Filtering water pitchers and dispensers improve water taste and quality
We found a plethora of water filter pitcher reviews, partly because they're easy to use and solve the most common water-quality issues, removing bad odors and tastes. Pitchers typically hold 5 to 10 cups of water (depending on the model), and larger dispensers have a spigot for dispensing 18 cups. After filling the container's upper reservoir with tap water, gravity pulls the water through a carbon filter and into the compartment below. It takes between five and 10 minutes before water is ready for drinking. Another inconvenience is finding room in the fridge to store the container. Though most of these pitchers are made of plastic, it should be noted that Clear2O, Brita and Pur products do not contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical in some plastics that's been linked to health problems.
Among water filter pitchers, Brita dominates the market with 12 models that vary in color, capacity and shape, as well as one 18-cup capacity dispenser. One recurring complaint from owners is that the Brita filters release tiny black flakes into the filtered water. Pur is another big name in water pitchers with three models, plus an 18-cup dispenser. Both manufacturers say their filters last for up to 40 gallons and will need to be replaced every month or two. The filters for both brands cost about $10 each, but purchasing quantity packs reduces the per-filter price. Brita filters are recyclable.
A lesser-known brand is the top water filter pitcher, according to experts. In side-by-side testing, the Clear2O Water Filtration Pitcher (*Est. $25) performs better than Brita and Pur at the removal of lead and organic compounds. The manufacturer says the solid carbon filter lasts for up to 50 gallons, which is longer than the top brands; however, one expert review says it's more prone to clogging. The pitcher has an electronic filter replacement indicator light that measures actual water usage – after 40 gallons the light changes from green to yellow and after another 10 gallons it turns red. What's more: This product is certified by NSF to filter more contaminants than a Brita pitcher -- including MTBE and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) -- but fewer than a Pur filter. The replacement water filters are similar in price to Brita and Pur, about $9 each.
The Clear2O pitcher filters "almost as fast" as the water flows out of the faucet. It's this fast filtration rate that earns it accolades from Sean Paajanen, the former About.com guide to coffee and tea, as well as Good Housekeeping, which gave the Clear2O a Good Buy award in 2008 -- the year that the pitcher was launched. How can it filter the water so quickly? Instead of relying on gravity to move the water through the apparatus, a filler hose attaches to the faucet and forces water through the filter at high pressure. Paajanen points out that an aerator attachment must be installed onto the faucet to which the hose is attached. The attachment can be left in place. Another potential drawback is that water can spray if the hose isn't attached securely. Owner reviews at Amazon.com are generally positive for this 9-cup water filter pitcher, although a few report problems attaching the filler hose to the faucet.
Brita uses the same water filter in all its pitchers, which doesn't filter out lead as well as the Clear2O in one test and doesn't remove organic compounds. Brita pitcher filters are certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA), an independent water testing organization, for reducing unappealing tastes and odors as well as chlorine, zinc, cadmium, copper and mercury. However, it takes longer for water from the faucet to filter through the Brita pitcher (a source of frustration for many owners). And some owners are unhappy with the design of the more expensive models of Brita pitchers that feature an electronic filter indicator and flip-top lid; owners describe the filter-change indicator as useless, as it merely counts down two months, rather than gauging the true life the filter. Owners say unfiltered water leaks out when pouring and the lid falls apart easily. If you only need a small quantity of filtered water, the 6-cup Brita Slim Pitcher (*Est. $10) has a more simple design and receives praise from hundreds of owners at Amazon.com.
The slightly larger 7-cup Pur CR-6000 2 Stage Pitcher (*Est. $15) is named a best buy by TheGreenGuide.com, but no other pitchers are included in the review. Lab tests reveal that this water filter pitcher performs as well as the Brita pitcher at removing lead and as well as the Clear2O water-filter pitcher at removing contaminants. Although the manufacturer says its filters last for up to 100 gallons, this filter receives the lowest rating for flow speed and clogging problems, which may force some consumers to buy filters more frequently. Still, the Pur is NSF-certified to reduce 18 contaminants, including parasites and the herbicide 2,4-D. At the time of our report, no water filter is certified by the NSF to remove pharmaceuticals from tap water, but based on its own lab tests of 12 common medications, Pur says its two-stage filter can reduce them by 96 percent.
Owner reviews of the Pur CR-6000 2 Stage Pitcher at Amazon.com are mixed. Although owners are happy with the quality of the water, some complain about its design: owners say the lid is extremely difficult to remove, and several report cracks in the pitcher. The electronic filter indicator tracks the number of times the lid is removed, which is likely to be more accurate than Brita's countdown timer.
The Pur 2 Stage Water Pitcher With Electronic Filter Usage Light CR-6000C (*Est. $20) is identical to the CR-6000 water-filter pitcher, but it has a filter replacement indicator light. One interesting twist on the CR-6000C is the Pur Flavor Options Water Pitcher CR-5000 (*Est. $26). It has a cartridge that adds fruit flavoring to a serving of water with a push of a button. The Pur Flavor Options Cartridge is available in several flavors for about $10.
Water filter dispensers are not covered in professional reviews as often as pitchers, but they use the same type of filters used in pitchers, and the taste and odor of the resulting filtered water is comparable. Consumers who need to store more filtered water in their refrigerator than what a pitcher can hold, may opt for a water filter dispenser that holds 18 cups and pours water from a spigot. Besides the filter, there's not much to differentiate the Pur 2 Stage Water Dispenser DS-1800Z (*Est. $30) and the Brita UltraMax Dispenser (*Est. $30). The Brita dispenser does feature an electronic filter-change indicator, but it's surpassed by the Pur model in hundreds of reviews written by owners at Amazon.com. Owners say mold can develop on the Brita filter, and the spigot is placed too high to drain all the filtered water out and sometimes leaks.
