As Hong Kong citizens increasingly focus on water quality issues, many households are considering purchasing water filters (purifiers) to ensure the safety and health of drinking water. Installing a good water filter can prevent drinking water from secondary contamination while filtering out heavy metals and microorganisms. In recent years, concerns about water pollution, old pipes, and environmental factors have led people to pay more attention to the quality of water used at home.

• Heavy Metal Pollution: The 2015 lead water incident revealed that some public housing estates and old buildings, due to the use of non-compliant solder or old pipes, resulted in drinking water containing excessive lead and copper, affecting health (especially child development).
• Asphalt Pollution: At the end of May 2025, black specks were found in drinking water at the Queen's Hill Estate in Fanling, later confirmed to contain asphalt and resin materials, raising public concern.
• Chlorine and Odor: The Water Supplies Department uses chlorine to disinfect drinking water, which complies with the Hong Kong Drinking Water Standards. However, excessive chlorine or its by-products (such as trihalomethanes) may affect taste and health.
• Emerging Contaminants: Microplastics, Cryptosporidium, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc., have been detected in drinking water, with long-term intake potentially posing health risks.

Choosing the right water purifier can effectively remove impurities and harmful substances from water, enhancing quality of life and ensuring family safety. Popular brands include 3M，Brita，Doulton and PHILIPS. Check out the following buying guide, along with comparisons of water filters and popular product recommendations!

Types of water purifiers　

There are many kinds of water purifiers available on the market. So how to pick the right one? Simply refer below and choose the water purifier that matches your needs, so you can drink pure clean water with peace of mind.

1. Pitcher
Pour tap water into the pitcher. Clean water flows slowly through the purifying cartridge and into the pitcher.
The key lies in the purifying cartridge. Generally, purifying cartridges eliminate chlorine, impurities, bacteria, microorganisms and odours.
Advantage：very affordable and easy to use
Disadvantage：long filtration time, need to change the purifier cartridge often.
Purifying cartridge life：around 3 months

2. Faucet
Easy to install: just connect it to the faucet to purify the water.
Advantage：easy to install, affordable, lets you enjoy purified water instantly
Disadvantage：frequent replacement of purifying cartridge, short cartridge life, only eliminate basic impurities so product specifications are low.
Purifying cartridge life：3 to 6 months  

3. Counter top
Generally, they have a relatively large purifying cartridge. After installation, the water goes through the purifying cartridge from the faucet and flows out from preinstalled water pipes.
Advantage：large filtration capacity, longer purifier cartridge replacement period　
Disadvantage：takes up a lot of counter space, need to consider where the water pipes go and installation steps are complicated.
Purifier cartridge life：9 to 12 months

4. Under the sink
As the name suggests, these are installed under the sink. The result is superior as most of these water purifiers are installed with different purifying functions including chlorine and heavy metal removal.
Sometimes during installation, it is necessary to change the faucet at the same time so you need a professional or a technician to install it.
Advantage：comprehensive purifying function, longer purifying cartridge replacement period
Disadvantage：Price is higher and professional installation is required.　
Purifier cartridge life：9 to 12 months

5. Ioniser
Drinking water is electrolysed into alkaline ionised water and acidic ionised water. Alkaline water is rich in minerals and suitable for drinking while acidic water has sterilisation, disinfection and cleansing properties. Select according to need. The quality of the purified water varies so the price of this type of water purifier is much higher.
Advantage：offers different levels of water quality and higher filtration capacity according to consumption.
Disadvantage：Higher price, not suitable for people with kidney disease and babies

6. Kitchen/bath/bathroom showerhead
You’ve probably heard a lot about this type of water purifier. Do not neglect the water you use to take a shower or bath. A lot of bacteria, mud, sand, and dirt are invisible to the naked eye so a pure vitamin showerhead can help you eliminate residual chlorine and impurities in the water. Saves water, remove rusts and even moisturizes your skin.
Advantage：removes chlorine from water, increases water pressure, saves water and delivers Vitamin C for healthy skin.
Disadvantage：Not suitable for people who are allergic to certain aromas.　

