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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 to 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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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 |
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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 |
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 which 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 or handle the same ones as effectively as a whole house system 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.
