Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated:
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Water filter pitchers are affordable and easy to use which is why they are the most popular type of home water filter. The good news: They can also be used for well water.
Using a good water filter pitcher for well water will give you access to clean drinking water.
Plus, pitchers don’t require installation, they are portable, and they fit most refrigerators.
But how do you find the best water filter pitcher for well water? Don’t worry, you came to the right place. This guides helps you find your ideal unit and not waste your money on an inferior product.
On This Page You Will…
Water Filters | Details | |
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![]() Best Water Filter Pitcher for Well Water: Clearly Filtered | Get 15% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$$ Size (Cups): 10 Filter Lifespan: 100 gal Annual Cost: ~$150 Warranty: Lifetime Read Review: Click Alexa’s Video Review: Click |
![]() The Runner-Up: Epic Nano | Get 20% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$$ Size (Cups): 14 Filter Lifespan: 150 gal Annual Cost: ~$90 Warranty: Lifetime Read Review: Click Alexa’s Video Review: Click |
Review Order
In our opinion, the best water filter pitcher for well water in 2023 is the Clearly Filtered. It’s also the best water filter pitcher for hard well water.
The Clearly Filtered is lab-tested to remove more than 365 water contaminants, more than any other filter pitcher currently available. Tested contaminants include heavy metals like arsenic (98.3%), antimony (>98.0%), cadmium (97.0%), hexavalent chromium (97.8%), and lead (>99.3%), organic chemicals such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals (most >99.8%), nitrate and nitrite (>99.7%), fluoride (>99.5%), radiological elements, and most importantly bacteria, cysts, and viruses (99.99%-99.9999%).
All of the above are commonly found in well water. By the way, Clearly Filtered recommends using their pitcher with disinfected well water only.
Filtered water taste? As crisp as it gets. 5 stars!
![]() Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Size: | 10-Cup |
Filter Lifespan: | 100 Gallons |
Annually: | ~$150 |
Warranty: | Lifetime |
Our Rating
Get 15% Off! Use Code: |
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
The Clearly Filtered pitcher is ideal for people whose biggest concern it is to remove as many harmful contaminants as possible from their well water supply.
→ Detailed Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher Review
As an alternative to the Clearly Filtered, we recommend the Epic Nano water filter pitcher.
It removes more than 200 different water contaminants that can occur in well water and particularly focuses on eliminating viruses, bacteria, and cysts.
Besides, most users are highly satisfied with the pitcher’s filtration performance. They love their filtered water taste.
![]() Epic Nano Water Filtration Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Size: | 14 Cups |
Filter Lifespan: | 150 Gallons |
Annually: | $90 |
Warranty: | Life |
Our Rating
Get 20% Off! Use Code: |
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
The Epic Nano water filter pitcher is our second best choice for highly effective well water filtration.
In our third review we check out the Aquagear water filter pitcher. It’s typically used for tap water filtration, but can also serve for filtering properly disinfected well water.
One thing is for sure: It produces great-tasting drinking water!
![]() Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Size: | 10 Cups |
Filter Lifespan: | 120 Gallons |
Annually: | $100-120 |
Warranty: | Life |
Our Rating
|
Gallery
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
The Aquagear is ideal for people who have perfluorinated chemicals in their wells.
The ZeroWater ZP-010 uses 5 filter stages in one cartridge. What’s special about the water filter pitcher is that it aims at reducing your water’s TDS level to zero (more on this below) – thus its name.
What’s more, it’s NSF-certified against standard 42 for elimination of chlorine taste and smell (97.5%) providing refreshing drinking water. And it’s tested against standard 53 for reduction of dangerous chromium 6 (99.6%), mercury (96.0-96.7%), lead (95.9-99.7%), and PFOS/PFOA (94.9%).
Other harmful substances that will be removed from your well water include arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, and nitrite.
