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Made by the leading brand when it comes to water filtration systems, it comes as no surprise that it is our top recommendation. It features a single filter which passes the water through 4 separate purification stages to eliminate a total of 77 contaminants, including chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, pesticides, herbicides, and more.
This single filter design benefits you as you have only one media to worry about changing when the time comes, and seeing how it has the capacity of filtering up to 320 gallons of water before the procedure needs to be performed, maintenance won’t be costly at all with it. This results in a financially optimal purification that costs approximately $0.08 per gallon.
General Specifications
| AQ-CWM-P-W Specs |
Rated flow:
0.5 GPM |
Temperature range:
40 – 90°F |
Pressure range:
20 – 70 PSI |
Chlorine reduction:
96.06% |
Design
It is composed of a pitcher with a convenient lid and a filtration dock where you place it whenever refilling it for the purification process to take place. After the process ends, you can conveniently take it out and put it in the refrigerator for the water to stay cold and perfect for consumption if that is what you want as it doesn’t occupy too big of a space due to its compact design. The slim overall profile when it is set up helps maximize counter space as well, so it makes for a good fit in a small kitchen.
Filtration
Unlike traditional models that use gravity to slowly filter the water, the Aquasana manages to effectively purify your hydration means in the nick of time due to the Claryum smart filtration technology it uses. Wondering what makes the Claryum filter special? Well, it all stands in the fact that it provides a thorough 4-stage purification of the water without requiring you to change more than a single filtration media when the maximum capacity is met.
The first stage is where it uses activated carbon that focuses on reducing VOCs, MTBE, herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. In the second stage, the catalytic carbon locks chlorine and chloramines residing in the water to reduce up to 96.06% of them, improving taste and smell by doing so. The third stage is where the ion exchange occurs and heavy metals like lead and mercury are targeted. Lastly, the fourth stage, where absolute sub-micron mechanical filtration occurs, is where cysts that resist chlorine and asbestos are handled.
Warranty
What we can guarantee from the get-go is that the Aquasana company delivers on its promises regarding product backing. For the first year after the moment of the purchase, if anything is defective or it gets damaged in circumstances that are covered by the warranty agreement, then it will be fixed or replaced without charging you a cent. Furthermore, there is a 90-day trial period provided, and you can test the product to see whether you are satisfied with it or not during this time. If you are displeased with it for any reason and no damage has been done to it, you can return it and receive your money back in full.
Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600
It measures 9 inches in length, 4 inches in width, and 11 inches in height, which means that it won’t occupy a lot of space in the refrigerator. It is made with BFA-free plastic to ensure a safe space where the water will sit after the purification process. The handle is designed to ensure a comfortable pouring. Another pleasing design aspect stands in the flip-top lid that allows you to refill it with ease.
Using a 4-stage purification process, the Crystal Quest grants you with clean drinking water almost on the spot. These filtrations stages consist of:
- Stage #1 – Eagle Redox Alloy 6500: removes and reduces water-soluble heavy metals and chlorine; controls the growth of algae, scale, and bacteria.
- Stage #2 – Eagle Redox Alloy 9500: removes and reduces hydrogen sulfide and iron; controls and prevents scale, algae, and bacteria.
- Stage #3 – Ion exchange resin: reduces heavy metals and water hardness.
- Stage #4 – Coconut shell GAC and catalytic activated carbon: removes and reduces chlorine, chloramine, pesticides, cancer-causing chemicals, bad taste, odors.
As it is NSF Standard 42 certified*, you can trustfully rely on it to reduce aspect and taste altering contaminants. Of course, we cannot overlook the fact that the cartridge requires replacement only after purifying a hefty 2000 gallons of water, which means that you will only be required to perform this maintenance task once every 6 to 12 months. Lastly, we must say a few words about the accompanying warranty, which in this case is available for 1 year.
| CQE-PI-00600 Specs |
| Size |
9” L x 4” W x 11” H |
| Temperature range |
40 – 85°F |
| Design |
Fill-top lid |
| NSF Standard 42 certified |
Yes |
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Tested to remove a plethora of contaminants, including fluoride, chlorine, chloramines, lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium 6, and over 50 volatile organic compounds, the Aquagear is a compact and easy to use solution for purifying the water you intend to hydrate with.
