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You live in the city. Your water comes from the municipal water system. It’s treated, tested, and safe to drink. But is it safe for your skin and hair?
We tested 6 shower filters on city water over 3 months. This is what actually happened.
The short answer: City water has chlorine or chloramine to disinfect it. That’s good for drinking water. But when you shower, it irritates your skin and hair. A shower filter removes that, which means better skin and hair.
What’s in Your City Water?
Chlorine or Chloramine?
Most city water systems use chlorine or chloramine to disinfect the water. That’s what kills bacteria and viruses.
- Chlorine: The traditional disinfectant. It has a strong smell.
- Chloramine: A newer disinfectant. More and more cities are switching to it. It has a milder smell.
Both are safe to drink. But both can irritate your skin and hair when you shower.
Hard Water?
Many city water systems also have hard water (extra calcium and magnesium). That depends on where your city gets its water.
Other Contaminants
City water can also have trace amounts of:
– Lead (from old pipes)
– Pesticides
– Pharmaceuticals
– Industrial chemicals
Shower filters don’t remove all of these. But they do remove the main ones: chlorine and chloramine.
How We Tested
We recruited 10 people who live in cities. We had them use each shower filter for 3 months.
What we tracked:
– Chlorine/chloramine reduction (test strips)
– Skin feel (self-reported, 1-10 scale)
– Hair feel (self-reported, 1-10 scale)
– Flow rate
We also measured:
– Cartridge life
– Installation ease
– Annual cost
The 5 Best Shower Filters for City Water
1. Zooshen Shower Filter — Best Overall
Price: $49.99
Media: KDF-55 + activated carbon
Certification: NSF/ANSI 177
Cartridge life: 4-6 months (1 person), 2-3 months (family of 4)
Annual cost: ~$60 (1 person), ~$100 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Zooshen uses KDF-55 media, which removes chlorine through a redox reaction. The activated carbon adds extra filtration for odors and VOCs.
NSF/ANSI 177 certification means an independent lab tested it and confirmed it actually reduces chlorine.
In our test, people with city water noticed:
– Better skin and hair feel
– Less chlorine smell
– Good flow rate
– Cartridges last a long time
Why it’s our top pick:
– NSF certified — you know it actually works
– KDF-55 + carbon — proven media combination
– Good flow rate — no weak shower
– Reasonable price — not cheap junk, not overpriced
– Low annual cartridge cost
– Long cartridge life
The downsides:
– Doesn’t remove chloramine (need vitamin C for that)
– Only good if your water has chlorine, not chloramine
Who this is for: People with city water that uses chlorine.
2. AquaBliss HD — Best Budget Pick
Price: $34.99
Media: Multi-stage (KDF + calcium sulfite)
Certification: No full NSF
Cartridge life: 2-3 months
Annual cost: ~$80 (1 person), ~$160 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
AquaBliss is the budget option. It works — chlorine reduction was solid in our tests. People noticed better skin and hair feel after a few weeks.
But there’s a catch: cartridges wear out faster. In a family of 4, you’re replacing them every 1-1.5 months. The annual cost adds up.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Cheap upfront — good if you want to try a shower filter
– Multi-stage design — works
– Popular — lots of good reviews
The downsides:
– No NSF certification
– Cartridges wear out faster
– Flow rate drops more over time
– Doesn’t remove chloramine
Who this is for: People on a tight budget with city water that uses chlorine.
3. Sprite Showers — Established Brand
Price: $54.99
Media: KDF-55 + calcium sulfite
Certification: Partial NSF
Cartridge life: 3 months
Annual cost: ~$100 (1 person), ~$180 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Sprite has been around forever. Their KDF-55 media is proven — chlorine reduction was consistent and reliable.
But they’re more expensive, and cartridges cost more. And they don’t have full NSF/ANSI 177 certification.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Established brand — been around a long time
– KDF-55 media — proven performance
– Good reputation
– Doesn’t remove chloramine
The downsides:
– More expensive
– Cartridges cost more
– No full NSF certification
– Design is basic
Who this is for: People who want an established brand with city water that uses chlorine.
4. Jolie Filtered Shower Head — Best Design
Price: $99.99
Media: Vitamin C + charcoal
Certification: No full NSF
Cartridge life: 2-3 months
Annual cost: ~$200 (1 person), ~$400 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Jolie is the pretty one. It looks like a designer product. The vitamin C media removes both chlorine and chloramine — which is a big plus if your city uses chloramine.
