[nebula8804]

So Brita filters are just activated Carbon that improve the taste and filter some of the worst pollutants but nothing else.

One way to test is using a TDS meter to see if over time the amount of dissolved solids increase. This is not a bulletproof test but it may give some indication of when the filter is saturated. Again, the Brite/PUR filters do not do much to begin with.

This video shows how the Brita filters perform compared to others. THey use a TDS meter. I do want to also point out that TDS is not the only metric for how good water is filtered but thats another conversation.

[1]:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0ioX6GSz0

[darkteflon]

We use Brita at home. Fwiw, it seems to be pretty successful at filtering chlorine - I did a little before/after experiment with a chlorine test kit purchased off Amazon.

[nebula8804]

Yes Chlorine can affect taste so it is one of the things it does filter although I have had friends tell me that it does not do a good enough job and they still taste it. I guess it depends on the person.

[hammock]

I recommend Zerowater which have a 5 stage filter that includes ion exchange.

[nebula8804]

I also recommend Zerowater although it seems like their filters empty out faster than expected(as per their chart explaining how long the filter would last per initial TDS reading). Wish there was an ecosystem of third party filters like Brita has to help put downward pressure on the price. I also hate the fact that they don't really have a recycling program anymore. These filters are huge and I feel guilty just tossing them.