Do Brita filters remove fluoride? The answer to this question is more complex than a simple yes or no. In this guide, I provide a complete answer to this question along with alternate solutions since you’re on the hunt for an affordable water filter that removes fluoride.
The problem with fluoride is it’s tricky to remove, and a lot of people have fluoride in their municipal water. What you may not have known is there’s naturally occurring fluoride in a lot of popular spring water brands.
There’s an ongoing debate about the effects of fluoride on human health, and people understandably want to remove it from their drinking water to err on the side of caution. Since Brita is one of the most popular and well-known water filtration brands in the world, it’s only natural for people to want to know whether Brita filters remove fluoride.
Let’s start by answering the main question. After that, I explain the best ways to remove fluoride from your tap water and share the best water filters that remove fluoride.
Do Brita filters remove fluoride and chlorine?
The short answer is no on fluoride and yes on chlorine (taste and odor). Brita filters do not remove significant amounts of fluoride, nor does Brita claim that its filters remove more than a trace amount of fluoride during the rated life of the filter.
Brita’s filters contain granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin. This combination removes other common water contaminants including lead, mercury, chlorine, VOCs, TTHMs, herbicides, pesticides, and other harmful substances.
Are Brita filters weak since they don’t remove fluoride? No. Fluoride removal requires specific types of filter media to get the job done, and there are few pitchers available that remove fluoride.
Brita filters are WQA-certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401. NSF/ANSI Standard 42 verifies that Brita filters remove chlorine. According to Brita’s user guide, its Standard filter removes 95% of chlorine on average and a minimum of 92%.
Brita is one of the few companies that sell Water Quality Association (WQA) certified filters. Most other companies only claim to be in accordance with NSF/ANSI Standards through “independent” lab testing.
How to Remove Fluoride from Your Tap Water
Now that you know Brita filters don’t remove a significant amount of fluoride, let’s explore some ways you can remove fluoride from your tap or well water. The three best methods for removing fluoride from your tap water are:
- Activated Alumina Filtration
- Reverse Osmosis
- Water Distiller
Since distilled water tastes funky to most people, requires the most complicated process of the three methods, and removes all minerals from your water (including the healthy essential ones), it’s the least preferred method of the three.
There are whole-house activated alumina filters available that work quite well and are easy to maintain. The advantage of this type of filter is it filters all the water you use inside your home at the point of entry.
If you already own a Brita pitcher or filter, using it together with the activated alumina filter isn’t a bad idea. This way, you remove fluoride and a wide range of other water contaminants.
Click Here #ad to view an activated alumina whole-house filter at Amazon.
Another excellent option is a reverse osmosis remineralization system. The beauty of this type of system is it removes all water contaminants before adding healthy alkaline minerals back to your water to improve taste and pH balance.
The alkaline minerals in this type of system are calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Modern under-sink reverse osmosis systems are affordable and easy to maintain.
Click Here #ad to view a reliable reverse osmosis filtration system that removes fluoride at Amazon.
These aren’t your only options for removing fluoride from your tap water. In this section, I offer more ideas.
Additional Fluoride Water Filters
If you live in an apartment or condo where installing a whole-house water filter or reverse osmosis system isn’t an option, then you may be turned off by the options above. Don’t worry, there are portable options that require zero to minimal installation.
Our pick for the best alkaline water filter pitcher, the Seychelle pH2O pitcher, removes up to 90% of fluoride and a long list of other water contaminants. Seychelle designs and manufactures its products in the United States, and they’ve been in business for over 20 years. One of the reasons we love Seychelle is its transparency. They post the water quality test results for their pitcher filters on their website.
Click Here #ad to view the current price for the Seychelle pitcher at Amazon.
Another option is the Home Master countertop water filter with activated alumina. This filter installs in minutes and sits on your countertop. It’s the most portable fluoride water filter included in this article.
The filter has the power to remove up to 93% of fluoride. Click Here #ad to view the current price for the Home Master activated alumina filter at Amazon.
Do you like the idea of a reverse osmosis system but not the idea of installing it under your sink? There’s a solution for you.
There are countertop reverse osmosis systems available. One of our favorite systems we included previously on our list of best water filters for apartments.
Click Here #ad to view the countertop reverse osmosis system we recommend at Amazon. This system installs similarly to the Home Master countertop filter, which means you can take it anywhere with you.
The biggest drawback to reverse osmosis filtration is the wastewater. In order for the system to make RO filtered water, it must also make wastewater. With the Home Master system, there’s no wastewater.
I think by now you get the idea.
Do Brita faucet filters remove fluoride?
At the time of this writing, Brita does not manufacture a filter that removes fluoride. Both Brita pitchers and faucet filters do not remove fluoride. If you want to remove fluoride and drink overall superior filtered water at home, any of the systems mentioned previously are better options.
I’ve personally researched a ton of water filtration products, and feedback on Brita isn’t the best. Brita is such a well-known name that they can get away with selling products that don’t last because the Brita name alone will always draw return customers.
If you’re willing to think outside the box, the options I provided here will treat you and your health a lot better.
Bottom Line
Do Brita filters remove fluoride? The final answer is no. Do Brita filters remove chlorine? Yes, quite well.
The advantages of purchasing any of the alternatives I included in this article are the superior level of filtration and the crisper taste. Personally, I prefer Seychelle filters because they’re made in the USA, and Seychelle posts its lab test results.
I appreciate company transparency, especially from a water filtration company because relaxed regulations allow water filter companies to make far-fetched claims and get away with it. In reality, Brita is a transparent company that makes a reliable filter, it just doesn’t remove more than a trace amount of fluoride. Brita products also tend to break.
If fluoride removal is a must-have for you, then stick with the more powerful alternatives that’ll stand the test of time. In the long run, you’ll drink better-tasting healthier water and not have to worry about your filtration system failing you.
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Cheers.
