The 4 Best Well Water Filtration Systems

Choosing the best well water filtration system for your home is not easy. You need a system that filters out harmful contaminants like iron and manganese. Plus, the product needs to have a high flow rate, be easy to install, and it should have low maintenance requirements. So, there are many different factors to consider as you look at the products on the market.

That’s what we want to help you with—we’ve compiled a list of the best well water filtration systems on the market right now. We’ve done it based on criteria that considers several crucial factors such as filtration technology, contaminant removal, and flow rate. This will help you determine which system is best suited to your specific needs.

If you're looking to filter your city water supply, head over to our article on the best whole house water filters.

Best Overall

Springwell WS1 Water Filter

• Iron removal up to 7 PPM
• Hydrogen Sulfide removal up to 8 PPM
• Manganese removal up to 1 PPM
• Can deliver 12 GPM flow rate
• Springwell AIO System that used oxidation technology
• Daily backwash setting
• Bluetooth control

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Runner Up

Aquasana Rhino

• A dual tank system
• Pre-filter and post-filters
• A well-designed shut-off valve
• UV light filter

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Best for Lead

Springwell LCR

• 0.5-micron filter compatibility
• Digital Notification Head
• Removes lead and PFAS, PHOA, cysts

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1. Springwell WS1 Whole House Well Water Filtration System

best overall

• Iron removal up to 7 PPM
• Hydrogen Sulfide removal up to 8 PPM
• Manganese removal up to 1 PPM
• Can deliver 12 GPM 
• Springwell AIO System that used oxidation technology
• Daily backwash setting
• Bluetooth control

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The WS1 is Springwell’s flagship well water filtration system and one of the most popular and coveted water filters on the market. It is the ideal solution to orange and reddish tint caused by iron, or rotten egg smell due to excess sulfur.

The Springwell WS1 is also one of the most convenient whole-house filters we’ve come across and it more than lives up to its reputation as a “set and forget” system. Once installed, it can be operated remotely via the Springwell Water Smart app, which gives you a great deal of control over its valve settings and insights into your water usage. This is great if you’re looking to reduce the amount of water you use at home and bring down your water bills.

Let’s take a look at the key features that have earned this filter the top spot on our list.

AIO Technology

The Springwell WS1 uses Air Injection Oxidation (AIO) technology to up to 8 PPM of hydrogen sulfide, 7 PPM of Iron, and 1 PPM of manganese. The water flows through the pocket of compressed air on the top of the tank to oxidize these contaminants. When the water flows into the media bed, oxidized contaminants stick to the media, leaving you with clear, odorless water.

The media bed is then washed and drained automatically to get rid of oxidized contaminants.

Green Sand Filtration Media

The WS1’s green sand filtration media targets and removes harmful contaminants like:

• Chloramine
• Chlorine
• PFOS
• PFOA
• Iron
• Sulfur
• Manganese

After the water has passed through the air pocket created by the AIO tech, the green sand filter traps the oxidized contaminants to prevent them from entering your home’s water supply. The end result is clean and safe water throughout your entire household.

Low Maintenance and Digital Controls

You’ll be pleased to know the system itself does not require any maintenance. You just have to set your preferred settings and let it run. There is an option for daily backwashing so you can enjoy clean water at all times.

Thanks to Bluetooth technology, you can control the system settings through your phone or tablet. This allows you to monitor and adjust backwash cycles, media regeneration, and valve settings easily. You can also see your water usage.

High Flow Rate and Excellent Warranty

With a 12 GPM flow rate, the Springwell WS1 can deliver constant water pressure for large houses. The unit is built with NFS-certified components and comes with a lifetime warranty and a six-month grace period.

If you feel that the system isn’t up to par with your needs, you can return the unit during those six months (provided it isn’t damaged or modified) for a refund. However, Springwell charges a 25% restocking fee, so you won’t get a full refund. Beware that shipping charges aren’t covered by the warranty. You’ll also have to pay for return shipping.

Just bear in mind that the installation isn’t very easy, and you may have to hire a professional if you aren’t experienced with DIY plumbing projects.

2. Aquasana Rhino Well Water Filter System With UV Filter

runner up

• A dual tank system
• Pre-filter and post-filters
• A well-designed shut-off valve
• UV light filter

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The Aquasana Rhino is another excellent well water treatment system that comes with a UV Filter that eliminates 99.99% of viruses and bacteria. Thanks to a combination of KDF, Activated Carbon, and UV light filters, it removes and reduces many contaminants, including but not limited to chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, lead, and sediment.