Due to the aforementioned compact design, you can place in the refrigerator for the water to feel cool when you drink it. It uses a single filtration media that requires you to replace it only after filtering 150 gallons of water, considerably more than what similar systems offer. This is a 5-stage filter which features 2-micron pores to ensure that even the smallest contaminants won’t be able to pass.
What we like the most is the fact that it retains minerals like magnesium and calcium so that the water you drink won’t only prevent dehydration but provide your body with everything it needs during the day to stay strong and healthy. It boasts an 8-cup capacity which makes it usable in medium to large-sized households. Additionally, there is a lifetime guarantee provided by the manufacturing company for it, so no matter when you encounter issues with it, it will be replaced free of charge.
| 8-Cup Specs |
| Fluoride reduction |
90.6% |
| Chlorine and chloramine reduction |
99.9% |
| Lead reduction |
99.9% |
| Chromium 6 reduction |
99.4% |
| NSF Standard 42 certified |
Yes |
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We start off with what undoubtedly delights the most, which is the 10-cup capacity that makes it great for large households. It is NSF certified to reduce lead and other heavy metals, being able to reduce total dissolved solids up to 99.6%. To provide you with clean drinking water, it employs a 5-stage filtration process during which it even uses ion exchange technology to ensure a thorough removal of contaminants. The whole process goes as follows:
- Stage #1: Cloudiness issues are fixed as it removes suspended solids from the water due to the activated carbon and oxidation reduction alloy used.
- Stage #2: Further tackles remaining suspended solids to potentially completely remove them.
- Stage #3: Prevents bacteria growth, all while handling the removal of herbicides, pesticides, organic compounds, chlorine, chloramine, and mercury.
- Stage #4: Removes inorganic compounds like metals, radiological compounds, and non-metals.
- Stage #5: Any traces of suspended solids remaining are removed in this final step.
It features a one-handed push to dispense spout that helps you more conveniently fill your chosen recipient with water. The BPA-free environment in which it holds the water guarantees that contamination is not an issue to worry about. It comes with a water quality meter that you can use to track the amount of total dissolved solids plaguing the water you consume. However, there is one downside to it – just like the Brita model we previously reviewed, it is backed by a short-length 90-day warranty.
| ZP-010 Specs |
| TDS removal rate |
99.6% |
| Spout design |
Push-and-pour |
| Included quality meter |
Yes |
| NSF Standard 42 certified |
Yes |
As the name suggests, the AquaBliss boasts a 10-cup capacity that makes it perfect for big families. Once you add into the mix the cheap price it comes at, it becomes more than clear why it made it to our top. However, it is the exceptional rapid filtering technology it uses to remove contaminants like mercury, copper, zinc, sediments, cadmium, as well as the nasty chlorine taste and odor that make it stand out from its competitors. Furthermore, the filtration system it uses handles eliminating the unpleasant metallic and salty odors from the water you intend to consume.
Another advantageous trait stands in the fact that the filter cartridge requires replacement only once every 4 months, so upkeep costs aren’t high with the AquaBliss 10-Cup. It is made with 100% BPA-free plastic, so the water doesn’t enter into contact with any potentially contaminating material.
The lid is removable so that you have an easy time refilling it when needed, and it features a spout that ensures you won’t spill water all over the counter when you pour yourself a glass. Lastly, we must highlight the fact that it is backed by a lengthy 1-year warranty.
| 10-Cup Specs |
| Removed contaminants |
Chlorine taste and odor, mercury, copper, cadmium, zinc, sediment |
| Lid |
Removable |
| Handle |
Ergonomic design |
| Build |
BPA-free plastic |
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It boasts a slim design, measuring only 11.2 inches by 5 inches by 11.2 inches so that it will snugly fit into the fridge. It is made with BPA-free shatter-proof plastic that is durable and ensures a clean container for the water you are about to drink. To ensure it won’t slip, it features a silicon bottom, while the wooden handle adds to its aesthetic appeal and ensures a comfortable manner to maneuver it.
