It’s only natural to be worried about what’s in your tap water. Fluoride is one of those things that often raises concerns. While it’s added to public water supplies to help with dental health, too much of it can lead to problems like bone fractures, arthritis, and muscle damage.
So, it’s no wonder that many American households are looking for effective methods to remove fluoride from their drinking water supply.
Now, you may be wondering: Do Brita filters remove fluoride from drinking water? Sadly, they don’t. Brita filters use activated carbon, which can’t filter out fluoride.
But don’t stress. There are other filtration options that can effectively remove fluoride. Let’s see why Brita filters can’t help with fluoride and what alternatives you can trust.
Why Brita Isn’t Able to Remove Fluoride
Brita offers six different types of filters: bottle, stream, standard, faucet, Elite, and Longlast+ filter. Unfortunately, none of them can remove fluoride because they all use activated carbon filters. Activated carbon is great for removing many contaminants, but it’s not effective for fluoride.
So, what methods do work for removing fluoride? Here are four options:
- Distillation: This method involves evaporating water completely. When it turns to vapor, the fluoride molecules are left behind. When the vapor condenses back into liquid, the fluoride is gone.
- Reverse osmosis (RO): RO is one of the most effective filtration methods. It works by pushing the water through a semipermeable membrane with tiny pores (0.0001 microns). Fluoride molecules are too large to pass through, so they get filtered out.
- Anionic exchange: While ion exchange targets positively charged mineral ions (cations), like calcium and magnesium, anion exchange targets negatively charged ions (anions), like fluoride and arsenic. The method is very effective but usually too expensive for home use.
- Adsorption: Using materials like bone charcoal, this method traps fluoride ions through contact. It’s quite effective but also complex and costly, making it impractical for most households.
Brita filters don’t use any of these methods. Instead, they rely on activated carbon, which is good for removing chlorine, sediment, taste, and odor, but not fluoride.
Standard, faucet, Elite, and Longlast+ filters, on the other hand, also feature a non-woven filter medium that can remove and reduce major health hazards like lead and mercury. But, again, this medium is ineffective against minerals like fluoride.
Brita Alternatives That Can Remove Fluoride
So, if Brita can’t remove fluoride, what other options do we have?
We analyzed several great options for removing fluoride and picked the Clearly Filtered water pitcher and the AquaTru countertop RO as the best alternatives to Brita.
Here’s a quick comparison table for these two Brita alternatives:
| Brita Alternatives | Contaminants removed | Filtration Technology | NSF Certifications | Price |
| Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher | 365+ contaminants including lead, arsenic, and fluoride | Affinity Filtration | NSF Standards 42, 53, 244, 401, and 473 | $90.00 |
| AquaTru Countertop RO System | 82 contaminants including lead, copper, benzene, and fluoride | 4-stage filtration with semipermeable RO membrane, sediment pre-filters, and an activated carbon coconut shell | NSF Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473 | $449.00 |
1. Best Water Pitcher Alternative to Brita: The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
- 4-stage ultra reverse osmosis purification process: Includes mechanical pre-filter, activated carbon pre-filter, high-efficiency RO filter, and activated coconut shell carbon VOC filter
- Digital display: Includes filter change alerts
- One-touch dispensing: Easy and convenient water dispensing
- Compact design: Measures 14 inches (height), 14 inches (depth), and 12 inches (width) and weighs 16 pounds
- High capacity: Tap water tank holds 1 gallon, clean water tank holds 3 quarts
- No installation required: Easy to set up without plumbing
- Warranty: 1 year
PROS:
- Extensive contaminant removal: Removes up to 99.99% of 365+ contaminants
- Certified performance: Meets NSF Standards 42, 53, 244, 401, and 473
- Long filter life: Each filter lasts up to 100 gallons
- Large capacity: Holds 80 oz (10 cups) of water
- Safe materials: Made from 100% BPA and BPS-free medical-grade Tritan
- Easy to use: Fits comfortably in most refrigerator doors
CONS:
- Price: Higher initial cost compared to other water pitchers at $90
- Replacement frequency: Highly contaminated water may reduce filter lifespan
- Size: May not be ideal for smaller kitchens
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is a top-tier water filtration solution designed to provide clean and safe drinking water by removing over 365 contaminants, including fluoride, lead, and chlorine. This makes it the pitcher that removes the highest number of contaminants on the market.
Utilizing the advanced Affinity Filtration technology, this water pitcher is perfect for health-conscious individuals and families who want to ensure their tap water is free from harmful substances.
