If you’re looking for a reliable improvement in the taste of chlorinated water or an efficient way to prevent potential lead exposure, Brita makes a good pitcher with a great filter. If you only want to remove odors or set your mind at ease about lead and pesticides this kind of filter might be perfect, but it won’t stop hard-water scale from taking over the insides of your favorite Keurig. The biggest taste improvement for most tap water is clearly the easiest job, unless you prefer the mineral-free non-flavor of ZeroWater.Įven the new Brita Longlast filter, which removes slightly more minerals in a carefully engineered system to take out lead, won’t do much to change mineral-heavy well water. When we checked our water with a chlorine reagent test, we were surprised to find out that chlorine reduction was identical between a used-up Brita filter and a new one. That’s not an uncommon problem (the PUR pitcher will pop the top and spill all the water if you try this) but it’s frustrating that so much work has gone into making elaborate dust-covers without fixing this basic part of the pitcher.
In a few instances, we also saw unfiltered water seeping out at the front of the reservoir if we tried to pour the first cup of water out while the top of the pitcher was still full. (You can also fit the new filters into basically any Brita pitcher, like the 5-cup Metro.) They’re heavy and a bit clunky to lift and pour from. The two Brita pitchers we tested that are now available with the Longlast filter included, the Everyday and Monterey, are 10-cup pitchers. See Price at Amazon Things we didn’t like It still won't do much for well water, though. That’s even longer than the carbon-block filters in their faucet-mount systems.īrita's new filter lasts for 120 gallons and filters out heavy metals like lead, so it's a definite improvement over their old system. These filters are certified to last for six months or 120 gallons. In a blind test, our judges couldn’t tell apart the water from a Brita Longlast pitcher filter and the Brita faucet filter, but they each beat the old-style non-lead-removing filter. The Longlast isn’t as thorough as the carbon block used in Brita’s faucet-mount system, but it is certified to clean out easier-to-grab organic compounds, such as benzene, and pharmaceuticals like ibuprofen. For the vast majority of us, chlorine reduction is going to be the major concern, and safeguarding against accidental exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury is a peace-of-mind bonus. Things we likedīrita’s system improves the taste of your tap water, and independent tests show it will remove heavy metals.
With the new Longlast filter, Brita is trying to up their game: In the aftermath of the Flint water crisis, and with other cities discovering the liability of lead pipes in older homes, it’s no mistake that “99% lead reduction” is front and center in Brita’s promotional material. The standard Brita filter doesn’t remove much more than chlorine for most households.
Brita is the undisputed market leader, with more than two-thirds of overall water filter pitcher sales. The Brita – Monterey comes from the most well-known manufacturer of water filter pitchers, and Brita is largely responsible for the growth in popularity of filter pitchers since the late 1980s when they were introduced to the U.S. Best value: Brita – Monterey with Longlast Filter Do you really need a water filter pitcher?ġ.The purest water: ZeroWater – 6-Cup Pitcher If you want to go a step farther, the ZeroWater – 6-Cup Pitcher deionizes your water to remove nearly everything. We’ve researched water filters extensively, and after three years of long-term tests with the best water filter pitchers we’ve determined that the new Brita – Longlast Filter system is the best value and a good filter for chlorine and some hazards like lead.