2025 Water Purifier Recommendations

Shower Head Water Filter & Shower Filter

Product	Features
3M Shower Filter (Bonus Pack)	Reduce chlorine and filter impurities
B&H Magic SF1003+SF1003R Stainless Steel Spa Shower Filter + Spa Shower Refill Set	Remove heavy metals, sand, rust, and fine impurities / Filter chlorine and organic chemicals / Nano-silver effectively kills bacteria
PHILIPS AWP1775CH/97 AWP175/97 Shower Filter Set - Shiny Silver Version	Remove residual chlorine, particle impurities, heavy metals, and strange tastes and smells

Faucet on Direct and Counter Top Water Purifier (self installation)

Product	Features
3M AP Easy Complete Water Fliteration System (DIY-with filter diverter)	NSF/ANSI Std. 42 and 53 certified, effectively filters carcinogenic volatile organic chemicals, lead, rust, chlorine, odor, sediment, and Cryptosporidium
B&H Magic UKAD Coldstream CTO PLUS Water Purifier (Dual Tube)	Original UK-made dual-tube ceramic washable filter, combined with silver element for sterilization, filters 99.99% of pharmaceutical hormones, chlorine, odors, pesticides, and microplastics, effectively blocking 99.99% of viruses (like rotavirus) and bacteria
Doulton HIP-CT Counter-top water Purifier + BTU 2501 (NSF) Water Filter	Washable ceramic filter, filters heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury), with silver elements to prevent bacterial growth in the water, activated carbon removes chlorine, pesticides, and insecticides
PHILIPS AUT1211 Countertop water purifier	Remove 99.9% of bacteria, reduce large particles, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds
WATSONS WATER Solution CF1 Advanced Pro Filter (set)	Activated carbon filters sand, impurities, suspended matter, heavy metals, pesticides, strange odors, and chlorine

Faucet on Direct and Counter Top Water Purifier

Product	Features
Brita BRITA On Tap Pro V-MF Filter System	Filter rough impurities, heavy metals like lead, pesticides, and chemical agents, removing 99% of bacteria
B&H Magic EF-100 Fivefold Ceramic Faucet Filter	High-tech nano-silver antibacterial cloth eliminates bacteria and prevents their regrowth, along with sludge, rust, bacteria, typhoid, cholera, E. coli, and impurities as small as 0.9 microns, chlorine, pesticides, trihalomethanes (THM), and chemical organic substances, as well as bleach odor and strange smells
PHILIPS AWP3773+WP3922*3 On-tap water purifier set (1 filter with Extra 3 WP3922 Cartridges)	Remove 99.99% of bacteria* and filter harmful substances as small as 0.1μm*, reduce soluble lead by 89%, and reduce residual chlorine, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, parasites, sediments, rust, and strange colors and smells, with an LCD display

