Brita filters are not inherently bad for you, but they are limited. They are excellent at removing chlorine, significantly improving taste and odor, and some models reduce lead. However, they do not purify water or remove heavy metals entirely, and neglected filters can actually harbor bacteria.
The proposed class-action lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims that deceptive advertising has led customers to falsely believe that Brita products filter such contaminants as arsenic, nitrate, hexavalent chromium and certain PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” from tap water.
Brita filters are ineffective against substances such as nitrates, bacteria, and certain chemicals. If your water supply is contaminated with these, you may need to explore additional treatment options.
Yes, certain Brita filters are designed to reduce specific heavy metals like lead, copper, cadmium, and mercury. However, this ability depends on the exact model you are using, as standard filters lack this capability.
Our Brita Elite™ Filters remove 99% of lead* and reduce 5x as many contaminants than our Original Filters for safer tap water*. These replacement filters last 6 months, so you only have to change them twice a year‡.
Not all Brita filters remove lead. To effectively reduce lead in your drinking water, you must use a Brita Elite pitcher filter (formerly known as Longlast+) or a Brita Faucet Mount filter system. Standard white Brita pitcher filters are not certified to remove lead.
Water filter pitchers certified to remove lead are highly effective at protecting against heavy metals leaching from household plumbing. Top options include the PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher, Brita Everyday Elite Pitcher, and LifeStraw Home Glass Pitcher. These use activated carbon and ion-exchange to reduce lead by 99%.
For confirmed heavy metal poisoning, heavy metals are pulled out of the body using prescription medications called chelating agents (such as EDTA or DMSA). For general wellness, there is no scientific evidence that over-the-counter supplements or diets successfully "cleanse" heavy metals, as your liver and kidneys already filter them out.
Even if you know your service line is not lead, lead can be found in other plumbing materials and faucets. Testing your drinking water is the only way to confirm if lead is present. Since each home has different plumbing, pipes, and materials, test results are likely to be different for each home.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems and advanced multi-stage carbon/ion-exchange systems remove the most contaminants. RO technology forces water through a semi-permeable membrane to eliminate heavy metals, fluoride, and dissolved solids. For portable options, advanced pitchers using specialized filtration media achieve similar broad-spectrum results.
Reverse Osmosis Water
Reverse osmosis is one of the most common filtration methods to purify drinking water. Therefore, this type of water ranks among the healthiest to drink because it eliminates hazardous contaminants, such as lead and arsenic.
Neither is inherently "healthier", but Brita-filtered tap water is often a better choice for your wallet, the environment, and overall safety. Many bottled waters are simply filtered municipal tap water, and bottled brands are not legally required to disclose contaminant levels like public utilities are.
Filtered water is not inherently "healthier" than tap water if your municipal supply already meets safety standards. However, it is often preferred because it removes aesthetic impurities and provides a safety net against heavy metals (like lead from old pipes) and industrial chemicals.
To effectively filter out microplastics without adding new plastic particles to your water, you need a high-performance system (like reverse osmosis) or a filtration housing made of glass and stainless steel. The most effective options vary by setup:
Do not put in the mixed recycling bins. Put in the Garbage or check out the TERRACYCLE mail-in recycling program. Brita® has teamed up with TerraCycle® to bring you a national recycling solution for Brita® filters, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, faucet systems, and packaging.
Most standard Brita filters (like the basic pitcher filters) are not specifically designed or reliably certified to remove PFAS "forever chemicals". While their activated carbon reduces some PFAS, advanced systems (like reverse osmosis or specialized certified carbon blocks) are required for complete removal.
There is no single “#1” healthiest water, as the ideal choice depends on your specific health and hydration needs. However, experts generally agree that naturally mineralized spring water and carbon-filtered tap water (especially when remineralized) are the best daily options.
Nervous system. The brain is the most sensitive organ to lead exposure (Cleveland et al., 2008). In a child's developing brain, synapse formation is greatly affected in the cerebral cortex by lead.
Lead is removed from the body primarily through chelation therapy, a medical treatment using specialized medication (chelating agents) to bind with lead, allowing it to be excreted in urine. For lower-level exposure, the body slowly clears lead on its own, a process supported by a healthy diet rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin C, which inhibits further absorption.
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium naturally exist in the Earth's crust and make their way into our food supply through soil, water, and industrial pollution. Certain foods absorb or accumulate these elements more readily, making them higher in heavy metals than others.
The fastest, most effective way to flush toxins is to optimize your body's natural filtration organs (the liver and kidneys). No detox tea, juice cleanse, or supplement can replace your body's built-in systems.
Turmeric (and its active compound, curcumin) may help mitigate heavy metal toxicity by scavenging free radicals and binding to metals, which assists the body in excretion. While preclinical research is promising, robust human trials are limited, and turmeric should not be used as a primary medical treatment for heavy metal poisoning.
No, not all Brita filters remove lead. While all standard Brita filters improve taste and odor by removing chlorine, you must select the right type of filter for lead reduction.
To get the absolute cleanest water possible, the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is widely considered the top performer. It targets over 365+ contaminants (including heavy metals, fluoride, and PFAS), achieving highly effective filtration without removing beneficial minerals.
Water Filters Certified for Lead Reduction