Top 10 Water Fountain Filters for Fresh, Clean Water

Water fountains recirculate the same water over and over, and without a filter, that water gets dirty fast. Hair, debris, bacteria, and chemicals all build up with every cycle.

For humans, that means potential waterborne illness. For pets, it can lead to urinary tract infections and kidney issues. Either way, a good filter is the fix.

Whether you’re shopping for a public drinking fountain, a pet fountain for your cat or dog, or an inline system, here are 10 filters that actually keep fountain water clean.

Quick Comparison Chart

Let’s have a look at the 10 best water fountain filters available on the market.

1. Elkay WaterSentry Plus — Best Overall

Elkay water filters are popular in the market for a variety of reasons, from their performance to their product credibility. They release newer models every year with updated water filter kits that can also be installed in coolers, classroom sinks, and bottle fillers.

The filter is made up of activated carbon, which helps in combating odor and improving the taste of the water. The activated carbon traps impurities, waterborne particles, and even traces of metals like lead through chemical adsorption in its carbon bed structure.

It has a polypropylene filter mesh that acts as a physical barrier. This makes sure no particles get through with the water or block the filter pathway.

It’s generally advised that you replace the filter after one year of its installation or after 3,000 gallons of use. The water fountain filter shows a red light reading when the fountain needs a new filter kit.

When a new filter is installed, the drinking fountain automatically sets the reading to green light after sensing the RFID chip on the Elkay filter kit. This Elkay filter is easy to use in terms of both removal and installation in water fountains.

The filter comes with a quick-disconnect feature that closes the inlet valve upon removal of the filter. This prevents water from flowing while you swap cartridges.

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2. PetSafe Drinkwell Carbon — Best for Dogs

Most pet owners find out that their dogs and cats are showing signs of dehydration because static water in the drinking bowl doesn’t seem interesting to pets. They require water that’s fresh and flowing.

Pets leave the water in their bowls, which eventually causes dehydrated fur and skin. To keep your furry animals healthy and hydrated, pet drinking fountains have become essential.

PetSafe Drinkwell Carbon Filters are especially designed for PetSafe drinking fountains. They’re compatible with a variety of models including Original, Big Dog, Outdoor Dog, Mini, Platinum, and Zen fountains.

The filter claims to have 50% more carbon concentration than other brands. The activated carbon pads are made from coconut shells that trap hair, debris, and keep water fresh and tasty.

The carbon filters are divided into 6 chambers, which offer more surface area for removing bad odor and taste from the water. They advise owners to change their carbon filters every 2 to 4 weeks to maintain a healthy water supply.

PetSafe is famous throughout the world for bringing health and wellness products for pet animals to the market. Their reputation for quality filters is well established among pet owners.

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3. Pioneer Pet — Best for Ceramic Fountains

Pioneer ceramic and stainless steel drinking fountains allow for easy cleaning of the surfaces, and the raindrop style fountain can adorn rooms with its unique design. The Pioneer Pet Replacement Filters work for all Pioneer pet fountain models.

They contain granulated carbon filters that are effective in removing the unpleasant smell and chemicals like chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. Granulated carbon filters increase the surface area and allow efficient filtration of particles and chemicals.

These types of carbon filters are also called charcoal filters. Pioneer carbon filters contain a 3-layer filtration system where the water passes through several stages of purification.

Each stage performs a specific function, which improves the overall quality of the filtered water. They also have duo-density polyester pads designed to trap large particles like pet hair and debris.

Dogs and cats shed hair every day, so this type of pad is essential for keeping the fountain water clean. If you’re looking for filters that keep your stylish Pioneer raindrop or stainless steel fountains clean and healthy, these charcoal filters are an excellent choice.

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4. Watts Inline — Best High Capacity

If you’re looking for water fountain filters that are easy to install and have a greater capacity, then the Watts Inline Filter might be a good option. It has a 20,000-gallon water capacity, which makes it an extremely good choice for large-scale or even commercial purposes.

