Comments on: Dear Brita, it’s over between us.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:02:16 +0000

I bought the Brita model that connects directly to the faucet shortly after this was written. The replacement filters border on crazy expensive, but I’m still pretty happy with it.

By: Brita Water Pitcher

Brita Water Pitcher — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:43:01 +0000

Wow! seems like you have really had a bad time with your brita water pitcher, I have found the newer models to be really great – a big improvement on the original pitcher I had purchased anyway! Thanks – Ben

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:17:05 +0000

Hi! Just found your website and am back reading articles. I know this is old and don’t know if you’ve resolved this yet, but my boyfriend has a Brita filter and he got sick of buying the expensive refills too. They are filled with activated charcoal which you can buy in bulk or at a pet store (this is what aquarium filters are filtered with also). You pop off the top of the Brita and dump out the old charcoal, dump in the new and it costs pennies compared to $20 for a new (unrecycleable) Brita one. :)

By: Rohan

Rohan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:17:43 +0000

I have one of those Aquasana Countertop Water Filters and I love it. Will never go back to the Brita system, I’ve had one of those too, and I think the only thing I might do once I stop renting and buy a house is add the undersink kit that they have.
I don’t have the luxury of quality tap water where I live, it’s drinkable but I find I drink water much more often knowing that it’s filtered and I have always been one of those guys who cannot justify paying $3 or more for bottled water which is probably just chilled tap water anyway!
Go Aquasana.

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:02:15 +0000

The Brita on-tap filter projects up instead of down and thus stays out of the way. But ask the super about the building pipes before buying a filter. Lead pipes nowadays are pretty rare (because of the obvious health hazard), and the super will know about how the building’s plumbed. If you don’t have to get the filter, money saved.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:01:56 +0000

LeisureGuy: It’s true; NYC does have exceptional tap water. I have a pretty small sink (that gets filled with dishes easily) — does the on-tap system ever get in the way?

Beth: I’ve heard that too, that you can just let the tap run and it’s fine, but having a small kid with still developing brain around here, I’d feel safer filtering it.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:59:19 +0000

Right, lead. But I thought I read somewhere that so long as you let the water run for a second when you turn on the tap (to get rid of the standing water in the pipes that might have lead leached into it), the water flowing through the pipe isn’t dangerous.

Or my brain might be riddled with lead and I might be completely wrong! : o )

By: Kristen

Kristen — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:57:18 +0000

NYC does actually have really great tap water. The problem is, the buildings are all so old (or, most are, mine included) that at least some of the pipes are probably still lead.

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:57:17 +0000

Unless things have changed, NYC has the best tap water in the country. Of course, things may have changed, but you may want to check that. Great water direct from high in the Catskills. I have a Brita filter on-tap filtration system, and it works well for me. Some of the reviewers at the link have had problems, apparently, but I've never had a single problem. Great little system.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:40:56 +0000

Weird. I love my Brita pitcher. I only get the carbon-y bits on the first pitcher or two that we’re instructed to throw out or use to water plants. I was feeling too much guilt for all the bottled water and Brita has been the perfect solution. Doesn’t NYC have fab tap water? Do you really need a filter? (Asks the woman who probably doesn’t need a filter either.)