Water Filter Tap - no more bottled water

Burgers

Just wondering if its cheaper to have a water filter tap in the kitchen rather than continue to buy bottled water. The amount of plastic bottles that end up in our recycling bin is awful, but we like the taste of filtered water and it makes a lovely cup of tea.

We currently use a Brita Filter jug which works out about £60 - £80 per year, but then we buy a lot of mini bottled water so that we can drink on the go.

I think that the bottle top filters from Brita are too expensive and I'm not convinced that we change our jug cartridge often enough.

So I am intersted to hear your thoughts on buying a water filter tap system for under the kitchen sink and if you have had any good experiences. Or is there a cheaper option?

cddc

The Brita taps are good but baring in mind the cost of the cartridges they are not really much cheaper than the jugs. Most people I know who have had one have been happy with them though, and it avoids having the jug.

EssexExile

Keep the mini bottles & refill them from your filter jug or bigger bottles. No point in buying lots of small bottles just to throw away.

Gloomendoom

Burgers wrote: »

Or is there a cheaper option?

Tap water?

Burgers

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Tap water?

Yes there is that option but I don't like the chemical taste.

Burgers

I am struggling to find other brands of filter tap systems than Brita. I can see on eBay that some are coming from USA but do we have anything more UK based?

Seronera

Burgers wrote: »

Yes there is that option but I don't like the chemical taste.

You have a number of economical options. The chemical taste is probably the chlorine disinfectant residue. Its perfectly harmless. You can do any of the following with good effect.

1) fill a jug with tap water and put it in the fridge. The chlorine will eventually evaporate off and you have nice water to drink. Its cheap, but you have to wait a few hours. Give it a go and see if it works.

2) Got to Screwfix catalogue where there is a filter and tap kit for £26 or so plus VAT. Catalogue number 14306

3) I have the large filter version item 16747 which needs a bit more DIY but lasts longer and costs an extra £17 plus VAT

4) There is a posher version of 1) in item 37975 at £57plus VAT.

These have activated carbon filters (made from coconut husk usually) and they 'polish' tap water of many but not all chemicals, but its mostly the chlorine they remove.

You are supposed to replace the filters every six months or so, but there is no harm in leaving them longer if they continue to work OK as the water coming in has chlorine in, which is an excellent disinfectant...which is why its used. They shouldn't be left for ever though. I change mine every 18 months or so.

Buy a posh expensive tap system if you must, but its not strictly necessary.

Kiran

I've had the screwfix ones before. They do take the chlorine taste out of the water. You just need to remember to change the cartridges

27col

Never bought a bottle of water in my life. If I feel that I might need a drink while I'm out, then I fill a bottle and take it with me.
Can't say I've ever noticed the taste of chlorine or anything else in our water.
But then I'm not a sensitive soul like some people.

Seronera

27col wrote: »

Never bought a bottle of water in my life. If I feel that I might need a drink while I'm out, then I fill a bottle and take it with me.
Can't say I've ever noticed the taste of chlorine or anything else in our water.
But then I'm not a sensitive soul like some people.

The chlorine effect depends on how close your supply is to the chlorination plant, but also water companies often have settling tanks which allow the chlorine to dissipate. The effect is therefore influenced by a number of variables.

Our chlorination plant used to be about 300m from my house. It was dreadful and generated lots of complaints. First they built a million gallon settling tank under a field and that improved things.20 years later they changed where we get our water from and we have no chlorine effect at all now.