This is our review of the best Water Filter Pitchers of 2023.
We reviewed several water filter pitchers and found out that the PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher is the best one overall.
There are several factors to look for when buying a water filter pitcher and to make your life easier we spent several hours researching to discover the best overall water filter pitcher so that you don’t have to waste your limited time. And because there isn’t a one size fits all because each family has its unique situation, we also identified the best option for different situations.
You will find out the best water filter pitchers available today, their pros and cons, an explanation of why they are better for specific situations, and a complete buying guide with all the relevant information that you need to know to choose the best water filter pitcher for you.
Let’s get started!
Our Top Picks for Best Water Filter Pitchers
- PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher (Best Overall Water Filter Pitcher)
- Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher (Runner-up Water Filter Pitcher)
- Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher (Best Value Water Filter Pitcher)
- AquaBliss 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher (Best Budget Water Filter Pitcher)
- Waterdrop Long-Life Lucid 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher (Best Longevity Water Filter Pitcher)
- Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher (Best Compact Water Filter Pitcher)
- Brita Extra Large 18 Cup Filtered Water Dispenser (Best Large Water Filter Pitcher)
- Invigorated pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher (Best Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher)
- ZeroWater 10 Cup Round Water Filter Pitcher (Best Water Filter Pitcher for Lead)
- Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher (Best Water Filter Pitcher for Removing Contaminants)
10 Best Water Filter Pitchers Reviewed
After investing our time researching and reviewing several water filter pitchers, we identified the 10 best options for different purposes.
We’ve invested the time so you don’t have to:
- Best for: Overall
- Dimension: 11.25 x 6.75 x 10.63 inches
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 40 gallons
- Capacity: 11 cups
- Material: BPA-Free Plastic
The PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher is our choice for the best overall water filter pitcher. This well-designed water pitcher is NSF certified to remove most of the harmful contaminants from the water, is easy to fill and use, is dishwasher safe, comes with a nice 11-cup capacity, and comes with a light indicator to let you know when it’s time to change the filter.
One of our favorite features of the PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher is the fact that it is NSF certified to remove many contaminants, such as chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, bad taste and odors, and more.
While the included filter does not remove lead, if that is a problem in your water source, you can always upgrade to a lead reduction PUR filter that removes lead, microbial cysts, and particulates.
This water filter pitcher has a nice and slim design that makes it easy to handle and use, and allows it to be easily placed in a refrigerator if you like cold water. It also has a LockFit Design that makes sure that the lid stays tight to avoid spills and leaks.
The PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher comes with a filter change light indicator to let you know when it’s time to change the filter, which is quite nice to avoid having to manually track the lifespan of the filter. When it reaches the yellow light, you know it’s time to order another filter, and replace it when the light turns red.
It has a filter longevity of 40 gallons of water (around 2 months) which is typical for these types of filters, but not as good as some of the competition.
The PUR Water Filter Pitcher has a decent filtration speed, and it can take between 5 to 7 minutes to fill the pitcher, or double that time if you use a lead reduction filter.
Pros:
- Good filtration capabilities
- NSF certified
- Filter change light indicator
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
- Slim design to fit in the refrigerator
Cons:
- Does not remove lead (unless you upgrade for another filter)
- Filter longevity
- Some customers complained about plastic cracks after some time
Read the full review: PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher Review
- Best for: Overall (Runner-up)
- Dimension: 11.1 x 11.1 x 5.6 inches
- Weight: 3.02 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 120 gallons
- Capacity: 8 cups
- Material: BPA-free plastic
The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher is a great option and is our runner-up choice for the best overall water filter pitcher. This device removes the most harmful contaminants from the water including lead, comes with a lifetime warranty, and its filter can purify up to 120 gallons of water.
The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher uses an activated carbon filter to remove several contaminants from your water, such as chlorine, lead, heavy metals, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, etc., but keeps the beneficial minerals that are good for your health, like calcium and magnesium,
This water filter pitcher is not NSF certified but has been independently tested by accredited labs to ensure it removes the mentioned contaminants.
