The first time I ever used a water filter was in college. It was one of those plastic jugs with a top and bottom section. And, like most college students, I wasn’t using it on water.
Fun fact: if you run cheap, bottom shelf vodka through a water filter, at least two times, it’ll taste like top shelf. Of course, now, in my advanced years, the smell of vodka will absolutely turn my stomach.
It wasn’t until after college that I met people who swore by them for water instead of adult beverages.
Whether it was in pitcher form, as countertop filters, or even as larger versions that took up a shelf in their fridge, they all worked basically the same way.
From there, I learned that whether it was Brita, Pur, or Berkey, the general technology was the same: activated carbon was used to absorb contaminants, and gravity was used to push the water through the filtration medium.
Simple, efficient, even elegant.
Then I started working in water filtration and learned about in-line water filters. Most, if not all of them, used household water pressure, usually above 40 psi, to shove water through a physical filter.
Some were shaped like sieves, but others were accordion shaped, to maximize surface area. The best ones had the physical filters AND used activated carbon to absorb the contaminants.
So, I asked myself, “Why bother using pitcher filters if in-line filters are so superior?” Turns out there’s no easy answer.
Benefits of Pitcher-Style Water Filters
Pitcher-style filters are cheap, there’s no denying that. They’re also easy to replace and don’t require a plumber to install. If all you need is something to passively absorb a limited set of contaminants, pitcher style filters are better than nothing. And, for a lot of people, in a lot of scenarios, that’s good enough.
That said, if you think a pitcher filter is ever going to work as well as an in-line filter, or that just activated carbon can possibly be equivalent to pressured water being forced through a fine mesh, you’re comparing apples to F-16 fighter jets.
Benefits of Undersink or In-Line Water Filters
That said, in-line water filtration systems can provide a continuous flow of filtered water as long as there is a water source and pressure. Since the systems are installed directly on the water pipes, places with limited countertop and/or fridge space would be better suited to use them. They can also achieve higher flow rates compared to pitcher systems. No more waiting for the trickle of filtered water to collect at the bottom of the pitcher, cursing your roommate for not filling the pitcher last time they got a drink. Just turn on the tap and there it is.
Since in-line systems are often sealed and enclosed, the filtration media is never exposed to airborne contaminants. Which is not usually a serious concern, unless you live in an urban area or one where air pollution is a concern. For example, NYC, or any area prone to wildfires or the smoke from them.
Or if you know anything about microplastics.
The superiority of in-line water filtration over gravity-fed water filtration methods depends on specific use cases, requirements, and preferences.
Both systems have their advantages and limitations, and the choice between them often depends on factors such as portability, ease of use, filtration capacity, and intended applications.
Pitcher-style systems may still be preferable in situations where portability, simplicity, and lack of electricity are crucial considerations, such as during camping or emergency scenarios.
The most important thing is what you are trying to remove and how confident you can be about the method you choose.
While pitcher filters can remove a lot of things, without the pressure of your plumbing shoving the water through, they can never meet or beat the quality of a good in-line filter.