Do you use a water pitcher?

[georgene]

I am having problems with not drinking enough water and then passing kidney stones. I need to find a better way to filter more water other than the filter in my fridge. It's so slow.

 

I wondered if anyone uses a ZERO pitcher? Do you go through a lot of filters in one month? I'm reading mixed reviews.

 

What other ways do you filter your water? I need to have the fluoride taken out of the water, too.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[sassenach]

Zero's are good ones for the budget crowd. I just use Brita but wish I had a zero. I change my filters more frequently here, though, for what I do use. Zero is much better and filters out more than Brita does.

If you can afford a steel type Berkey for household use if you have a spare counter, they are nice for a family's daily use. It's just me here now, so my little brita is usually fine.

 

I think Zero's capabilities are similar to Berkey filtration? Anyone know and can write up a comparison for her. Wouldn't be spending money you may not have just now if you don't need a berkey.

[georgene]

Money is an issue! :-) Living on disability and 2 hospital bills to pay off from this summer. I may even wait on the Zero but wanted to research it until I have the money to buy it.

Thanks for your input and experience.

[Annarchy]

Hi georgene,

 

We can not drink our local water. Too many reports of high levels of e-coli, lead, fluoride, and a plethora of other crud. Way too much crap in it. We have Sparkletts delivered. We also have water straws and Berkley water purifiers. Sparkletts is more affordable then any other options we considered. The cost it saved us not using the local water source, actually paid to have it delivered.

 

Hope that helps...

[Midnightmom]

Most water filters do NOT eliminate fluoride....not even the black Berkey filters. You need the ceramic filters for that. Not sure if the "purified" water you buy in the store is fluoride free either.

[Mt_Rider]

Do you know anyone out in the country on a good well? We used to transport our drinking water from my folks' place.....a long, long time ago.

 

MtRider I'd go broke if I wasn't on a well. I drink lots and lots of water. Don't drink anything else.

[The WE2's]

The only water we drink is from our stainless steel Berkey or bottled water. We have a stand that we can buy bottled water by the 5 (?) gallon and turn it upside down. We parted out the old stand because for some reason it started leaking and we couldn't fix it. We have one on standby and then a short, table top model. We're able to take either of our water sources with us in our campers when we're travelling. It's a lot easier to store the big bottles of water and they are safely sealed. Just keep them setting up off of concrete. We also have the Berkey Sport bottles...just in case. I used mine but Mr hasn't "yet" :-) As a trial, I filled it with water that was known to be high in iron (rust) and let it set for about 3 months. Pulled the tab up and took a sip. No problemo! But did go ahead and empty it since I know I'd only use in a BOB or something similar.

[Sarah]

No on 'Brita' and 'Zero', etc. Berks, as they are called, are part of the MM deployment kits. (Mennonite Medics)(along with 'aqua' brand pills and 'survival straw's) The big multi element Berks, for when the water is suspect, such as flood senerios, where a lot of people need water, and electricity is problematic.

 

If it were me, and with good electric, an RO (reverse osmosis) would be my answer, for 'whole house'.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but those are charcoal and membrane filters? Didn't the AMA endorse the Berks as the only 'raw' water treatment they would recommend? The single element ones are coming down in price, but slow on the filtration. And they can be the very devil to clean.

 

Sarah

[sassenach]

I believe berkey uses ceramic filters but for portable , budget situations I would go with zero over brita .... berkey , granted you can haul it around , but its over 200$ in cost without extra filters.

 

I think she wanted to stay away from investing in a whole house system.

[The WE2's]

We clean our Berkey "black" filters by just using one of those green kitchen scrubbies...very carefully and gently. That's what we were told by the Berkey people.

[Midnightmom]

I believe berkey uses ceramic filters but for portable , budget situations I would go with zero over brita .... berkey , granted you can haul it around , but its over 200$ in cost without extra filters.

 

I think she wanted to stay away from investing in a whole house system.

 

The ceramic filters are ADDITIONAL to the black filters and are for fluoride.