The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher filter longevity is great, as it can filter up to 120 gallons of water before we have to change the filter. This is 3 times better than the typical filter of a water filter pitcher that on average lasts for 40 gallons of water. The only drawback is that you need to control the filter replacement manually because this pitcher doesn’t have a filter indicator included to let you know when it’s time to change the filter.
This water filter pitcher has a capacity of 8 cups of water, and it will take around 15 minutes to filter that amount of water. The filtration filter speed isn’t that bad, but there are competitors with better filtration speed.
One of the best things about the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher is the lifetime guarantee, which means that if your water pitcher breaks the manufacturer will replace it without charging you, which gives you peace of mind to purchase it.
Pros:
- Good filtration capabilities
- Removes lead
- Does not remove beneficial minerals
- Filter longevity
- Lifetime guarantee
- BPA-free plastic
Cons:
- No NSF certification (but independently tested)
- No filter change light indicator
- Some customers complain about the filtration speed
Read the full review: Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher Review
- Best for: Value
- Dimension: 5.4 x 10.7 x 10.1 inches
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 40 gallons
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Material: BPA-Free Plastic
The Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher is a fan favorite and in our view is the best value choice for a Water filter pitcher. This well-known manufacturer delivered a product with a great combination of affordable price with good filtration capacity, in a well-designed BPA-free device.
The Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher has a solid capacity to remove contaminants, as through a combination of activated carbon and ion exchange resin it deals with chlorine, lead, cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc, asbestos, bad taste and odors, and more, ensuring that you drink fresh and clean water.
This is a BPA-free and lightweight water filter pitcher that makes it easy to fill and use, and it’s designed to fit well in a refrigerator, so if you like to drink cold water this would be a good choice.
The Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher filters will last around 40 gallons of water, which is typical for these types of filters. Brita offers Longlast filters which will last 3 times more as they can filter up to 120 gallons of water.
While this water filter pitcher does not come with a change filter light indicator, it comes with a sticker filter indicator that will remind you when it’s time to change the filter.
Pros:
- Price
- Good filtration capability
- Lightweight
- Comes with a sticker filter indicator
- BPA-free plastic
Cons:
- Filter longevity
- Customers complained about the quality of the lid
Read the full review: Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher Review
- Best for: Budget
- Dimension: 12.13 x 11.46 x 6.18 inches
- Weight: 1.39 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 80 gallons
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Material: BPA-Free Plastic
The AquaBliss 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher is the best budget choice for a water filter pitcher. This affordable water filter pitcher can remove the most common water contaminants, has a good design and capacity, come with a filter that lasts twice as long as the average, and is supported by a money-back guarantee & 1-year warranty.
The AquaBliss 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher can remove chlorine, mercury, copper, cadmium, zinc, sediments, and bad tastes and odors, which should be enough to filter tap water if your water source is not heavily contaminated.
The longevity of its filter is two times the average of 40 gallons, so it can filter up to 80 gallons of water, which means that you will only change filters around every 4 months.
The AquaBliss 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher has a really affordable price, but that doesn’t mean it is a cheap product. Is made with BPA-free materials, has a nice capacity for 10 cups of filtered water, is a lightweight product, has a sleek design that allows it to suit well in a refrigerator, and can filter water faster than the average water filter pitcher.
And this water filter pitcher comes with a 1-year warranty and a full money-back guarantee which shows the trust that the manufacturer has in the quality of this product.
Pros:
- Price
- Lightweight
- Good filter longevity
- Filtration speed
- Money-back guarantee
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Don’t remove lead
- Some customers complained about leaks after some time
Read the full review: AquaBliss 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher Review
- Best for: Longevity
- Dimension: 10.4 x 5.3 x 10 inches
- Weight: 2.81 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 200 gallons
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Material: BPA-free Plastic
We like the Waterdrop Long-Life Lucid 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher, and clearly beats the competition regarding the longevity of its filter. But this water pitcher is not only about filter lifespan, it is also a well-designed device that fits well in your refrigerator, has a fast filtration speed, is NSF certified, and can remove harmful contaminants from your water, including lead and fluoride.
