The taste of tap water varies slightly among water treatment systems and depends on the water’s source. This variation occurs because the concentration brita filter pitcher of components in the water differs from sample to sample. Brita provides different filtration options that can change the taste of water.
Its large capacity should always leave you with plenty of water on hand. And unlike a pitcher, it can dispense water while the filter is still working. We did like the dispenser on the Ultramax, as water keeps flowing once you open it and you don’t have to keep holding it open like you do with other models.
Most companies also offer smaller pitchers for folks who don’t need a full-size model. And most also offer larger dispensers; we found these were worth considering for households going through a lot of water, since dispensers with higher volume and an easy-to-use spigot are more family-friendly. It works much like the Pur Plus 30 Cup Dispenser, and the two models are very similar in size. The Ultramax is a fine option, and for heavy-use households, it’s a great one.
But the Ultramax’s handles are less comfortable to hold than those of the Pur dispenser. And its opaque upper tank can make water levels less visible than in the Pur. Among Brita’s many pitchers, the iconic 10-cup Standard Everyday Pitcher is our favorite because of its easy-to-clean design. And to fill the pitcher, you have to remove the lid entirely, which requires two hands. The Brita Longlast+ has 30 ANSI/NSF certifications and is rated to last six months—three times longer than most filters. A dispenser provides higher capacity and can pour while it’s filtering.
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. Standard pitcher filters feature a BPA-free housing and mesh screen to trap larger particles. Brita filters also use activated brita filter pitcher carbon and ion exchange resin to reduce chlorine taste and odor, and trap zinc as well as the health contaminants copper, cadmium and mercury. Some Brita filters have additional features and may remove different compounds. Refer to the product packaging to see which compounds your pitcher filter, sink filtration system, or Brita water bottle is designed to remove.
In the United States, public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and water leaving a public water-treatment plant must meet strict quality standards. In addition, contaminants can enter the water after the water leaves the treatment plant, by infiltrating leaky pipes or by leaching out of some pipes’ interior walls. And water treatments done (or overlooked) at the plant can exacerbate leaching in pipes downstream—as happened in Flint, Michigan. It might be best to find out what contaminants are in your water to begin with, and you can do that by getting a water testing kit.
That’s not surprising considering the extreme rigor of the certification testing. Since then, to select our competitors, we have relied on ANSI/NSF certifications or the equivalent, rather than on our own, limited testing. Brita’s iconic Everyday 10-cup pitcher in many ways defines the filter-pitcher category.
Clearly Filtered doesn’t use a certifying authority like NSF or the Water Quality Association to test their products, but the results they post on their website are believable because of the long filtration time. Still, this system isn’t giving you the purified taste of ZeroWater, and the price is almost as high. ZeroWater instructions recommend that the filter be replaced when the meter reads “006.” This is helpful because you don’t have to estimate how many gallons you’ve poured when replacing a filter.
This stylish Swedish kitchen brand is best known for its elegant sparkling water makers but now offers an equally eye-catching filter pitcher. It was the best looking of the bunch made from glass and stainless steel frame with a sleek overall design. It also did well removing about 40% of the dissolved solids from my tap water. It’s not as efficient as our top pick, the ZeroWater filter pitcher, but about on par with the Brita models. Plus, this pitcher is good-looking enough to set this out for a dinner party or holiday gathering.
Based on our testing results, it seems the brand may be onto something. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.