At such a capacity, the price of this replacement filter comes at a reasonable cost per gallon. They use a KDF water filtration system, which stands for Kinetic Degradation Fluxion.

This system is made up of a copper-zinc formula and uses a chemical procedure to remove metals like lead, chlorine, iron, mercury, and hydrogen sulfide from the water. Not only does this system filter out traces of metals, but it also has a slight anti-bacterial and fungicidal effect on the water.

The inline cartridge is simple enough to fit in and push out of the water fountain. It comes with quarter-inch connector lines on opposite ends for easy installation.

Watts Inline Filter doesn’t require much maintenance, which is a plus for those who don’t want to check it every 2 weeks. It only requires an inspection every six months.

The NSF listings and certifications for this filter cover lead reduction, chlorine reduction, and overall water quality standards. It’s a solid investment for any high-volume fountain application.

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5. PureWater Inline — Best Anti-Corrosion

You might have come across a situation where your fountain water pipes clog and there’s no way to figure out why it happened or what to do about it. The PureWater Inline Filter has the perfect solution for this problem.

The blockage usually occurs when the iron and lime in water react with the metal equipment, causing it to rust and corrode. The special additives in this filter help protect the metal pipes from corrosion and prevent scale buildup.

Another interesting feature is that if you encounter malfunctioning in the filter parts, they will replace it for free. You also don’t need to worry about calling a plumber because the PureWater inlet filter provides an easy-to-read instruction manual.

The manual explains all the steps of installation with the help of graphics. The filter comes with quarter-inch quick-connect fittings that are designed to be leak-proof.

In terms of water quality, you can fully trust them as they’re NSF certified for lead, odor, and chlorine reduction. If you happen to get a PureWater inlet water filter for your fountain, you won’t have to worry about pure and healthy drinking water.

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6. Catit Triple Action — Best for Cats

If you’re on the lookout for a water fountain filter for your cat that’s economical and cares for your pet, then you should try the Catit Triple Action Filter. The pack comes with a set of 2 or 5 filters that you can use with any Catit water fountain model.

A study showed that pets who drink hard water are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections. Tap water often contains magnesium and calcium in smaller quantities, which can prove harmful to your cat and lead to urinary tract infections.

The Catit filter uses three compartments for different purposes. One compartment removes odor-causing bacteria.

The second compartment removes chemicals found in hard water like calcium and magnesium. The third compartment blocks out sediments and hair.

It has an ion exchange resin in the filter that treats hard water. The cotton mesh further works by preventing large particles from entering your cat’s drinking water.

Urinary tract infections have become a common health issue in cats. Therefore, you need to replace your Catit filter every month to continue providing fresh, crisp water to your pet.

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7. JADA Charcoal — Best Budget

If you’re looking for a cheaper option for your pet fountain filter, then you may want to consider JADA charcoal filters. The design of these filters is a little different from others on the market.

Their shape resembles a bottle, and the reason behind this design is to make sure the product remains safe throughout usage. The packed bottle-like filters are sealed in a way that maintains hygiene and can be used for longer periods without damage.

The quality of the fountain filter can also predict the life of the fountain itself. JADA charcoal filters claim to extend the working life of the fountain because of their secure packaging and sanitary maintenance.

This filter is compatible with Drinkwell 360 drinking fountains for cats and dogs. The filtration system uses charcoal filter beds that are known to thoroughly clean water from harmful chemicals, organic compounds, and unwanted odors.

Activated charcoal is a natural way to filter out toxins from water. That’s why charcoal is the most popular choice in water fountain filtration systems. To learn how charcoal compares to other media, see our carbon water filter cleaning guide.

You need to replace these charcoal filters every 30 days with a new one to guarantee water freshness for your pets. The affordable price point makes the monthly replacement cost very manageable.

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8. PUREUP Carbon — Best Universal Pet

If you’re looking for fountain filters compatible with almost all PetSafe fountain models, then PUREUP filters would come in handy. If you’re using PetSafe Drinkwell, Platinum, Zen, Multi-tier, Outdoor Dog, or Big Dog, these filters fit securely in all of them.

