We tested two other water filter pitchers for this 2023 update, and results varied. Testing for 2023 differed from previous tests in that we began with tap water that had acceptable chlorine, mineral, and alkalinity levels. In all cases, the pitchers brita water dispenser lowered levels but not as substantially as our top picks. We looked around for alternatives that might allow cheaper replacement or regeneration of the ion-exchange resin beads, but this process is rare outside of industrial or laboratory use.
Still, other testers (especially those with reverse-osmosis systems at home) loved the taste. Brita is probably the best-known of the water filter pitcher brands and it performed well in our testing, second only to the ZeroWater in the overall removal of dissolved materials. Pur offers a 7-cup pitcher, which also lacks the Classic’s ergonomic handle and shaves about 2 inches off the footprint’s length and width, compared with the Classic. Saving space sounds nice, but this smaller design means you’ll have to visit the faucet more often.
There are a few ways you can test your water at home to find out what contaminants you might be dealing with, depending on how much you want to spend. This website is using a security brita water filter faucet service to protect itself from online attacks. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
This is the least scientific test we’ll run on the water filter pitchers but still an important one. After filtering water with each pitcher, we give the liquid a good old-fashioned taste test. For this latest round of testing, we took sips of each water from each in succession and compared each drink with that of purified bottled water. In a previous round of testing, we ran three alkaline water filter pitchers through a pH test — Clearly Filtered, Invigorated Water pH Vitality and Seychelle pH20.
This small water pitcher comes with one water filter, which should be changed every 40 gallons or about two months for best results. Ideal for use in offices, schools, daycare centers, restaurants, hotels and other commercial facilities. Drink healthier, great tasting tap water with this BPA free Brita 6 cup water pitcher. It is ergonomically designed with a flip top lid that makes refilling a breeze and an electronic filter indicator that lets you know when it is time to change the Brita replacement filter. This small water pitcher comes with 1 water filter, which should be changed every 40 gallons or about 2 months for best results.
To be clear, the water filter pitchers we test are intended to be used with potable water—that is, water that’s safe to drink—to improve taste and remove unpleasant odors. Some manufacturers also claim that their pitchers meet accepted standards for removing specific contaminants, such as chlorine and lead. (CR verifies those claims in our tests.) All the pitchers in our tests are certified to remove chlorine but less than half are certified to remove lead.
To see how well the LifeStraw dealt with sediment, Tim used hydrogen peroxide to rapidly convert a piece of #0000 steel wool to fine particles of rust. After 40 cups (2.5 gallons) of this enticing brew went through it, the rust was all used up, but the filter was still working, albeit slightly more slowly than at the start of the test. Its modern design is easy on the eyes and looks just like a glass water filtration pitcher but it’s actually made of BPA-free, shatter-proof plastic. The filter uses a combo of activated coconut shell and charcoal to nix the taste of chlorine, while also reducing your exposure to mercury, copper and zinc.
Smell and taste generate the biggest tap water complaints; they relate directly to the water source. Eight of 10 water filter pitchers in CR’s tests improve flavor and reduce odor. Considering why you need a water filter will help you choose the right one.
All the pitchers in our new lineup have features that allow you to pour before the top reservoir is empty, though the Brita and PUR both have flip-open filling ports you could use while holding the pitcher with only one hand. 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. The Aquagear pitcher is manufactured by a small business that does good in the world by providing biosand filters to Tanzania for every filter that’s sold and recycled. The difference in taste between Aquagear and Epic Water was minimal, and our testers were divided on which tasted better.
In contrast, the Brita filter is doing comparatively little to filter minerals, so it lasts longer. We watched the readings from a new Longlast filter for a few weeks, and after about 10 gallons the 20% improvement it showed over a standard Brita filter disappeared. You might get better-tasting water for 120 gallons, but after a month we wonder how much the filter is still doing. Brita rates their standard filter for 40 gallons, and the Longlast Filter at 120 gallons. That’s compared to our tested average of 15 gallons for a ZeroWater filter before it becomes ineffective.