The filter cartridge is able to purify up to 200 gallons of water, so you can expect to need to replace it only once every 90 days. Change the filter accordingly as the quality of the purification it provides decreases over time. To ensure you won’t forget about this task, the Waterdrop features an electronic filter indicator that counts down the days left until the replacement is needed.
As it boasts a 10-cup capacity, it makes for a perfect addition to a medium to large-sized household. It uses a pre-sediment layer which filters out suspended solids, rust, silt, and dirt, while the activated carbon fiber reduces VOCs, chlorine, and a wide range of contaminants. It is even able to soften hard water due to the ion exchange resin it uses which reduces limescale in tap water. Of course, we cannot overlook the silver ion antibacterial technology it employs which helps inhibit bacterial growth up to 99% so that the water you consume is completely safe for your health.
| Extream Specs |
| Flow rate |
0.5 GPM |
| Handle |
Wooden |
| Technology |
Silver ion antibacterial |
| Reduces water hardness |
Yes |
| Silicon bottom |
Yes |
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The 10-cup capacity of the Everyday makes it an appealing choice for large households as refilling won’t be required absurdly often. It measures 10.47 inches in height by 5.59 inches in width by 10.94 inches in length, which means that fitting it in your refrigerator won’t be an issue even if it is already stacked with groceries. It weighs a mere 2.29 pounds when empty to make it easy for you to handle it.
The thorough filtration it passes the water through rids it of contaminants like chlorine, zinc, arsenic, mercury, copper, and more. It uses a single filter media for the process, cartridge that will require you to replace it once every 40 gallons of purified water or after approximately 2 months of use. It is indeed more of a hassle involved with it when compared to our other selections, but worth it still as the replacement cartridge is not expensive and the effective purification provided on its own is spectacular.
There is a sticker filter indicator that reminds you when replacement is due. Its soft-grip handle makes it easy for you to pour yourself a glass of water. Woefully, the backing provided by the company lasts for only 90 days, which is considerably less than what our better ranked picks offer. Nonetheless, you should not fret as the qualitative build of the product alongside the reasonable asking price make this an issue that lacks importance.
| Everyday Specs |
| Size |
10.47” H x 5.59” W x 10.94” L |
| Weight |
2.29 lbs |
| Build |
BPA-free |
| Handle |
Soft grip design |
| Lid |
Removable |
Regardless of the source you obtain your drinking water from, whether we are talking about a well or the municipal pipes, contamination is bound to plague it without proper filtration set in place. Pitchers are restricted by their design when compared to more complex systems like whole house water filters for well that tackle severe contamination issues before the water comes out of the tap. Nonetheless, this does not mean that they cannot tackle removing and reducing a wide range of common pollutants to help upkeep your health by ensuring clean, proper hydration means. While the list of water pollutants is absurdly long, we gathered here 5 of the most common contaminants that afflict U.S. tap water and discuss them – chlorine, lead, heavy metals, arsenic, and mercury
Chlorine
The most common contaminant found in our drinking water as it is used by treatment plants in the chlorination process to rid the water of certain bacteria and microbes, as well as prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, chlorine might have beneficial sides, but it alters the taste and smell of water, leaving it undesirable for hydration. There is the issue that disinfection by chlorination, when done improperly, can lead to the production of more dangerous compounds like haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes. Another concern is regarding the effectiveness of this disinfection method as, because of its volatile nature, it disappears quickly from the water system.
Alternative methods for water disinfection: Chlorine dioxide, ozonation, chloramination, bromination and iodinization, UV radiation, ionizing radiation.
How chlorine contamination affects you:
- Bad taste and odor: This contaminant is the primary cause of bad taste and odor in our drinking water. It will make you, your loved ones, and especially the children less inclined to hydrate using water, but rather have you consume less healthful beverages to get rid of the sensation of thirst.
- Heart problems: Tests performed on two groups of chicken showed that water contaminated with chlorine does indeed lead to the appearance of heart and circulatory diseases as it is the basic cause of atherosclerosis, an ailment that paves the road to the aforementioned issues.
- Cell damage: As its purpose is to damage living organisms, it comes as no surprise that chlorine-filled water destroys the cells and tissues inside the human body as well.
