We believe that water filter pitchers offer a fantastic alternative to having large, expensive filtration systems installed in your households, or as a useful device to take with you on camping trips or holidays where you live in your own accommodation.
A water filter pitcher is simply a pitcher capable of holding a large amount of water, with a built-in filtration system, usually an activated carbon filter that filters the water as you pour it out.
You may already use some kind of water pitcher at home or in the office, but one that doesn’t offer filtered water which is cleaner, safer and tastes better. In the following article, you will learn why they are a great purchase and see our shortlist of filtered pitchers, to help you make a decision on which one to go for.
Our Top Picks
Best Pitchers of 2021
Pitchers that are worth mentioning:
Top 10 Products
Please see below, a list of our 10 favourite water filter pitchers, along with a brief description and review of the products in question. It is our aim to provide some guidance for anyone looking to make a purchase in the near future, but who might be uncertain about which brand and design to go for.
1. Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher
We start off our reviews with the firm favourite of the team, the water filter pitcher by Clearly Filtered.
Filtration:
This is a fantastic system that stands out by the quality of the water and high levels of filtration, with it removing over 98% of fluorides as well as a long list of harmful contaminants that runs to over two pages long. Nothing else comes close in our opinion to the quality results you get with this product.
Performance:
It is important to offer a balanced opinion where possible and there are some drawbacks that might be an issue for some. Firstly, the speed at which it filters water is slower than many on the market, in particular, pitchers from Brita, but given the quality of water it produces, then that is understandable.
Maintenance:
The other point to note is that it doesn’t have a reminder or warning to change filters, so you need to just set a reminder somewhere else or notice the taste change.
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2. Waterdrop Chubby Water Filter Pitcher
A nicely designed product, with storage in mind as its slim dimensions, allows you to store it in the fridge door, making it a handy feature indeed.
Filtration:
Away from the looks and features, the filter system inside this water filter pitcher uses an interesting 7-stage technology, which removes a large number of harmful bacteria and contaminants including sulfur. This means you will no longer need to buy bottled water for your home.
Maintenance:
This filter system lasts for approximately 200 gallons of water, which is a fair amount more than most pitchers on the market. Sadly, they don’t provide replacement filters with the initial purchase, adding to the cost, but this is a minor annoyance for most.
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3. Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher
Yet another water filter pitcher that claims to remove over 200 potentially harmful contaminants, with a rating from the manufacturer of 99.9%. This really is one of the best out there.
Filtration:
So you can buy this product with confidence that you will get clean, healthy and nice tasting water as a result of your purchase. These filters work for around 150 gallons before needing to be swapped out, so we would expect you to have to get a replacement filter every 3 or so months, depending on water usage.
Capacity:
This is a great product that can hold 3.5 litres of water, a good capacity that will meet the requirements of a family.
Performance:
Be warned though, that the filtration process can be a little slow, due to the sheer number of contaminants that it removes.
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4. Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher
The Aquagear water filter pitcher is another quality product that really delivers on filtration and the need to provide clean and healthy water for your household.
Filtration:
Not satisfied with the usual contaminants including heavy metals, this model will also tackle some of the harder to remove ones including fluoride and lead. This filters life is around 3 months each, in line with some of the better pitchers on our list.
Warranty:
A nice bonus with purchasing this pitcher is that the manufacturer offers a lifetime guarantee, so in theory, if it breaks or a fault occurs, you can claim a new one from them.
Performance:
However, it is yet another pitcher that suffers from a slow filtering process, due to the same old issue of being so good at filtering out harmful contents.
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5. Brita 10 Cup Grand Water Filter Pitcher
The first on our list from the heavyweight of water filters, Brita. They have years of experience in creating filtration systems that provide high quality, clean water that is safe for your family to drink.
Overview:
In the case of this pitcher, they have delivered a design that allows for 10 cups of water and a warning system that tells you when exactly the filters cartridges need replacing.
Maintenance:
The Brita filter cartridges are relatively affordable and easily obtained, so you won’t have any worries about finding a new one when the time comes.
Design:
Perhaps our only complaint with this model is there have been reports of the lids not working too well, despite the stylish designs.
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6. AquaBliss 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher
This water filter pitcher has found its way into our top 10 because it seems to have tackled some of the key failings of other, more established pitchers on the market.
Performance:
Firstly, it doesn’t take an age to filter the water before you can get a drink, taking only a minute or two to deliver a full pitcher of clean, healthy water. Furthermore, it has a digital system that counts down the number of days before filters need replacing.
Filtration:
On the subject of filters, it offers all of the usual protection, reducing the amount of chlorine, sediment and other metals from the water.
Design:
If you choose this model, do prepare for quite a heavy pitcher that isn’t the greatest design, with a notable risk of water spillage if you’re not careful.
