Review: Purewell Gravity Water Filter System

Full Analysis of the Purewell

Please note: We tested the Purewell using 2 Black Filter elements in combination with 2 optional fluoride filters.

Filtration: 3.41/5.00

The Purewell scored a decent 3.41/5.00 on filtration, which is not bad considering its price point. In our lab tests, we found most contaminants were removed to 100%, but a few weren’t reduced much, and fluoride even increased considerably, which may be due to natural variations. Taste and odor of the filtered water were flawless. However, it’s also worth mentioning that the Purewell has no NSF certifications for actual contaminant reduction and only very limited third-party testing.

1. Lab Results: 4.41/5.00

The Purewell scored 4.41/5.00 in our lab testing, meaning it did pretty well. However, that score was calculated based our recommendation to skip the optional fluoride filters, which didn’t work at all in our tests (learn more below).

When we compared an unfiltered and a filtered tap water sample, the Purewell removed nearly all unwanted contaminants to below the minimum detection level, except:

• Barium was removed by 75%, which is still a considerable amount.
• Lithium was 0% removed. Now to be fair, lithium was at the lowest possible concentration pre-filtration, and maybe we would have seen at least some reduction if levels had been a little higher.
• Strontium was 61% removed, which is pretty good.
• Fluoride wasn’t reduced at all, even though we used the optional fluoride filters. In fact, it actually increased by 47%, presumably due to natural fluctuations.
• Manganese increased from none detected in the unfiltered water to 0.01 ppm in our filtered sample. However, that’s also the minimum that the lab can detect, so that could simply be a coincidence, and it’s still lower than the CDC’s health guideline which we consider to be the most reasonable.
• Some form of aluminum increased from undetected in the unfiltered water to 0.19 ppm, presumably due to leaching from the optional fluoride filters (they’re made with activated alumina, a form of aluminum oxide). And because said filters failed to remove any fluoride, we recommend you just skip them.

Lab Results Chart

*100% means reduction to below the minimum detection level. To learn more about our testing procedures check our editorial guidelines.

Link to Filtered Water Report
Link to Unfiltered Water Report

2. NSF Certifications and Other Test Data

While Purewell advertises certification for NSF standards 42 and 372 (these test for aesthetic effects and lead), this is for material safety only. In other words, they have no NSF certifications to demonstrate the actual performance of their filters for contaminant reduction. The same applies to almost all of Purewell’s other test data, except:

• The company tested contaminant reduction with their Black Filters on a single sample of less than one gallon (3L). That test was only for chlorine, mercury, and lead, so we have no way to confirm the 3,000-gallon lifespan per filter they claim.
• They tested 99.99% E. coli reduction in non-potable water. But if you’re dealing with non-potable water, we’d definitely recommend boiling as the go-to treatment method, followed by disinfection as a second choice. After boiling or disinfecting, you could still run the water through the Purewell to remove other contaminants.
• Finally, Purewell also tested fluoride reduction using their optional fluoride filters. While their lab results showed the filters performed considerably better than they did in our lab test (86.9% removal compared to our 47% increase), they only tested to 26.4 gallons (100 liters).

3. Filtration Process

Purewell’s Black Filters combine a silver-infused activated carbon block with a .01-micron hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane.

• The activated carbon uses adsorption to remove bad taste and odor, and impurities and contaminants like chlorine/chloramines, DBPs and other VOCs, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and even some heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
• Silver acts as an antimicrobial.
• The ultrafiltration membrane acts as a physical barrier to bacteria and other pathogens, and other floating contaminants that cannot pass through the small pore size.

The optional fluoride filters which attach to the bottom of the Black Filters use activated alumina that generally targets fluoride and arsenic.

4. Taste and Odor Test

In our taste and odor test, the flavor of the filtered water was spot on – no taste or odors were detected.

Usability: 4.00/5.00

The Purewell gravity water filter was very easy to set up, use (also thanks to tank stand and water level window on lower tank), and maintain. The initial filter priming was slow, but based on our speed test, although you can’t filter on demand, the 2.25-gallon storage capacity should supply enough drinking water if you plan ahead.

1. Initial Setup

The initial setup was slow because the initial priming of the filters was quite slow, but that is pretty common for gravity water filters. The system assembly itself is fast and easy, with no additional tools required.