- Increased risk of cancer: People who are exposed to consuming and using chlorine-contaminated water over the years are at a much higher risk of developing bladder cancer, some studies even linking it to colorectal cancer. There is the issue of by-products created in the disinfection process which increase the risk of cancer development exponentially, more precisely haloacetic acids and trihalomethane.
- Increased risk of asthma: The high concentrations of chlorine in the water increases the risk of respiratory problems, especially asthma. As skin irritations in the airways appear, pre-existing issues are amplified further.
Lead
When pipes that contain lead corrode, this highly dangerous contaminant enters the drinking water. This occurrence has a higher prevalence where water is high in acidity and low in mineral content as it encourages the corrosion process of the fixtures. In the U.S., houses that have been built before 1986 are more likely to have lead fixtures, pipes, and solder, and if the house you live in falls into this category, filtration of drinking water before consumption is mandatory.
How lead contamination affects you:
- Children: Low levels of lead in the blood of infants results in slowed growth, anemia, hyperactivity, low IQ, behavior problems, learning problems, and hearing problems. In rare cases, it can even lead to seizures, coma, or even death.
- Pregnant women: As scary as it will sound, you have to beware of the fact that lead has the capability to cross the placental barrier, which means that it exposes the fetus to contamination and serious developmental issues. Premature birth and reduced growth of the fetus are only two of the problems that emerge when pregnant women aren’t cautious about the quality of the water they consume.
- Adults: Exposure over a long terms leads to reproductive problems in both men, as well as women, decreased kidney function, hypertension, increased blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems.
Heavy Metals
Industrialization and environmental effects have made the presence of heavy metals in our drinking water a sad and scary reality, especially considering their carcinogenic effect. While highly dangerous for the full-grown adult, heavy metal contamination has serious effects on the growth and development of children, so filtration is no joking matter when these contaminants are involved.
How contamination with heavy metals affects you:
- General side effects: Cancer, nervous system damage, autoimmunity, kidney diseases, organ damage, rheumatoid arthritis, circulatory system diseases, nervous system diseases, and more.
- In children: The rapidly developing body system of the young, including fetuses, infants, and small children, makes them far more sensitive when confronted to heavy metal exposure through the drinking water. Some of the resulting issues include memory impairment, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, learning difficulties, and irreversible brain damage.
Arsenic
It is a natural component of the earth’s crust and highly toxic in its inorganic form, posing a great threat to human health when long-term exposure occurs. Contaminated groundwater is usually the source of this contamination, and you cannot treat this problem lightly as arsenic poisoning can appear if you ignore it.
How arsenic contamination affects you:
- Arsenic poisoning: Some of the immediate effects of arsenic poisoning, which occurs after a few days or weeks of exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and impaired nerve function.
- Long-term exposure effects: Your chances of developing a number of certain cancers increase exponentially. These cancers include, but are not limited to liver, bladder, lung, skin, and kidneys.
- Skin changes: This type of contamination causes your skin, usually on the bottoms of the feet and palms of the hands, to darken and to have a wart-like aspect.
Mercury
Once mercury gets released into the waterways, it doesn’t only pose a major threat to human life, but it can basically end up anywhere. It is a known neurotoxin that, in high doses, has been proven to cause increase in several types of tumors in rat and mice. Evidently, human exposure is no joking matter and the consequences are dire.
How mercury contamination affects you:
- Methylmercury effects on infants and children: Deficits in memory, language, attention, visual spatial skills, cognitive thinking, and fine motor skills.
- Methylmercury effects on people of all ages: Lack of coordination of movements, muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, impairment of speech, hearing, and walking.
- Elemental mercury effects: Disturbances in sensations, neuromuscular changes, tremors, emotional changes, changes in nerve responses, insomnia, headaches.
- Effects of other mercury compounds: Muscle weakness, memory loss, skin rashes, dermatitis, mental disturbances, and mood swings.
Running Tests for Decontamination Efficiency
We performed some tests of our own to see how our picks can help in the removal and reduction process of the 5 major and common contaminants we previously talked about to give you a clearer understanding on how each model can serve you.
