First, I will share with you who I am, so you don't think I work for PUR or sell PUR products in a store or something.I am a college student and I live on campus, where my tap water tastes terrible.As a result, I was in the market for a filter pitcher.I decided on this pitcher because of the large capacity.I share this Brita "not so Grand" pitcher with 3 other dudes, so needless to say, it gets lots of usage since we are all athletes that drink lots of water.At first, this pitcher seemed like a perfect fit because it has a large capacity and a "simple" electronic thing that tells you when to change the filter.Here is my attempt to persuade you, the consumer, not to buy this product.
In the relatively short (3 months) amount of time that I have had this pitcher, I have spilled enough water on my floor, counter and fridge to fill a medium size pond.Now, you may be sitting there thinking to yourself, "well, that's just because you are a clumsy/drunken college student."How wrong you are.The overall design of this pitcher is flawed for a few reasons:
1. When filling this pitcher, one must wait for the water to completely filter into the lower, clear portion of the pitcher, as the top does not fit tightly enough to prevent leaks when the pitcher is slightly tipped while being returned to the fridge.This is simply unacceptable considering this is one of Brita's most expensive pitcher models.
2.I encourage you to compare Brita's products one of its competitors, such as PUR.At home, my family has been using an entry level PUR pitcher and this "leaking from the top basin phenomenon" has never been a problem for us, in fact, I can pour a glass of water almost immediately after filling the top basin with un-filtered water, assuming there is still filtered water left in the lower half of the pitcher.
3.The spout on the "Grand" pitcher is completely flawed.This tiny flaw causes water to spill all over everything if two hands are not used to pour. (One hand to hold the pitcher, one hand to lift the spout cover).This is annoying as I have to set the cup down, instead of being able to hold the cup in one hand, and pour with the other.The problem with the design is explained here:
The white spout covering the clear portion of the pitcher that the water comes out of has groves in it to make a better seal when the pitcher sits in the fridge.I suppose this is to prevent the entrance of foreign bacteria or mold spores into the pitcher, however, this greatly inhibits the usability of the pitcher itself.For instance, if the pitcher's filtered water reservoir is too full (something that should not be an issue since the reason I purchased this particular pitcher was because of its large capacity) when one attempts to pour a delicious glass of chilled filtered water, the cap on the pourer winds up sticking and one receives two feet full of delicious chilled filter water.
Had I known of this flaw, I would have put on my flippers and snorkel before getting a glass of water.I also never would have wasted this much money purchasing one of Brita's so called "higher end" pitchers when I could have bought a cheaper, higher quality pitcher from one of their competitors.Don't buy this pitcher.Happy Hunting.
Sincerely,
Kevin M.
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Brita 42556 Grand PitcherProduct Description: Pitcher Water Filtration System | Brita® Water Is Better Water
Contains: 1 Pitcher | 1 Filter (10 - 8oz cups large capacity)
Brita is the World's #1 Brand of household water filtration. Our advanced technologies transform ordinary tap water into healthier, great-tasting drinking water. The Brita® Filter is certified to reduce harmful contaminants
Certified Water Filtration System: The Brita® Filter's activated carbon and ion exchange resin work together to filter your water so you get healthier, great-tasting water.
Great-tasting drinking water at a fraction of the cost of bottled water.
The Brita® Filter keeps a healthy level of fluoride, a water additive that promotes strong teeth.
Replace filter every 2 months or 40 gallons*
Better for the environment - no bottles to throw away.
Electronic filter change indicator
Easy-fill lid.
Certified to reduce lead, mercury, chlorine (taste and odor), and more.
Additional Uses:
Cooking, infant formula, coffee, tea & juices, ice cubes, sports bottles, pets, and more.
The Brita® Water Filtration Pitcher is Water Quality Association certified to reduce the following harmful contaminants that may be in your tap water.
ChemicalSourcePotential Health Effects
LeadCorrosion of household plumbingsystems, erosion of natural depositsInfants and children: delays in physical or mental development.
Adults: kidney problems, high blood pressure.
CopperCorrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits.Short-term: gastrointestinal distress.
Long-term: liver or kidney damage.
MercuryErosion of natural deposits, runoff from landfills and cropland.Kidney damage.
CadmiumCorrosion of galvanized pipes, runoff from waste batteries and paints.Kidney damage.
BenzeneDischarge from factories, leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills.Anemia, decrease in blood platelets, increased risk of cancer.
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Our home water is supplied by a personal well that unfortunately comes with some brownish sediment that discolors the water and makes it taste a little too much like minerals. Completely harmless, but not very pretty, especially for company. Previously I had been looking into expensive water softeners or whole house filters in the $200+ range. Thankfully I found the little culligan whole house filter for $32 and this two pack of 20 micron filters for another $7 (so cheap!). 