The Waterdrop Long-Life Lucid Water Filter Pitcher has a filter with 4 different media layers, non-woven fabric, ion-exchange resin, activated carbon fiber, and coconut activated carbon, which means that it can target different types of contaminants, like chlorine, fluoride, lead, iron, copper, mercury, aluminum, bad taste and odors, and more.
This device is NSF certified, having NSF 42 and 372 certifications. The NSF 372 certification ensures that all the materials are lead-free, so there won’t be any cross-contamination of your water. The NSF 42 certification ensures that this device was properly tested to reduce chlorine, bad taste and odors, and other aesthetic contaminants.
But what differentiates the Waterdrop Long-Life Lucid Water Filter Pitcher from the other top water filter pitchers is its amazing filter longevity. Just one filter is capable of filtering up to 200 gallons of water, which is 5 times the amount that a typical water filter pitcher is capable of filtering.
It also has a good filtration speed of 0.5 GPM (gallons per minute) which means that it filters a whole pitcher of water in just 1 minute.
The Waterdrop Long-Life Lucid Water Filter Pitcher has some nice design features, like the gravity induction light indicator that will let you know when its time to change the filter, the slim design so it can easily fit on the door of your refrigerator, and the spout lid that allows you to pour the water without opening the pitcher and avoid contamination with dust and other impurities.
Pros:
- Good filtration capabilities
- Can remove lead and fluoride
- Great filter longevity
- Quick filtration speed
- NSF certified
- Gravity light indicator to let you know when to change filters
Cons:
- Not as light as other options
- Some customers complained that the filter didn’t last as long as expected
Read the full review: Waterdrop Long-Life Lucid 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher Review
Promo: Use our code WFP10 for a 10% discount on any product of the Waterdrop website
- Best for: Compact
- Dimension: 9.33 x 4.29 x 8.88 inches
- Weight: 1.39 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 40 gallons
- Capacity: 6 cups
- Material: BPA-free Plastic
The Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher is a great option if you are looking for a small and compact water filter pitcher. This water pitcher comes in a nice compact and sleek design but it still can filter the most common water contaminants.
The Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher removes the typical water contaminants like chlorine, cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc, asbestos, bad taste and odors, and more, ensuring that you drink clean water.
The included filter will filter 40 gallons of water, which is typical for these types of filters, but Brita offers Longlast filters which will last 3 times more as they can filter up to 120 gallons of water, and will also deal with other contaminants like lead.
The Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher has a nice compact design that is still enough for 6 cups of water, making it a great option for small families that won’t need much water or for small spaces, and will easily fit in a refrigerator.
Pros:
- Price
- Compact design
- Lightweight
- BPA-free plastic
- Filter change electronic indicator
- Fits well in a refrigerator
Cons:
- Filter longevity
- Customers complained about cracks on the plastic
Read the full review: Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher Review
- Best for: Large
- Dimension: 5.1 x 14 x 9.6 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 120 gallons
- Capacity: 18 cups
- Material: BPA-free Plastic
The Brita Extra Large 18 Cup Filtered Water Dispenser is a great option if you are looking for a large capacity water filter pitcher. This water pitcher comes with the Brita Longlast filter which lasts 3 times longer than a typical filter, and removes even more contaminants like lead, and has a capacity of up to 18 cups of filtered water.
The Brita Extra Large Filtered Water Dispenser removes not only the contaminants that a typical Brita filter removes, like chlorine, cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc, asbestos, bad taste and odors, but it also deals with other contaminants, and its capable of reducing 99% of lead, particulates, cadmium, mercury, asbestos, and benzene, ensuring a powerful filtration of your water.
