Which Water Filter Pitcher Is The Most Effective at Removing Contaminants?
The Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher removes over 365 drinking water contaminants, the highest of any water filter pitcher in 2024. Plus, it has been tested to NSF standards 42, 53, 244, 401 & 473 for chemicals and contaminant removal.
Brita water filter pitchers are also highly effective at removing contaminants, and they tend to be more popular than Clearly Filtered products. However, no Brita filter removes as many common and difficult-to-remove water contaminants as the Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher.
In fact, there are no other water filter pitcher on the market that come close to the Clearly Filtered unit’s contaminant removal capabilities.
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher: The Best Water Filter Pitcher For Removing Contaminants

- Contaminants Removed: 365+
- Certifications or Testing: NSF 42, 53, 244, 401 & 473
- Holding Capacity: 10 cups
- Filter Lifespan: 100 gallons
- Warranty: Lifetime
Pros
- Removes more than 365 impurities using a dual-technology Affinity Filtration process.
- A lifespan of about 100 gallons and a pitcher volume of ten cups mean the filter only needs replacing every four months.
- The pitcher comes with a lifetime warranty.
- The product has NSF 42, 53, 244, 401, and 473 certifications.
- The top reservoir holds half a gallon when filled.
- Contains medical-grade, BPA-free, and BPS-free plastic, so the filtration process does not add contaminants to your water.
- The pitcher comes with an easy-grip handle, so it’s easy to carry and pour when full.
- The compact design means it can comfortably fit in fridges of all sizes, and you’ll still have plenty of room for your groceries.
Cons
- It has a slow flow rate, and it may take up to twenty-five minutes (or longer) for the pitcher to filter ten cups of water.
- The reservoir only holds ten cups of water (approximately eighty ounces) at a time.
- More expensive than other pitchers. However, you get what you pay for—the quality of the pitcher makes up for the high price tag.
- Another user complaint is that the lid slides off the top when pouring. If you hold it in place, you should not experience any further issues.

Water Pitcher Contaminants Comparison Table
Below, we’ve created a table of the most popular water filter pitchers on the market. The table compares how effective these pitchers are at removing the most common or detrimental contaminants.
Check the next section for a brief summary of why each of these contaminants is dangerous for human health.
Asbestos | Chloramines | Chlorine | Cysts | Lead | Mercury | Turbidity | VOCs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Aquasana – Clean Water Machine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Culligan – Pitcher Filter | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
PUR – 7-Cup Ultimate Pitcher Filtration System with Lead Reduction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Brita – Infinity Wi-Fi Connected Pitcher | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Brita – Grand 80 oz Water Filter Pitcher | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Zero Water – 8-cup Stainless Steel Pitcher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What Are the Most Common Contaminants in Drinking Water?
There is a wide variety of contaminants commonly found in domestic water supplies. The most common, and often most detrimental, are:
- Asbestos: Enters water supplies via erosion and old asbestos-containing pipes. It can lead to an increased risk of esophagus and stomach cancer, and mesothelioma.
- Mercury: It can leach into water supplies from natural deposits and industrial waste. When consumed in drinking water, it can lead to kidney issues, developmental problems in children, and nervous system damage.
- Lead: Typically enters water supplies from corroding lead pipes. Lead-contaminated drinking water can cause learning difficulties, issues with the nervous system, and kidney damage.
- Chloramines: Disinfectants used in tap water during the beginning stages of water processing. They contain derivatives of ammonia, which can be toxic depending on the intake level.
- Cysts: Cysts are parasites found in animal digestive tracts and often appear in public water systems. They’re the common cause of giardia.
- VOCs: VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are common ingredients in pesticides and paint thinners, and they often leach into groundwater. They can cause issues like kidney and liver damage, certain cancers, and nervous system damage.
- Turbidity: Turbidity isn’t a contaminant itself, but it does indicate the presence of other contaminants such as clay, silt, algae, and some microorganisms. Turbidity doesn’t cause illnesses, but it can prevent disinfectants from working effectively.
Do Water Filter Pitchers Remove Bacteria?
Water filter pitchers do not remove bacteria from water. Plus, if you don’t regularly replace the filter in your water pitcher, bacteria can start to form inside the filter and leach into your drinking water.
If you’re concerned about the presence of bacteria in your drinking water, you should use one of the following types of filter system:
- Reverse osmosis (RO) filter
- Ultrafiltration (UF) filter
- Distillation systems
- Ultraviolet (UV) filter
Hello,
I just bought Waterspot chubby counter top pitcher thinking it is the best for contaminants but now I see Clearly Water pitcher fillers out far more contaminants. Please advise which one is best for counter top.
Regards
Hello Patsy, thanks for reading. We are not familiar with the Waterspot Chubby counter top pitching. Do you have a link you can share and we would be happy to research it. Meanwhile, yes, the Clearly Filtered is an excellent product that many of our readers have enjoyed using and we also recommend it.
Hello, I am seriously considering the Life Straw water pitcher. Any thoughts on how it compares to the Clearly Water pitcher? Life straw is more affordable, appears to remove ,loads of bad stuff…
Thanks a bunch
https://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-home-10-cup?variant=40780203229295
Debra
Hi Debra, we’ll do a comparison test soon about LifeStraw. Generally, they have good products. In this case, however, there are some things to note before you buy. One, the labs that LifeStraw uses to show performance data for how well their pitcher filters water are not in the US and you can’t compare controls & performance with those US independent labs that Clearly uses. We’ve also heard mentions that the filtering process is quite slow with this pitcher due to how much water the filter can actually move. Finally, this isn’t scientific, but a product at this price point makes us concerned about longevity, performance, and quality. Consider that margins are typically around 100% for consumer items like this. That means the actual cost of these pitchers is around $15-20 for the manufacturer and we are concerned what you can actually achieve at that price point.
Doesn’t Epic Pure filter out bacteria and viruses?
Hi Jill, not their normal one, but they do have a specific one called the “Epic Nano” pitcher that is specifically offered to filter bacteria and virus contaminants.
Hi! I have been using the. Cleary Filtered water pitcher for about 6 months. I just changed my filter after about 4 months of use because the TDS monitor showed a breakthrough of some components. My tap water measures about 139 ppm. The filtrate from the replacement filter measured nearly 250 ppm. Please help me understand why the ppm’s are higher from the filtrate than the incoming tap water. Clearly Filtered was not able to provide me with an explanation. I don’t want to discard the system if it is working correctly. I remember testing the filtrate the first time and it measured 0 for months. Also, is it true that Clearly Filtered systems don’t remove the “beneficial minerals” like Ca, Mg.
Thank you!
Hi Paula, interesting results in your tests. What type of water test are you using? I just wonder if it’s actually very accurate and giving you strange test results and that may be the issue.
Hi there,
What do you think of ProOne products?
Hi Patricia, I would encourage you to read our review here, where we discuss ProOne.