Water filter pitchers: how they work and what to compare

A water filter pitcher is the simplest way to change how your tap water tastes: fill the top, wait a few minutes, pour. The real differences between pitchers are in the cartridge, so that's where we'll spend most of our time.

How a water filter pitcher works

Every pitcher works by gravity. You pour tap water into the upper tank, it trickles down through a filter cartridge, and filtered water collects in the lower tank, ready to pour. There's no plumbing, no power and nothing to install.

Inside the cartridge, the filter media does the work. Many cartridges use granulated activated carbon, which is the black, gritty material you can see through the side of a Santevia MINA filter. Water moves through the media slowly, which gives it time to reduce chlorine, lead and other contaminants the filter has been tested to remove.

Santevia uses two-stage filtration. After the filter stage, water passes through a mineral layer that adds calcium, magnesium and potassium back and raises the pH. So what you pour from a Santevia pitcher is mineralized alkaline water, not just filtered water.

What a pitcher filter can and can't do for tap water

Municipal tap water in Canada is treated before it reaches you, and chlorine is commonly used to disinfect it. Most people buy a pitcher for taste and smell, or to reduce specific contaminants like chlorine, lead or fluoride.

A pitcher can only remove what its cartridge has been designed and tested to remove, so read the list for the exact filter you're buying. The Santevia MINA Fluoride Filter is rated to reduce 99% of fluoride, chlorine and lead, along with more than 90 other contaminants including heavy metals, PFAS and PFOS, and VOCs. The standard MINA filter is rated for the same 90-plus contaminants but isn't designed specifically for fluoride.

What a pitcher isn't: a treatment system for water you aren't sure is safe to drink. It doesn't replace testing, and it isn't a fix for bacteria or viruses in a private supply.

If you're on well water

Plenty of Nova Scotian families drink well water, and testing a private well's water quality is up to the owner. Arsenic occurs naturally in Nova Scotia groundwater, and testing is the only way to know whether it's in yours. Test a well for chemicals, such as arsenic, at least every five years, and test for bacteria regularly.

What to compare when you buy

When you compare pitchers, look past the jug itself. The cartridge decides its filtration performance, how much maintenance it needs and what it costs to run.

Filter lifespan and cartridge costs

Filter lifespan is the number to look at first, because it decides your running costs. A cheap pitcher with short-lived cartridges can cost more over a year than one with longer-lasting filters. The Santevia MINA filter is rated for 300 L or two months, while many standard pitcher filters are rated for around 150 L. Do the math for your household: a family that drinks a lot of water will reach 300 L sooner than two months.

Reviews can tell you how a pitcher pours and whether it fits your fridge. The test results tell you what the filter actually removes, so read both before you buy.

Check that you can actually buy the cartridges. We keep MINA filters on the shelf in singles and three-packs, so you're not waiting on shipping when it's time to replace one.

Capacity, filtration speed and materials

The 2 L MINA is sized to sit in a fridge door. If your household goes through a lot of water, a countertop water system with a bigger tank means fewer refills. The MINA pitcher is made from BPA free plastic (BPA/BPS-free Tritan); the Santevia Glass Water System is the option if you'd rather your water sit in glass.

The best water filter pitcher is the one whose cartridge you'll actually change on time.

Alkaline and mineral filters, plainly

pH is a scale from 0 to 14, and 7 is neutral. Water above 7 is called alkaline. An alkaline water filter like the MINA raises the pH of your water as it passes through the mineral stage. The MINA is rated to raise pH by up to 2.0, to as high as pH 10.0, and results vary with your source water.

The mineral stage adds calcium, magnesium and potassium. Because a mineral filter is designed to leave minerals in, a total dissolved solids (TDS) meter won't read zero the way it would with pure water from a distiller. If you test your water quality at home, a higher total dissolved solids reading after a mineral filter can simply reflect the minerals it adds.

Calcium, magnesium and potassium are minerals your body uses every day, and many people find mineralized water tastes smoother and more refreshing than plain filtered water. That matters more than it sounds: cold water that tastes good in the fridge makes it easier to drink enough through the day.

