Review: Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Oct 20, 2023
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The Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher (model number: 7000) is a relatively unassuming, not very expensive water filter aimed at the average household user.
Does it offer enough filtration to be worth buying though, or are you better off with an alternative model?
Spoiler alert: In our opinion, the Lake Industries has more cons than pros.
Let’s take a look.
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Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Filtration, GAC, Ion Exchange, Ceramic & Minerals Balls |
| Filter Life: | 40 Gallons |
| Storage Volume: | 10.5 to 14.8 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$75 |
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Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: 7000
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$75
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Filter Mesh, GAC, Ion Exchange, Ceramic and Minerals Balls
- Filtering Capacity: 40 gal
- Storage Volume: 10.5-14.8 Cups
- WxHxD: 10.5”x10-11”x4.25-6.5”
- Warranty: Lifetime
Lake Industries 7000 – Key Features
Right off the bat, the Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher appears promising, due to its 7-stage filtration system. Not many pitchers offer 7 filter stages, especially in this price range.
And since this is an alkaline water filter pitcher, it also releases alkaline minerals – meaning that it will slightly raise the pH level of your water when the pitcher works as intended. The manufacturer also claims that the filter can remove free radicals from water (more on this below).
The 7 stages of filtration used in this model are as follows:
- Sediment filter mesh, 2x
- Granular activated carbon
- Ion exchange resin
- ORP (oxidation reduction potential) balls
- Far infrared balls
- Maifan balls
- Mineral balls
Looks like we have the basics covered. The Lake Industries pitcher is claimed to reduce chlorine, odors, heavy metals (zinc, copper, lead), free radicals, and limescale.
What’s more, you can choose between two sizes – a 10.5-cup model and a 14.8-cup one.
Filter cartridges last 40 gallons or 150 liters at about $75 annual replacement cost.
Lake Industries Alkaline Water Pitcher Pros
What are the pros of using the Lake Industries water pitcher?
First, it provides alkaline drinking water which, while the health benefits are still yet to be proven by science, we know a lot of people are into.
There also is the easy-fill lid that allows you to add water to the reservoir without removing the cover, and the ergonomic handle for comfortable holding and pouring.
A built-in timer alerts you when it’s time to change the filter.
Speaking of, the pitcher is affordable to maintain.
And all materials are BPA-free.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
This pitcher can remove a few contaminants, according to its manufacturer. Unfortunately, since it has no official NSF certifications or even testing, it’s hard to verify the validity of those claims. In any case, the pitcher is claimed to address these contaminants:
- Chlorine
- Odors
- Zinc
- Copper
- Lead
- Limescale
- Free radicals
The Lake Industries 7000 – learn more on Amazon.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
As with most water filter pitchers, the Lake Industries is easy to assemble and prime. Here is how:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Take the pitcher out of the packaging and give it a thorough wash.
- Wash the pitcher and the lid separately – make sure to do it manually, they’re not dishwasher safe.
- Take out the filter cartridge from the protective wrapper.
- Remove clear stickers from the bottom of the cartridge.
- Submerge the cartridge in water for 12 minutes.
- Wash the cartridge under cold water for 2-3 minutes to get rid of any excess carbon.
- Insert the cartridge into its slot.
- Fill the pitcher with cold water and let it filter through.
- Discard the first filtered batch.
The Package (Parts)
- Lake Industries Water Filter Pitcher
- Filter Cartridge
Maintenance
You should replace the cartridge after 40 gallons of water, or 60 days – whichever comes first. Each cartridge roughly costs $10, so that comes down to about $75 per year, which is pretty affordable. Replacing the cartridge is simple, too – just follow these steps:
- Remove the old filter from the pitcher.
- Install the new filter.
- Prime the new filter by following the steps we outlined above.
- Done!
To wash your Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher, just take the cartridge out of the main body before you start.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
NSF and Other Certifications
There are no NSF certifications listed by the manufacturer. As such, we have nothing but the manufacturer’s own claims about the performance of this product. Keep that in mind if you need to filter some specific contaminants and you want to be sure that the pitcher you’re buying supports them.
Earlier Product Versions
There are no earlier versions of this product.
Lake Industries Water Pitcher Cons
- No information about what minerals are added to your water.
- Manufacturer makes a lot of claims about alkaline water and its health benefits, but none of those are scientifically proven. Personally, we take them with a grain of salt.
- Contaminant reduction claims are not backed by NSF standardized testing or certification. The right filter media seem to have been used, but filtration could still be ineffective for example if contact time is not sufficient.
- Lifetime warranty is a bit tricky, as it requires you to pay a $11.95 shipping fee.
- The filters don’t work as long as advertised for everyone.
- Differing filtration strength between individual users.
- Lid may occasionally come loose.
- Cartridge doesn’t always fit snugly in its place.
- The filter timer may stop working after a while.
- Unfiltered water may leak when pouring from the pitcher.
Lake Industries 7000 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Lake Industries is a very basic water filter pitcher that targets a limited range of contaminants, but also comes at a relatively low price. We only recommend using this filter if you have very basic filtration needs or just want alkaline drinking water. It should not be used to treat more seriously contaminated water.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 3.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.5/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
Finally, let’s compare the Lake Industries Water Filter Pitcher to the Clearly Filtered Pitcher and the Seychelle Gen 2 Dual pH2O Water Filter Pitcher. The first one is one of the most popular models on the filter pitcher market and our personal favorite, while the second is a viable alternative if you’re specifically looking for an alkaline water filter pitcher.
Clearly Filtered |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 17 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$150 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Seychelle Gen 2 Dual pH2O |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange, Mineralization |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 8 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$120-180 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Lake Industries |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment Filtration, GAC, Ion Exchange, Ceramic & Minerals Balls |
| Filter Capacity: | 40 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 10.5 to 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$75 |
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Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is one of the best (full review here). It offers great filtration, quality, and longevity. Clearly Filtered’s cartridges last for about 100 gallons or 4 months, which is much better than what’s offered by the Lake Industries model.
Clearly Filtered can remove more than 300 contaminants, and carries independent NSF testing against standards 42, 53, and 401. Some of the contaminants targeted include chlorine, chloramine, DBPs, lead, arsenic, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, fluoride, VOCs, and many others – the filtration process is based on activated carbon and several other media.
In addition, the pitcher is built in USA, 100% free from BPA, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee which the Lake Industries cannot compete with.
At the same time, the Clearly Filtered does cost quite a lot more than most other models, including the Lake Industries.
On the other hand, we have the Seychelle Gen 2 Dual pH2O Water Filter Pitcher, which also offers an alkalization feature like the Lake Industries. However, this filter is more thorough in its filtration, tested by NSF standards 42 and 53. It can remove up to 99% of contaminants that include arsenic, chlorine, aluminum, chromium, lead, nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride. Its cartridges also last for up to 150 gallons.
Sadly, Seychelle only offers a 90-day warranty, but the build quality of the product means that you probably won’t care that much about it. Also, the Seychelle is more costly to buy and to maintain than the Lake Industries. Good news is, filters cartridges are made in the USA.
Bottom line: For water filtration we clearly favor the Clearly Filtered. The Seychelle is best if you want properly filtered alkaline water. Buy the Lake Industries pitcher only if you don’t have the budget for the other 2, and even then there are better options out there.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the Lake Industries Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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