Meta Title: Best Water Filters For Coliform Bacteria | Water Defense
Meta Description: We tested the best water filters for coliform bacteria and ranked them. Learn all about their filtration tech, flow rate, and more.
Coliform bacteria can make your water slimy, cloudy, and smelly. Worse still, if they’re present in your drinking water, they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other serious health issues.
Clearly, getting rid of coliform bacteria from your water supply is crucial for your well-being, and the best way to do this is with a water filter. To make things easier, we’ve created this guide to help you find the best coliform bacteria water filter for your home.
The best UV filter is the SpringWell UV Water Filter and Purification System, which removes at least 99.9% of coliform bacteria from water. If you’re after an under-sink UV filter, we recommend the Acuva ArrowMAX 2.0 UV-LED Water Treatment System. It has a 0.52 GPM, so it’s suitable for very large homes.
If your home is supplied with well water, you should go for the Aquasana Rhino Well Water with UV because it has the most powerful UV tech we’ve come across.
- Filtration technology: Ultraviolet purification
- Filter type: Whole house filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Flow rate: 15 GPM (Up to seven bathrooms)
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: Ultraviolet purification w/ pre-filter
- Filter type: Under-the-sink filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Flow rate: 0.52 GPM (Up to seven bathrooms)
- Warranty: One year
- Filtration technology: Ultraviolet purification w/ well water filter
- Filter type: Whole house unit
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Flow rate: 14.7 GPM (up to seven bathrooms)
- Warranty: Five years
- Filtration technology: Black Berkey Elements
- Filter type: Countertop water filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Filtered water capacity: 2.25 gallons
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: Undisclosed
- Filter type: Under-the-sink filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Filtration capacity: 651 gallons
- Warranty: Lifetime
Reviews of Best Water Filters for Coliform Bacteria
SpringWell UV Water Filter and Purification System – Best UV System for Coliform Bacteria
- Filtration technology: Ultraviolet purification
- Filter type: Whole house filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Flow rate: 15 GPM (Up to seven bathrooms)
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Price: $1,100.99
PROS
- Ultraviolet purification is one of the most efficient methods against coliform bacteria
- Its 30mj/cm2 UV strength is able to destroy all coliform species
- The 15 GPM flow rate is ideal for homes with up to seven bathrooms
- Features an electronic system head, which is user-friendly and gives you complete control over the system
- Made in the USA, so it’s easy to source parts for repairs and replacements
- Lifetime warranty, so you’re fully covered for most issues
CONS
- Expensive unit but not quite the most expensive option on our list
- Depending on your water quality, you may need to install a pre-filter
- Installation requires professional plumbing, which adds to the cost
UV water purification units are the best defense against bacteria and viruses because they’re able to kill all living organisms inside water. The only precondition is for the water to be clear of dirt, sediment particles, and other impurities.
In this category, we chose the SpringWell UV Water Filter as our favorite system against coliform bacteria since it has exceptionally durable and robust UV equipment.
UV Purification
The system sports a minimum of 30 megajoules per centimeter square (mj/cm2) of ultraviolet power. Seeing as only 10mj/cm2 is enough to destroy the most enduring subspecies of coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli ATCC 11303, the ultraviolet power of this SpringWell model is more than enough to eradicate them from your water.
High Flow Rate
In addition, the SpringWell UV has the highest flow rate among its competitors. It produces 15 gallons of coliform-free water per minute, enough to accommodate bigger households and homes with up to seven bathrooms.
We installed it in a home with 5 bathrooms to test it out, and we were really impressed with its performance. We didn’t notice any drop in water pressure when we turned on the faucets and showers after installation.
Electronic System Head
Like other SpringWell whole-house water treatment units, the SpringWell UV filter has an electronic system head. The system head informs you of the UV emittance, the remaining time before you need to change the UV lamp (usually once a year), and the turbidity levels of the water.
At Water Defense, we think that every water filter should include a digital interface. It greatly improves the user experience and takes the guesswork out of replacing the filters. So, we were really happy to see that this unit included one.
