A convenient water filter is a frequent guest in many kitchens today
A standard filter pitcher consists of a common reservoir with a spout and handle, a funnel for unfiltered water, and a filter module. Passing through it, the liquid is purified and falls to the bottom of the main vessel, from where it is poured in the usual way by tilting it.
The volume of pitcher filters ranges from 1.5 to 4 liters of water. The main component that purifies water is the cartridge. The degree of filtration of liquid from suspended particles depends on its quality. Most often, activated purified carbon (usually from coconut shells) is used as a base in cartridges.
Depending on the purpose of use, its properties are enhanced with ion-exchange resins. Thus, not only is excessive water hardness reduced, chlorine and lead are removed, but even the taste and smell of water are improved. Cartridges with fluoride ions, sodium salts, calcium, and quartz allow saturating the water with useful microelements when they are deficient.
Some manufacturers use their own developments – for example, fibrous materials that not only purify water but also disinfect it (providing a boiling effect).
For high-quality water purification, cartridges need regular replacement. Depending on the type, their resource ranges from 100 to 750 liters. Usually, this is no more than three months of device operation. Some pitcher filters are equipped with a mechanical counter or an electronic indicator of the cartridge condition, reminding of its resource depletion. This function is very useful but slightly increases the price of the product.
The main advantages of pitcher-type filters are ease of use, compactness, and mobility. They can be used at home, in the country, at the workplace, and in hot weather – placed in the refrigerator for cooling. They provide a sufficient level of water filtration from the tap and are quite affordable in price compared to stationary filtering systems.
Disadvantages of pitchers, according to users, include the need for more frequent cartridge replacement than in other types of filters and a small volume of filtered water. For large families, this drawback may be significant. But for the needs of one or two people, a reservoir volume of several liters is sufficient, and with proper operation, such a device will last long and reliably.