power them.

Countertop Water Filters

• Description: These filters sit on the counter and connect to the faucet. Ideal for offices with limited space. The flow rate can be a little slow so if you have a busy office, this may not be your best bet.
• Technology: Often use activated carbon filters, effective for improving taste and reducing contaminants like chlorine.
• Features: Easy installation, portability, and often lower upfront cost.

Under-Sink Water Filters

• Description: Installed under the sink, these systems save counter space and filter water directly from the plumbing.
• Technology: Can range from single- or multi-stage carbon filters to more advanced reverse osmosis systems.
• Features: Longer filter life, larger filtration capacity, and more discreet placement.

Water Coolers

• Description: Standalone units that dispense cold and often hot water. They can be bottle-fed or plumbed directly into the water supply.
• Technology: Varied, but many use filters for sediment removal and carbon filters for taste and odor improvement.
• Features: Convenient dispensing into cups or water bottles, option for stainless steel models for easy cleanup.

Water Filter Pitchers

• Description: Portable pitchers with built-in filters, suitable for very small offices or as a supplemental option but expect frequent filter replacements.
• Technology: Primarily use activated carbon filters, good for basic filtration needs.
• Features: Affordable, no installation required, easy to refill.

Faucet Mount Filters

• Description: Attach directly to the faucet, providing filtered water on demand.
• Technology: Commonly use activated carbon filters, some may include a sediment filter for finer particles.
• Features: Easy to install, longer filter lifespan, convenient for direct dispensing.

How Often Do Office Water Filters Need Maintenance and Servicing?

This depends on the type of filter system, the quality of water being filtered, and how much use the filter is getting. If you’re using a smaller system like a water filter pitcher, you may need to replace the filter every few weeks. More robust water filtration systems like under counter filters might need replacement filters and maintenance every 3-6 months.

How Does the Cost of Office Water Filters Compare to Bottled Water Delivery?

On average, filtered tap water is cheaper than bottled water delivery. A gallon of tap water in the U.S. is usually less than a penny, whereas the same water in a bottle can be more than $1. While there is an upfront cost to buying and installing a water filter in the office, you can get thousands of gallons of pure water between filter changes. That could be thousands of dollars in bottled water for what could be under $100 for filtered water.

How Can You Find the Best Water Filters for Your Office?

Finding the best water filters for the office is a unique challenge due to the number of people who may be using it, the various impurities being treated, and space considerations. Unlike a whole house water filter, you may not have the freedom to make alterations to your office plumbing. However, once you understand your unique needs, installing a water filter system in your office can save money while creating a happier, and healthier workspace for everyone.

If you’re looking for no-fuss options for your office water needs, HomeWater can help. Our affordable, American-made undersink water filters are easy to install, and they remove a wide range of contaminants. The HomeWater EZChange 2-Stage Under Counter Under Sink Water Filter is a breeze to maintain and it will rid your water of chlorine, lead, rust, dirt, and particulate matter while improving taste and odor.

For more complete filtration try out the HomeWater 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Counter Water Filter. Providing your office with up to 50 gallons per day of fresh, purified water, this RO system will protect your office tap from sediment, dirt, chlorine, dissolved inorganics, barium, cadmium, hexavalent and trivalent, chromium, lead, copper, radium 226/228, selenium, fluoride, and nitrate/nitrite.

Invest in the health of your office with HomeWater.