ZeroWater ZP-010 Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $ |
Size: | 10 Cups |
Filter Lifespan: | 20 Gallons |
Annually: | ~$200-300 |
Warranty: | 90 Days |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
The ZeroWater ZP-010 is ideal for people who want their drinking water to be TDS-free.
Brita probably offers the largest selection of water filter pitchers among its competitors.
The Brita Metro and the Brita Everyday are the most popular models by far. But regardless of which Brita jug you choose, each uses one of two available filter cartridges: The Brita Standard or the Longlast. In other words, you can expect similar filtration results.
Brita Water Filter Pitcher – Everyday | |
Price: | $ |
Size: | 10-Cup |
Filter Capacity: | 40/120 Gallons |
Annually: | ~$50 |
Warranty: | 1 Year |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
Brita pitchers are ideal for people on a very small budget.
Quite recently, PUR has launched its new 7-cup and 11-cup water filtration pitchers.
However, the filter cartridges in use remain the same – you should definitely go with the PUR Plus Lead Reducing filter. It’s quite solid targeting lead, mercury, cadmium, particulates, certain pesticides and herbicides (notorious for well water), and several other contaminants.
PUR 7-Cup Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $ |
Size: | 7 Cups |
Filter Capacity: | 40 Gallons |
Annually: | ~$60 |
Warranty: | 90 Days |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
PUR water filter pitchers are ideal for people who insist on NSF-certified contaminant reduction.
In our last review of water filter pitchers for well water, we are going to take a look at the Nakii.
It’s another long-lasting pitcher with 150 gallons filtration capacity. It’s also one of the most stylish models on the market.
But does it perform?
Nakii Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $$ |
Size: | 10 Cups |
Filter Capacity: | 150 Gallons |
Annually: | $20-40 |
Warranty: | 120 Days |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Recommended for
The Nakii is ideal for people who want a stylish-looking pitcher and care less about actual contaminant removal.
How do the best filter pitchers for well water perform when directly compared?
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Water Filters | Price | Cups | Gallon Capacity | Annual Cost | Warranty | Additional Info |
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Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher for Well Water | $$$ | 10 | 100 | ~$150 | Life | Drinking Water Filter Pitcher Removes 365+ Tap Water Contaminants, Better Than Bottled Water, Also #1 for Tap Water |
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher for Well Water | $$$ | 14 | 150 | $90 | Life | Water Filter Pitcher Removes More Than 200 Harmful Contaminants for Pure Water |
Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher | $$$ | 10 | 120 | $100-120 | Lifetime | Also Great for Removing Contaminants from Tap Water, Premium-Quality Materials |
ZeroWater ZP-010 Water Filter Pitcher | $ | 10 | 20 | ~$200-300 | 90 Days | BPA-Free Plastic, for Small Family |
Brita Everyday & Metro Water Filter Pitchers | $ | 5-10 | 40/120 | ~$50 | 1 Year | Cheap Replacement Filters, Filtering Water at a Budget |
PUR 7-Cup & 11-Cup Water Filter Pitchers | $-$$ | 7-11 | 40 | ~$60 | 90 Days | Cheap Replacement Filters, Save Money, 11 or 7-Cup Capacity |
Nakii Water Filter Pitcher | $$ | 10 | 150 | $20-40 | 120 Days | Affordable Replacement Filters |
The following are things worth considering before you go out and hunt for the best filter pitcher for well water. These are also the very same criteria we focused on when picking our top products for this guide.
Most importantly, the filtering method(s) a water pitcher uses must match the chemistry of your well water. Meaning, the filter needs to be capable of removing exactly those contaminants that can be found in your water supply.
Thus, testing your well water quality first – in case you haven’t already – makes a lot of sense.
You can use one of the many do-it-yourself testing kits for this. Just note that results may not be as accurate and reliable. Personally, we prefer to hire a certified and professional laboratory. Usually, you can choose from different contaminant presets or test for individual analytes if that’s what you prefer.