It comes with Brita Longlast filters which can clean 120 gallons of water, 3 times more than the standard Brita filter of 40 gallons (the average longevity of this type of filter). So, with this filter, you should only need to change it every 6 months. And it includes an electronic indicator to let you know when it’s time to change the filter.
The Brita Extra Large 18 Cup Filtered Water Dispenser has a nice and clean design that gives this device a capacity to hold 18 cups of filtered water, but it still fits nicely on a refrigerator which is a great option if you like cold water.
It also comes with a spigot to make the water dispensing easier for everyone in the family, and a flip-top lid that makes filling it an easy task.
Pros:
- Large capacity of 18 cups
- Good filtration capability
- Removes lead
- Electronic indicator for filter change
- Filter longevity
- Fits on the fridge
Cons:
- Not easy to clean
- Some customers complained that the filter didn’t last as long as expected
Read the full review: Brita Extra Large 18 Cup Filtered Water Dispenser Review
- Best for: Alkaline
- Dimension: 12.09 x 11.46 x 6.18 inches
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 96 gallons
- Capacity: 8 cups
- Material: BPA-free Plastic
If you are looking for an alkaline water filter pitcher that increases the pH of your water the Invigorated pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher is the best available option in the market. This well-designed device filters the harmful contaminants of your water but also adds back beneficial minerals to increase its pH, and comes with great filter longevity of 96 gallons, a digital filter life indicator, anti-slip base, and a 100% money-back guarantee.
The Invigorated pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher includes a PH001 multi-stage filter that removes harmful water contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, some fluoride, dirt, rust, sand, bad taste, and odors, and adds back to the water minerals such as calcium, magnesium, selenium, lithium, and others to re-mineralize and increasing its pH, making it alkaline. You can also buy the optional add-on PH002 UF (Ultra-Filtration) membrane filter that will remove more contaminants.
This is a well-designed water filter pitcher that includes nice and useful features such as a digital filter life indicator to let you know when it’s time to replace the filter, an anti-slip base to avoid accidents, and it’s easy to fill using a mechanism in which putting the unit under the tap with the water pressure will push down the lid.
Another positive point of the Invigorated pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher is its filter lifespan of around 96 gallons of water which is more than 2 times the average lifespan of these types of filters.
Regarding its filtration speed, it can also deliver a good result. It will take around 5 minutes to fill if you are using just the PH001 filter, and around 10 minutes if you are using both the PH001 and PH002 filters, ensuring that you won’t have to wait long for your water to filter.
And the Invigorated pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher comes with a 100% money-back guarantee which shows the trust of the manufacturer in its product and allows you to buy and check if it’s the right option for you.
Pros:
- Removes chlorine, heavy metals, and fluoride
- Increase water’s pH
- Great filter longevity
- Digital filter life indicator
- Anti-slip base
- Option to add Ultra Filtration (UF) Membrane Filter
- 100% money-back guarantee
Cons:
- No NSF certification
- Some customers complained that the lid that not fit properly
Read the full review: Invigorated pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher Review
- Best for: Lead
- Dimension: 10.25 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
- Weight: 2.9 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 40 gallons
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Material: BPA-free Plastic
The ZeroWater 10 Cup Round Water Filter Pitcher is one of the few water filter pitchers with NSF 53 certification that ensures it can remove lead, as well as other harmful contaminants from your water. This product removes almost to 0 the total dissolved solids in your water, has a nice space-saving rounded design, and comes with a water quality meter so that you can measure the quality of your water.