Unmatched Contaminant Removal
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher excels in removing a wide range of contaminants from tap water. While typical filters might only target a handful of substances, this pitcher addresses over 365 contaminants.
This includes heavy metals like lead and arsenic, “forever chemicals” such as PFAS, and other harmful substances like chlorine and fluoride.
Advanced Filtration Technology
At the heart of the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is its proprietary Affinity Filtration technology. This advanced system combines a dynamic water pathway and superior absorption materials to capture and eliminate contaminants effectively.
The six advanced media used in the filter work together to bind and extract impurities, providing thorough protection that goes beyond basic taste and smell improvements.
Durability and Safety
Constructed from medical-grade Tritan, the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is designed to be both durable and safe. Tritan is a robust, BPA and BPS-free plastic that doesn’t leach chemicals, emit odors, or alter the taste of the water.
This material choice ensures that the filtered water remains pure and uncontaminated by the pitcher itself, which is essential for long-term health and safety.
User-Friendly Design
The design of the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher emphasizes convenience and usability. With its 80 oz capacity, it can hold enough water for a small family’s daily needs, and its dimensions make it easy to store in most refrigerator doors.
Additionally, the extended 100-gallon filter life means fewer replacements and maintenance, providing a hassle-free experience for users.
2. Best Countertop RO System Alternative to Brita: AquaTru Reverse Osmosis Water System
- 4-stage ultra reverse osmosis purification process: Includes mechanical pre-filter, activated carbon pre-filter, high-efficiency RO filter, and activated coconut shell carbon VOC filter
- Digital display: Includes filter change alerts
- One-touch dispensing: Easy and convenient water dispensing
- Compact design: Measures 14 inches (height), 14 inches (depth), and 12 inches (width) and weighs 16 pounds
- High capacity: Tap water tank holds 1 gallon, clean water tank holds 3 quarts
- No installation required: Easy to set up without plumbing
- Warranty: 1 year
PROS:
- High fluoride removal: Removes 99.75% of fluoride
- NSF certified: Meets NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473
- Comprehensive filtration: The four-stage process removes over 82 contaminants
- Convenient and compact: Sleek design fits on countertops without installation
- Easy to use: Simple one-touch water dispensing and easy filter replacement
- Efficient water use: Produces less waste water compared to standard RO systems
- Long-lasting filters: High-capacity filters reduce the need for frequent replacements
- Removable clean water tank: Can be stored in the fridge for cold water
- Cost-effective: Significant savings over time compared to bottled water
CONS:
- High initial cost: Priced at $449, which is higher than some other water filtration systems
- Size: Although compact, it may still take up counter space
- Maintenance: Regular filter changes are necessary to maintain performance
The AquaTru Reverse Osmosis Water System is a premium countertop water filtration unit designed to deliver ultra-pure drinking water. Utilizing a 4-stage filtration process, it effectively removes a wide range of contaminants including fluoride, lead, and other toxic substances.
This system is ideal for health-conscious individuals, families, and anyone seeking a reliable and convenient way to ensure clean drinking water at home.
Convenience and Ease of Use
AquaTru is designed for simplicity and convenience. The system requires no plumbing, making it perfect for renters or those who prefer not to undertake complicated installations. Its digital display panel provides clear filter change alerts, and the one-touch dispensing feature makes accessing clean water quick and easy.
Additionally, the clean water tank can be detached and stored in the refrigerator, providing cold water on demand.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
AquaTru’s long-lasting filters can replace up to 4,500 plastic water bottles, making it a sustainable choice that significantly reduces plastic waste.
Over time, the savings from not purchasing bottled water can offset the initial investment, making it an economical solution for high-quality water.
Compact and Portable Design
With its sleek and compact design, the AquaTru system fits easily on any kitchen countertop. It is portable enough to be moved when needed, ensuring access to purified water in different locations or if you move homes.
Conclusion
Although Brita has six different filter types, none can remove fluoride from water.
However, there are amazing alternatives to the products from this brand that can remove fluoride and many other contaminants.
The best alternative is the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher, which can remove more than 365 contaminants. Although it is expensive for a water pitcher, its efficiency is definitely worth the investment.
For those who want to have the purest water and aren’t tight on budget, we recommend the AquaTru Countertop RO System.
Although bone char filters are available to combat fluoride, activated carbon may not be able to. Bone char is activated carbon that is created from carefully chosen and cleaned animal bones. The most effective and affordable method of removing fluoride from water is unquestionably this one.