A single sheet water filter media for gravity filtration applications that improves flow performance over the product life while maintaining sufficient metal reduction, wherein at least two distinct density gradients of the single sheet form a physical barrier for capturing colloidal and insoluble contaminants, retaining the colloidal and insoluble contaminants until the contaminants become soluble in the fluid, and being removed by the single sheet filter media. The single sheet filter overcomes the difficulties of dual- and multi-layer filters attributable to slower flow rate realized well before the rated lifetime of the product. The two distinct density gradients of the single sheet filter media are created by exerting a force on a liquid slurry, such force resulting in the separation of higher powder loading and fibers that compose the top and bottom density gradients, respectfully.