When we use a water filter for drinking, most people assume that they will get pure flavorless water.
But during water filtration, most filters may get rid of some nutrients that are really good for your health and leave more dangerous substances.
Including Brita, which claims to clean the water, and if you want to know, “what does Brita not filter out“? They are many harmful contaminants like:
- Coliform Bacteria
- Fungus
- Viruses
- Fluoride
- Arsenic
- Chloramine
- Barium
- Legionella
- Bromates
- Hard Water.
Despite these disadvantages, the Brita pitcher is a more famous brand in the market than Zero water or PUR Filter.
This article will learn about these water contaminants and their effects.
What does Brita not filter out?
Many people in the USA are aware of their drinking water quality. They always try to find The Best Water Filter Pitcher for filtered water.
That’s why the US has a large number of Brita satisfied customers.
Brita uses an activated carbon filter to remove chlorine taste, benzene, cadmium, mercury, zinc, and 99% of lead reduction.
It is affordable, easy to get, and user-friendly, but when it comes to maximum content remover filter.
It is unsuitable because the Brita filters cannot filter out Coliform Bacteria, fungus, viruses, Fluoride, Arsenic, Chloramine, Barium, Legionella, Bromates, and Hard Water, they can also cause algae in the pitcher.
As we explain in brief:
1. Fluoride
Brita water filters do not filter out fluoride from your tap water.
The municipal water supply adds fluoride to water to reduce the prevalence of tooth decay in the local population.
It is one of the common health problems among children.
Other possible risks of excessive fluoride:
Dental fluorosis
The fluoride level of 0.7 ppm is considered most suitable for your dental health, and above 4.0 ppm level could be dangerous.
Below the age of 6 years children, avoid mouthwash that contains fluoride.
Skeletal fluorosis
Excess fluoride exposure may cause bone disease and skeletal fluorosis.
As a result, you can suffer pain and damage to bones and joints.
Thyroid problems
Fluoride can promote hyperparathyroidism by damaging the parathyroid gland, including the parathyroid hormone.
Neurological problems
According to a report published in 2017, if the child is exposed to fluoride before birth. It may result in poor cognitive consequences in the future.
So, you can use a small Brita filter if your drinking water has a safe fluoride quantity because the filter does not remove fluoride.
2. Arsenic
Arsenic is a natural element that occurs in rocks and soil and is used in industry and agriculture.
It is also a byproduct of mining, coal burning, and copper smelting.
Arsenic can enter the municipal water supply from natural groundwater deposits or agricultural and industrial contamination.
Few industries release thousands of pounds of arsenic into our environment every year.
It can slowly enter groundwater and come into our drinking water from the municipal water supply.
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can see on the skin like- pigmentation variations, skin lesions, hard patches on the palms, and also cause bladder and lung cancer.
Suppose you are suffering from high-level arsenic in your water. In that case, we advise you to use arsenic removal water filter systems.
3. Chloramine
Many water utilities have been using chloramine disinfection since the 1930s in the US.
Brita faucet filters do not filter out Chloramine from your tap water.
More than one in five Americans drink water that is treated with chloramines.
According to EPA regulatory standards, chloramines treated water is safe to use for:
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Bathing
- Other household uses
Most public water systems (PWSs) work with chlorine to water disinfects.
Although, some public water systems changed their secondary disinfectant with chloramines according to their requirements.
Chlorine and chloramines are poisonous to fish, aquatic animals, reptiles, and amphibians.
So, avoid the use of chlorine or chloramine-treated water for them.
4. Brita doesn’t filter out Barium.
Barium is a natural substance that can result in horrible gastrointestinal consequences if consumed excessively.
There is sufficient Barium in most water supplies, up to 2 mg/L (ppm), and more from this can be toxic for adults, which can harm your bones, lungs, and blood.
Finally, it is not a healthy substance to consume.
5. Legionella
It is a kind of pneumonia produced by bacteria in drinking water systems.
That is the leading cause of Legionnaire’s Disease. It affects more than 18,000 people every year.
