Spending time on Instagram may lead to the impression that one of America’s significant issues is water quality, particularly what’s in it. Recently, a new wave of stylish filtered showerheads has emerged, dominating social media and raising concerns about the safety of shower water.
Manufacturers of these showerheads often claim that deteriorating pipes and chemically-laden shower water could negatively impact the body. They suggest that eliminating chlorine or contaminants from water could address various issues, such as frizzy or limp hair, dandruff, hair loss, eczema, dry skin, split ends, blackheads, and psoriasis.
Many filtered showerheads are effective at removing chlorine compounds, which cities add to their water supply to eliminate bacteria. This investigation focused particularly on chlorine, used by about half of the country’s water systems, including cities like New York and Seattle. Major metropolitan areas tend to use chloramine, a more stable and less carcinogenic substance, which is more challenging to filter out.
Significant performance disparities were observed among the shower filters tested. For those opposed to chlorine in their city water, recommendations for suitable showerheads are provided.
For additional bathroom enhancements, readers are directed to guides on top bidets, electric toothbrushes, and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Testing Methods and Results:
Data from independent labs were requested where available. Digital and chemical tests designed for pools and aquariums were used, avoiding unreliable home test strips. The focus was primarily on the filters’ ability to remove chlorine and chlorine compounds via chemical reactions. Chlorine is commonly added to drinking water in American cities to kill harmful bacteria, but it can be detrimental to hair and skin.
Home filters usually utilize a zinc-copper mixture called KDF-55, which is effective at neutralizing free chlorine. Other substances like calcium sulfite and activated carbon are also common and effective when combined.
Market Limitations:
The market for filtered showerheads is relatively new and unregulated, with performance claims seldom backed by independent data. Requests for lab results were frequently unfulfilled, except by a few companies like Aquasana. Some manufacturers cited delays in receiving independent lab data and instead provided customer satisfaction surveys, necessitating a degree of skepticism.
Filtering challenges arise due to the limited size of showerhead filters, which must process high volumes of water at high pressure and temperature, unlike countertop water filters or under-sink reverse-osmosis devices. There is little evidence that these filters impact water hardness or calcium buildup significantly. They also showed minimal effect on the total dissolved solids in water, as measured with a TDS meter.
Claims regarding the removal of heavy metals like lead and arsenic were not tested, suggesting that individuals with such concerns should consult a water treatment professional or public health authority.
City-Specific Treatment:
Most major US cities do not use chlorine but chloramine for water treatment, which is harder to filter and test. Using a digital water colorimeter and a chemical indicator, tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of various showerhead filters in treating chlorine compounds.
The unfiltered water was first tested for total chlorine content, followed by water filtered through the showerheads. Each experiment was repeated multiple times over several days to account for precision and municipal chlorine level fluctuations. Showerheads that failed during testing or showed poor results were not recommended.
The guide will continue to be updated with new showerhead filters and ongoing efficacy tests.