Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Galaxy Z Fold 7 Switch 2 Restock Best laptops Wordle Today Best Mattress Recommended reading I test water bottles, and this self-cleaning LARQ bottle is one I really trust — grab one now for just $57 this Prime Day I just tested the Eureka RapidWash wet and dry vacuum— here's how it did on my floors Kitchen & Dining I buy a coffee every morning and the amount of waste made me panic so I bought a reusable cup and have saved 2,500 from the trash — and it only cost $24 Yeti just dropped its new travel bottle — and it fixes my biggest problem Apparently scientists have created the "perfect" pour-over coffee method — so of course I tried it out Home Appliances You don't need a SodaStream — this new $54 gadget attaches to your water bottle, and can make fizzy drinks on the go Forget apple cider vinegar — I added grapefruit to my water every day to boost my metabolism, and here's what happened I tried this advanced water filter to test how ‘unclean’ my tap water is — and the results surprised me Cynthia Lawrence 27 July 2025 Do you know how clean your tap water is? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Culligan ZeroWater) When it comes to staying hydrated everyday, water is my go-to beverage, especially during a heatwave when I need to keep cool. And if, like me, you don’t like the taste of regular tap water, or simply want to save a fortune on bottled water, having a countertop filter jug is a kitchen essential. Essentially, filters reduce common tap water contaminants such as chlorine, heavy metals and microplastics often found in our water system.. And having used a few filter jugs over the years, I can honestly say these have certainly improved the taste and quality of my drinking water. You may like I test water bottles, and this self-cleaning LARQ bottle is one I really trust — grab one now for just $57 this Prime Day I just tested the Eureka RapidWash wet and dry vacuum— here's how it did on my floors I buy a coffee every morning and the amount of waste made me panic so I bought a reusable cup and have saved 2,500 from the trash — and it only cost $24 But while I’m pretty sure England’s tap water is perfectly safe to drink (without the risk of a stomach bug), I’ve always wondered how ‘clean’ it really is. That was when I discovered the Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher that also tests the quality and cleanliness of water. It also comes with a 5-stage filtration to ensure it works faster to dissolve all the impurities (TDS) from your water. So with that in mind, I put it to the test to find out exactly how ‘unclean’ my home’s tap water is. Here’s what happened. What is TDS? Essentially, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are organic and non-organic sediments in our water that affect the taste and appearance. These compounds can include minerals, salts through contact with rock surfaces, or calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium chloride and sulphides (which are frequently found in groundwater supplies). A TDS reader can tell you how high this level is in your water, and is measured in parts per million (PPM). Culligan ZeroWater Technology 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher: $29 at Amazon This 10-cup water pitcher includes a 5-stage filtration system to remove 99.9% of total dissolved solids in your drinking water. It also comes with an integrated TDS meter for real-time readings. What's more, it comes with an ergonomic handle and can easily fit in your fridge. Here's what happened when I tested my water ZeroWater filter jug and glass of water (Image credit: Future) Unlike others I’ve owned, the ZeroWater water filter pitcher comes with an integrated TDS meter so you can see the quality of your water in real-time. Assembly was pretty straightforward, and after cleaning the pitcher with warm soapy water, I inserted the filter before filling it up with tap water from the faucet. But I really wanted to know what my 5-filtration water filter would be up against. TDS reading of tap water in glass (Image credit: Future) I then filled a glass with tap water and inserted the TDS meter to check the quality. Within seconds it gave a reading of 322 ppm, before slightly dipping to 316 ppm. I suddenly went into panic mode: was that a good reading or bad? Fortunately, I was relieved to know that this reading was fine. According to Culligan, the normal TDS level ranges from 50 ppm to 1,000 ppm. However, anything above 500 might affect the taste, but generally not a health risk unless there are specific contaminants present. Despite my water quality being in the ‘safe’ zone, I was still surprised that it still had a relatively high reading, and not in the low, double-figures. (Image credit: Future) Needless to say, I was impressed at the ZeroWater filter pitcher's ability to quickly dissolve '99.99% impurities'. In fact, the TDS reading remained at a steady 0 — meaning that it did a grand job. Plus, the water filer pitcher can easily be stored in the refrigerator for instant, chilled water. Despite my tap water being in the 'normal' reading, I'm still not converted to drinking from the faucet. I'll definitely be sticking with filtered or bottled water from now on. Where to buy The Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher is available to buy for $29 on Amazon . More from Tom's Guide 11 best water bottles to buy in 2025 What is 'gray water'? Filthy water bottle? Here’s how to clean it the right way $19.45 at Amazon $20.99 at Ace Hardware $99.44 at Walmart Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Cynthia Lawrence Social Links Navigation Content Editor, Homes As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy ‘how to’ features. Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amongst many. With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she’s not testing cool products, she’ll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family home or looking for a great bargain! You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. I test water bottles, and this self-cleaning LARQ bottle is one I really trust — grab one now for just $57 this Prime Day I just tested the Eureka RapidWash wet and dry vacuum— here's how it did on my floors I buy a coffee every morning and the amount of waste made me panic so I bought a reusable cup and have saved 2,500 from the trash — and it only cost $24 Yeti just dropped its new travel bottle — and it fixes my biggest problem Apparently scientists have created the "perfect" pour-over coffee method — so of course I tried it out You don't need a SodaStream — this new $54 gadget attaches to your water bottle, and can make fizzy drinks on the go Latest in Home Anthropologie's home section is filled with hidden deals under $50 — shop my favorite items for summer Google apologizes and promises 'major improvements' in response to Home speaker debacle Expert reveals the best temperature to set your AC during a heatwave — and it might surprise you Beat the heat with this Dreo smart cooling fan limited-time deal on Amazon Experts recommend the 'DIY cool room' technique during a heatwave — here's how to do it 15 Amazon outdoor deals under $50 — here's everything you need for an epic summer Latest in Opinion Netflix just got one of the best movies you (probably) missed in theatres — and it’s like ‘Dead Poets Society’ but with a penguin ESPN's rumored NFL deal might actually make its $30 streaming service worth subscribing to I bought the Switch 2 Pro Controller for its remappable back buttons — but this feature makes them an absolute game changer iOS 26 public beta is live — 7 new iPhone features you need to try first Netflix’s new action-thriller series is a relentlessly gripping ride — and you can stream it now ‘’The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ review: A breath of fresh air for superhero fans LATEST ARTICLES Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Battle of the Android phones takes shape New on Netflix in August 2025 — every movie and show coming this month ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ ultimate cameo guide — from Haley Joel Osment to Post Malone Netflix top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live — Best Buy, Walmart, and more retailers all have stock now Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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