What Do Brita Pitchers Filter Out?

Brita water filters have become nearly synonymous with safe drinking water. With thousands of pitcher filters on the market and an intimidating mix of treatment options, it is tempting to stick to the catch-all answer: “Just buy a Brita!”

But do Brita pitcher filters actually make for safer tap water? It depends on the water quality issues you are trying to solve, and the Brita replacement filter you use. Instead of buying blindly, you can read this unbiased filter review to get to know which contaminants Brita pitcher filters are certified to treat in your drinking water.

Table of Contents:

• How Well Do Brita Filters Work?
• What Do Brita Pitcher Filters Filter Out?
• What Do Brita Pitcher Filters Not Filter Out?
• How Do I Know My Brita Is Effective?
• Common Questions About Brita Pitchers
• What's the Takeaway?

How Well Do Brita Filters Work?

The answer depends on what's in your water. With proper upkeep, Brita pitcher filters are a great solution for some water quality concerns, but it is important to understand what they can and cannot do.

How Does a Brita Water Filter Work?

Brita water filters use activated carbon technology. Activated carbon filters are designed to trap certain contaminants on their surface while water passes through. Brita’s Standard filter also includes cation exchange resins to catch certain heavy metals (specifically copper, zinc, and cadmium).[1]

Additionally, the Brita Elite Filter includes a pleated, fiber filter and other proprietary filter media.[2]

What Are the Differences Between the Available Brita Pitcher Filters?

Whether or not Brita pitchers will work for your needs depends on which filter you buy. There are currently two Brita replacement filters available for pitchers:

• The Standard Filter (Model #: OB03)
• The Brita Elite Filter (Model #: OB06)

The Brita Elite Filter (formerly Longlast+) is certified by third parties to reduce 3x more contaminants and has a filter life three times longer than the Standard filter.

Note: Some retailers may still carry the Longlast pitcher filter but it is no longer in production.

For more on the specifics of each filter, see below:[1][3]

Are All Brita Filters the Same?

No. But the Brita Stream, Brita faucet filter systems, and Brita fill & go bottle filters are not covered in this article. These perform differently than the Standard and Elite filters used in Brita pitchers.

How Often Should I Change My Brita Filter?

Replacement guidance included with Brita’s packaging materials suggest that Brita filters should be replaced every two to six months depending on the filter and usage. 

In general, filters are tested and certified for a specific time—the filter’s life cycle—after which performance cannot be guaranteed. You need to change your filter because the materials in the pitcher filters—activated carbon fiber filters and/or any other filter media—eventually reach a point where they are no longer effective.[1][4]

When Should I Consider a Brita Pitcher?

You should consider a Brita pitcher filter when you know what aspects of your water quality you want to improve. Usually, this is after you’ve had your water tested. Looking into your water quality will reveal the specific concerns you want your Brita to address.

Common water quality concerns vary depending on your water supplier, where you live, and—if you’re on a public utility—where your utility sources its water. 

Similar to public utilities’ Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR), Tap Score’s City Water Project provides a regionalized glimpse at local water issues.

Remember: Only a test of your tap will provide specifics about your location.

Why People Test Their Water

What Do Brita Pitcher Filters Filter Out?

Brita pitcher filters are certified to filter out a handful of contaminants. National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), working in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), develops voluntary consensus standards for water filtration products. It also handles testing and inspection. These certifications help consumers make smarter decisions about water treatment products.

Wherever a Brita pitcher filter is not certified to remove a contaminant does not necessarily mean it won’t, it just means the company did not pay to substantiate their claims through an independent party.

Below, we’ll address some of the more common water quality concerns people consider Brita water filters for, whether or not Brita has acquired the appropriate certifications for reduction.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Filter Lead?

Yes, the Brita Elite Filter is certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for the reduction of lead.

The standard Brita pitcher filter is not certified for lead reduction, nor is it effective to filter lead even without certification.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Improve Taste and Odor?

Yes, both the Brita Standard and Brita Elite filters are certified to improve water’s taste and odor under NSF/ANSI Standard 42.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Reduce Chlorine and Chloramines?

Both the Brita Standard and Brita Elite filters are certified for the reduction of aesthetic chlorine under NSF/ANSI 42, meaning that they reduce chlorine low enough so drinking water does not taste or smell like chlorine.

