Opinion on Brita water filters?

[GuidoLS]

A big 'problem' here in the US is that many communities both chlorinate and fluoridate the water - the chlorine has both an obvious taste and odor, neither of which is pleasant, and many people don't care to be imbibing 'large' quantities of fluoride. There are also communities where lead is a problem, due to an ancient plumbing infrastructure (parts of Boston, Washington DC, Richmond VA, etc).

As for me, there's nothing that compares to natural well water - yes, we carbon filter it, due to possible organic matter, but otherwise, it's just water, and nothing more.

[MutilatorUK]

Think it really depends on the water. I personally hate Brita filtered water, I may have to descale the Kettle more often but I would rather that to having bad tea. At work we have our water come through a lead pipe apparently so we use one there but I've never had a good cup of tea there like at home. So to me its a necessary evil in some cases.

[Mister]

You have to be careful because water filters can allow bacteria build up and remove minerals from the water. In the UK tap water is perfectly fine as is for drinking and is actually better quality than some bottled water!

I know the tap water in the US is pretty bad though. When I visited a few years ago I found it totally undrinkable.

[GuidoLS]

I know the tap water in the US is pretty bad though. When I visited a few years ago I found it totally undrinkable.

That's sort of close to one of the silliest posts I have seen in a while... dozens of major cities, thousands of municipalities, all on their own water systems. That's kind of like saying Italian food is terrible because you got a lousy slice of pizza at your corner market...

[Spreadie]

We use filters all the time - rarely the Brita ones though, due to the price premium - just to reduce the limescale build up in the kettle and coffee machine. We have one in the water chiller in the fridge door too - definitely not a Brita one in there - it's a different shape and costs twice as much!

Plus it gives us something else to argue about, when someone leaves both the kettle and the filter jug at low tide. Seriously, how bloody difficult is it to fill up the jug immediately after you've emptied it into the kettle?!

[peterb]

Filtered water in my area certainly makes a better cup of tea, and improves drinking water. It's a MUCH cheaper option than bottled water and unlike a water softener, doesn't remove all hardness or increase the sodium levels. However a water softener is good for general use water.

[circuitmonkey]

Similar to previous comments; hard water... Coffee machine... Descaling
Plus the Mrs likes having the jug in the fridge for "arse cold water"

[Ttaskmaster]

Seriously, how bloody difficult is it to fill up the jug immediately after you've emptied it into the kettle?!

How manky might that water be first thing in the morning if the last person to use it filled it up and let it sit there, though!

That's sort of close to one of the silliest posts I have seen in a while... dozens of major cities, thousands of municipalities, all on their own water systems. That's kind of like saying Italian food is terrible because you got a lousy slice of pizza at your corner market...

I know the tap water in the US is pretty bad, because I work in water utilities and get to read all the reports from the worldwide industry... plus the (very expensive) consultancy is used to work for is frequently engaged by US companies to try and help improve their water supply quality!

I don't know exactly how bad, though, as I'm in sewerage!

[peterb]

How manky might that water be first thing in the morning if the last person to use it filled it up and let it sit there, though!

Not very, at most it will only be there for a few hours, and the water going in will be chlorinated anyway. So no worse than leaving water in during the day! And most reputable cartridges contain something to inhibit bacterial activity (silver compounds iirc).

And the water will probably be boiled for tea anyway.

I hope you don't work in the Blackpool area where the water has had contamination issues for the last few weeks!

[GuidoLS]

How manky might that water be first thing in the morning if the last person to use it filled it up and let it sit there, though!


I know the tap water in the US is pretty bad, because I work in water utilities and get to read all the reports from the worldwide industry... plus the (very expensive) consultancy is used to work for is frequently engaged by US companies to try and help improve their water supply quality!

I don't know exactly how bad, though, as I'm in sewerage!

And I know the water in Mexico and most of Europe is pretty bad because I saw it on tv travel shows... /s

I live in rural, western North Carolina, and our local water supply is about as pure as is possible - yet they chlorinate and fluoridate the water, with no real reason for either. I was stationed, in the military, on Governor's Island, NY (a former large US Coast Guard facility) 30 years ago, and the water was piped in from hundreds of miles away, but wasn't treated, and tasted much better. It's all a matter of municipality and how much they do (or don't) adulterate the product. The same is pretty much true for any product.

Note - I don't object to the statement that there are places where there is bad tap water in the US - that's true, just as it's true of the UK and all of the EU. What I object to is the blanket generalization, which is not true, on either side of the mud puddle.

[ZaO]

I find water filters essential. Where I live is supposed to have some of the nicest tap water in the country, but the stuff at my place tastes like crap, especially when it's been left to stand for 5 minutes. I had the water tested and they said it was ok. I have no choice but to filter it. I drink a lot of water though, and I really notice the difference. Some people don't seem to care much..

By the way, I messaged Brita about 6 years ago and they told me their filters don't filter out Flouride, if that's of interest to you.

[Ttaskmaster]

What I object to is the blanket generalization, which is not true, on either side of the mud puddle.

A) Most of the US water utilities companies themselves are the ones making these generalisations.
B) Across the industry, the US water quality as a whole is notably lower than expected.

Obviously there are pockets where it's better/worse, but the overall pictures (especially when considering the deep level geology and rainfall areas) are what matter more than the very small locality level (literally, it can vary tremendously within a half mile).