Faucet Filter vs Pitcher – Which Is Better for You?
Water filters come in different types, some smaller and easier to use and install which handle a specific line of contaminants, others larger and that you can rely for a much more thorough purification. Among all types of water filters emerge two types as high in popularity, more precisely pitchers and faucet filters, their success mostly relying on their compact, non-invasive design combined with a generally surprising effectiveness in tackling the water contamination issue.
Pitcher pros and cons:
- It takes time for the filtration process to take place: Like it or not, you have to let the water pass through the filtration process for the contaminants to be eliminated, which means that you might have to wait for a few minutes or up to 30 minutes, depending on the efficiency of the specific model you are working with.
- Works only on drinking water: As opposed to whole house systems which tend to the removal of contaminants from the water that runs through the pipes, with this smaller-sized filtration method you can only rely on it to purify the water you intend to hydrate with. Thus, the water you use for cooking, bathing, and washing the clothes and dishes in still contaminated.
- It can tackle surprising contaminants: As long as you set your eyes on a quality product that can handle a wide range of contaminants like our Aquasana pick, for example, then you will be pleasantly surprised to see that, despite the compact size, it can be a force to be reckoned with, one that matches bigger sized systems in terms of performance.
- You get exactly what you need: Here we refer to the amount of water it filters. You opt for a pitcher, which means that you want clean water for you and your loved ones to drink, and the variety in terms of cup capacity makes it easy for you to save some money and go for the exact capacity you need.
- Filter replacement might get bothersome in the long run: Whether money or the mere hassle is in discussion, the fact of the matter is that filter replacement will be required quite often, with most models once every 2-3 months, which isn’t pleasing at all.
Faucet filter pros and cons:
- Limited efficiency: The main drawback of the system is that it is quite limited in its efficiency, meaning that most models don’t tackle a wide range of contaminants. Thus, for those facing serious water contamination issues, it is not the solution to turn to.
- Improves water taste: Thorough water aeration and chlorine efficiency are the two main traits of how the faucet filter can make a difference. Thus, the water you consume will taste a lot better, making you more inclined to consume it for hydration purposes.
- Filter replacement can get costly: Here, the issue is the same with the aforementioned system. The limited capacity of the filters implies that replacement costs are higher as replacement will be done a lot more frequently.
Side-by-side comparison
| Parameter |
Pitcher |
Faucet filter |
| Durability |
|
|
| Convenience |
|
|
| Effectivess |
|
|
| Conclusion: While both systems have their own set of strength and weaknesses, only one can prevail as the better choice, and it is obvious that the mobility, higher decontamination effectiveness, and lower upfront and maintenance costs make the pitcher your go-to solution for drinking clean water. |
Footnote:
The NSF Standard 42 certification that is mentioned in the reviews of some pitchers we have reviewed – more precisely the Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600, Aquagear 8-Cup, ZeroWater ZP-010 – indicates that the products are able to reduce aesthetic impurities, including chlorine, bad taste, and odor. NSF International protocols have been developed as a result of inexistence of federal regulations for residential water filtration systems, the standard establishing minimum requirements in regards to the performance and safety of the systems to treat your drinking water. Jump back to reference.
A simple and inexpensive solution to obtain pure drinking water at home is what water pitchers provide. What adds to the appeal of these compact purification solutions is the fact that they work regardless of the water source, whether it is from a well or the municipal pipes. However, you cannot rely on the much more simplistic system to handle the same amount of contaminants a a whole house water filter does. Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, having a pitcher that is able to filter the water you pour inside it doesn’t hurt as it is a more practical, less invasive, and less costly option worth taking into consideration.
The Aquasana AQ-CWM-P-W was an obvious pick for the leading position as it is made by the best manufacturer on the market for water filtration systems. Furthermore, it provides at home filtration for your hydration means at the mere cost of $0.08 per gallon, and maintenance costs aren’t an issue either as filter replacement is asked only once every 320 gallons of water are purified. Close in ranking and quality stands the Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600 that passes the water you pour in it through 4 thorough filtration stages during which is tackles quality issues that include bad taste, unpleasant odors, prevention of bacteria and algae growth, water hardness reduction, and so on.
