Are you curious about the effectiveness of water pitcher filters and wondering, “Do pitcher filters remove hardness and minerals?”
Water pitcher filters can partially remove hardness and some minerals from tap water, depending on the filter’s technology. Most pitcher filters, such as Brita and PUR, use activated carbon and ion-exchange resin, which only partially reduces hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium. ZeroWater filters can remove all calcium and magnesium from water.
In this article, we delve deeper into the world of water pitcher filters, exploring their ability to remove hardness and various minerals. We’ll examine popular filter brands, discuss the importance of minerals in drinking water, and address frequently asked questions about water filtration technologies.
Table of Contents
Do Pitcher Filters Remove Hardness?
Water pitcher filters have become increasingly popular among households as a convenient and affordable solution for improving the taste and quality of tap water. The primary question many people have is: do pitcher filters remove hardness?
In this article, we will explore the capabilities of various pitcher filters in terms of mineral and hardness removal.
Which Pitcher Filters Effectively Remove Hardness?
There are several popular water pitcher filter brands available in the market, each with its unique filtration capabilities. Let’s examine the most prominent brands and their ability to remove hardness.
Do Brita Filters Remove Hardness and Minerals?
Brita is one of the most well-known water filter brands, and their pitcher filters are widely used. Brita filters mainly use activated carbon and ion-exchange resin to reduce contaminants in the water.
- Hardness: Brita filters are not designed to remove hardness. This includes healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. However, they can remove heavy metals such as lead and copper.
- Chlorine: Brita filters are effective at reducing chlorine levels, which can significantly improve the taste and odor of tap water.
| Brita Filter Model | Hardness Removal Performance |
| Longlast+ | Does not remove hardness |
| Standard | Does not remove hardness |
| Stream | Does not remove hardness |
| Faucet | Does not remove hardness |
Read my article – Do Brita Filters Remove Hardness? What You Need to Know.
Do PUR Filters Remove Hardness and Minerals?
PUR water pitcher filters also use a combination of activated carbon and ion-exchange resin to filter contaminants.
- Hardness: Like Brita, PUR filters do not remove hardness or other essential minerals from the water. They can, however, reduce heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
- Chlorine: PUR filters are effective in removing chlorine and its byproducts, improving the taste and odor of the water.
Read my article – Do PUR Filters Remove Hardness?
Do ZeroWater Filters Remove Hardness and Minerals?
ZeroWater filters use a five-stage filtration process that includes activated carbon, ion-exchange resin, and other filtration media. They effectively remove hardness from water.
- Hardness: ZeroWater filters are designed to remove virtually all hardness and essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. This can result in water with a lower mineral content.
- Chlorine: These filters are also effective in reducing chlorine levels in the water.
Read my article – Do ZeroWater Filters Remove Hardness?
Do Clearly Filtered Filters Remove Hardness and Minerals?
Clearly Filtered offers water pitcher filters that use their proprietary Affinity Filtration Technology. Clearly Filtered pitcher filters do not remove hardness or minerals.
- Hardness: Clearly Filtered filters selectively remove harmful contaminants, while retaining essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.
- Chlorine: These filters are highly effective at removing chlorine, providing better-tasting and odor-free water.
Pitcher Filters That DO NOT Remove Hardness
As seen in the previous section, most water pitcher filters (with the exception of ZeroWater) do not remove essential minerals from the water. These minerals are crucial for our health, and removing them could lead to imbalances in the body.
Hardness in Tap Water: What You Need to Know
Tap water contains a variety of minerals, some of which are beneficial to our health. Understanding the importance of these minerals and the potential risks of mineral-free water is essential.
Why minerals matter in drinking water
Essential minerals found in tap water, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, play vital roles in our bodies. These minerals:
- Contribute to strong bones and teeth
- Help maintain a healthy heart function
- Support proper nerve function
- Aid in muscle function and energy production
Is drinking mineral-free tap water harmful?
Drinking water that has been stripped of essential minerals can lead to mineral deficiencies and imbalances in the body. In the long run, this could negatively impact our overall health.
FAQs
In this section, we will address some common questions related to water filters and mineral removal.
Do activated carbon filters remove hardness?
Activated carbon filters are not designed to remove essential minerals from the water. They primarily target contaminants like chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some heavy metals. Essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium remain in the water after passing through an activated carbon filter.
Do Reverse Osmosis Filters Remove Hardness and Minerals from Water?
Reverse osmosis (RO) filters are highly effective at removing a wide range of contaminants, including hardness, dissolved solids, and minerals. In fact, RO systems can remove up to 99% of dissolved solids, which includes essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. This can lead to demineralized water, which may have potential health implications if consumed over an extended period.
Does Ultrafiltration Remove Hardness from Water?
Ultrafiltration (UF) is a membrane filtration process that can remove suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, and some larger dissolved molecules. However, UF typically does not remove essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, as their molecular sizes are smaller than the pores of UF membranes.
Do Water Distillers Remove Hardness?
Water distillers work by boiling water and collecting the steam, which then condenses back into liquid form. This process effectively removes impurities, including dissolved solids and minerals. As a result, distilled water has very low mineral content, which may not be ideal for long-term consumption.
Do Water Softeners Remove Hardness from Water?
Water softeners are designed to remove hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium ions from water by replacing them with sodium ions. This process, called ion exchange, does not remove other essential minerals, such as potassium. However, water softened using a water softener may have increased sodium content.
Purifying Water without Removing Minerals: Is It Possible?
Yes, it is possible to purify water without removing hardness and essential minerals. Certain filtration methods, such as activated carbon and ultrafiltration, can effectively reduce contaminants without significantly affecting the mineral content of the water.
How to Add Minerals Back to Reverse Osmosis Water
If you are using a reverse osmosis system and would like to add minerals back to the water, you can:
- Use a remineralization cartridge or filter that is designed to add minerals back to RO water. These cartridges usually contain a blend of calcium, magnesium, and other essential minerals.
- Add mineral drops or liquid mineral supplements to the water. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper dosage.
- Use a water filter pitcher with a built-in remineralization stage to add minerals back to the RO water.
Hardness in Filtered Water: What to Expect
The mineral content of filtered water depends on the type of filtration system used. Most pitcher filters and activated carbon filters do not significantly alter the mineral content of the water. However, reverse osmosis and water distillation can lead to demineralized water.
Wrapping Up: Pitcher Filters and Hardness Removal
Most water pitcher filters, with the exception of ZeroWater, do not remove hardness or essential minerals from the water. Instead, they focus on reducing contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities.
| Key Takeaways |
| – Most water pitcher filters do not remove essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. |
| – ZeroWater filters are designed to remove virtually all dissolved solids, including essential minerals. |
| – Reverse osmosis and water distillation can lead to demineralized water, which may not be ideal for long-term consumption. |
| – Activated carbon filters, ultrafiltration, and some water pitcher filters can purify water without significantly affecting its mineral content. |
| – If you are using a reverse |