This reduces the health risks associated with these contaminants and provides you with clean water for bathing, cooking, cleaning, and all other uses.

As well as removing harmful bacteria, the Aquasana Rhino also reduces the levels of hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, and iron in your well water. This prevents rust staining and removes unpleasant, eggy odors. The filter system’s key features include:

Three-Stage Filtration and Dual Tank System

Once you install the system, water flows through the pre-filter, the dual tank, and the post-filter before it reaches the last step of filtration: the UV light.

Thanks to the dual tank system, the water spends a long time flowing through the filters, allowing the filter media to grab more contaminants than single tank units. Most contaminants are eliminated by Carbon and KDF filters, and the UV light takes care of microorganisms, viruses, and bacteria before the water is distributed to the house.

The dual tank design ensures maximum contaminant removal and makes the unit a lot less prone to clogging. Bacteriostatic media prohibits algae and bacteria growth in the system.

The Rhino delivers up to 14.7 GPM flow rate with constant water pressure.

Cost-Effectiveness

The Rhino is the cheapest filtration system we picked. It offers a great cost/quality ratio, even if you have to change the UV lamp annually. It comes with a five-year warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee. The company doesn’t pay for return shipping costs.

However, the Rhino requires frequent filter replacements. You’ll need to replace the pre-filters every two months, the post-filters every six months, the UV lamp annually, and the tank every 5 years. While pre and post-filters aren’t very expensive, the UV lamp replacement can set you back around $100.

You should also bear in mind that if you choose to install the system on your own, you will need to order a Pro-Grade Install Kit ($100). Yet, the Aquasana Rhino can be hard to install by yourself if you don’t have experience in DIY plumbing projects. In that case, you may want to consider hiring a professional installer.

NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Certification

Another key feature of this system is the fact it’s certified to NSF/ANSI standard 42. Essentially, this indicates that the media and overall system are certified for the effective reduction of contaminants.

To gain certification, the system is rigorously tested to determine how well it improves the taste, odor, and appearance of well water.

3. Springwell LCR Whole House Filter for Heavy Metals

best for lead

• 0.5-micron filter compatibility
• Digital Notification Head
• Removes lead and PFAS, PHOA, cysts

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The Springwell LCR-1 specializes in removing lead from well water. So, if you happen to be in an area where there are heavy metals present in the groundwater, you can count on this system to remove the contaminants.

Key Features:

• Digital notification head: This is a really nice touch that allows you to monitor your system’s water and flow rate via a Dynamic LED System. It also provides you with color-coded notifications telling you when the filter media need to be replaced
• Targeted lead removal: Its 0.5-micron filters take care of non-soluble lead particles, while the Ionic Exchange technology ensures water-soluble lead is removed from the water. This system also removes PFAS, PFOA, cysts, and chlorine from your well water and reduces other harmful contaminants thanks to its 0.5-micron filters. The LCR is also capable of removing all giardia and crypto parasites (known to cause diarrhea)
• Excellent warranty and money-back guarantee: The unit comes with a 6-month money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty on tanks and valves.
• Decent flow rate: With a flow rate of 8 GPM, the Springwell LCR delivers a constant water pressure to your house
• East to set up: Set up is relatively easy if you have experience with DIY house projects
• Long-lasting filters: You’ll need to replace the pre-filter every 100,000 gallons or after 1 year of use

4. Springwell STR Well Water Filter Filter/Softener for Tannins

best for tannins

• Removes tannins and softens water
• Innovative Bluetooth Head

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The Springwell STR is a salt-based softener system that effectively removes tannins from water. It also uses ion exchange technology to adsorb hard minerals and tannins in the water through resin bedding. Tannins can lead to water discoloration and leave stains on your faucets and clothes.

