One of the biggest challenges of tiny living is effectively managing storage space. One of the biggest consumers of this precious space is bottled water.

Be sure to read the updates at the bottom.

Well, I’ve got some good news that will save you money, end your water-hauling duties, and give you better drinking water than you’re probably getting now. If you’re living in a small home or in a situation where you don’t want to invest in a central water purification system, a great alternative is a water filter pitcher.

I prefer the water filter pitcher over the faucet mount units because you can chill the filtered water in your refrigerator. And it’s, of course, more mobile. But if you want great-tasting, clean water, you’ve got to be selective in which water filter pitcher you choose. I’ll tell you about the outstanding one that I finally settled on in a moment. First, let me briefly discuss bottled water.

If the idea of giving up bottled water in favor of a water filtration system is too much of a stretch for you right now, I encourage you to read “Kick the Bottled Water Habit.” In this article, I share a lot of information that may inspire you to quit the bottled water habit. I also talk about how this documentary inspired me to stop buying bottled water. Now, back to the pitcher.

After a ridiculous amount of online research and several trials of competing products, I found the Clear20 Water Filtration Pitcher. It was rated a “Best Buy” by Consumer Reports.

The Clear20 is an ingenious device that stands out from its competitors. It has a hose attached to it that you connect to your kitchen water faucet.

Here’s why I think the Clear20 is better. Its competitors rely on gravity to push the water through their filters. The Clear20 takes advantage of a home’s water pressure to push the water through its filter. This allows the Clear20 to have a more complex filter and still fill the pitcher in a short amount of time. Competitors are forced to compromise on their filters; otherwise, it would take too long to fill the pitcher. And consumers wouldn’t like waiting that long.

I was surprised to find that the Clear20 Water Filtration Pitcher is only sold at a few stores. The best deal I could find for the Clear20 Water Filtration Pitcher was at Amazon and All Filters. I suggest you check both for the best price.

 

Update 1 – I recently bought a new Clear20 Water Filtration Pitcher and a 3-pack of replacement filters from All Filters.com. I purchased my first one about four years ago. Since I was moving into a brand new home, I decided to buy a new one. I was pleased to find that the connector to the faucet is easier to use, and the automatic opening lid appears to operate more smoothly.

Update 2 – Tip: Be sure not to turn your water faucet to maximum flow or pressure when filling your Clear2O, as this could cause one of the rubber washers or O-rings to blow out, resulting in a leak at the base.  I turn on the faucet to a 1/2 to 3/4 flow or pressure.

Update 3 – Since Clear2O filters are not available at local stores like Walmart and they are more expensive (but do an outstanding job), buying another leading brand is a money and time-saving alternative.  Walmart offers two of the best water filter pitchers, PUR and Brita, as well as filter replacements, at a low cost compared to other retailers. In addition, you don’t have to hook them up to a faucet, so you can take them along when you go camping or stay in motels during a road trip.

As soon as I run out of my Clear2O filters, I will make this change. I haven’t decided which brand to buy, but I’m leaning toward PUR.

Update 4 – Clear2O now has a gravity water filter pitcher.  I am now strongly considering buying it instead.

Update 5 – I bought the Brita because it was on sale.

Update 6 – I purchased a Zero Water Filtration Pitcher after learning how well it purifies tap water. It also comes with a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter, allowing you to test the water’s purity. The Zero Water tested at 0 — perfect! The Brita tested at 350 — poor. There is one drawback to the Zero Water system. The filters are more expensive, but they do a far better job. Zero Water and Clear20 filters are 5-stage, whereas the Brita and Pur are only 3-stage.