Acuva ArrowMAX 2.0 UV-LED Water Treatment System – Best Under-the-Sink UV Purifier for Coliform Bacteria
- Filtration technology: Ultraviolet purification w/ pre-filter
- Filter type: Under-the-sink filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Flow rate: 0.52 GPM (Up to seven bathrooms)
- Warranty: One year
- Price: $599
PROS
- The 16mj/cm2 ultraviolet power kills all coliform bacteria, like the SpringWell system
- It’s a portable system providing coliform-free water wherever you go
- Features a built-in pre-filter removing turbidity, chlorine, heavy metals, and VOCs
CONS
- Pre-filter needs to be replaced at least twice a year, and the replacement filters aren’t on the cheap side
- Produces only 0.52 gallons of coliform-free drinking water per minute
- One-year warranty, which is by far the shortest warranty on our list
If you’re looking for an affordable way to successfully eliminate coliform bacteria from your drinking water, the Acuva ArrowMAX 2.0 UV-LED Water Treatment System is the product for you. At $599, it’s pretty cost-effective for an under-sink model but you still get plenty of features for this price tag.
Universal Compatibility, Easy to Install, and Portable
Acuva ArrowMAX is a small UV-based water treatment unit that’s compatible with every sink. It’s also one of the most straightforward devices to install. If you’re frequently traveling (in an RV or to a country house) or moving from place to place, uninstalling and reinstalling is a piece of cake.
The ease of installation means there’s no need to hire a plumber to help you install it, which adds to the affordability of the device. Plus, its universal compatibility and compact size make it the perfect companion for your travels.
Good UV Power
Its UV power of 16mj/cm2 is humbler compared to the SpringWell unit. However, since 10mj/cm2 of UV power is enough to eviscerate even the most enduring type of coliform bacteria, the lower power is nothing to worry about. It’s still as effective at eliminating coliform bacteria as the SpringWell system.
Built-In Pre-Filter
Unlike the SpringWell unit, which requires a pre-filter that reduces turbidity and chlorine, the Acuva ArrowMAX already features a built-in pre-filter designed to neutralize both. The built-in pre-filter can also eliminate some of the most dangerous heavy metals, including lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with a success rate of 99% at a minimum.
However, the pre-filter comes with certain disadvantages regarding maintenance. While the only maintenance of the SpringWell UV purifier is replacing the UV lamp once a year, you’ll need to renew Acuva ArrowMAX’s pre-filter at least twice a year, which adds to its long-term costs.
Aquasana Rhino Well Water with UV – Best Whole House Well Water Filter for Coliform Bacteria
- Filtration technology: Ultraviolet purification w/ well water filter
- Filter type: Whole house unit
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Flow rate: 14.7 GPM (up to seven bathrooms)
- Warranty: Five years
- Price: $1,399
PROS
- Its 40 mj/cm2 ultraviolet power makes it the most robust UV device on the market
- Kills more pathogens than its competitors, giving you a more comprehensive filtration
- Ideal for homes with well water as it removes VOCs, herbicides, and pesticides besides chlorine and turbidity
- The 14.7 GPM flow rate is suitable for very large households
CONS
- The most expensive unit on our list, so it might not suit every budget
- The three-filter setup makes it high-maintenance compared to the other systems we tested
- It’s quite bulky, so it’s not ideal for apartments
- Only five years of warranty, which pales in comparison to the lifetime warranties of some of the other units on this list
Tap water typically passes through various treatment phases before it reaches our taps, so a UV filter works more efficiently due to the lack of turbidity.
Of course, we can’t say the same thing for well water. However, Aquasana has combined its UV purifier with its robust Rhino well water filter to combat the issue, resulting in a high-end technology for dealing with coliform bacteria.
Key Features:
Exceptional flow rate: The sophistication of its dual-tank filter and the succeeding UV purifier don’t stop the Aquasana Rhino from supporting a flow rate almost equal to that of the SpringWell unit at 14.7 GPM. It’s enough to provide coliform-free water for homes with six or seven bathrooms.
Powerful UV: This unit has the most potent UV power we’ve come across – 40mj/cm2. The high UV power means the device kills more bacteria, virus types, and coliform bacteria than any other UV purification device.
Inorganic contaminant removal: Besides its remarkable effectiveness in terminating pathogenic organisms, the Aquasana Rhino’s well water filter combo is incredibly efficient at stopping many inorganic contaminants, including herbicides, pesticides, chlorine, turbidity, sediment, and VOCs.
Dual-tank system: Unlike many other whole-house treatment products, it comes with a dual-tank design that blends upflowing and downflowing filtration techniques, meaning the treatment process is as thorough as possible.
Exceptional flow rate: The sophistication of its dual-tank filter and the succeeding UV purifier don’t stop the Aquasana Rhino from supporting a flow rate almost equal to that of the SpringWell unit at 14.7 GPM. It’s enough to provide coliform-free water for homes with six or seven bathrooms.