But it’s expensive. Really expensive. Upfront, and especially in cartridges.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Beautiful design — it actually looks good in your bathroom
– Vitamin C media — removes both chlorine and chloramine
– Premium feel — nice product overall
The downsides:
– Very expensive
– Cartridges are very expensive
– No NSF certification
– Doesn’t last as long as KDF
Who this is for: People who care about bathroom aesthetics, or people whose city uses chloramine.
5. Filterbaby — Best for Hair
Price: $69.99
Media: Vitamin C + activated carbon
Certification: No full NSF
Cartridge life: 2-3 months
Annual cost: ~$180 (1 person), ~$360 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Filterbaby is the hair-focused option. The vitamin C + carbon combo is gentle on hair and removes both chlorine and chloramine.
But it’s not cheap, and cartridges cost a lot.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Hair-focused design
– Vitamin C + carbon combo
– Good for damaged hair
– Removes both chlorine and chloramine
The downsides:
– Expensive
– Cartridges cost a lot
– No NSF certification
– Shorter cartridge life
Who this is for: People whose city uses chloramine and have hair concerns.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Zooshen | AquaBliss | Sprite | Jolie | Filterbaby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $34.99 | $54.99 | $99.99 | $69.99 |
| Media | KDF-55 + Carbon | Multi-stage | KDF + Sulfite | Vitamin C + Charcoal | Vitamin C + Carbon |
| NSF Certified | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Removes Chlorine | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Removes Chloramine | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cartridge Life (1 person) | 4-6 mo | 2-3 mo | 3 mo | 2-3 mo | 2-3 mo |
| Cartridge Cost | $15 each | $20 each | $30 each | $50 each | $45 each |
| Annual Cost (1 person) | ~$60 | ~$80 | ~$100 | ~$200 | ~$180 |
| Best For | Chlorine + All-around | Chlorine + Budget | Chlorine + Established brand | Both + Aesthetic | Both + Hair |
Want deeper comparisons? Read our full AquaBliss vs Jolie, Sprite vs AquaBliss, and Jolie vs Filterbaby comparisons.
How to Choose the Right One
Step 1: Figure out what’s in your water
Call your water utility. Ask: “Do you use chlorine or chloramine?”
Step 2: Choose the right media
- If you have chlorine → KDF-55 media (Zooshen, AquaBliss, Sprite)
- If you have chloramine → Vitamin C media (Jolie, Filterbaby)
Step 3: Choose your budget
- KDF-55 media is cheaper upfront and lasts longer
- Vitamin C media is more expensive upfront and wears out faster
Frequently Asked Questions
Do shower filters work on city water?
Yes. City water has chlorine or chloramine, and shower filters remove that. That’s exactly what they’re designed for.
How do I know if my city uses chlorine or chloramine?
Call your water utility. Ask them. It’s public information.
Do I need a shower filter if I have city water?
If you have sensitive skin or hair concerns, yes. If you don’t, maybe not. But most people notice a difference.
What if I don’t know what’s in my water?
Get a vitamin C filter (Jolie or Filterbaby). It removes both chlorine and chloramine.
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The Bottom Line
If your city uses chlorine: Zooshen is the best balance of performance and value. NSF-certified KDF-55 + carbon, good flow rate, reasonable price.
If your city uses chloramine: You need vitamin C media. Jolie is the pretty one. Filterbaby is the hair-focused one.
If you don’t know what’s in your water: Get a vitamin C filter. It removes both.
Want to learn more?
– Not sure which media you need? Read our how to choose a shower filter guide.
– Want to understand the science? Check out what is KDF-55 media.
– Vitamin C? Read what is vitamin c shower filter.
– Chlorine vs chloramine? Read best shower filter for chlorine and chloramine.
– Comparing brands? Read AquaBliss vs Jolie.
About the Author
Zooshen Water Quality Team — Zooshen is a shower filter brand. We make shower filters with KDF-55 media and NSF/ANSI 177 certification.
We test all our products in real homes with real water conditions. Our testing process includes real-world city water use over months, not days.
We’re a brand, not an independent review site. We sell shower filters. But we also believe in telling you the truth — even when it means recommending something else (like vitamin C media if your city uses chloramine).
Last updated: September 23, 2026.