water filter - good idea?

want2bmortgage3

asking this because tap water is not cold enough, tried bottling it in the fridge but it still doesn't taste as nice as bottled water. dont want to keep buying bottles from the shop (weight and plastic), so thought a water filter may be the answer..

so are they a good idea and which is a good one to buy if so?

verbyl.belch

We bought a Britta filter on offer and use it daily. The water tastes great* and we always use the filters for twice the time indicated (i.e 2 months instead of 1) with no ill effect. Can't go wrong with a Britta really.

EDIT - I think this is the jug we have, http://www.brita.net/uk/jugs.html?L=1

*I'm not convinced what makes the water taste nicer, the fact it's filtered or chilled. It may just be the fact that chilled water has 'supressed' flavours, much like Guiness extra cold - people who don't like normal Guiness often like the extra cold version.

McAzrael

For drinking as water put tap water in a jug, rather than a bottle, in the fridge. You want the heavy metals to settle at the bottom of the jug and the chlorine to escape (as well as the water chilled). For making tea then use a water filter, and maybe hit two birds by using one of the filters that will fit in your fridge.

jenniewb

I have a water filer kettle. I have been drinking filtered water since I was about 7 and do notice the difference in taste- but if drinks are cold, the chlorine taste (if you live in London you may notice it) doesn't stand out as much when icey cold (but you gotta have non sensitive teeth to do that!)

If you have a kettle and use only fileterd water in it, there is no scum or limescale to descale every week- may not be such a big deal unless you live in a (VERY) hard water area.

Britia seem to be the best water filter jugs to get mainly because they seem to be available in more stores, have more offers off the prices (Robert Dyas seem to have the best prices) and so better in the longer term for money saving.

walmslei

With regards to the comment regarding leaving water standing - This used to be the set advice (put open lidded jug in fridge and allow chlorine to dissapate).

However, these days not so simple, as always progress and misinformation creating a void where people are not always as informed as they should be.

Chlorine will dissapate, which is fine, but unfortunately if you live in Scotland or London (a significant proportion of people) then you will be on Chloramine, chosen specifcially for the reason it does not disappate quite so readily (much more stable in water than Chlorine - hence why it is a preferred choice for disinfection and is likely to taken up by all water boards over the next five years). As well as drinking this has implications for fish keepers and such who have relied on non-chemical methods of removing chlorine.

Heavy metals will only settle if they are in suspension which is rarely the case. By definition heavy metals in solution will obviously never settle so you have to drink them.

It is worth noting when you discuss water and taste that bottle water is not (usually) pure - That might sound obvious, but again it's a misconception. The water you would ideally want to drink for refreshment and the water you'd want to use for tea and coffee typically have very different make-ups.

Bottled water is often hard, often contains high mineral content and has a bit of a 'flavour' - the flavours being unique based on the minerals it has picked up (and by minerals we can be talking about heavy metals and other such things, which you may or may not consider desirable). It's ironic that people compare Brita water to bottled water - yes, some bottled water is essentially purified tap water (so it is a fair comparison in those cases), but comparing it to Volvic, Evian (or many other major branded waters) isn't truly fair.

For tea and coffee though, you ideally want a better grade of water, so that you don't get the aesthetic issues of scum on hot drinks, and so the flavour of what you are drinking isn't affected (serious coffee lovers, I note that a certain degree of limescale/hardness is preferred in making decent espresso!).

*In terms of jugs don't forget the Aqua Optima range, which you'll find in the likes of Amazon, or buy direct. You can get a good filter jug and a years supply of filters for £20 including delivery.

http://www.aqua-optima.com/index.php?action=menuitem&menuitem_id=276

McAzrael

Blimey, who would have thought that drinking water could be so complicated. We are seriously middle class. I'm just off out to buy some sweet chilli and mozarella hand cooked crisps and a brace of free-range moorhens.

want2bmortgage3

I noticed sainsburys have 20 % off brita water filters, but there are so many models!!! the Aluna and Mareall IIRC were the cheapest but does anyone know what to look for between them?? Are they all the same just different capacities or something?

want2bmortgage3

which one of these would you go for.. sainsburys is on my way home but argos is the other side of town and a 15 min drive but its a better model i think:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8420596/Trail/searchtext%3EBRITA.htm £12.19 at argos 1 in stock local to me

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8417097/Trail/searchtext%3EBRITA.htm 20% off at sainsburys £9.59 (i think)

moneysaver

I would go for the Sainsbury one @ £9.59 , I don't like the look of the handle on the other one, it might snap off if used a lot.

We have had a Brita for years & would not do without it. I live in Scotland & the water is softer up here so I can get up to 4mths from 1 filter. I can usually tell when to change it as the water smells slightly different.


Moneysaver