Does a Brita filter remove lead from water?
Filling a reusable steel bottle from your own Brita filter is not just economical, but it is better for you and the environment than constantly buying plastic bottles. Filtering lead out of drinking water  Clean drinking water is key to staying healthy, which is why the water in developed countries goes through a multi-step treatment process before it makes its way to your tap. Thanks to this, you can fill up your glass at the sink, and what comes out is generally considered safe to drink. However, it might not be as free from contaminants as you may think. Arsenic, copper, aluminum, lead, iron, and pesticides and herbicides are commonly found in the tap water in home faucets. With this in mind, many people take matters into their own hands and buy Brita water filters. In this article, we answer that question and more. The first thing to understand about Brita water filters is that they are not all created equal. Some are more effective at removing specific contaminants than others. Lets look at the various Brita water filters and how they each work. Brita standard filter  The Brita standard filters are the cylindrical white containers with which most people are familiar. These use a mesh screen to catch visible particles and activate carbon granules to reduce mercury levels and eliminate chlorine odor and taste. The water passes through ion exchange resin that essentially acts like a magnet to catch copper, cadmium and zinc. You may have noticed there was no mention of lead here. That is because standard Brita filters do not remove lead. Brita Longlast+ filter  The Longlast+ makes use of a proprietary pleated filter combined with active filtering agents. This single-stage process offers a faster flow-through rate than the companys standard filters, so you wont have to wait as long to fill your pitcher or dispenser, and it catches more contaminants. The Longlast+ is capable of removing lead, as well as asbestos and benzene. However, the downside is that it cannot remove copper and zinc. Brita stream filter  The stream filter is less effective than either the standard or Longlast+. It utilizes a dual-layer of activated carbon to remove chlorine odor and taste, and catch coarse particles of 50 micrometers or larger. Brita bottle filter  As with the stream filter, Brita bottle filters use carbon to remove chlorine odor and taste and catch large particles. Brita faucet filter  The Brita faucet filter is the only other model besides the Longlast+ that is capable of removing lead. It utilizes a non-woven material to catch particles and sediment. There is also a tightly bound carbon block to reduce chlorine odor and taste, benzene, asbestos and lead. It is the companys only filter capable of removing pesticides and herbicides, but also as with the Longlast+, it does not reduce copper and zinc levels in the water. The faucet filter also wont help with lowering mercury or cadmium levels. The decision for which Brita water filter to buy comes down to what contaminants you want to remove from your tap water. If your only concern is lead, your obvious choice is to pick the Longlast+ or the Brita faucet filter. However, this may potentially leave you open to ingesting copper and zinc, or in the case of the faucet filter, copper, zinc, mercury and cadmium. Your best bet is first to buy a kit to test your water so you can find out exactly what type of contaminants are in your water. Then, purchase the specific Brita filter that can remove them. What you need to buy for lead-free drinking water using a Brita system  Brita Basic Faucet Water Filter System  If you want clean, lead-free water on demand without waiting, the Brita Basic Faucet system is the right choice. It attaches easily to all standard home faucets and can filter up to 100 gallons of water before it needs replacing. The downside is that its a bit bulky, potential getting in the way when youre washing dishes. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Home Depot  Brita Longlast Monterey  An attractive option that can easily fit in most refrigerators, the Monterey holds up to 10 cups and includes the Longlast+ filter. It is crafted from BPA-free material, available in four colors and features a flip-up lid for easy filling. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot  Brita Longlast UltraMax  If you have a large family or simply drink a lot of water, the Monterey will probably be too small for your needs. Instead, you should consider the UltraMax, which has an 18-cup capacity. It also features an electronic indicator that reminds you when its time to replace the filter. You should note, though, that it will take up significant of fridge space. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon  Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Brett Dvoretz writes for BestReviews. 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