Here’s a surprising fact: the most effective filter material is activated carbon. It’s basically charcoal that’s been treated to be super-porous. One gram of activated carbon has a surface area of an entire football field. That’s why it can trap chemicals, odors, and that weird metallic taste. It’s like a microscopic Pac-Man that eats your water’s sins.
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But don’t be fooled by fancy marketing. All carbon filters are not created equal. Some are “carbon block” (good), others are “granular” (mediocre). Check the label for NSF certification. If it doesn’t say “NSF 53” or “NSF 58,” you might as well be filtering your water through a used sock.
