Pitcher-type Water Filters

Brita and PUR lead the way
Pitchers are probably the most popular way to filter water because they are so easy. You can take them anywhere (out to your backyard, camping, etc.) and store them just about anywhere (for example, the refrigerator).

The most popular pitchers on the market are made by Brita and PUR. PUR pitchers have been able to break up Brita’s market domination by making a filter that is more effective and more highly rated by reviewers. PUR took the edge away from Brita with a two stage filtering process that removes common chemicals as well as cysts (like cryptosporidium).

Brita is still a respected brand here, too. Brita remains a fine way of achieving tasty water that will have filtered out chlorine, copper and other sedimentary particles. Brita was the first counter top water filter that made active carbon filtration convenient

Disadvantages to Pitchers
Pitcher-type filters are certainly handy but there are a couple of nagging limitations to them that drives some people to find other ways of filtering their water. Pitchers are limited in size, for one thing. If you want more than a gallon of filtered water, you are going to be waiting for your pitcher filter to do its work. The time involved in filtering is another perceived disadvantage of these. If you want a glass of water, you are going to have to wait a few minutes. Having an alternative system like under the sink filtering means you will have a steady supply of fresh, clean filtered water.

The other disadvantage to these is the need to replace the filter. Pitcher filter users will often fall into the habit of letting the filter fill up with contaminants. This will make a mess of carbon particles, and it will also reintroduce particles into the water you are drinking.

Finally, the plastic of the canister breaks down after a while. In the end, many users find the greenness of this type of filtering questionable. You will be throwing out filters and replacing the pitcher on a regular basis.

One final advantage to the pitcher filter is that it is relatively inexpensive.