According to a study on people with LD, outbreaks revealed that more than 75% of people who had this disease experience LD-related weakness during the rest of their lives.
Basically, it is a drinking-water-related risk, and you need to avoid this for yourself.
6. Coliform Bacteria
Coliform bacteria are microorganisms present in our environment, in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans.
They rarely are the cause of illness. However, presence shows that the disease-causing organisms (pathogens) may be in your drinking water.
Mostly pathogen comes from the feces of humans or animals in your tap drinking water.
It is easy and economical to test for coliform bacteria.
Brita filter does not filter out Coliform bacteria. Find a compatible water filter to resolve it if you found it in your tap water source.
7. Brita doesn’t filter out Bromates.
Bromates are a normal byproduct of disinfection. It can naturally develop in drinking water systems.
It is potentially carcinogenic, according to a study.
Bromates are also found in bread and can create the problem of bromate flour.
Bromate flour is banned in the entire EU, parts of South America, South Korea, India, and China.
It is found in vegetable oils and corn syrup and is the primary ingredient in snack products.
8. Hard Water
Hard or unfiltered water holds large concentrations of calcium and magnesium.
They are also known as the cause of kidney stones.
No, a water filter pitcher can soften water available on the market, so Brita is no exception for this.
Brita can eliminate hardly on some scale, but finally, you have still hard water.
It is OK to drink clearly filtered water, but you should use a whole house water filter that is more efficient than Brita carbon filters for hard water.
9. Heavy metals
Filters can remove some heavy metals, like lead, from your water. However, they are not effective at removing all heavy metals.
Suppose you’re concerned about heavy metals in your water. In that case, you should have it tested and use a water treatment system that is specifically designed to remove them.
Excess use of old Bria filter, It’s way worse than tap water
You use filters for cleaning your drinking water. Still, the filter can’t filter out bacteria, minerals, chemicals, and toxins from water.
So, for your health, replace it after every 40 gallons of water filtration or approximately every 8 weeks if you live alone and after one month if you have a family.
Think about the toxin, bacteria, and potential mold which can grow on your old unchanged filter.
It can be a cause to clog your activated charcoal filter and interrupt your drinking water supply.
Brita provides pure water of the same quality as bottled water for you. Still, excess use after filter life can affect your health badly.
So, you need to follow Brita filter instructions to get the best result.
Do Brita filters remove lead?
The Flint water crisis in 2014-15 showed us that our safe drinking water might be contaminated, a dangerous threat to our health.
During this period, Flint residents used contaminated water with poisonous lead.
As per recent studies, lead can cause brain disorders, kidney damage, and red blood cells.
It is also hazardous for unborn babies as well as infants and is responsible for:
- Attention disorders
- Behavioral problems
- Brain damage
- Delays in physical development
- Reduced IQs
Fortunately, we have a wide range of water purifiers that can reduce lead and other harmful content from water, which is a better and more affordable option than a filtered water bottle.
You can get more detailed information in the Brita Longlast filter review.
Brita Filters Get Rid Of Chlorine, Mostly
As you know, Brita water filters mostly remove chlorine and help get water for health benefits.
May you measure your water quality with its taste – the more tasteless it is, the more “pure” it is, right?
Chlorine is present in American tap water. This is not all bad for you.
Chlorine is a gas that can evaporate if you fill up a run-of-the-mill water pitcher and keep it in the fridge for one day.
How effective are Brita filters?
Brita was founded in 1966 in Germany by Heinz Hankamer.
Now Brita has more than 50 years of experience in providing lots of water solutions to customers, same as the taste of bottled water.
The manufacturer says filters can remove “99% of lead, chlorine (taste and odor), cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc” from tap water.
However, it’s important to note that filters are not designed to remove all contaminants from water.
In fact, there are several contaminants that filters cannot remove, including:
- Fluoride
- Arsenic
- Nitrates/nitrites
- Bacteria and viruses
If you’re concerned about any contaminants in your water, you may consider an alternative water filtration system.
Brita operates in more than 69 countries across five continents in the world.
