Review: EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher (*New 2024)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Sep 27, 2033
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The EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher seems like a good all-around model for filtering water and making it alkaline.
Does it really deliver everything it says on the label though, and is it worth the money?
Let’s take a closer look!
Contents
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EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment, Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon, Mineral Balls |
| Filter Life: | 40-80 Gallons |
| Total Storage Volume: | 16 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$40-80 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: EHM Ultra II Premium
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$40-80
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Filtration, Ion Exchange Resin, Activated Carbon, Mineral Balls
- Filtering Capacity: 40-80 gal
- Total Storage Volume: 16 Cups
- Filtered Water Capacity: 8 Cups
EHM Ultra II Premium – Key Features
The EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher comes with multiple filtration stages and an intuitive design that should make it suitable for most people’s needs.
The filtration stages are:
- Filter gauze, which removes coarse dirt.
- Ion exchange resin, which takes out heavy metals, salts, and other ionic contaminants.
- Alkaline mineral balls, which increase the pH level of the water and add minerals to it.
- Activated carbon, responsible for removing organic chemicals, chlorine, and more.
- Far infrared ceramic balls, which are claimed to strengthen the immune system.
- PP filter pad, which prevents particulate matter from making its way into your drinking water.
As you can see, the 6-stage filtration process covers a large number of contaminants. However, we couldn’t really confirm the exact number of stages – the manufacturer has made several contradicting claims about this. In some places, they state that the filter actually has 5 stages of filtration instead of 6.
Another feature that makes this pitcher stand out is that it increases the pH level of filtered water, typically by 1-2 points. On top of that, it adds various minerals to the filtered water, which can improve its health benefits if your diet is limited in minerals. These include:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
You can also pick between three color schemes (red, white, blue), which is a nice little bonus compared to some other models on the market which only come in one version.
Total storage volume is 16 cups (8 cups filtered) which is about average.
Filter life is 40 to 80 gallons or 6 to 8 weeks.
EHM Alkaline Water Pitcher Pros
- Okay price tag and relatively inexpensive in the long term.
- Intuitive, convenient design makes the pitcher simple to use – think flip top lid for easy refilling
- Increases water pH level on top of purifying it. Adds various healthy minerals to water.
- Gives water a low negative oxidation reduction potential (ORP), between -100 mv and -200 mv, which is claimed to help decrease the free radicals in your body.
- BPA-free materials.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher is claimed to remove a number of contaminants, including:
- Coarse dirt
- Heavy metals such as lead and copper
- Organic chemicals
- Chlorine
- Fluoride
- Limescale
- PFOA
- PFAS
The EHM Ultra II Premium – learn more on Amazon.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
Putting the EHM Ultra II together is as simple as assembling any other water filter pitcher.
Also, priming the filter cartridges is relatively simple and it only takes a few minutes. To do that, simply follow these steps:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Remove seals from the bottom of the cartridge.
- Soak the cartridge in cold tap water for about 15 minutes.
- Insert the cartridge into the reservoir, and push it in.
- Let the pitcher fill all the way, then let all that water get filtered completely.
- Discard the filtered water and refill the pitcher again.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 two more times.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher
- Filter Cartridge
Maintenance
With a lifespan of 6-8 weeks or 40-80 gallons per filter, this model is quite budget-friendly in the long term. You can expect to spend around $40-80 per year on maintenance, which makes this pitcher significantly cheaper than many other models.
You don’t have to do much else in terms of maintenance to keep this pitcher in an optimal condition – just remember to replace the filters on a regular basis.
When it’s time to replace a cartridge, you should also use the opportunity to clean the pitcher.
- Remove the old filter cartridge.
- Scrub pitcher with warm, soapy water.
- Rinse the pitcher thoroughly with cold water.
- Prime and install new cartridge according to the guidelines above.
Manual
Sorry, but we couldn’t find an official manual online.
NSF and Other Certifications
The EHM alkaline water filter pitcher doesn’t come with any NSF or other certifications. This means that you have to take the manufacturer’s word for the pitcher’s capabilities, as nothing has been explicitly proven through regulated testing.