Here is an overview of the setup process:

1. Wash the chambers, lid, and spigot.
2. Insert the lid screw from the inside and screw the knob to the outside of the lid.
3. Metal and silicone gaskets are attached to the spigot before being inserted into the hole.
4. Additional metal and silicone gaskets are added to the inside before attaching the nut by hand.
5. Unscrew the nut and silicone gaskets from the filter and rinse the filter surface.
6. Prime the filter by placing the nut on upside down, then placing a silicone gasket on top. Hold that gasket tightly against the water tap and turn it on, allowing the water to push through.
7. Place a silicone gasket on the filter stem and insert it through the hole in the top chamber.
8. Place the other silicone gasket on and use the nut to screw it tightly in place.
9. Repeat with the second filter.
10. Place the bottom chamber on the anti-slip ring and place it on the stand.
11. Place the upper container on top and add the lid.

2. Everyday Use

Once primed and set up, the Purewell is easy and straightforward to use. Simply fill the upper chamber with water and wait for it to filter. Unfortunately, the filtration process is slow, and there’s no way to speed it up. But, one thing we really liked was how the stand lets you slide the system back on your counter while still having room to fit a glass underneath. This allows you to place the Purewell almost anywhere and makes dispensing easy.

We also liked how the built-in window on the lower tank lets you check the water level at a glance without lifting the top chamber. That’s especially helpful since these types of gravity filters keep working even when the bottom chamber is full, and adding more water at that point can cause leaking.

The Purewell is also very portable thanks to its sturdy design, ease of disassembling, light weight (9 lbs with filters installed), and ability to transport it with the upper tank stored in the lower tank for compactness.

3. Filtration/Dispensing Speed Test

In our speed test, we added 2 gallons to the tank, used 2 Black + fluoride filters in parallel, and dispensed 4 cups of water after 1:01 hours. While that doesn’t sound great, it’s actually quite decent for a gravity-type filter. Unlike with other systems, however, you can only use a maximum of two filter elements, so you cannot add more filters to speed up the filtration process. This means you cannot filter on demand. But fortunately, the 2.25-gallon capacity means you should have enough water if you plan ahead.

4. Maintenance (Filter Replacements)

Maintenance was also very easy and straightforward. Simply unscrew the nuts on the filters and replace them with two new primed filters.

While the manufacturer recommends replacing your filters every 12 months or 6,000 gallons for the pair (3,000 gallons per filter), this is neither NSF-certified nor even tested by the manufacturer to back up their filter life claims. So we recommend replacing them after about 500 gallons or every 6 months to ensure safe drinking water. We base that on the amount of filter media you get compared to similar filters that were tested for their entire lifespan. The optional fluoride filters are rated to a more realistic 500 gallons per filter.

Another thing to note is that there is no filter life indicator, so you must keep track of how many gallons you consume to determine the right time for replacement.

Costs: 4.94/5.00

1. Upfront Price

As of January 2025, the Purewell system costs $159 with two Black Filters and one tank stand, making it our favorite budget pick gravity filter.

2. Long-Term Expenses for Filter Replacements

Based on our adjusted filter life of 500 gallons or every 6 months, your yearly costs will be about $140 so also pretty cheap!

If you use the optional two fluoride filters in parallel (which we recommend you skip), it will cost another ~$50-$70 per year.

Additional Ranking Factors

1. Durable Materials

The Purewell is similar to other countertop gravity water filters in that it is made with 304 stainless steel tanks. However, the Purewell goes one step further and uses a metal spigot rather than plastic. That rates it very well for durable materials, especially considering it’s such a budget model.

2. Questionable Customer Service

Unfortunately, customer service seems questionable, but given the price, you know the saying: you get what you pay for. The company website is poorly made with confusing and inconsistent language. To make matters worse, they offer a very vague warranty and a return policy of only 30 days “with reasonable reason”. If you just decide you don’t like it or want a different size or color, you must return it within 7 days, paying the express cost for returning it yourself. Overall, their site and poor return policies do not convey much trust.

3. Frequent Customer Complaints

Some third-party customers have complained about taste issues and clogged filters. This may be why there’re washing instructions on the Purewell site to clean the filters if you have issues “when no water go through filters”. Other customers have complained of leaking.

Bottom Line: Best Budget Pick for Gravity-Type Countertop Filter

We gave the Purewell an overall rating of 3.83/5.00. It’s a decent option if you insist on a home gravity-type countertop water filter and you don’t want to spring for the Big Berkey. The Purewell didn’t perform as well in this category as the Big Berkey did, but the system is much more budget-friendly. There are also restocking issues with the Big Berkey filters, so from that perspective, the Purewell might be the better choice right now.

In our lab tests, the system did a pretty good job in its filtration results, especially for nitrate. Taste and odor of the water were flawless. The lack of NSF certification for contaminant reduction and the minimal contaminant reduction testing the company performed means we have no way to confirm their 3,000-gallon per filter lifespan. On the plus side, the Purewell is very easy to set up, use (also thanks to its tank stand and water level window on lower tank), and maintain.