The ZeroWater 10 Cup Round Water Filter Pitcher comes with a 5-stage filtration system to ensure the removal of almost all dissolved solids in the water:
- Stage 1: coarse filter to remove fine particles/sediment
- Stage 2: Distributor that maximizes contact time with the filter
- Stage 3: Multi-layer system using activated carbon
- Stage 4: Comprehensive ion-exchange filter
- Stage 5: Non-woven membrane to remove fine particles that might pass through the other staged
And what gives us confidence that this is the best water filter pitcher to remove lead is the fact it has an NSF 53 certification, which ensures that it is tested to successfully designed reduce specific health-related contaminants, such as lead, cryptosporidium, VOCs, and chromium.
The ZeroWater 10 Cup Round Water Filter Pitcher has a nice space-saving rounded design, a flip to fill lid to allow you to fill it without having to remove the entire lid, and comes with a water quality meter that fits in the pitcher to let you measure the before and after TDS of your water.
The filter longevity it’s around 40 gallons which is in line with this type of filter, but worse than some other options in our top 10.
Pros:
- Great filter reduces TDS to almost 0
- Removes lead
- NSF certified
- Round design
- Includes a water quality meter
Cons:
- Filter longevity
- Slow filtration speed
- Some customers complained that couldn’t hold as much filtered water as advertised
Read the full review: ZeroWater 10 Cup Round Water Filter Pitcher Review
- Best for: Removing Contaminants
- Dimension: 11.02 x 10.83 x 5.55 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Filter Longevity: 100 gallons
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Material: BPA-free Tritan
The Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher is one of our favorite water filter pitchers and if your water is highly contaminated this is one of the best choices available, as it can remove around 270 contaminants, including lead and fluoride. But it does more than just remove contaminants, it is a BPA-free device with a filter longevity of 100 gallons and a lifetime guarantee, making it a great choice.
The Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher can remove around 270 contaminants from the water, like chlorine, fluoride, PFAS, PFOA, lead, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, radiological contaminants, and much more, ensuring that you will have clean and fresh water to drink.
The filter of this water filter pitcher has a lifespan of 100 gallons of water, which is more than 2 times the average of this type of filter, reducing the number of times you have to change filters in the year.
And the Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher comes with a lifetime guarantee so it will be replaced free of charge if it ever breaks, which shows the trust the manufacturer has in its product.
Pros:
- The most powerful at removing contaminants from the water
- Removes fluoride and lead
- Good filter longevity
- Lifetime warranty
- BPA-free materials
Cons:
- Price
- Doesn’t have a filter change indicator
- Some customers complained about the quality and the design of the pitcher
Read the full review: Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher Review
Buying Guide for Water Filter Pitcher
There are so many water filter pitchers available in the market, that makes choosing the right one for you a difficult task.
With that in mind, we present a curated selection of the best water filter pitchers for different situations, and we also created a comprehensive buying guide for water filter pitchers so that you can understand the most important factors and be able to make an informed buying decision.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Water Filter Pitcher
When researching for a water filter pitcher to buy, these are the key features that you should consider:
Contaminants Removed
Not all water filter pitchers will remove the same contaminants from the water, but depending on the water source, you may not need to deal with all harmful contaminants, just the ones that are in your water.
Most water filter pitchers will have at least an activated carbon media filter that can deal with chlorine and other chemicals, and will also remove bad taste and odors from the water.
The best water filter pitchers combine different media filters to remove different types of contaminants and could remove not only the contaminants mentioned above, but also heavy metals, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), pesticides, herbicides, and more.
Cost
A water filter pitcher is not as expensive as other types of water filters, like a whole house water filter, but in any purchase, the cost is an important consideration and you should look for an option in your budget range.
You should be able to find good water filter pitcher options in the $20 to $90 range, but apart from this initial investment, take into consideration that you will also have a recurrent cost of replacing the filter every few months.
The quality of the materials and the number of contaminants removed will have an impact on the price, so decide which factors are most important to you and define a budget accordingly.
Size & Weight
There are water filter pitchers available in different sizes and capacities, and it is important to choose the right dimension depending on your needs.
If it’s just a few people in your household, a smaller water filter pitcher might be enough, but if you have a large family, it will be better to go for a water filter pitcher with a large capacity.
