It should go without saying that you want to drink clean and pure water that is free of contaminants. With the news of more water testing positive for lead and other compounds, you want to know that the water you are drinking in your home isn’t going to make you and your family members sick. Using a filtered water pitcher is one way to help bring you peace of mind.
How Does a Filtered Water Pitcher Work?
The concept behind the typical water filter pitcher is a simple one. First, water gets poured from the faucet into the top of the pitcher, filling a reservoir. Next, the water passes through a replaceable cartridge with a charcoal filter before flowing into the pitcher below. These pitchers are stored in the fridge so you can pour yourself a glass of cold, refreshing, filtered water anytime you want.
What Are the Pros of Water Filter Pitchers?
As with everything, even water filter pitchers have pros and cons to their use. In some cases they excel, while in others, it may be easier to utilize a different clean water solution — such as a whole home filtration system. First off, here are a few of these pitchers’ advantages.
Easy to Use
Water pitchers are easy to use with the simplest of instructions. Almost all water filter pitcher brands have a similar design with the main pitcher, top reservoir, and charcoal filter.
Before its first use, you will need to soak the charcoal filter in a large cup of water for at least 15 minutes. Once this step is complete, you can insert the filter directly into the reservoir and secure it tightly into its cartridge. Finally, fill the reservoir with water from your faucet and wait for the filtration process to finish. Once the water is filtered, you will have fresh, clean water ready for your drinking pleasure.
Inexpensive
When compared to other sources of filtered drinking water — such as having a water cooler or buying plastic bottled water regularly — owning a water pitcher is much less expensive and eco-friendly. Water filter pitchers come in various sizes and colors and can be purchased for as little as $15.
Small and Portable
Water filter pitchers can easily be taken with you for use in outdoor activities or on camping trips and are less expensive and more eco-friendly than buying a case of disposable water bottles.
Remove Contaminants
Most pitchers have an activated charcoal filter system that efficiently removes contaminants like lead, copper, mercury, zinc, and chlorine from your drinking water. These pitchers can also alleviate any fears of micro-plastics or carcinogens leaching into your water from plastic water bottles.
Make Your Water More Alkaline
The National Institute of Health found that drinking water with an 8.8 pH level can benefit individuals suffering from acid reflux. This happens because that pH level can kill pepsin, which is an enzyme that triggers acid reflux.
Advocates of alkaline water claim drinking water with a higher pH can do the following:
- Rejuvenate and detoxify your skin
- Fight aging with liquid antioxidants
- Help you lose weight
- Combat carcinogens and neutralize the acid in your body
- Strengthen your body’s immune system
It is important to note, though, that studies haven’t yet established a definitive link between alkaline water and these benefits.
What Are the Cons of Water Filter Pitchers?
Even if owning a water filter pitcher sounds like a no-brainer, like everything, they can also have some downsides.
Too Slow
A whole-house filtration system produces clean, filtered water at the touch of a faucet once installed. The filtration process of a water pitcher is much slower. Some pitchers can take 10 minutes or less to filter, while others may take up to six hours before you can enjoy a glass of freshly filtered water. This time also increases exponentially if you require more than one pitcher’s worth of water at a time, and must wait for each refill to filter through.
When shopping for water filter pitchers, be sure to consider the amount of time it can take to actually filter the water and whether or not that time seems too long for your needs.
Not As Effective
Generally speaking, water filter pitchers are not quite as effective at eliminating contaminants as the more sophisticated solution provided by whole-home filtration systems. Before purchasing a water filter pitcher, read about what they filter out. Some pitchers strain out only select metals like copper, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Especially if you live in an area with chronic water issues, this may not be a sufficient level of decontamination.
Filter Replacement
How often the charcoal filter needs to be replaced will depend on the manufacturer’s instructions and your regularity of use. Some guidance recommends changing the filter every 40 gallons, and some should be replaced every few months. Regardless, it is essential to replace filters regularly, or your pitcher will no longer be effective.
Limited Capacity
If you plan to use your filtered water pitcher for cooking or making large quantities of beverages, having to fill, refill, and refill yet again to ensure you have enough filtered water might not be time efficient if you have to wait for each filtering cycle.
Not Always Practical
If you are also concerned with having filtered water for your appliances, aquariums, taking showers, or washing your clothes, using a water filter jug is insufficient and impractical. This is where you might want to consider a whole-home water filtration system as a more comprehensive answer to your needs.
The Science of Water
As an authorized dealer of Puronics water treatment and whole-home filtration systems, let The Science of Water help to bring you peace of mind by improving the quality of your water. Instead of tolerating your water problems or putting band-aids on them, contact us to show you how to solve them.
Visit our website or contact us at 1-352-745-7070 or 1-904-580-0000 for your free water test. Once we have your results, we will give you a free estimate and work with you on choosing which of our water filtration systems will be best for your home.
For over 35 years, The Science of Water has continued to provide America with the clean water we deserve, one home at a time. We look forward to the positive impact every installed filtration system has on each and every home.
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