The water filter: how it works and what its benefits are

Using tap water for drinking and cooking should be something natural and normal. If you have a faucet connected to the public drinking water network, it means you have an unlimited source of water at home. Why keep buying plastic bottles, which are so harmful to both you and the environment?

From water filtering jugs to dispensers and faucet filtration systems, there is a suitable product for every lifestyle and budget. We invite you on a short journey into the world of water filtration to discover how filters work and what advantages filtering your water can bring.

The water filter: how it works and what its benefits are

What is a water filter?

Drinking water filters provide a simple yet highly effective way to have clean, filtered water at home, directly from the tap. With an efficient filter, you can offer your entire family better-tasting drinking water by reducing a range of impurities and substances that can affect its taste and properties.

How does a water filter work?

Water filters fall into several categories, including ion-exchange resin filters, activated carbon filters, and mechanical filters. German BRITA filters, renowned worldwide, combine these technologies in different ways depending on the product used: water filtering jug, filter bottle, faucet system, etc.

How do ion-exchange resins contribute to water filtration?

Ion exchange is a process of “softening” water by replacing magnesium and calcium ions found in hard water with other types of ions, such as sodium or hydrogen.

This helps reduce limescale and makes tap water suitable for use at high temperatures in kettles or espresso/coffee machines.

How do activated carbon microgranules contribute to water filtration?

Carbon granules are obtained by grinding natural raw materials such as coconut shells (most commonly used), bituminous coal, or peat.

To create the filter, the material is heated to very high temperatures to remove impurities, then exposed to extremely hot steam to “activate” the carbon. This process leaves the carbon granules full of cracks and pores, allowing them to store large amounts of chemicals and contaminants.

Carbon granules act like a magnet and absorb unwanted substances from water, such as chlorine and chlorine compounds, thus improving the taste and smell of tap water.

BRITA are the inventors of household water filters. We invite you to discover the most important things about these globally renowned German filters: how they work, what they filter, and which products they are compatible with. Discover below the most popular BRITA water filters!

How do BRITA MAXTRA PRO filters work?

MAXTRA PRO filters represent the new generation of German filters and the improved version of the previous MAXTRA+ filters. These filters are used together with BRITA water filtering jugs, as well as with the FLOW filtering dispenser.

There are two types of MAXTRA PRO filters:

Pure Performance water filter - the universal filter, recommended for use in areas with hard, medium, and soft water. It reduces impurities and residues of certain herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals if present in tap water.
Hard Water Expert water filter - the limescale expert, recommended for areas with hard and very hard water. It reduces limescale in water up to 50% more effectively than the Pure Performance filter.

MAXTRA PRO filters work using Microflow technology, developed by BRITA specialists. MicroFlow uses a mix of ion-exchange granules and microcarbon granules to provide an optimal level of water filtration.

What does a MAXTRA PRO filter contain?

Very fine mesh that captures coarse particles coming from pipes.
Microcarbon granules made from coconut shells:
- Absorb and block substances that affect drinking water taste, such as chlorine.
- Filter residues of certain herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals if present in the water.
- Restore the fresh and natural taste of water.
Ion-exchange granules:
- Protect household appliances (kettle, espresso machine, baby bottle sterilizer, etc.) from limescale buildup and extend their lifespan.
- Reduce metals such as lead and copper that may enter water from pipes.
An additional high-performance mesh that filters fine impurities.

How does the MicroDisc filter work?

The BRITA MicroDisc filter is used with BRITA water bottles, as well as with the elegant Fill&Serve carafe.

As its name suggests, this filter has the shape of a thin disc made of compressed natural activated carbon.

The technology of this filter is called ActivSelect and helps to:

reduce chlorine levels in water.
filter residues of certain herbicides, pesticides, and hormones if they're present in the water.
retain important minerals in the water, such as calcium and magnesium.

It is important to note that the MicroDisc filter does not contain ion-exchange granules, so it does not reduce limescale in water.

How does the On Tap water filter work?

The On Tap filter does not require jugs or bottles, but works with the On Tap filtration system mounted directly on the faucet.

This faucet water filter works using the same smart technology with activated carbon granules + ion-exchange substances, along with efficient membranes that reduce impurities.

The On Tap filter contains:

Extra-fine fiber that retains coarse particles from old pipes.
A network of ion-exchange granules to reduce metals in water.
Natural carbon microgranules to reduce chlorine and traces of herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals if present in water.
A fine membrane for filtering micro-impurities.
Only for the On Tap Pro V-MF system: an additional membrane that reduces 99.99% of bacteria, such as Legionella, and the finest microparticles >0.5 µm*.

The On Tap filtration system is becoming increasingly popular, as it is very easy to install (no special tools needed) and just as easy to remove from the faucet. You can turn filtered water on and off at any time, so there is no waste.

How does the P1000 drinking water filter work?

The P1000 filter is used only with the MyPure P1 water filtration system. This complex system is installed under the sink and allows selection of three filtration levels: for medium, hard, or very hard water.

It is a filter with a very long lifespan (approximately 12 months) and works as follows:

The first filtration membrane removes coarse particles.
Ion-exchange granules reduce limescale deposits and metals such as lead and copper.
Activated carbon from natural coconut shells reduces chlorine.
The final membrane retains very fine particles.

Benefits of using a water filter

Replacing bottled water with water filters brings only advantages on all points:

You drink better-tasting water, tea, and coffee with authentic and intense flavors.
You protect household appliances (kettle, espresso machine, etc.) from limescale buildup and extend their lifespan.
You protect the environment by reducing plastic waste.

1 MAXTRA PRO filter = approx. 150 plastic bottles of 1 L.
1 ON Tap filter = approx. 600 plastic bottles of 1 L.

You save money.
You get rid of the effort of carrying water bottles and packs from the store and back to recycling machines.
You no longer need to allocate kitchen space for storing water bottles.
You never run out of fresh and clean water as long as you have drinking water from the tap.

Water filtration improves not only the taste of beverages but also their appearance. You can see in the image alongside how tea looks before and after filtering tap water with a BRITA filter.

Water filters provide a reliable and efficient way to turn tap water into a fresh and refreshing drink without using single-use plastic. With a small change in our daily habits, we can contribute to a healthier planet.

However, as you have seen, the benefits of a water filter go beyond ecological considerations, which is why we recommend exploring the KitchenShop offer to find the right filtration products for your lifestyle.

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