Why is there Algae in My Brita Pitcher? | How to Prevent it?

Algae in your Brita pitcher sounds like a bad thing, but why does it happen, and is it safe? You might have noticed a greenish film in your Brita filter this morning. Don’t worry, it’s not mold.

And while it might be a little off-putting to see it in your drinking water, it’s probably just a harmless type of algae called an algal bloom.

They can be seen in tanks, wells, ponds, great lake Erie, and streams. But what are algae doing in your filter?

It may grow in your filter if you don’t wash it regularly or if your water does not treat with chlorine.

A slimy green layer at the base and pitcher wall is a sign of the presence of green algae. If you’re curious, here’s what you need to know about the algae in the Brita pitcher.

What is algae mean?

You might be thinking: “Gross! How can I have algae in my water when I am following all filtering instructions?”

Algae or green scum can be seen on trees, on the skin, on surface water, and in your shower.

Algae is a type of algae, not a microorganism or disease. It’s a marine type of green scum.

When you have green scum in your drinking water, it comes in many shapes and sizes.

Green scum comes in different colors. Some are whitish, and light green and others are dark browns. Some scum is fuzzy, while others are as thick as a dental plaque.

Why Is It Happening? There are a few reasons why blue-green algae grow in a clean Brita pitcher. In the filter, the problem is caused by a condition called clouding.

What causes algae?

1)  Use of well water

Brita pitchers are not designed to clean well hard water; they remove the taste and odor of chlorine from filtered water.

Non-regulated water supply and private well water are usually not treated with chlorine, which is easier to grow algal toxins, bacterial growth, and harmful algal blooms.

Wells are damp and warm providing the optimal conditions for algal growth.

So when the clean water is stored in the pitcher. The algae propagate and ‘bloom’ to form a slimy green layer on the surface water.

2)  Lack of cleanliness

We drink alkaline water to get extreme benefits and Effects on the Body. Lack of cleanliness is also causing your Brita water filter to have green algae.

So, you need to clean the jug regularly and clean the pitcher with dishwashing liquid or white vinegar and warm water.

Routine cleaning also eliminates any Brita water pitcher mold or algae. If the filter doesn’t replace regularly, algae and mold may grow in the jug.

3)  Conducive environment for bacteria and algal.

Microscopic organisms such as bacteria and algal spores are found everywhere in the environment.

They are mostly harmless but may be a potential problem if they find a suitable environment to grow – such as your drinking water filter. 

If you don’t clean your pitcher regularly, it becomes susceptible to growing algae.

If you leave your pitcher open in a warm place (direct sunlight), the spores can grow and spread.

The spores are naturally present in the environment, but with the warmer environment, they quickly grow.

4)  At what temperature do algae grow?

Keep in mind that algae grow best when they get 10 -15 hours of sunlight, and the friendly temperature is between 60-80° F.

If you are using water that is too cold, the pitcher won’t properly filter it, and it could negatively affect the flavor of your drink.

Although Brita pitchers are effective the larger the pitcher you use, the larger the algal bloom. So for a small pitcher, you don’t need to worry about water quality at these temperatures.

So for a small pitcher, you don’t need to worry about water at these temperatures.

5) Tap water gets contaminated with algae.

If you use tap water, it may probably be treated with chlorine before it reaches your tap.

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant that decreases the growth of algae and bacteria.

Brita filter reduces chlorine smell, leads, and other contaminants during the water filtration process by which your drinking water opens to contamination in the pitcher.

If you see algae in the Brita pitcher even after frequent cleaning, your tap water may be infected before it reaches you.

You need to check your water supply and test for contaminants’ presence.

6)  Dripping tap water.

Affected water that contains a high level of minerals like calcium, sulfates, or fluoride may also increase the risk of kidney stones.

There may chance of an increase in forming algae with dripping tap water. So before using the filter, you have to pay attention that whatever you are using is completely clean or not.

Will green water affect my filter?

It is easy to get rid of algae if it is in your pitcher. But, if your filter cartridge has been contaminated, we strongly recommended you replace it with a new one.

Avoid the use of detergent or cleaning agents on your filter. Replacing the cartridge is the best option to resolve this problem.

Brita filters replacements are easily available at an affordable price and are the superior option to bottled water.

You can select your filter type below to view on Amazon.

10 steps to avoid green algae and bacteria in Brita or PUR water filter pitcher

1) Wash Your Hands and Brita Filter before Use

Wash your hands before washing the filter so you may install a bacteria-free filter in the pitcher.

According to filter instructions, wash each filter under cold water for 15 seconds. But I’d recommend for 1 minute, just being on the safe side.

2) Keep a Tight Seal on the Top  

Make sure the spout cover and top of the pitcher are closed and form a tight seal.

To avoid the entry of dust, food particles, or worse into your drinking water because of a loose top.

3) Wash and Rinse Well Brita Pitcher

You need to wash Brita or PUR pitcher every 30 days with some dish soap or dishwasher for better results.

It can take weeks or months for any bacteria to grow to significant levels so, cleaning keeps it under control.

If you use well hard water instead of tap water, then you should probably wash it out even more often.

4) Keep the Brita Pitcher Refrigerated

We advised you to keep your Brita or PUR jug in the refrigerator when you’re not using it.

Keeping it at a cool temperature helps to reduce or stop bacterial or algae buildup in the water. 

5) Don’t Drink Directly From Spout!

Avoid drinking directly from the pitcher! It seems like common sense. Always pour the filtered water into a glass or pot. Putting your mouth on the spout can infect the jug.

6) Change Your Filter Often

Mold and algae can grow in the pitcher if the filter is not replaced regularly.