Big Berkey Water Filter – Best Countertop Filtration Unit for Coliform Bacteria
- Filtration technology: Black Berkey Elements
- Filter type: Countertop water filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Filtered water capacity: 2.25 gallons
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Price: $399.95
PROS
- Unlike most countertop filters, it’s able to remove pathogens such as coliform bacteria
- Removes more than 203 other contaminants, which is really high for a countertop unit
- Blends different filtration techniques in a single filter cartridge
- Made of stainless steel, which gives it a high level of durability
- Lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to pay out for repairs and replacements
- More affordable than UV devices
- It has a high volume of storage capacity, so you should always have a ready supply of water
CONS
- Takes two hours to produce coliform-free water
- It includes a plastic spigot, which isn’t as durable as stainless steel
UV devices aren’t everybody’s cup of tea because they require pre-filters, can be tricky to install, and can be fairly expensive. If you have these concerns, we have an alternative for you – the Big Berkey Water Filter. It uses unique filtration technology that’s highly effective against coliform bacteria as well as more than 203 other impurities.
Key Features:
Innovative filtration tech: The success of Big Berkey in removing so many contaminants, including pathogens like bacteria and viruses, is down to its groundbreaking filters: Black Berkey Elements. Black Berkey Elements use different kinds of filtration techniques in a single cartridge, including microfiltration, adsorption, absorption, and prolonged exposure time. Since coliform bacteria are rod-shaped, micro-filters with a sub-micron pore size block their passage to your drinking water. However, this is not a preferred method to deal with pathogens as these organisms may still find a way to pass through even the most sub-micron membranes, including reverse osmosis ones, which is why additional filtration methods are required.
Adsorption: To reinforce its effectiveness against pathogens, Black Berkey Elements also utilizes adsorption. In adsorption, organisms with an electrical charge are drawn to the adsorptive walls of the filter and trapped there. That’s how Big Berkey removes 99.99% of coliform bacteria in water, making it a water purifier rather than a filter.
Slow but effective: Unlike most countertop devices that produce filtered water in a matter of minutes, Big Berkey takes two hours to provide safe, coliform-free, and filtered water, which is what makes its astounding contaminant removal numbers possible. However, we understand that some would consider it a downside since not everyone is patient enough to wait two hours for clean water.
Large storage tank: To counteract the time it takes to filter water, the unit comes with a huge 2.25-gallon storage tank. So, as long as you ensure it’s always filled to capacity, you’ll have purified water readily available at all times.
Epic Smart Shield – Best Under-the-Sink Filter for Coliform Bacteria
- Filtration technology: Undisclosed
- Filter type: Under-the-sink filter
- Coliform bacteria reduction rate: Minimum of 99.9%
- Filtration capacity: 651 gallons
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Price: $135
PROS
- Rare non-UV under-the-sink filter that neutralizes coliform bacteria, making it a fairly unique product
- Removes more than 70+ contaminants, including lead, PFAS, chlorine, and microplastics
- Eco-friendly as the filters are 100% recyclable, which saves them from going to landfills
- Portable and super easy to install, so there’s no need to pay for a plumber
- Lifetime warranty, which we’re always happy to see
CONS
- Replacement filter costs almost as much as the unit itself, so although the unit is cheap, using this device becomes fairly costly over time
- Doesn’t feature a sediment pre-filter, so you’ll need to buy one separately, which adds to the upfront cost
- Not recommended for well water, so you’ll need to invest in a different unit if your home uses well water
If you’re in the market for the most affordable water treatment product that eliminates coliform bacteria from your drinking water, then Epic Smart Shield is the standout choice. With a price tag of $135, this single-cartridge, portable device removes more than 70 contaminants from water, including coliform bacteria.
Key Features:
Long-lasting filter: The unit has a filtration capacity of 651 gallons, which is pretty high for an undersink model. This means that it can last for around 12 months in a home with moderate use before it needs to be replaced, which is good news considering the replacement filters cost almost as much as the entire unit.pabilities have been independently tested and verified in a third-party lab.
High removal rate: Thanks to its industry-leading technology, Epic Smart Shield neutralizes 99.9% of coliform species, including the most dangerous E. coli strains. Not only that, but it does it while keeping healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium intact, which distinguishes it from many other under-the-sink units.
Eco-friendliness: Most water treatment units, especially water softeners and reverse osmosis devices, get criticized for harming the environment by releasing sodium or producing too much wastewater. Epic Smart Shield does neither, and what’s even better is that the product itself is 100% made of recycled and sustainable materials. What’s more, the manufacturer also runs a recycling program. By registering for this program and sending them used Epic Smart Shield filters, you’ll receive a new replacement filter for free.