Brita pitcher filters are not certified to reduce chloramines.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Fluoride?

No, Brita pitcher filters cannot remove fluoride from drinking water, nor are they certified for the reduction of fluoride concentrations. If you have concerns about fluoride, you will require a different treatment product. 

Products employing reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ion exchange (anion) resins, and activated alumina are more effective choices for removing fluoride.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Nitrate?

No, Brita pitcher filters cannot remove nitrate levels in drinking water and are not certified to do so. For reducing concerning levels of nitrates in your water, consider treatment with reverse osmosis or ion exchange (anion) resins.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Bacteria, Microbes, Cysts and Amoebas?

No, Brita pitcher filters are not certified to remove or reduce bacteria (e.g. E. coli), protozoan cysts (e.g. Cryptosporidium and Giardia), or other waterborne pathogens.

Waterborne pathogens in tap water are best treated with a point of entry system employing either UV or chlorine disinfection.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Filter Microplastics?

The Brita Elite Filter is certified under NSF/ANSI 401 for the reduction of microplastics. The Standard Brita pitcher filter is not certified for microplastics reduction.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Reduce TDS (total dissolved solids)?

No, Brita filters are not certified to reduce TDS (total dissolved solids), or the sum of dissolved ions in drinking water. Remember TDS is not a reliable indicator of water safety as it does not measure significant contaminants such as disinfection byproducts, radionuclides, or bacteria, which can pose potential health risks.

Important: There is no such thing as the direct reduction of “PPM,” or parts per million, and as such a Brita cannot “filter PPM.” "PPM" or parts per million is not a direct measure that can be reduced since it is not a contaminant or a general parameter in itself. 

General Chemistry of Water

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove PFAS?

The Brita Elite Filter is certified under NSF/ANSI 53 to reduce perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—specifically PFOS and PFOA—in drinking water. The standard Brita filter is not certified for the removal of PFOS or PFOA.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Hard Water Minerals from Tap Water?

No, Brita pitcher filters are not certified to remove calcium and magnesium, the minerals which contribute the most to hardness. Household Brita water filters cannot return water hardness to normal levels. Because water hardness does not directly pose a health risk, however, it is ok to drink hard water without a proper filter.

However, hard water can cause corrosion, white staining (limescale) and scaling in pipes, as well as preventing soap from lathering. Point-of-entry (POE) ion exchange water softeners are a better bet for treating hard water, because they reduce water hardness before it can damage pipes and fixtures.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Arsenic?

Brita pitcher filters cannot remove arsenic from drinking water, nor are they certified to do so. Instead, reverse osmosis, activated alumina, and ion exchange (anion) resins are useful technologies for treating arsenic in drinking water.

Can Brita Pitcher Filters Reduce Heavy Metals like Iron, Mercury, and Chromium in Drinking Water?

The Brita Standard and Elite filters are both certified under NSF/ANSI 53 for reducing certain heavy metals—including mercury and cadmium—in drinking water. The Standard filter is also certified under NSF/ANSI 42 for reducing zinc (to address taste, color, and odor issues), and under NSF/ANSI 53 for reducing copper.

Brita pitcher filters are not certified for reducing iron, chromium, or manganese.

Can Brita Pitcher Filters Filter Radioactive Metals?

No, Brita pitcher filters are not certified to filter out uranium, radon, radium, or other radionuclides from drinking water. 

Activated carbon is capable of treating radon, but the Brita website does not suggest that its pitcher filters effectively reduce radon concentrations.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Salt?

No, Brita pitcher filters do not remove dissolved sodium salts.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Reduce Rust?

Brown, rust-colored water is likely the result of corroded iron from pipes and well casings. Brita pitcher filters are not certified to reduce iron in drinking water, but activated carbon technology has been proven effective at reducing iron concentrations in drinking water.

Note: Brita pitcher filters used for rusty water may have shorter filter lives.

Can Brita Pitcher Filters Reduce Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) like HAAs and THMs?

No, Brita does not claim its pitcher filters are an effective treatment for trihalomethanes (THMs) or haloacetic acids (HAAs), common water contaminants if you live in a city, nor have Brita pitcher filters received any certifications.