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7. Brita 36092 Metro Pitchers
The next Brita on our list is the smaller relation to the 10-cup pitcher further up on our list.
Features:
This is a 5 cup pitcher with a slim, functional design that allows it to be stored more easily in the fridge compared to a lot of its competitors. It will filter out many of the standard harmful minerals that you’d come to expect from a Brita filter and indicate when a filter needs changing.
Performance:
Unfortunately, even for a small pitcher, this does suffer from the issue of slow filtering. It has been recorded as taking approximately 5 minutes to filter enough water for a full pitcher, so don’t expect to use this in a hurry! Always remember to fill up and keep it in the fridge ready for use and then you will have no problems.
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8. PUR LED 11 Cup Water Filtration Pitcher System
We appreciate the work that PUR has put into this water filter pitcher because they have not only delivered a product that filters more contaminants than most, but it also delivers a storage size greater than most, working well as an impressive 11-cup pitcher.
Filtration:
The filter will remove the standard contaminants but it does it in a far more efficient manner than some of its competitors, getting rid of more pharmaceuticals and other materials such as mercury. This means you will have great tasting water that is safe to drink.
Design:
This pitcher has been built using BPA-free plastic, an added bonus, as well as having an LED light installed on the top to signify when you need to replace the filter.
Performance:
We found this PUR water filter didn’t do particularly well at softening the water, so if you live in an area with hard water, you may not see much improvements in that respect.
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9. Brita Atlantis Water Filter Pitcher
The final pitcher from the giants at Brita and its another small, efficient and effective offering from this manufacturer.
Performance:
It doesn’t store a great deal of water but it makes up for that by offering a fast filling system so you won’t have long to wait for clean, tasty water.
Filtration:
Furthermore, it utilises the quality cartridge filters that Brita are known for, reducing and removing countless harmful contaminants from the water supply before you drink it.
Maintenance:
Filter replacement can sometimes be tricky but not so with this model, as there is a notification when you need to do so. Add to that you can easily buy a replacement filter and there clear instructions including video tutorials online on how to fit it.
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10. DRAGONN Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher
We’ve chosen the DRAGONN alkaline water filter pitcher to show you next, primarily because it uses one of the most complex, effective filter cartridges that can be found on the market today.
Filtration:
As the title suggests, it not only removes harmful contents from the water supply but also treats the water, raising the pH level. On top of that, it has a remineralisation feature which adds in important minerals to the filtered water, improving the quality and nutritional value of the water.
Maintenance:
All of this makes it a fantastic solution for anyone wanting to filter water but unfortunately, the cartridges may put some of you off buying it. This is because they don’t seem to last particularly long, with reports showing a filter life of approximately 1 or 2 months, depending on the water usage in your household. So they don’t last too long but when they are working, boy do they work!
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Summary
A water filter pitcher is a fantastic product to have in the house and a great solution for those who don’t want a cumbersome water cooler or who simply don’t have space or money for a large built-in filtration system. There are many pitchers to choose from out there and whilst prices do vary, the majority on our list offer high levels of filtration and protection from the potentially harmful contents in your tap water.
Why are water filter pitchers so useful?
The short answer as to why they are so useful to have is that they provide clean, healthy drinking water. In reality, there are so many more reasons why they are a great choice for any household to buy and to use.
Health
Let’s start with the family – it can be tough getting children, and adults for that matter to drink enough water and so with a filtered pitcher, you can ensure they have clean, healthy water that tastes better. This is such a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and improving the wellbeing of everyone in the household, so something as inexpensive as one of these pitchers really does make a big difference.
Cost
These water filter pitchers are relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain and yet offer fantastic cost savings over the long term. Imagine all of the bottled water that you will have purchased over the years, or bottles of alternative drinks that you buy because you don’t drink the water from the taps. This gets reduced with a filtered pitcher.
Environment
Finally, we always want our readers to consider the environment when they make a purchase and these pitchers will help reduce the amount of plastic used, as you won’t be buying so many bottles and also reduce wastewater. This is because certain filter systems will have water tanks that filter water but also waste a lot of water. With a pitcher, you only filter what you use in the filter. A great saving for the environment and your water bills.
What contaminants do they filter?
The carbon filters with water filter pitchers are an effective solution for protecting you against many of the harmful contaminants in the water supply. It is important to note that they won’t be as effective as whole house filtration systems that you can install in your property, but they do target many of the key contaminants, including but not limited to the ones below:
Chlorine
Traditionally, chlorine is used by industry and governmental bodies to disinfect water supplies and other cleaning tasks. Whilst this process helps protect from certain problems, it does cause a noticeable change in the taste of tap water but also potential diseases. A water filter pitcher helps remove this as a result of its activated carbon filter trapping the chlorine.
Volatile Organic Chemicals
These chemicals are typically found in the majority of pesticides and herbicides used, so for those living in more rural areas, it can be a worrying issue when they get into the water supply. It is rare to have problems with this but if they are ingested, they can affect the health of people in the household.
