June 16, 2008 
Water filtration pitchers are an affordable and commonly used free-standing home water treatment device. Most water pitchers use granular-activated carbon and resins to bond with and trap contaminants. These filters are reasonably effective at improving the taste of water, but only some will also reduce lead and other contaminants.Specific contaminants removed will vary by model and will also depend on the pore size as well as other factors. An activated carbon filter, by itself, is not designed to remove all disease-causing organisms. In addition, carbon filters have a specified shelf life and should be replaced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For those individuals whose only concern is water taste, a water filtration pitcher is fine, but for those who also want the purest drinking water available, a home water treatment unit such as a reverse osmosis unit is by far the most efficient way to go.