Last week I looked at refillable glass bottles so this week it's all about water filters. Brita may be the first name that comes to mind when you think of water filters and pitchers but there are other options out there, including a few with recycling options...
- Mavea The filters for these pitchers can be returned to the company for recycling via postage paid envelopes. Pitchers and filters are sold at many popular retailers, including Williams-Sonoma and Amazon.
- Tupperware You may associate them with their famous plastic bowls, but Tupperware also makes a water pitcher that uses filtration granules.
- PUR A runner-up to Brita in name recognition, these pitchers and filters are available at most major retailers.
- ZeroWater This company offers Ion Exchange filters for their pitchers. Their used filter recycling program offers $10 for every two filters returned.
- Dupont If you want some flexibility to your filtering, check out Dupont. They offer varying filtering levels and capacities.
Image: Williams-Sonoma
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We've had a Brita since its American debut. Those filters can be recycled too.
Brita is by far the most economical choice for us. Filters are available for bulk purchase at warehouse stores and usually on sale at least 1x per month at places like Target. And, easy to recycle : http://www.preserveproducts.com/recycling/gimme5locations.html
I use a PUR filter, if only for the size/shape. We have a small, counter-depth fridge, and PUR makes an 18-cup filter dispenser with a nozzle that fits just right in the fridge. I don't even take it out of the fridge (except for a thorough cleaning when I replace the filter)--I leave the top off and use a pitcher to refill it while it sits in the fridge. I love always having cold, filtered water available.
I use Mavea. The filters last 2 months in my single person household. I have not recycled the filters yet but I have them to send in. The recycling was the deal closer for me.
How could you not include the Bobble water pitcher! I love mine
http://www.waterbobble.com/
Even better than a filter pitcher is a filter attached to the faucet. More expensive up front, cheaper in the long run, and they get out more junk. See Consumer Reports for recommendations.
Just got the Zero water recently and the awesome thing about it is that it comes with a separate tester that you can use to measure the dissolved solids in anything - my tap water measured 27 - water filtered by my old pur water filter measured 25, so it was doing almost nothing! Bottled water, and seltzer that I had in the fridge measured around 75! But of course the Zero water filter makes my tap water measure ZERO! These filters are costly, but because my tap measure reading of 27 is relatively low, one filter lasts me for 3 or 4 months (that's with 2 adults and 2 dogs drinking nothing else - we even make the ice with zero water, and got a nice Sodastream machine and also make our own seltzer with it).
I use a PUR water filter attached to my kitchen faucet.
I'll second the vote for bobble, love mine!
Have had a Brita for years and the filters last longer than they 'suggest' (they want to sell more filters). What's really sad is how most people are fine with constantly buying cases of bottled water. Don't think you deserve a pat because you recycle either. Plenty of litter consists of plastic bottles and caps etc. Such a $ and environmental waste. Few people have ever really gotten sick or died from plain old tap water.
we ditched our plastic brita about 8 years ago. not worth the health risks
I just switched to Zero after learning that it removes fluoride. I like the tester it comes with... I'm in Northern VA just outside DC and my tap water was 178 ppm! Pur water filters only brought it down to 138... so they really don't do much.
Been thinking of getting a Zero, thanks for the comments.
I use a pur filter on my kitchen faucet as well. I only wish there were a way we could recycle these.