Earlier Product Versions
We assume there is a previous version of the model – the EHM Ultra Premium Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher – but we cannot tell what exactly has been improved between the two versions.
EHM Alkaline Water Pitcher Cons
- Inconsistent information about product capabilities and design – the manufacturer occasionally claims that the pitcher has 5 stages of filtration instead of 6. The lifespan of filters is sometimes listed as 40 gallons, and sometimes as 80 – although both are good in the context of replacement costs.
- No proven health benefits of alkaline water, despite the various claims you can find around the internet.
- No proven health benefits of the various mineral balls used in the filter.
- No NSF or other certifications or other signs of professional testing.
- The mineral balls that increase water pH take up valuable filter cartridge space – meaning that you’re compromising filtration quality for alkalization.
- Lid may come loose, leading to spills when pouring, or it may even fall off completely.
- May worsen taste of water as reported by some users.
EHM Ultra II Premium Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher is pretty affordable. And you get alkaline drinking water. But the manufacturer’s careless attitude towards product specifications makes us a bit wary about picking this pitcher. On top of that, there are no official NSF certifications or even third-party testing that would indicate the unit has been properly checked for the removal of specific contaminants. We are also not sure about the overall filtration strength of the pitcher. If you like alkaline water and want to have convenient access to it, it could still be a decent choice.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 3.5/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
Even though the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher and the Epic Nano/Pure pitchers are not alkaline water pitchers, they are still excellent choices for users who want adequate filtration, and they are both very popular on the market.
Clearly Filtered |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 17 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$150 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Epic Pure |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | $90-135 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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EHM Ultra II Premium |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment, Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon, Mineral Balls |
| Filter Capacity: | 40-80 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 16 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$40-80 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Clearly Filtered in particular is a very high-end model, coming with a number of NSF standards – 42, 53, and 401 – and proven to be effective in the removal of more than 300 contaminants. Some of the contaminants the Clearly Filtered Pitcher can remove include chlorine/chloramine, DBPs, lead, chromium-6, arsenic, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, radiologicals, and many others.
Filter media used are granular activated carbon and several proprietary.
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher (review here) also comes with an impressive filter lifespan – up to 100 gallons or 4 months of use, both of which are longer than what EHM offers. You can store up to 17 cups of water in total, of which 10 are filtered.
The product is manufactured in the USA, and comes with a lifetime warranty (limited) as well as a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, both of which are missing from EHM’s product. However, this all comes at a cost: the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is one of the most expensive models on the market, both in terms of its immediate purchase price as well as long-term maintenance.
And then we have the Epic Pure/Nano, both of which offer excellent filtration capabilities at a somewhat lower price than Clearly Filtered. The Epic Pure (see the full review) is specifically aimed at reducing fluoride and heavy metals, while Epic Nano is better suited against microorganisms like bacteria, cysts, and viruses. However, keep in mind that you can easily switch between the two cartridges – they are completely interchangeable.
What does the Epic Pure/Nano remove from your water? Using a blend of activated carbon and ion exchange resin, more than 200 contaminants can be eliminated, including chlorine, fluoride, nitrate, chloramine, sulfate, arsenic, cadmium, chromium-6, lead, mercury, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, PFOA, PFOS, and many others. The unit has been tested against NSF 42, 53, and 401, while the Nano also comes with NSF P231 testing.
If you’re looking for a long filter lifespan, this is the perfect choice for you, with filters that can last for up to 150 gallons of water. You will also know when it’s time to replace the filter thanks to the built-in countdown timer. The company will even send you a free replacement filter if you collect and send in four used ones!
This product is also made in the USA, and also features BPA-free materials. Like the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher, it comes with a lifetime warranty and an excellent return policy. You can also take advantage of a discount program aimed at military personnel, first responders, medical staff, teachers and students, seniors, as well as employees and owners of non-profit organizations.
Bottom line: Clearly Filtered is the leading choice on this market for a reason – and we highly recommend it if you can afford it. If not, the Nano Pure/Epic is still an excellent choice. If you insist on drinking alkaline water, check out the EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher, but don’t expect it to do much more than that.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the EHM Ultra II Premium Alkaline Water Pitcher. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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