A smaller water filter pitcher will be easier to carry when filled because it will weigh less, and it will be easier to store in a refrigerator, but a larger water pitcher doesn’t need to be refilled often, and you won’t need to wait for it to filter the water so often.
Filter Longevity
The filter of your water filter pitcher needs to be replaced from time to time, and different models will have filters with different lifespans.
The most common filter longevity for a filter water pitcher is around 2 months or 30 to 40 gallons of filtered water, but if your water is heavily contaminated it may not last as long as stated by the manufacturer, because it will become clogged with impurities sooner than expected.
A good idea is to choose a water filter pitcher that has an indicator to let you know when it’s time to change the filter, to make sure that you are always using a filter that is working properly.
Typically these filters are not expensive, but you should consider this additional and recurrent cost when looking for a water filter pitcher.
Ideally, you should choose a combination of good longevity and decent price, to not have to change the filter quite often and minimize the recurring cost of changing the filter.
Certifications
Having a certified water filter pitcher gives you the confidence that the manufacturer claims about its product and the contaminants it removes are trustable because an independent certified institution tested it.
Both NSF or WQA are independent third-party accredited institutions that certify water filters, which gives the consumer the trust that those products can remove certain harmful contaminants.
The most common certifications for water filter pitchers are the NSF 42 and 53:
- NSF 42: for aesthetic effects, this certifies systems designed to reduce non-health-related contaminants, such as chlorine, chloramine, taste and odor, iron, manganese, particulate, and total dissolved solids (TDS).
- NSF 53: for health effects, certifies systems designed to reduce specific health-related contaminants, such as lead, Cryptosporidium, VOCs, and chromium.
Filtration Speed
When you fill a water filter pitcher, it will take some time to filter the water before it becomes available to drink.
And different models will have a distinct filtration speed that can range from 2 to 15 minutes, depending on the brand and size, so you should take this factor into account when looking for a water filter pitcher.
Another factor that might negatively affect the filtration process is if the filter is clogged with impurities. If you notice a significatively drop in the filtration speed of your water pitcher filter, it might be time to change its filter.
Material
Typically, water filter pitchers are made of plastic, but you want to make sure that you select one that is made of BPA-free plastic because some studies have shown the link between BPA and several health conditions [1].
And look not only for BPA-free plastic on the container but all the water filter pitcher components should be made of BPA-free plastic, because you don’t want it to leak out into your water.
Design
When we mention that the design is a factor to consider when buying a water filter pitcher, we are not only referring to its aesthetic appearance (but also matters).
There are other design features to consider, like if all the components look durable, if they fit tight and won’t allow leaks, if the lid is easy to open, if it has a design that makes it easy to refill, if it is easy to clean, and potential other nice design features.
What is a Water Filter Pitcher?
A water filter pitcher is a water pitcher or jug with an in-built water filter that filters the water that is poured on it, to remove harmful contaminants, and provides clean and purified water to drink.
A water filter pitcher is considered a point-of-use (POU) filtration system, because it filters the water that is going to be used (to drink), while a point-of-entry (POE) filtration system, like a whole house water filter, filters all the water when it enters the household.
The water that is available at our home may have different contaminants, from sediments to chlorine, or heavy metals, and using a water filter pitcher will ensure that you won’t be drinking these harmful substances that could hurt your health.
Water filter pitchers are portable, so you can store them in different locations, like on the countertop, or on a refrigerator if you prefer to drink cold water.
How Does a Water Filter Pitcher Work?
A water filter pitcher has a water filter that contains one or several media filters inside that will remove specific contaminants, making sure that the water that flows through is clean and safe to drink.
The best water filter pitcher will have more than one media filter to target different contaminants, and remove more contaminants from your water.
The water is filtered through when it enters the water filter pitcher and comes in contact with the filter, and this process may take a few minutes while the water passes through the media filter that traps the contaminants.