NSF-certified: The Epic Smart Shield is certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, and 401. This means its contaminant removal capabilities have been independently tested and verified in a third-party lab.
Long-lasting filter: The unit has a filtration capacity of 651 gallons, which is pretty high for an undersink model. This means that it can last for around 12 months in a home with moderate use before it needs to be replaced, which is good news considering the replacement filters cost almost as much as the entire unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we answer common questions regarding coliform bacteria, its health effects, and filtration devices designed to eliminate them.
Coliform bacteria are everywhere – in soil, water, organic matter, animals, and even on your skin as you’re reading this. All these species are labeled under the umbrella name of total coliform bacteria and are not necessarily harmful. In other words, not all coliform subspecies are dangerous.
However, once these bacteria enter human or animal intestines, they evolve into dangerous coliform subspecies, including:
Fecal coliform: Fecal coliform bacteria live in the intestines of animals and people. These coliform subspecies can pollute your water if they get to it via a septic tank that’s too close to your private well, improper waste practices, or untreated wastewater mixing with water sources feeding municipal populations. People exposed to fecal coliform through their drinking water experience serious health issues like typhoid fever and dysentery.
E. coli: Another subspecies of total coliform bacteria, E. coli, also known as Escherichia coli, is also common across the United States. While most of its strains are harmless, one of its most prominent strains, E. coli O157:H7, has been behind many disease outbreaks in recent years. The symptoms of this disease include bloody diarrhea and, in the worst cases, kidney failure.
Despite most coliform species being harmless, the presence of total coliform bacteria in water sometimes indicates the presence of harmful subspecies. So, even if you don’t show any of the symptoms mentioned above, you still need to do your best to prevent it from causing problems in the future.
Yes, especially if you reside in a rural area and depend on a private well for your drinking water supply. Buying a water filter to eradicate coliform species from your water is a smart choice.
Most municipal water suppliers and authorities disinfect their water lines with chlorine and chloramines or ozonation. Such practices destroy the already-existing pathogens in water and prevent them from multiplying.
However, even if you have shock-chlorinated your private well, chances are coliform bacteria are still present due to new bodies of water coming in. That’s especially the case when you don’t address the root of the problem, such as a leaky septic tank near your private well.
So, the best practice to protect your drinking water from coliform species is to purchase a UV purifier, countertop filter, or an under-the-sink unit equipped to deal with this problem.
The most precise way to know if coliform bacteria has contaminated your water supply is to collect a water sample from your faucet and send it to a water-testing lab certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Depending on the lab, you’ll get a detailed document listing the pollutants found in your water, including coliform bacteria, in a couple of days or weeks. Based on that info, you’ll know what your next step should be.
Please note if you doubt there are coliform bacteria in your drinking supply, you should immediately stop consuming the water. In such cases, sticking with bottled water until you find a permanent solution is better.
We can’t pinpoint one filter or purifier as the best choice for coliform bacteria because all the products on our list have at least a 99.9% neutralization rate. So, they’re all equally equipped for this purpose.
Yet, ultraviolet water purifiers, like the SpringWell device, are often considered the best way to deal with pathogenic organisms. But remember, to get the optimum efficiency from UV devices, you need to ensure your water quality is in line with the turbidity requirements of your chosen device.
To that end, we recommend testing your water for turbidity (by sending a water sample to a certified lab) and comparing the results to the devices’ online instruction manuals. If you can’t find an online manual, you should contact the manufacturer and ask them about the compatibility of their device with the turbidity levels of your water. Additionally, installing a pre-filter is also a good idea.
Conclusion
Not all coliform strains are harmful, but when they are, they lead to various severe health issues, including kidney failure. Most Americans, especially well-users, choose water treatment solutions that destroy coliform bacteria to minimize this risk.
In that sense, SpringWell’s whole house UV device is the best option with its 30mj/cm2 UV lamp, 15 GPM flow rate, and lifetime warranty.
If coliform-free drinking water is your only concern, Acuva ArrowMAX is a portable UV unit with a decent pre-filter that allows you to filter the water at just one faucet.
The Aquasana Rhino combo, on the other hand, offers the most powerful UV lamp (40 mj/cm2) matched with one of the best well water filters on the market.
You also have a non-UV option in the Big Berkey, which rises above its competition with its innovative filter design that allows it to trap all coliform strains.
Lastly, the Epic Smart Shield is an excellent alternative to the other devices on our list for those looking to eliminate coliform bacteria in an affordable and eco-friendly manner.