Their filter packs come in eco-friendly packaging, which is a plus considering how our environment faces plastic pollution mostly due to packaging materials. Filters are packed separately from each other to remain fresh for use.

PUREUP water filters use activated carbon beds made out of coconut shells. They’re environmentally friendly and produce the least amount of dust.

Coconut shell activated carbon is preferred for water purification because it’s micro-porous. Even the smallest particles can’t escape this filter.

The coconut shell carbon is harder than other types of carbon and can withstand friction and damage. To avoid clogging your water fountain, these filters have a micromesh material that makes sure the activated carbon doesn’t leak and block the fountain.

For best results, they suggest changing filters once every 2 to 4 weeks. The individual packaging keeps each filter fresh until you’re ready to use it.

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9. Sindello Pet — Best for Flower Fountains

These pet fountain water filters are compatible with a wide variety of flower fountains, including YOUTHINK, HAPPYPAPA, HOMMI, KOALAD, and PEDY fountain models. However, if you’ve Catit or Mospro flower fountains, these filters may not work for you.

The filters have 50% more activated carbon concentration in their polyester fiber. This makes them more effective for water purification than many other fountain filter brands.

They also contain a multi-layer filtration system. The first layer is a cotton mesh for capturing fur and debris.

The second layer is the activated carbon layer for removing waterborne contaminants like lead and chlorine while eliminating odor-causing bacteria.

The third layer is predominantly an ion exchange resin for softening unfiltered tap water. It removes hard water chemicals like calcium and magnesium that can be harmful to your pets.

You need to rinse these carbon filters thoroughly before installing them into the flower fountain to clean any loose charcoal dust off the filter. In case of any problem with the filters, you can ask for a replacement or money back without any hesitation.

Customer support responds within 24 hours to resolve any issues with their products. That level of service adds credibility and peace of mind to your purchase.

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10. HiWater Cartridge — Best Eco-Friendly

HiWater fountain filters come in the form of cartridges that have secure mechanical packaging. Their filters are composed of PP cotton and micromesh material for making drinking water safe for your pets.

PP cotton stands for polypropylene cotton and is widely used in the first stage of water filtration. This type of cotton is non-toxic and odorless.

It traps granular substances from water and has characteristics of high resistance, precision, and corrosion resistance at a relatively low cost.

They’re compatible with Cat Mate and Dog Mate fountain filters. They provide remarkable performance in the filtration system because they use coconut shell activated carbon beds.

The carbon is in the form of finer granules that increase the surface area of the porous material. This allows the filter to adsorb organic chemicals from the water including taste and odor compounds.

HiWater filters care for the environment with eco-friendly packaging. Each filter is wrapped individually to make sure maximum freshness.

Your pet fountain won’t get clogged due to charcoal dust because the micromesh material prevents this problem.

They’re also NSF 42 certified, so your pets will enjoy chlorine-free, tasty, and odorless water. Dirty water consumption by pets is known to cause kidney problems, urinary tract infections, and leptospirosis.

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Factors to Consider When Buying a Water Fountain Filter

Choosing the right water fountain filter depends on several factors. Here is what you should keep in mind before making your purchase.

Compatibility: The most important factor is making sure the filter fits your specific fountain model. Many filters are designed for particular brands, so always check compatibility before ordering.

Filter Type: Activated carbon and charcoal filters are the most common for pet fountains. Inline filters with KDF technology work better for high-volume drinking fountains.

Choose the type that matches your application.

Capacity and Lifespan: Pet fountain filters typically need changing every 2 to 4 weeks. Inline drinking fountain filters can last up to a year or longer.

Consider how often you want to deal with replacements.

Certification: Look for NSF or ANSI certifications that verify the filter removes specific contaminants. Certified filters provide documented proof of their purification capabilities. To learn more about how different filters work, see our article on what filtered water is.

Material Quality: Coconut shell activated carbon is generally preferred because it’s harder, produces less dust, and is more environmentally friendly. PP cotton and micromesh materials add extra filtration layers.