I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

Taste, Comfort, and Everyday Experience

• Many commenters filter tap water primarily for taste: chlorine smell, “swimming pool” flavor, hardness, and visible rust are common complaints (UK, US West Coast, San Diego/San Jose, London, Bay Area).
• Simple mitigations mentioned: chilling in a jug to let free chlorine dissipate; carbon filters to remove chlorine/chloramine; softeners or RO for very hard water or coffee/tea quality.
• Some describe district-level variation and occasional events (pipe flushing turning water red) where filters improve aesthetics even if water is technically “safe.”

Trust in Municipal Water and Regulation

• Strong split: some see cheap, potable tap water as a public-health miracle and think home filtration is mostly psychological or for taste.
• Others emphasize infrastructure failures and regulatory compromises: Flint lead crisis, PFAS readings exceeding EPA limits in a nontrivial share of systems, raised contaminant limits after mine runoff (Colorado), and perceived political weakening of environmental rules.
• Key argument from skeptics: municipal reports are not the same as what comes out of your tap, especially with old pipes, solder, and in-house plumbing.

Filters, RO Systems, and Trade‑offs

• Under‑sink RO is popular among skeptics: no power needed, relatively cheap per day, removes many contaminants, often combined with remineralization.
• Disagreements over cost (“approximately nothing” vs noticeable annual expense) and proper maintenance (filter-change intervals, sterilizing lines, tank flushing).
• Some worry filters/RO can introduce other problems (bacterial growth if neglected, “hungry water” or B12 deficiency), but others call mineral‑deficiency claims unconvincing or anecdotal.
• Questions raised about microplastics: what sizes are caught (e.g., 0.5–1 µm ratings), and whether plastic housings themselves shed particles.
• Multiple mentions of standards and certifications (NSF/ANSI) as a way to vet filter claims.

Bottled Water vs Tap

• Several note bottled water is often just tap in plastic, less regulated than municipal supplies, and heavy in microplastics—yet essential in crises and preferred where tap tastes especially bad.
• Some rely on refill stations/RO vendors instead of single‑use bottles.

Wirecutter Article and Expertise

• Mixed reception: some generally trust Wirecutter; others see it as affiliate-driven, less rigorous post‑acquisition, or politically biased.
• Debate over the author’s “expert” status and lack of formal credentials; counterpoint that degrees aren’t the only path to real expertise.
• A few readers think the piece is mainly calming unnecessary anxiety; others think it understates real risk and overstates how reassuring testing and regulations are.