Fluoride was once a hot topic on this site. It seems the discussion has died down, but there are still many people who are concerned about the presence of fluoride in their drinking water. As we said in our original article, we will not take a position on whether fluoride is harmful for your health or not. There is plenty of evidence for and against. That said, fluoride is by no means a natural ingredient of water and if we are talking about water purification, we want water to be in its most natural state possible.
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis systems will remove just about everything. This is why you see some RO systems advertise the fact that they can reinsert certain minerals that be important for the integrity of the water (see the Home Master, for example). An RO system is one of the more expensive options for fluoride removal, but it is a good long-term option that will also purify your water in many other respects.
Activated Alumina Defluoridation Filter
These bad boys will do the trick, but they can be just as expensive as a reverse osmosis system. They are often used in areas where fluorosis is present, which happens when the level of fluoride exceeds a certain level. They work by absorbing fluoride in significant quantities. It is for this reason that the filters need to be replaced somewhat often.
Distillation
Distillation is another way that you can remove fluoride from your drinking water. Unfortunately, it takes significant time and energy. Also, it presents the same problem that we have with reverse osmosis. It removes too many things from the water and you will have re-insert minerals at a later stage.
What will not remove fluoride from your drinking water
Unfortunately, many lower-priced pitcher filters will not remove fluoride from the water. This would include products from both Brita and PUR. You also won’t get anywhere with boiling the water. Remember, boiling the water is a way to kill microorganisms. It will not remove chemical contents or sediment. Filters are an attractive option, but as we have already said here, only certain filters that specifically address fluoride will help you.
If you want to remove fluoride from your water, our best advice for you is to use a reverse osmosis system. If you go with something like the tap master you will have a device that will last for years and you won’t have to worry about replacing any components too often.
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