Cheap Water Filters Cost More Than You Think

What You Need to Know About Counterfeit Water Products

Counterfeit products aren’t just a problem for luxury handbags or designer watches. Even everyday household items like water filtration systems, UV water purification systems, and replacement parts have become targets for knockoff manufacturers. And the worst part? These fakes often look just like the real thing. As a trusted Langley pump and water treatment company, EDS Pumps & Water Treatment has seen an increase in customers unknowingly bringing in faulty or fake filters that were purchased online. These products might be cheaper, but they can cause damage to your system or even put your health at risk.

Problems With Cheap Water Filters

Counterfeit filters often use cheap materials that aren’t food-grade or certified. They may look like the real thing, but they can:

• Fail to remove contaminants properly
• Leach chemicals into your water
• Break down early and damage your water filtration system

Some filters we’ve seen were filled with peanut shells, not carbon, and yes, that’s as bad as it sounds.

How to Tell If a Water Filter Is Fake

Here are a few red flags to watch for when buying water filters, or UV water purification systems:

• No brand name or unusual packaging
• Spelling errors or blurry print
• Suspiciously low price
• No certification logos (like NSF, WQA, or CSA)
• No customer service number, or a number that doesn’t match the brand website

Even experienced pros sometimes struggle to tell the difference, so if in doubt, ask us.

Are You Really Drinking Filtered Water?

Many of us rely on the water dispenser in our fridge for clean, filtered drinking water. It’s convenient, cold, and we assume it’s safe. But if you’ve purchased a cheap knockoff filter, you might not be getting any filtration at all. Fake filters often look the part but don’t remove contaminants like lead, chlorine, or even microplastics. Worse yet, some can leach unknown materials into your water. Just because it fits your fridge doesn’t mean it’s doing the job you think it is.

Real Dangers, Real Data

Independent testing agencies have studied counterfeit water filters and found some serious issues:

• None of the counterfeit filters removed lead or microbial cysts
• Over 10 cancer-causing chemicals were found leaching into water
• Some fakes used weights (like rocks) to make them feel real

(Source: AHAM, NSF, WQA — see the Filter It Out Campaign)

How to Protect Yourself

With so much uncertainty about the quality of water filters available online, only choose one that is trusted and sold by a certified genuine source that stands behind its products.

• Buy from a trusted local dealer (like us!)
• Look for certified products (NSF, WQA, CSA)

Counterfeit filters aren’t just a rip-off, they can affect your health, your water quality, and your peace of mind.

Want the Real Deal? Come See Us

If you are ever unsure about a filter or part, you can call us at 604-534-1115 or stop by our Retail Store at 23184 Fraser Highway in Langley, BC. We carry only certified, manufacturer approved products, no knockoffs and no guessing.