Key Features:

• High-capacity resin filter media: As the highest-capacity resin is used for the media, the water’s contact time with the media is increased, which leads to better filtration and better-quality water
• Bluetooth-enabled head: The system is fully Bluetooth compatible, which allows you to monitor it from your smart device. You can keep an eye on the backwash cycles, valve settings, and salt levels in the brine tank thanks to the smart app. The Springwell STR also keeps track of your settings and forms a database of all added preferences. If everything is working as it should, you shouldn’t experience a drop in water pressure
• Self-regeneration: It regularly performs backwashes, regenerates by itself, and rinses itself after use. However, since it’s a salt-based softener, you’ll have to add salt to the tank regularly to ensure the system functions
• Excellent flow rate: This system has a flow rate of 15 GPM, which makes it a good choice for homes with high water usage
• Easy installation and money-back guarantee: Installation is easy if you have experience with DIY house projects. Same as the LCR, the Springwell STR comes with a six-month money-back guarantee

What To Know About Well Water Filtration Systems

Contaminants Removed 

The most important parameter is the product's ability to filter out different types of contaminants. We ranked how well the systems eliminate different contaminants, such as heavy metals (copper, cadmium, arsenic, lead, and chromium), micro-organisms, viruses, bacteria, organic chemicals, and substances such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, paint, and disinfectants. 

The winner in this category is, hands down, the Aquasana Rhino Water Filtration System. This unit is a jack of all trades, but the most impressive fact is that it manages to do everything that it’s supposed to at the highest possible level. 

The Springwell WS1 came second, and it’s the best for removing iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese from water.

Springwell LCR is the best for removing lead, PFAS, and PFOA (also known as forever plastics) in well water, while Springwell STR removes tannins and hard minerals. It’s basically a water softener. 

Flow Rate 

Water flow rate is the amount of water the system can handle at any given moment of time. It’s measured in gallons per minute (GPM). 

While most houses use 2 or 3 GPM, the norm for whole-house filtration systems is 7 GPM. This is a solid number and anything below that will likely decrease the water pressure. If you have multiple bathrooms and kitchens, you’ll appreciate a system with a high flow rate. 

The Aquasana Rhino is capable of delivering constant water pressure levels of nearly 15 GPM. 

That said, all our picks feature a flow rate higher than 7 GPM, which can comfortably support up to 4 bathrooms. 

Filtration Technology 

Aquasana Rhino uses 3 different filtration methods; carbon filter, a KDF media filter, and a UV lamp. Springwell WS1 uses air injection technology to remove iron and manganese from the water, while Springwell STR is an ion-exchange device, or more simply, a salt-based softener that removes hard minerals from water. 

If you also need to remove hard minerals from the water, then consider pairing your well water filter with an ion-exchange well water water softener. But if you have a more serious issue, such as viruses and bacteria in your water, you’ll need different technology, like a UV filter. 

Ease of Installation 

Some of these systems are relatively easy to put together if you’re used to DIY projects, but a few are more complex, and you might need professional help to set up. 

Beware that some professionals may refuse to assemble the system to avoid voiding your warranty. You can ask your local plumbing store if they sell the unit you wish to purchase. If yes, they’ll be able to set it up for you quickly and efficiently. 

Typically, each product comes with a set of instructions to help you assemble it. You’ll also find helpful installation videos on YouTube. 

Maintenance Requirements 

We ranked each system for maintenance requirements to give you an idea of how much effort (and money) you have to spend to keep your water filtration system working. 

Our number one pick is Springwell WS1. It’s a set-and-go system that requires very minimal maintenance. You can monitor it through Bluetooth via your phone. 

Springwell LCR is similarly easy to use. You only need to change the pre-filter every 100,000 gallons or after 1 year of use.  Springwell STR features a Bluetooth mode that allows you to monitor the salt levels in the brine tank. Since it’s a salt-based softener, you need to add salt to the system regularly. 

Finally, we have Aquasana Rhino, which needs more maintenance compared to other systems. Its pre-filters should be replaced every two months, post-filters every six months, the UV lamp annually, and the tank every 5 years. 

Warranty 

Warranty is an important metric, and we laid out the basics of each product for you. However, you must send your water for testing and contact the seller before purchasing a unit. Some products can’t be used in specific water conditions, and the manufacturer will let you know if their product is suitable for your water. Otherwise, you might damage the product and lose your warranty. 

All the products we listed offer a money-back guarantee after a period of use if you’re unsatisfied. Return shipping costs are not covered. The seller might keep 25% of the price as a restocking fee. 