Because the filter will become clogged with contaminants after some time, you will need to replace the filter every few months.
What contaminants do water filter pitchers remove?
Depending on the filter media inside the water filter pitcher, it can remove different contaminants.
Typically a water filter pitcher has at least an activated carbon media filter, which is effective at removing chlorine and other chemicals, bad taste and odors from the water.
Some water filter pitchers have different media filters and are able to remove other types of contaminants, such as sediments, bacteria, viruses, VOCs, fluoride, chloramine, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Water Filter Pitcher Benefits
There are several advantages when using a water filter pitcher, such as:
Removes Contaminants & Impurities from Your Water
Depending on where you live, your home water might not be safe to drink, and using a water filter pitcher will ensure that the harmful contaminants will be removed.
If your water source is contaminated, choose a water filter pitcher that can deal with the contaminants in your water source to protect your family’s health.
Some typical contaminants that can be found in water are chlorine, chloramine, sediments, heavy metals, VOCs, and if you are using well water you need to protect yourself against pathogens, bacteria, and viruses, so a water filter pitcher is a good and affordable solution for this problem.
Improves Water Taste
Even if you have access to safe water, its taste might not be great to you, because it might have small quantities of contaminants (below the threshold level) that cause a bad taste and smell, like chlorine or sulfur.
Water filter pitchers will deal with these issues, and provide you with clean and tasty water, removing the bad taste and odors from your water.
Cost
There are great water filter solutions to have access to clean water to drink, like Reverse Osmosis systems and undersink water filters, which can effectively deal with water contaminants, but these systems are not cheap, and the price can vary from a few hundred to more than one thousand dollars.
On the opposite side, water filter pitchers are relatively inexpensive, and you will find good options in the $20 to $90 price range, making it an affordable solution.
And if you spend money on bottled water, start using a water filter pitcher because with a small initial investment you will save a lot of money in the long run.
Portable & Size
Another great feature of a water filter pitcher is that they are small and portable, so you can carry them to different places in your home, or even bring them with you to a different location, like an office, RV, or another home.
Another side benefit of its portability is that you can store a water filter pitcher in the fridge, and have access to cold and clean water.
Environment-friendly
Water filter pitchers are environmentally friendly because instead of consuming bottled water and producing tons of plastic waste that is harmful to the environment, you will start to use tap water and heavily reduce your plastic waste footprint.
No Installation Required
Most of the water filters will require some type of installation and maintenance, and with a water filter, you can avoid that.
You will still have access to clean water without the need of cutting pipes and drill countertops to install a water filter. This is great if you are living in a rented place, because you probably wouldn’t have permission to install different types of water filters, and because you will be able to bring the water filter pitcher with you if you decide to move to another place.
Hydration
Not drinking enough water is unhealthy for you, so having access to clean and filtered water should increase your water consumption, making sure that you and your family are properly hydrated.
Do I Really Need a Water Filter Pitcher?
Not everyone needs a water filter pitcher, and our suggestion is to start by checking if your home water source is contaminated, and if so, which are the contaminants that you need to deal with.
You can do this by checking the CCR of your water provider or by checking the water of your home by yourself, using a water test kit.
If your water is contaminated, and you can’t or don’t want to buy another type of water filter system to deal with these contaminants, a water filter pitcher is a good option.
Take into account that a water filter pitcher won’t be able to remove all the water contaminants, so if your water is highly contaminated, like some well water sources, it is probably a good idea to acquire a more powerful water filtration system.
Even if you live in an area with decent water, if you don’t like the smell and taste of your tap water, using a water filter pitcher would be a good solution for you because it will improve the taste of your water.
Another reason to buy a water filter is if you are constantly going from one location to another, because this device is portable you can bring it with you and use it in a different home or an office.
Water Filter Pitcher Maintenance
Water filter pitchers are almost maintenance-free, the only things that you will need to do are to clean properly from time to time, and to change the filter according to the manufacturer’s indications, which can range from 2 to 6 months on average.