The company has three main products:-
1 Water Pitcher Filter
2 Countertop Dispensers
There are four types of filters, and both filters are very effective in removing various harmful contaminants.
Brita Standard (White), Longlast (Blue) activated charcoal filter and Brita stream filter.
The Standard needs a replacement filter after 40 gallons of water or completing two months.
Brita Longlast filter requires changing after 120 gallons or completing six months.
3. Brita Faucet Filter
Brita water filters have the latest technology of activated carbon filter that is effective in lead reduction, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, chlorine taste, copper, mercury, zinc, etc.
They are NSF/ANSI 53 Certified, which shows their great strength in health and sanitary standards.
You can select according to your need after comparing Longlast vs. Standard.
But if you want filtered water from the tap, a Brita faucet filter is better.
How does the Brita filter indicator work?
Correct knowledge about Brita indicator work is necessary to get regular clean water.
Notice the Led indicator after every refill. When the green light flashes 3 times, it shows the filter is still good.
When the red light blinks, the filter has 0% life, and you need a replacement filter.
After installing the new filter, you must reset the indicator to get accurate filter status.
Press and hold down the status button for 2 seconds to reset the indicator.
These steps are also essential for faucet filter accuracy and performance.
The truth about Brita filter
Undoubtedly, maximum consumer reports that the Brita water filter pitcher is the market leader brand.
Above all, Brita provides the best combination between quality and cost-effectiveness.
Brita gives clearly filtered water for our daily basic needs like drinking, food, Alkaline lemonade, coffee, and pets.
The absolute truth about filters is that it has become the synonyms for pure water.
Right now, other rivals are fighting for the market’s small size.
While Brita filters effectively filter out some contaminants, there are several things that they cannot filter out.
-Viruses: Unfortunately, filters are not small enough to filter out viruses.
If you’re worried about viruses in your water, you’ll need to use a different water filtration system.
-Bacteria: Brita filters can remove some bacteria from your water, but they are not effective at eliminating all bacteria.
When your water has bacteria. Then, you should have it tested and use a filtration that is specifically designed to remove them.
-THMs: Trihalomethanes (THMs) are chemicals that can form in water that has been treated with chlorine.
Brita is not effective at removing THMs from your water.
If you’re concerned about THMs in your water. You should have it tested and use a filtration system that is specifically designed to remove them.
-Pesticides: Brita filters can remove some pesticides from your water, but they are not effective at eliminating all pesticides.
Suppose you’re concerned about pesticides in your water. In that case, you should have it tested and use a water filtration system that is specifically designed to remove them.
Let’s see whether Brita can keep its position as the market leader or lose it.
There are other big competitors in the water pitcher market like- Pur Filter, Zero Water, Aquagear, etc.
What Does A Brita Filter Remove?
Most people know that filters can remove impurities from your water, making it taste better and helping to protect you from harmful contaminants. But what exactly does a Brita filter remove?
- lead
- mercury
- zinc
- chlorine
- copper
- asbestos
- benzene
- cadmium
One of the main things that a Brita filter removes is chlorine.
Chlorine is added to municipal water supplies as a disinfectant, but it can give an unpleasant water taste and smell.
A filter will remove chlorine and provide fresh taste and cleaner water.
Brita filters also remove other common contaminants from water, such as lead, copper, and mercury.
These contaminants can come from various water sources, including old pipes and fixtures, and can be harmful to your health.
A filter can help you stay healthy and avoid potential health problems by removing them from your water.
In addition to contaminants, Brita filters also remove sediment and other particulates from your water.
This can improve the taste of your water and make it look clearer.
It can also help extend the life of your plumbing by preventing sediment from building up in your pipes.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a filter can be a great way to improve it.
By removing contaminants and particulates, filters can help you enjoy fresher, healthier water.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the Brita water filter can remove some substances very well.
But when it comes to knowing, “What does Brita not filter out“? Various water contaminants are very harmful to our health.
So, if your water contains those contaminants that the Brita cannot remove, choose another water filtration option.
Otherwise, the Brita pitcher is the best to provide clean and tasty water at an affordable price than a filtered water bottle.
I hope you like this information……