Water treatment with metallic iron (Fe0) is still based on the premise that Fe0 is a reducing agent. An alternative concept stipulates that contaminants are removed by adsorption, co‐precipitation, and size‐exclusion in a reactive filtration process. This article underlines the universal validity of the alternative concept. It is shown that admixing non‐expansive material to Fe0 as a pre‐requisite for sustainable Fe0‐based filtration systems. Fe0‐based filters are demonstrated an affordable, appropriate, and efficient decentralized water treatment technology.