Giardia
This is spread through cysts that survive in the water for months after infection, leading to people being ill for weeks after ingestion. The symptoms can include abdominal pain and diarrhoea and potentially more serious issues.
Cryptosporidium
This is another parasite that can be filtered out by the carbon filter and if it makes its way into someone, it has the ability to cause an illness called cryptosporidiosis, which affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory system. This will concern those with a less than normal immune system.
Cryptosporidium
There are other harmful contaminants found in your water supply that fall under an umbrella term called total dissolved solids (TDS). It is important to look out for these and check the performance level of each pitcher filter.
Key Considerations for buying the best water pitchers
When deciding on the best water pitcher filter for your household, there are some factors and features that you should consider. If you understand your individual requirements, key features of the best water filter pitchers and your budget, then you can make an informed decision about which is the best investment for you.
Water quality
Have you investigated the quality of your household tap water supply? Is it from a local municipality or is it well water? If you don’t know the answer to these questions then it is important to test your water. Water filters vary in performance, the type of contaminants they target and speed.
This means that if you have a water supply that has more contaminants, or a higher level of hardness, then it will shorten the filter life span of your chosen product and cost more in the long run. Likewise, if you have a relatively good tap water supply then you may not need the high-end water filter pitchers as they would be a waste of money.
Water usage
Even the very best water filter pitchers take their time to filter tap water and turn it into clean, safe drinking water. As a result, you need to think about how much water your household or office uses. A water pitcher isn’t designed for those that want large amounts of filtered water quickly, but more than want access to a nice glass of drinking water with a meal or during the day.
You may find you are better off installing a filter at the faucet or choosing a whole house water filter if you use a lot of water. However, if you understand both the strengths and weaknesses of a water pitcher, and still believe it will provide you with the best water supply then explore our reviewed water pitchers today.
Design
There are some stylish and interestingly designed water filters on our list, so you no longer need to stick with the traditional look and format of a filtered water pitcher. It is also important to see how they have designed the handle and the dimensions if you are worried about carrying a heavy water pitcher, or want to be able to put it into the door of the fridge to keep the tap water cold.
You also want to consider what the pitcher is made from, whether it is BPA-free plastic or glass.
Filtration
The main reason you are buying one of these products – making sure tap water is filtered of its harmful contaminants and providing your household with the best water to drink. The vast majority of the water pitcher filters that make it onto our best water pitchers list will offer the same levels of protection against bacteria, heavy metals, total dissolved solids (tds), chlorine (affecting the taste and odor) and more. However, not all of them do the same thing so it is important to assess what you need them to do and which ones meet your requirements. They will have different types of pitcher filters within, with the majority using some kind of activated carbon and choosing one that is NSF certified adds an extra layer of trust as this means it is certified to remove contaminants.
Budget
Another important consideration, does your budget stretch to the best water filter pitcher on the market right now? Maybe you don’t actually need the best one there is because it does more than you need.
Thinking about budget doesn’t just mean looking at what you want to spend, it’s about assessing what you need, what water pitchers deliver on those requirements and see how that fits into your budget.
Speed
As part of the pitcher filter process, the flow rate will drop and it can take a long time to refill the pitcher. There is no avoiding this but there are some out there that have faster filtering technology, or at least claim to have. Our advice here is to look at customer reviews and see whether any of the water pitchers claim to provide drinking water quicker than average. It can be incredibly frustrating having to wait for filtered water to refill the pitcher.
The Best Water Filter Pitchers – FAQ
We have put together some of the most commonly asked questions, along with some answers to have you arrive at an informed purchasing decision, which is the best water filter pitcher for your individual needs.
How long do pitcher filters last?
- The filter life span depends on the water pitcher you go for and the quality of the tap water that you are putting through the filter. The higher the level of contaminants, then the shorter the lifecycle but in general terms, you should expect to change filters every 2-3 months at most. If you start to notice a bad taste or odor, or residue on glasses, then you might need a new filter. Replacement filters are relatively inexpensive right now but it does depend on which one you go for.
Which is the best water filter pitcher brand to go for?
- There are some fantastic manufacturers out there right now, making efficient and effective water filter pitchers. No matter whether you go for Brita, PUR or Aquaclear, as long as it does everything you need and you can find positive reviews from customers then you will be safe to go for it. Always look at the manufacturer warranty or guarantee as well, as this is a sign of trust when they provide good support options.
How do I check if I need a water filter?
- If you get your water supply from a local municipality, then they should be able to provide you with a testing report or certificate. This will tell you the makeup of your water supply. If you don’t have one or you would like your own, then you can get home testing kits which can quickly tell you how contaminated your tap water is. Once you know this, you can then choose the best water filter pitcher for you.
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