Here is how A lot a Water Filter Pitcher Can Save You in a 12 months

Bottled water gross sales within the US have never been higher, regardless of the entire stylish reusable Hydro Flasks and Yetis you see on the fitness center. Not solely is that unhealthy information from an environmental perspective (plastic is actually all over the place), however financially, shopping for bottled water on the common is not low cost. Fortunately, bottled water is one unhealthy behavior that is straightforward to interrupt.

In the event you’re involved about water high quality, contemplate investing in a water filter to get bottled high quality H2O proper out of your faucet. You have acquired a number of choices, from Brita, Pur and different producers. You’ll be able to go for a filter that connects on to your sink or a pitcher or dispenser that sits in your fridge. 

I priced out how a lot it can save you utilizing a Brita filter that connects on to your faucet — the bestselling choice on Amazon. I in contrast utilizing the filters and their filter replacements to the price of shopping for bottles of Aquafina, Dasani or Nestle Pure Life (among the many top-selling bottled water manufacturers) every week. Here is what I discovered. (It’s also possible to try how Dunkin’ and Starbucks really evaluate price-wise, and if it is cheaper to purchase groceries on-line or within the retailer.)

Breaking down the mathematics

I used Walmart — now among the many largest grocery store chains within the US — to cost out each the price of a Brita filter and its alternative filters, and of every bottled water choice. Clearly, costs might range primarily based on the place you store and any gross sales which may be occurring. 

Harvard Medical School recommends most individuals drink as much as six cups of water per day, or 48 ounces. What I might contemplate an ordinary dimension water bottle — the sort you’ll discover within the fridge at a relaxation cease, or in a merchandising machine — is 16.9 fluid ounces. In the event you’re following the really useful quantity, you would be ingesting about three water bottles per day, so I calculated that price primarily based on the price of a 32-pack of water bottles, which you’d want to purchase three of. Nevertheless, since many individuals do not really drink that a lot water, I additionally calculated the associated fee to drink one bottle per day, additionally primarily based on the price of only one 32-pack for the month. 

For the Brita filter that attaches to your sink, the corporate recommends changing the filter each 4 months. (For Brita pitchers and dispensers, that advice is each two months.) That comes out to a few replacements per yr. I priced out how a lot a 3 pack of these Brita alternative filters prices (One other be aware: In the event you go along with a Brita pitcher or dispenser as a substitute of the sink-mount model, there are cheaper choices for filter replacements, like these $13 Amazon Basics replacement filters which might be suitable with these Brita choices, in comparison with the $18 Brita versions). 

The worth distinction is stark. Even accounting for the upfront price to purchase the Brita faucet filter and the alternative cartridges, shopping for one as a substitute of shopping for circumstances of bottled water can prevent tons of of {dollars} a yr, relying on which model of water you purchase. 

The one different potential upfront price right here could be for a reusable water bottle or cup, which range extensively in worth. However likelihood is you’ve got acquired one mendacity round the home someplace — or you’ll be able to at all times reuse considered one of your bottled water plastic bottles. 

Faucet water filter vs. pitcher vs. dispenser: Which do you have to select? 

Now that we all know how a lot it can save you by switching to a Brita (or one other model water filter), we will break down the totally different choices obtainable: Filter (that attaches to your sink), pitcher or dispenser (which sit in your fridge or in your counter): 

The associated fee variations listed below are very small, so the selection of which to purchase purely relies on your sink setup and your preferences. 

The Brita filter for the sink will solely work with normal taps, not pull-out or spray model taps. The ten-cup pitcher is an efficient moveable choice, which you’ll depart in your counter or within the fridge and is straightforward to carry to the sink to refill. The 27-cup dispenser is bigger, clearly, and will provide you with an even bigger provide of water with out having to fill it as usually. (Having tried all three, I discovered that the dispenser might be a bit cumbersome to get within the sink.) 

The several types of dispensers additionally filter totally different impurities, which you’ll study extra about on Brita’s website. 

Which model of bottled water do you have to purchase? 

Some individuals have surprisingly sturdy opinions on the style of various bottled water manufacturers, which can after all rely in your preferences. I checked out three of the most well-liked manufacturers, Aquafina, Dasani and Nestle Pure Life, all of which fall right into a midprice vary — they are not store-brand low cost, however in addition they aren’t Evian costly. 

Listed below are the worth variations by month and by between the totally different water manufacturers, primarily based on ingesting one bottle a day or the really useful three bottles a day. There’s fairly a wide range, even amongst these midtier manufacturers:  

Once more, all of these costs had been drawn from Walmart.com on the identical day in October and should fluctuate. 

What is the distinction between filtered water and bottled water? 

Faucet water filtered by means of a Brita removes or reduces frequent impurities that affect security and style, like lead and chlorine. These filters work by means of a way referred to as activated carbon filtering, which pushes water by means of a bodily and chemical carbon barrier that acts like a magnet for these impurities, trapping them. 

The Meals and Drug Administration units requirements for bottled water; nonetheless, totally different producers use several types of water sources and remedy strategies. Learn the label in your water to learn the way it is handled. (For instance, Aquafina originates from public water sources after which is purified. In the meantime, Dasani goes by means of the identical course of, however then provides minerals like magnesium sulfate and potassium chloride for style.) 

Principally, bottled water is often just filtered tap water, typically with added minerals. You may discover style variations primarily based on model, however that is the most important distinction between shopping for bottled and filtering your personal faucet water. 

For extra We Do the Math, try how a lot it can save you by purchasing at Dealer Joe’s in comparison with different grocery shops, and if it is cheaper to purchase meal kits than groceries.