The filter indicator suggests replacing the Brita standard filter every 40 gallons or 2 months, whichever comes first.

The Longlast filter needs to be changed every 120 gallons or 6 months, whichever comes first. For further details, you can get in the longlast filter review.

7) Switching To Zero Water Filters and Pitchers

It might be a little more expensive to switch to a Zero Water pitcher instead of Brita filter water.

But, with its 5-step water filtration process, it does a better job of filtering out dissolved solids with a lower chance of blue-green algae, mold, black charcoal particles, sediment, and stains.

8) Always keep in mind that your pitcher should be kept away from direct sunlight because it encourages harmful algal blooms growth.

The cool dark place is ideal for your pitcher. You can put it inside the refrigerator too.

9) When water is warm to 38°C/100°F, it can affect the efficiency of the Brita filter, leading to reduced performance. We recommend that you use cold water for the best results.

10) Well-affected water can infect your Brita filter easily with green algae because wells are warm and damp which provides the optimal conditions for algae.

How to clean my Brita water pitcher?

1. First of all, wash your hand.
2. Drain out the water remove the filter carefully and keep it aside in a clean place.
3. Separate the pitcher and lid.
4. Wash and rinse the lid and pitcher with mild detergent.
5. If there are green slimy deposits in the pitcher, scrub them with a mixture of white vinegar and water.
6. Rinse the pitcher and lid with lukewarm water (avoid boiling water).
7. Wipe the pitcher and lid cover with a clean cloth.
8. Assemble all pitcher parts ONLY after all the components are dry.
9. Install the filter (new or old), screw in it, and pour out some water if black carbon specks disappear.

Is green algae in Brita pitcher harmful?

Although, we or someone may not recommend drinking algae-contaminated water.

Ingesting a small number of algae may not be dangerous. You might experience signs like headaches rashes, stomachaches, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Algae-contaminated water has no smell or tastes good either. Probably algae in Brita pitcher is safe for us.

If you use treated tap water to make alkaline water, it is unlikely that algae will be a problem.

However, some people use well water, which is not treated regularly or tested to be microbiologically safe. In this case, algae can grow and become a problem.

Then we suggest using a more thorough method of purification before filtering from the pitcher. You can get filtered water quality for a long time.

Can Brita filters get moldy?

You might be surprised to get pink mold in the clean Brita pitcher. It’s not a general difficulty, but it does happen.

Brita filters that are exposed to moisture for prolonged periods can grow mold. And the filter can grow mold and mildew if you keep them out in direct sunlight for too long.

There may also be other causes like using well water, not sealing the spout correctly, and not cleaning the pitcher regularly.

Due to a lack of good pitcher cleanings, the mold and algae may move to the filter cartridge. In this case, we suggest you replace the cartridge, wash the pitcher, and install a new one.

What Happens If I Get Algae In My Brita Filter?

It is rare for a “clean” Brita filter to get green algae in it, and usually, they look dirty from the sun or inactivity.

The particles trapped by the filter are not visible to the human eye, but it is still important to clean the filter regularly.

Try to see if there is a larger buildup of particles in the back, and run the Brita pitcher under light hot water for a minute.

If you can get a handful of debris out, it can be removed. Don’t just pour the water back into the pitcher and run it under hot water.

Is there still more build-up? Then clean thoroughly with a soft brush and warm water (avoid boiling water).

If you do get algae in your Brita filter water, the best thing to do is to go to the store and buy a new filter.

Because algae can clog the filter and affect the Brita filter outperformance.

How to Remove Algae from Your Brita Pitcher?

An easy way to deal with green algae in a Brita pitcher is simply to dump out the contents and mix them in baking soda.

Baking soda will exfoliate the algae cells to the point that you can then flush them through the pitcher again.

If this method doesn’t remove all contaminants and the algae, then you can use a mechanical means to remove the last bit of algal toxins.

If you can try the filters away, that should do the trick. This method of cleaning your Brita pitcher is also helpful for removing this kind of filter mold.

Of course, this technique isn’t something you should do every single time. If you have algae in your pitcher consistently, this could lead to repeated filter failures.

To prevent algae from forming. It is a good idea to keep it clean and reduce the use of the filters if possible.

What happens if you drink water with green algae?

The problem with drinking water with green algae is that it can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

The symptoms are usually mild and go away after a few days, but they may be more severe for some people.

Talk to your doctor before drinking the water if you have any of these symptoms or other health problems.

You should also avoid swimming in lakes, ponds, and rivers with abundant green algae.

Green algae look similar to seaweed and have long, thin branches. It grows in freshwater as well as saltwater.

Green algae blooms occur when nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from farms, lawns, fertilizers, sewage treatment plants, and animal waste into waterways. These nutrients encourage the growth of algae.

How to Remove Algae from Your Brita Filter?

It is where it gets tricky. If you are afraid of getting the filter dirty, there is one option for removal that is sure to leave you with fewer algae.

You don’t need to get rid of all the filtered water from your water pitcher. But you do need to add some extra to make the drinking water match the taste of the filter.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the Brita pitcher is famous and the superior option to bottled water.

But some people may have their Brita water pitcher with green algae issues.

It can feel very odd that we swallow algae water. If you have such an issue with your pitcher, we described many ways above.

You need to be careful about the cleanliness of your jug if you want to have fresh and clean water consistently.

With the correct cleaning technique, the Brita water filter pitcher may be easy maintenance and can be completed in a matter of minutes.

If you still find algae in the Brita filter, we recommend replacing it.

I hope you get some valuable information from this article, please let me know if you want to improve something.