Water Dispenser with Filter

Product	Features
PHILIPS ADD6902 RO Water Dispenser	Aquaporin Inside patented RO purification technology effectively filters impurities as small as 0.0001 microns and 110 types of harmful substances / filters bacteria, viruses, heavy metals (soluble lead), antibiotics, chlorine, and residual pesticides
PHILIPS ADD6912 RO Water Dispenser with Cooling	[Fortress Exclusive] Aquaporin Inside patented RO purification technology, effectively filters impurities as small as 0.0001 microns and 110 types of harmful substances / filters bacteria, viruses, heavy metals (soluble lead), antibiotics, chlorine, and residual pesticides, with a dual electronic cooling system for chilling and storing cold water
PHILIPS ADD6922CG Hot and Cold RO Water Dispenser with Auto Ice-Maker	Aquaporin Inside patented RO purification technology, effectively filters impurities as small as 0.0001 microns and 110 types of harmful substances / filters bacteria, viruses, heavy metals (soluble lead), antibiotics, chlorine, and residual pesticides, equipped with a professional compressor for powerful cooling, providing cold water as low as 5°C, with two silver ion antibacterial water bottles
TGC x Angel W-JY3553 ROT12HY RO Countertop Water Purifier	Six-stage purification with high-efficiency filtration, effectively filtering harmful impurities as small as 0.0001 microns, UV-C sterilization, and high-efficiency cooling for 6°C cold water
Acerpure WP742-40W aqua RO Water Dispenser	RO filtration system, effectively filters fine particles down to 0.0001 MICRON, heavy metals, pesticides, organic matter, and bacteria, with a built-in UV sterilization lamp, 10-degree ice water, and self-made hydrogen-rich water, with TDS display for water quality
WATSONS WATER WWS 18 Instant Heat H&A Ultrafiltration Water Dispenser	3-in-1 composite filter, filters 99.99% of bacteria, sand, suspended matter, heavy metals (like lead), and residual chlorine
Yohome YH-019 RO Intelligent Hot and Cold Temperature Control Hydrogen-rich Water Dispenser 3.0 Pro	5-in-1 RO rich in strontium filter, removes 130 types of harmful substances, energy-saving semiconductor cooling technology for 6-10°C ice water, self-made hydrogen-rich water, and TDS display for water quality
TOSHIBA TWP-W2265THK RO Tabletop Water Purifier with Heating & Cooling Function	RO reverse osmosis water purification system, specially designed for 8-10°C cold water function, effectively filters 110 types of harmful substances, with TDS display for water quality

Water Dispenser with Filter
(need installation)

Product	Features
B&H Magic IB200 Hydrogen Plus Cold & Hot Purifier	RO multiple filtration system that filters bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, rust, chlorine, odor, microplastics, and produces hydrogen-rich water
CUCKOO CP-MN021 Direct Drink Water Purifier	Tankless design, three-stage filtration, removes residual chlorine, organic matter, odors, antibacterial agents, particles, microorganisms, heavy metals, achieving lead removal of 99-99.99%
CUCKOO CP-TN100 100℃ water purifier	Hong Kong's first 100°C countertop instant hot water purifier, electrolytic sterilization, removes heavy metals, lead, rust, odors, chlorine, and VOCs, retaining beneficial minerals, while eliminating residual heavy metals, microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses
Magic Living B100F Hot and Cold Vertical Water Dispenser	UF ultrafiltration membrane effectively removes rust, odors, chlorine, and bacteria while retaining minerals

Undersink Water Purifier

Product	Features
3M AP Easy Complete Water Filtration System (with 3M™ Individual LED Drinking Faucet ID1_NSF Certified)	NSF/ANSI Std. 42 and 53 certified, effectively filters carcinogenic volatile organic chemicals, lead, rust, chlorine, odor, sediment, and Cryptosporidium
Doulton HIS-PF under sink water Purifier + UCC 9501 (NSF) Water Filter	Washable ceramic filter, filters heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury), with silver elements to prevent bacterial growth in the water, activated carbon removes chlorine, pesticides, and insecticides
PHILIPS AUT7063 RO Under-the-sink Water Purifier with instant Heating	Innovative Aquaporin Inside® patented RO purification technology, filters viruses, bacteria, residual pesticides, antibiotics, and heavy metals (soluble lead)
B&H Magic UKSSB-MAX Coldstream Ocean Max Undersink Water Purifier	Viruses (such as rotavirus), bacteria, filters pharmaceutical hormones, chlorine, odors, pesticides, and microplastics, removing 99.9% of heavy metals in water, with silver elements for sterilization
EVERPURE PBS-400 Drinking Water System	Remove heavy metals like lead and E. coli
GERMAN POOL SRO-012 Smart Faucet RO Instant Hot Water Purifier	Four-stage high-efficiency filtration, filtering impurities down to 0.0001 microns and 99.99% of bacteria and viruses

Purifying cartridge type

What kind of purifying cartridges are there? Let’s check out the different types below.

Shopping Tips

1. Regularly replace the piping tubes and clean the water storage tank
2. Select a water purifier according to space, installation specifications, usage habits and suitable price range
3. Check the condition of the purifying cartridge and replace it regularly