If you live in Germany, you already know one thing: the water is safe — but not always easy to love.
German tap water meets extremely high EU standards, yet the taste, hardness, and mineral levels vary dramatically from region to region. Berlin? Soft to medium-hard. Munich? Very hard. Cologne? Medium-hard with noticeable chlorine. Hamburg? Generally good, but depends on the district.
And this is exactly why under-sink water filters have become the upgrade German households reach for: better taste, fewer impurities, and no more hauling bottled water from Rewe or Edeka.
Why an Under-Sink Water Filter Works So Well in Germany
Germany’s biggest tap-water challenge isn’t safety — it’s taste, hardness, and old building pipes.
An under-sink filter helps because it:
- reduces chlorine (common in larger cities)
- improves taste and clarity
- reduces micro-impurities + sediment from older pipes
- keeps healthy minerals intact
- reduces PFAS through activated carbon
- requires no electricity or wastewater
- doesn’t take up countertop space
It’s the easiest way to upgrade German tap water — no “Calcfilter” cartridges required.
Tap Water in Germany: Safe, but Very Hard (in Many Regions)
German water standards are set by the Bundesministerium für Gesundheit and follow strict EU rules.
But regional differences are huge:
- Munich & Bavaria → extremely hard water, high calcium + magnesium
- Berlin → soft to medium-hard, taste varies by pipe age
- Hamburg → generally medium hardness, pipe sediment possible
- Cologne → medium-hard water with more chlorine taste
- Frankfurt → fairly hard water, especially in older buildings
Hard water isn’t dangerous — it just tastes flat, bitter, or metallic, and can affect coffee, tea, skin, hair, kettles, and appliances.
An under-sink system doesn’t soften water (which is good — minerals matter), but it improves taste, removes chlorine, reduces PFAS, and filters out sediment from older German plumbing.
Why Under-Sink Filters Beat Pitcher Filters (Sorry, Brita)
Pitcher filters are common in Germany, but they have limits:
- small capacity
- slow filtering
- not great for PFAS reduction
- plastic sitting in warm kitchens (hello bacteria)
- taste improvement is mild compared to under-sink systems
Under-sink water filters offer:
- faster flow
- better chlorine reduction
- stronger PFAS reduction (activated carbon)
- better coffee and tea taste (important in Germany!)
- cleaner-tasting water with minerals intact
What To Look for in an Under-Sink Filter in Germany
1. High-quality activated carbon
This is the most important stage for taste, chlorine, PFAS, VOCs and microplastics.
2. KDF (copper + zinc)
Creates redox reactions that help reduce chlorine and certain metals while stabilizing the filtration system long-term.
3. A PP membrane
Useful for catching fine sediment or pipe particles, especially in Altbau buildings.
4. Mineral-friendly filtration
Germany’s water is naturally rich in minerals — you want to keep that.
5. Stainless steel housing
More durable than plastic, especially in warm kitchens or old buildings with occasional pressure spikes.
6. Simple installation
German plumbing is relatively standardized — plug-and-play systems work very well.
Is an Under-Sink Water Filter Worth It in Germany?
Yes — absolutely.
If you:
- buy bottled water from Lidl, Rewe, Edeka etc.
- don’t like the taste of hard tap water
- want to improve coffee and tea quality
- care about sustainability
- live in an older building with old pipes
…an under-sink filtration system is one of the smartest upgrades you can make.
Who This Guide Is For
- Families
- Renters & homeowners
- Coffee lovers
- Expats in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne
- Anyone tired of dragging bottled water home
PJURE’s System (10-Second Version)
Designed for European water — including Germany’s hard-water regions.
- Stainless steel housing
- Coconut activated carbon
- KDF (copper + zinc)
- PP membrane
- Mineral-friendly media
- No electricity
- No wastewater
- 20–30 min installation
- Clean, crisp, mineral-rich water
Full system details:
mypjure.com/products/under-sink-water-filter
Conclusion: Germany + Under-Sink Filter = A Perfect Match
Germany’s tap water is safe, but its taste and hardness vary hugely across the country.
A high-quality under-sink water filter makes your tap water clean, crisp and consistently great — whether you live in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne or anywhere in between.
Your appliances will thank you. Your coffee will too. And your recycling bin? Much happier.
Discover the PJURE system → mypjure.com/products/under-sink-water-filter