However, independent tests done by Tap Score users like Modern Castle have shown Brita filters to be effective at reducing disinfection byproducts (DBPs) like chloroform. Activated carbon technology is known to reduce disinfection byproducts.

Reverse osmosis is an additional effective treatment technology for reducing THMs and HAAs.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Sulfur Smells?

While Brita pitcher filters are not certified to remove excess hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) —the gas responsible for that “rotten egg” sulfur smell—the activated carbon technology used in Brita filters should be effective in reducing concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in drinking water.

Do Brita Pitchers Filter Pesticides?

Yes, the Elite filter is certified under NSF/ANSI 53 to filter certain pesticides and herbicides: 2,4-D, atrazine, endrin, and simazine. Depending on the pitcher model, the Brita Elite Filter may also be certified under NSF/ANSI 401 for reducing linuron, DEET, and metolachlor.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Pharmaceuticals?

Depending on the pitcher model, the Brita Elite Filter is certified under NSF/ANSI 401 to reduce a short list of pharmaceutical drugs: atenolol, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, meprobamate, naproxen, phenytoin, and trimethoprim.

Will Brita Pitcher Filters Remove Mold and Other Fungi?

Brita pitcher filters are not certified to reduce or remove mold or fungi from drinking water.

What Do Brita Pitchers NOT Filter Out?

Brita pitcher filters will not be effective for treating certain contaminants. These include:

• Fluoride
• Nitrates
• Bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and other waterborne pathogens
• Arsenic
  

If you test your water and find concerning levels of these contaminants, you will want a different treatment technology.

Top 4 Most Popular Water Filtration Technologies

It's also important to note that while many water treatment products claim to remove a long list of water contaminants, these claims are not regulated by government agencies.

How Do I Know My Brita Is Effective?

The only way to really gauge if your Brita water filter is effective at removing your target contaminants is through a technique called “performance testing.”

1. During “performance testing,” your water is first tested at the tap, without any treatment. The results will reveal your water’s unique contaminant profile. (Tip: Highlight any of the contaminants that have shown up in your water quality report that your chosen filter—either the Brita Standard or the Elite—claims to reduce.)
2. Next, you’ll want to run your water through the Brita pitcher. You’ll want to run a second—separate—test on the filtered water. 
3. Finally, you’ll want to compare the results of the second test with the highlighted contaminant levels in your first report.

Note: Performance testing is recommended upon purchasing your filter. Filter effectiveness will degrade over time as the filter fills with contaminants from use.

Public Water Systems

Private Well Owners

There are a lot of contrasting accounts of water quality issues all over the news today, some of which are blown out of proportion, some of which are more or less accurate—ALL of which depend on specific locations and plumbing setups. All things considered, your household tap—and its issues—is relatively unique.

Common Questions About Brita Pitchers

Common tap water quality concerns vary depending on where you live and the water source your municipal water comes from.

Will Brita Pitcher Filters Make My Well Water Safer to Drink?

Not necessarily. Well water can have a wide range of contaminants in it, including—but not limited to—heavy metals, bacteria, radionuclides, and hardness. Before considering a specific filter for well water, you should have your well water tested to determine the specific water quality issues at play.

Note: Brita pitcher filters are not intended for use with water that has microbial contamination or is of unknown quality and is not disinfected.

Are Brita Pitcher Filters Good for Apartments?

Again, Brita's efficiency depends on the specific contaminants in your tap water. The most common issues seen in city or public water are disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that form during chlorine water treatment. Brita pitcher filters are not certified to remove these contaminants.

However, independent tests by product reviewers like Modern Castle (video below) have shown Brita filters to reduce disinfection byproducts.

Do Brita Pitcher Filters Make Water Alkaline?

Brita pitcher filters do not make water alkaline.

Are Brita Pitcher Filters Worth It?

Brita pitcher filters offer you a reasonable amount of protection for a relatively small annual sum, especially when compared to costlier alternatives like bottled water or whole-home treatment systems.

You’ll optimize your cost effectiveness when you ensure you’re addressing the contaminants you’re concerned about. Even baseline testing your water just once can help you determine whether or not the Brita standard or Brita Elite is better for your home setup—that alone could save you $40-50 per year.

There is no perfect water pitcher (or any treatment for that matter) that removes everything harmful that could be lurking in your drinking water. Consider these at-home water testing packages to get to know your water.