You can search NSF and WQA databases just in case someone has specifically tested for the compound you’re worried about, but that’s a frustrating process. The lead-removing filter pitchers are each grabbing some VOCs, but neither brand is a clear leader. The main reason to filter drinking water is that chlorine and chloramine — the disinfectants used in most civic water supplies — taste awful. The amount is low, but you can make most tap water taste better by filtering it. This is all covered in NSF standard 42, which is the most common certification for consumer water filters.
Retains essential minerals like magnesium and potassium that are good for your health. The pitcher allows the user to add water and still be able to pour only the filtered water. Though I am not able to personally test the water quality, it tastes better than my tap water. Additionally, I found that opening the pour stop helps alleviate any spillage. Proprietary Affinity Filtration Technology filters fluoride, lead, microplastics, PFAS, glyphosate, and a total of 365+ of the most harmful and dangerous tap water contaminants.
Brita’s best-certified filter, the Longlast+ (also branded the Elite) has more certifications than Pur’s filters. And it’s rated to perform for 120 gallons, or six months, which is three times the rated lifespan of most other filters (including that of the Pur filters and Brita’s basic Pitcher and Dispenser Filter). However, sediment-rich water can clog its particulate filtration design. So for many people, the filter doesn’t actually last six months. The Brita Standard Pitcher and Dispenser Filter costs less and clogs less often, but it has far fewer certifications than the Longlast+ or the Pur filters.
For our 2018 update, we searched far and wide to find an equivalent replacement, but nothing was better than what we’d already tried. BWT has their filters certified by the Water Quality Association, but they’re only covered for cadmium, copper and mercury, not lead. ZeroWater didn’t succeed in designing a perfect pitcher, but at least the top is less likely to leak or pop off if you pour while brita water filter faucet the top reservoir is full. The fill port cover isn’t as convenient as the flip-up design on the PUR or Brita, but there’s nothing wrong with it. If eliminating contaminants is your aim, ZeroWater delivers best-in-class filtration. The ion-exchange technology won’t stay effective for long if you’ve got a lot of minerals in your water, but it’s very consistent and effective while it lasts.
Make sure the filter is properly lined up and sits comfortably in the hole. The Max Fill line is there for a reason – if you overfill the reservoir, water will spill into the handle and out of the pitcher. I’ve noticed that some of this water also flows into the pitcher. Brita explains in the User Manual that you should fill the reservoir all the way to the Max Fill line, but no more. They note that if you overfill the reservoir, the water will spill into the handle and out of the pitcher. For every product sold, a child in need receives safe water for an entire year.
On the other hand, it has a large capacity tank, so you don’t have to take as many trips to fill it up. The Berkey comes in multiple sizes with the smallest one starting at $345, but according to Berkey, their filters can be cleaned up to 100 times with a 3M Scotch-Brite pad. Over time, this may save money compared to pitchers that need to have their filters changed every few months. These pitchers typically hold up to 10 cups of water, filtering over time. So you might find that you’re waiting or refilling the pitcher often, depending on your drinking habits or how many housemates are pouring from the pitcher. In CR’s lab, we run each pitcher through a battery of flow-rate tests and time just how long it takes to filter a quart of water at various stages of the filter cartridge’s lifespan.
I had to dump the water out of the pitcher, rinse it out, and filter another batch of water. Only gripe is the top lid becomes unsecured when filter is lifted by the handle. System is very good and efficient but the one problem I found is in the poring. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services.
We wanted to see how much difference filter type really makes with taste’s biggest enemy, chlorine. So, we called in a Hatch chlorine test kit that can detect a .01 part-per-million (ppm) difference in total chlorine. Results have shifted over the years for the top rank within the carbon filter group, but the important choice is definitely between leaving minerals in or taking them out.
The biggest changes in water taste are the easiest to make, so a budget-class Brita filter replacement from the hardware store isn’t actually a bad buy if that’s all you need. But if you’re worried about lead or other contaminants, or if you want a mineral-free taste profile, you’ll need one of these more expensive options. The heart of any water-filter system is the filter itself, so let’s start there. Pur’s Replacement Filter with Lead Reduction (model number PPF951K) is ANSI/NSF–certified for 23 contaminants, including (obviously) lead. Brita’s competitor, the Longlast+, is certified for more contaminants (30) and is also rated to last three times longer (120 gallons versus 40). But in our testing, the Longlast+ frequently clogged well before then, and numerous owners report the same problem.