How to change the filter of a water filter pitcher?
Changing a water filter pitcher filter cartridge is quite simple, and you only need to open the lid, remove the old filter, attach the new one, and flush it with water for a few seconds before starting to use it.
Some modern water filter pitchers will have a visual indicator to let you know when it’s time to replace the filter, which is great to avoid having to manually monitor when it’s time to do it.
How do you clean a water filter pitcher?
Some water filter pitchers are dishwasher safe, so that is a good option to have it clean. Just ensure that you remove the filter first because it typically can’t be washed.
You can also wash it with warm water and soap, in the same way you wash other stuff in the kitchen.
FAQ About Water Filter Pitchers
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about water filter pitchers.
What is the cost of a water filter pitcher?
Water filter pitchers are not expensive, and if you compare them with other types of water filters they can be considered quite cheap.
You can find good options from around $20 until $90, which cannot be considered expensive in the current market.
You should also factor in the cost of replacing the filter cartridge every few months, which will add up to your budget.
What do water filter pitchers remove from water?
Not all water filter pitchers will remove the same contaminants of the water, it will depend on the filter they have.
Most of them will remove sediments, chlorine, chemicals, bad taste and odors, and others will remove more contaminants like heavy metals, VOCs, pesticides, herbicides, and more.
But more than what water filter pitchers remove from water, first you need to understand which contaminants do you need to remove from your water, and they look for a water filter pitcher that can deal with those contaminants.
It doesn’t matter if a water pitcher can remove one contaminant that doesn’t exist in your water source because it won’t benefit you at all.
Why is my water filter pitcher filtering so slowly?
Water filter pitchers need some time to filter the water, and depending on its filtration speed it can take from 2 to 15 minutes.
If your water filter pitcher is now taking a long time to filter the water and previously was faster, then it is probably because the filter is clogged and you need to replace it with a new one.
How long does a water filter pitcher last?
A water filter pitcher can last several years if you take good care of them, and clean it regularly.
What you will need to change from time to time are the in-built filters, because they can only filter a specific amount of water. Typically you will need to change the filters between 2 and 6 months, depending on the brand and model.
Do I need to buy a water filter pitcher if I have a whole house water filter?
If you already have a whole house water filter, this should already remove the contaminants from your home so you should not need a water filter pitcher.
A possible reason would be if your whole water filter doesn’t remove a specific contaminant that you need to filter out, and a water pitcher can, but this is not a common scenario.
A reasonable scenario would be if you need the portable feature of a water filter pitcher, and you want to use it in a different location outside your home, like an office or an RV.
Can I use any filters in my water filter pitcher?
Not really. You should use the filters recommended by the manufacturer of your water filter pitcher, which usually is of the same brand, to ensure that the filters will work properly and without leaks.
How long can I store water in my water filter pitcher?
If you plan to drink the water, we would not recommend storing water in a water filter pitcher, or any other container, for more than one day, and this is assuming that it is not directly exposed to sunlight.
If you need to store the filtered water in a water filter pitcher for more than one day, then you should use a refrigerator.
Is water from a water filter pitcher better than bottled water?
While both options offer drinking water of good quality and without harmful contaminants, in our view drinking purified water from a water filter pitcher instead of bottled water brings two main advantages.
First, it will save you money in the long run, because the initial cost of a water filter pitcher and the recurring costs associated with replacing the filters is only a fraction of the cost of buying bottled water.
Second, the plastic produced by consuming water bottles is harmful to our environment, something that you simply avoid by using a water filter pitcher.
Our Verdict
There are several good water filter pitchers available in the market, but in our view, the PUR CR1100CV Classic Water Filter Pitcher is the best overall.
But we identified good choices for different situations so that you can choose the best one for your specific needs. All the options we present in our top are great choices, so you can’t go wrong with any of them!