Based on the report you can choose your ideal well water filter pitcher accordingly.
For broad contaminant removal, make sure to buy one which combines different types of filter media, such as the Clearly Filtered water pitcher using activated carbon, ion exchange resin, and more. By using several media types, the Clearly Filtered can remove more contaminants than any other water filter pitchers for sale right now; from chlorine and other chemicals to chromium 6 and lead.
You cannot solely rely on the advertising of sellers and manufacturers when it comes to filtration performance. Thus, you must look for independent NSF testing and certifications. It’s the only way to make sure a certain model really does what is being claimed as far as contaminant reduction is concerned.
Here, we need to differentiate between total jug size and filtered water storage, both matters.
Also note that some well water filter pitchers are designed for families while others are ideal for 1 to 2-person households.
Filtration rate or filtration speed describes how fast a pitcher can process a certain amount of water.
Intuitively, one might think that faster filtration is better. However, that’s only true in very few cases – when your raw well water already meets a certain quality.
Why? Well, proper water filtration takes time. The filter media has to have enough contact with the water in order to adsorb, absorb, reduce, oxidize, reject, or trap all the contaminants. If water simply rushes through the filter cartridge, its quality won’t improve much.
On the other hand, there is no point in waiting 2 days for a single glass of filtered water.
Our next criterion is filter life also known as filtration capacity.
A long-lasting filter adds to the convenience. You can keep the filter element inside your pitcher for months without worrying about replacements. Examples for long-lasting filters are the Clearly Filtered water pitcher and the Epic Nano.
In contrast, some pitcher filters only last for a few dozen gallons of water. This means there is much more work required for keeping everything up and running. The ZeroWater, for example, lasts for no more than 20 gallons.
Filter material is another aspect you should pay attention to. Most water filter pitchers are plastic. This is not ideal so at least make sure it’s BPA-free plastic.
If you were to use a pitcher made from plastic containing BPA, the chemical would recontaminate your water after filtration.
Most filter water pitchers are similar in design, but some have nooks and edges that are hard to reach and keep clean. This spots are prone to mold and mildew growth. You should try to avoid them.
Last but not least, let’s talk about money. The initial price tag of a water filter pitcher for well water is only half the equation.
At least as equally as important are replacement filter cost. These are determined by the price of new filter cartridges and their filter life. Simply put, a filter that costs $50 but lasts 4 months is more cost-effective than one that costs $20 lasting 4 weeks.
As far as product warranty is concerned, we like to get at least 1 year, ideally lifetime warranty. Besides, some companies offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee promising a full refund upon return of the product.
More on Water Filter Pitchers for Well Water
Generally speaking, water filter pitchers are used to filter water at home or work, or on the go.
Water filter pitchers for well water are used to treat water from private wells.
What all filter pitchers have in common is their simple design making them easy to use and maintain.
Some only improve water aesthetics, so taste and odor, while more sophisticated models can remove a wide range of harmful contaminants.
The filtration process is powered by gravity force. It pulls the feed water from the upper reservoir through the filtering element and into the bottom storage.
This procedure can take anywhere from less than a minute up to several hours, primarily depending on the filter media used. Most common are
Why should you be using a water filter pitcher for well water in the first place? Does well water even need filtration?
This entirely depends on the quality of your well water supply. Some wells are much cleaner than others. For instance, if you live close to an industrial mining plant you are likely to have heavy metals in your water. Living in a farming area often results in elevated pesticide concentrations.
But not all water impurities and contaminants need to be man-made. Your well water may show excess levels of naturally occurring fluoride originating from underground rock formations.
These and other contaminants end up in your well as it feeds on groundwater which trickles into the soil and moves through the ground picking up all kinds of things, both good and bad.
Artificial well water contamination can be caused by agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential and other activities (e.g. landfills, storm water runoff, illegal dumping).
The following is a list of commonly found well water contaminants as well as their sources and possible health effects.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using well water filter pitchers?
Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right. But it shouldn’t be taken for granted as it’s not guaranteed, almost regardless of where you live in the world.
Using a water filter pitcher you are much closer to safe and healthy drinking water than without one.
Powerful models can remove or reduce heavy metals, chemicals, pathogens, volatile organic compounds, and all the other types of contaminant that might be lurking in your well water supply.
Raw well water rarely tastes good. And even if you carry out shock chlorination on a regular basis it won’t help improve taste by a whole lot.
Using a well filter pitcher, you get access to great-tasting water free from unpleasant odors.
Because of that, you and your entire family are likely to drink more aiding proper hydration.
If there is one type of home water filter considered convenient to use, it would be filter pitchers. There is no initial installation and all you need to do is fill water into the top reservoir and wait.
Also, maintenance is a piece of cake.
Installation-free and compact size means portability. You can take your pitcher with you when you move to a different place or visit a friend.
Above that, filter pitchers can easily be stored in most fridges in case you like to enjoy a cool glass of water on a hot summer day.
Not everyone has the budget to invest in a whole house water filtration system providing purified water to an entire home. For drinking and cooking purposes, pitchers provide an affordable alternative.
Even the cost for replacement filters is manageable.
When you filter your own well water and skip water bottles you help save the environment.
Not only do you produce less plastic waste (most plastic bottles still end up in landfills or worse the ocean), you also reduce your carbon footprint (bottled water production requires a lot of energy).
The main drawback of water filter pitchers to be used on well water is filtration that leaves a lot to be desired in terms of overall contaminant removal.
Fortunately, this is only the case if you buy a low-quality product. That’s why we always advice our readers to check any type of water filter for NSF testing and certifications.
More specifically, you should check the product manual for each listed contaminant and its reduction rate. This allows you to compare the different pitcher models on your list.
Even the best water filter pitcher for well water has its cons. One is the relatively small storage space for filtered water. If you run out, you need to wait for more water to be filtered before you can quench your thirst.
Planning ahead or using two jugs in parallel are simple solutions.
As mentioned before, if you want to filter your well water thoroughly, you have to give it time. Water simply doesn’t just stream through a high-quality pitcher. So sometimes you will need to be patient and allow your jug to do its thing.
How often you need to change the filter in your water pitcher depends on how long it lasts.
Usually, there is a gallon rating provided. Note, however, that filter life also depends on your drinking water quality and usage. The more you use your pitcher and the dirtier the water, the more frequent you will need to make filter changes.
Signs indicating that a filter replacement is due include slow water flow and a change in water taste or smell.
Filters | Rating | Time Maximum |
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Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher | 100 gal | 6 mos |
Epic Pure + Epic Nano Water Pitcher Filters | 150 gal | 6 mos |
Aquagear Filter Pitcher | 120 gal | 5-6 mos |
Invigorated Living PH001 | 96 gal | 4-5 mos |
Invigorated Living PH002 | 264 gal | 12 mos |
ZeroWater Water Filter Pitcher | 20 gal | 1 mos |
Brita Filter – Standard | 40 gal | 2 mos |
Brita Pitcher Filter – Longlast | 120 gal | 5-6 mos |
Santevia Classic Water Filter Pitcher | 80 gal | 2 mos |
Santevia MINA Water Filter Pitcher | 80 gal | 2 mos |
PUR Water Filter Pitcher Basic | 40 gal | 2 mos |
PUR Lead-Reducing Water Pitcher Filter | 40 gal | 2 mos |
Nakii Filter Pitcher | 150 gal | 6 mos |
Seychelle Water Pitcher Filters | 100 gal | 4-5 mos |
Don’t worry, replacing a pitcher water filter cartridge isn’t difficult at all. Here are some instructions:
I hope this list of the best water filter pitchers for well water was helpful. Questions? Ask away!
And keep in mind: We’ll add a new review occasionally. So come back for more!