I gulped at the message on the “guest-courtesy” tray in my hotel room, which offered a 20-ounce bottle of water for $4. “No way!” I said out loud to an empty room. Now … I like to hydrate as much as the next guy, but that’s highway robbery, I thought. Yet in less than 24 hours of sipping the tap water in this city (which will go unnamed) I was very willing to part with four Washington’s to quench my thirst with water that tastes like clean water – not cleaned water.

Do you remember when fresh, pure, good-tasting water was free-flowing -- and free? Today, bottled water (usually at a less-inflated price) has become standard fare for people in many areas of the country and the world. Fortunately, when we’re not traveling, we can choose at-home (bottle-free) options: a filtering water pitcher, an under-sink filtration system or a whole-house water filtration system. I recently opted to install an under-sink system, and now I’m really spoiled when it comes to my drinking water.

I’ve used filtering water pitchers for years, thinking that an under-sink system would be expensive and complicated to plumb. Turns out, the installation of a Filtrete Drinking Water System from 3M was simple – and quick. The trade-off in convenience was instantaneous: filtered water at the sink! Just press a lever. Perfect! Actually, the decision on which type of system you need may be the only real challenge.

Besides the filtering water pitchers, there are whole-house units and under-sink systems that offer various levels of filtration. So, depending on the state of your water supply and your water use, you could choose basic filtration to take care of sediment, or go with an advanced system to remove chlorine taste and odor. If your water contains lead, pharmaceuticals or VOCs, you can opt for the maximum filtration system. A Filtrete video can help you decide.

Now, to be honest, I had some second thoughts. Though the system costs less than I expected (less than $100), in doing the math, I calculated that the price for replacement filters (recommended every six months) would cost that much again in just two years. Filtrete has made us dependant on consumables! Then, I got some perspective: Six bottles of hotel water vs. six months of delicious filtered water. Gallons of it! I’m good, thanks.