The Most Common Water Filtration Technologies 

Naturally, we all want the best possible filter that we can afford, but which technology is the best? Well, the answer isn’t cut and dried. The best filtration technology is the one that best serves your needs 

Let’s look at the most common water filtration technologies and see how they compare: 

UV Filtration

UV water filtering systems make use of special UV lamps that emit UV light at a certain wavelength that disrupts the DNA/RNA of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or cysts. 

UV light waves use a Germicidal Spectrum or Frequency, which is 254 nanometers (nm). As the water passes through the UV filter, bacteria and viruses are exposed to this frequency and destroyed. 

UV water treatment units have risen in popularity because they are a surefire way of removing 99.99% of all harmful microorganisms. However, UV filtering only works when paired with pre-treatment solutions. Otherwise, viruses and bacteria can hide behind sediment and other particles. The water has to be completely clear for the system to work. UV filters are often used as the last step in water treatment systems. 

KDF Filters 

KDF or Kinetic Degradation Fluxion filters are staples in water pre-treatment in both residential and industrial water filtration. 

The filters feature zinc-copper alloys and produce an electrochemical reaction known as oxidation-reduction (redox). The process can remove or reduce lead, chlorine, mercury, iron, magnesium, hydrogen sulfide, chromium, calcium carbonate, fungi, algae, and bacteria from water. 

The most common KDF filter on the market is the KDF 55, which is catered to fine granule mediums and reduces substances such as chlorine and soluble heavy metals. 

Air Injection 

Air injection filtration is a great water treatment approach that removes iron, sulfur, and manganese. As water flows through a tank equipped with an air chamber, the iron in the water oxidizes. When it reaches the media bed, the oxidized iron is trapped in the media. 

The same method is used when removing contaminants such as sulfur and manganese. 

Granular Activated Carbon Filters 

Granulated activated carbon filters (GAC) are one of the most utilized filters in pitcher filters and dispensers. You will find them in stock in your local supermarket and local retail shops. 

Granulated activated carbon can adsorb certain chemicals in the water. It’s effective for removing VOCs, organic chemicals, chlorine, and hydrogen sulfide (sulfur or rotten eggs smell). 

Carbon Block Filters 

Carbon block filters are similar to GAC filters, but they’re more effective in filtering contaminants due to their compact structures (1 micron or less in size). 

When water passes through the carbon block, carbon eliminates chemical contaminants. Sediment and other physical contaminants can’t pass through the block due to the small pore size. 

Carbon block filters with 0.5 microns are well equipped to remove most contaminants found in well water, including chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, PFOS, pharmaceuticals, VOCs, and certain bacteria. Top-quality carbon filters can remove PFAS, mercury, asbestos, and radon from water. 

You can expect a carbon block filter to remove anywhere from 50-60 contaminants from your water. 

Reverse Osmosis 

The products we choose don’t use Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology, but some of them offer an RO filter addition you can purchase. 

RO systems have 0.0001-micron size semi-permeable pores that remove dissolved solids, as well as bacteria and viruses, from the water. 

RO systems can remove lead, sodium, chromium, copper, and chloride from water. They can reduce hard minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium as well as nitrate, arsenic, sulfate, fluoride, phosphorus, and radium.

Popular Questions About Well Water Filter

Which well water filter removes the most contaminants? 

Out of all the products we evaluated, the Aquasana Rhino removes and reduces the most contaminants, thanks to its triple carbon + KDF + UV light filters.  That said, you can also use a whole house RO system paired with a carbon block filter to eliminate the highest number of contaminants from water.

Beware that RO systems have multiple disadvantages, though. You may not be able to use them in some states due to environmental regulations since they produce a lot of wastewater. They also remove healthy minerals from the water, and you have to install a remineralizing filter to make up for the loss. Add image

What is the average price of a well filtration system? 

A well filtration system typically costs $1,300- $2,500.  However, these are mostly whole-house systems that address specific problems. 

What does installing a well filter require? 

Experience with DIY plumbing projects as well as a dedicated toolkit is very helpful when you’re installing a well filter. Each product we recommend in this article comes with instructions, and you can find multiple videos online to see how the installation works. 

While the installation package for these systems usually includes all the important parts, in most cases, you’ll need to buy connectors and fittings that are the right size for your pipes. Other than that, you might require a wrench, some adhesive, tape, maybe a pipe cutter, a ladder, a screwdriver, and some drills.