Santevia water filters we carry

Santevia is the water filter brand we stock. Santevia Water Systems is a family-owned and operated business in Delta, BC, started by Yvonne and David Anderson, and its products are made in Canada.

The two filters are interchangeable: either one fits the MINA pitcher and the Glass Water System, so you can switch whenever you like.

The Glass Water System uses a MINA fluoride filter, then mineral stones that last about two years; the filter lasts about two months (300 L). The Water Bottle Filter is the portable one: drop it into a bottle or glass and it's rated to reduce 99% of chlorine, which helps with taste and odour. If you already own a Santevia Gravity Water System, we carry its 5-Stage Filter too, which lasts up to six months.

Setting up a new filter

New cartridges have loose carbon dust in them, so a quick prep makes the first glass taste better. Here's how to set up a MINA.

1. Wash the pitcher. Use a mild detergent, or run it through the dishwasher.
2. Condition the filter. Hold it under running water for a minute, shaking it and tapping the sides until the water runs clear.
3. Seat it firmly. Press the filter into the upper tank for a tight seal. It should stay put if you turn the pitcher upside down.
4. Fill and discard three times. Pour out the first three tanks. Use that water for your plants.

Care, maintenance and cartridge changes

Change the MINA filter every two months or 300 L, whichever comes first. Santevia will send email or text reminders if you register your filter, or write the date on a piece of tape on the pitcher. Don't wait for the water to taste off: a filter past its life won't be doing the job you bought it for.

Fixing common problems

Slow or stopped filtering. The pitcher holds 9 cups. If the lower tank is full, water stays in the upper tank until you pour some out. If it's slow with room to spare, an air bubble may be trapped in the filter; a gentle tap of the pitcher on the counter "burps" it.

Black specks. These are bits of activated carbon, the material that does the filtering, that have worked loose from the cartridge. Rinse the filter under cold running water for two to three minutes while tapping the sides, reinstall it, and discard the first two or three tanks.

Recycling. Twist the filter lid off counterclockwise, put the filtration contents in the garbage, and empty the mineral layer into garden soil or the compost. The plastic parts recycle as type 5 plastic.

Questions we get a lot

Do filtered water pitchers actually work?

They reduce what their filters have been tested to remove, like chlorine, lead or fluoride, as long as you change the cartridge on time. Look for the test standards and the contaminant list for the exact filter, rather than the pitcher's marketing.

Does Santevia remove fluoride?

The Santevia MINA Fluoride Filter is the one for fluoride: it's rated to reduce 99%. The standard MINA filter isn't designed specifically for fluoride and is rated to reduce about 40.5%.

How long do Santevia filters last?

MINA filters last two months or 300 L, whichever comes first. The Gravity Water System 5-Stage Filter lasts up to six months, the Water Bottle Filter about three months, and Glass Water System mineral stones about two years.

Is Santevia made in Canada?

Yes. Santevia Water Systems is a family-owned company based in Delta, BC, and its products are made in Canada.

Is a water filter pitcher enough for well water?

Not on its own. Test your well first for bacteria and chemicals like arsenic. Your lab results, not the pitcher, tell you what your drinking water needs.

Is alkaline filtered water good for you?

It's good, clean-tasting water: filtered to reduce chlorine, lead and other contaminants, then given calcium, magnesium and potassium and a higher pH. Many people find it tastes smoother, which helps them drink more water through the day.

What's the best water filter pitcher in Canada?

The best one for you depends on your water, your household and your budget. Match the filter's tested contaminant list to what you want to reduce, then compare filter life, cartridge cost and how easy it is to buy replacements. If you're on well water, start with a water test.

Santevia pitchers and filters are at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. Curious about mineral drops for your water? Our guide to trace mineral drops covers them. Filtered water is also a good start for a pot of Nova Scotia roasted coffee or a cup of herbal tea. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

Sources: Santevia MINA Pitcher; Santevia Help Centre, MINA Pitcher; MINA Filter vs. MINA Fluoride Filter; About Santevia; Nova Scotia, Arsenic in well water. This article is general information, not medical advice.