Review: Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Nov 10, 2023
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The Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher seems impressive at a glance, with some serious claims made by the manufacturer. Are all of those actually true though, and does the filter really offer such a noticeable improvement in filtration strength over other similar models? Let’s find out!
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Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon + Other |
| Filter Life: | 200 Gallons |
| Storage Volume: | 10 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$45 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘ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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Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: PT-04
- Last Price: $28.99
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$45
- Filter Media/Process: Activated Carbon + Other
- Filtering Capacity: 200 gal or 3 Months
- Storage Volume: 10 Cups
- WxHxD: 5.3”x10.4”x10”
- Weight: 2.3 lb.
- Water Temperature: 41-100 °F
- NSF Certifications: Standard 42, 372
- Warranty: 3 Months
Waterdrop Chubby – Key Features
The Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher can hold 10 cups of water, as the name implies.
According to the manufacturer, it utilizes 7 filter stages. However, we could only really verify that the filter uses activated carbon and we have no idea what those other stages are. What we know is that it is NSF-certified to remove 96.7% chlorine, and also claimed to remove bad taste and odor, limescale, and some heavy metals among other harmful stuff.
Filtration happens faster than with many other pitcher models, although we’re not sure if that’s an entirely good thing. After all, water filter pitchers that work slowly are more thorough – remember: Thorough water filtration takes time!
By the way, filter life is an impressive 200 gallons or 3 months.
You get a flip top lid, and a wooden handle – something else that’s not commonly found among similar products. The pitcher is made entirely of BPA-free plastics, and comes in three color schemes: “Skyblue”, “Clear”, and “White”.
You can return the Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher within 30 days with no hassle, and the company also provides you with a 3-month warranty.
Waterdrop Pitcher Pros
- Very affordable upfront and in annual maintenance.
- NSF certifications 42 and 372 for proven effectiveness and lead-free materials.
- Built-in filter replacement indicator.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
According to the manufacturer, the 7-stage filtration process is capable of addressing at least the following contaminants:
- Chlorine: 96.7%
- Limescale
- Heavy metals
- Other harmful substances
- Taste and smell-affecting contaminants
The Waterdrop Chubby – learn more on Waterdropfilter.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
As with most water filter pitchers, the Waterdrop Chubby is easy to set up. Before using the filter, make sure to follow these steps:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Remove filter from its packaging.
- Soak filter in cold water for at least 10 minutes – it should stop bubbling.
- Wash the pitcher’s body, lid, and reservoir using warm water and soap.
- Install the filter into the pitcher by pushing down firmly until it can’t go in any further.
- Fill the pitcher with water, and let it filter through completely.
- Discard that batch of water.
- Repeat steps 5 & 6.
- Press the filter indicator button for three seconds to reset it.
The Package (Parts)
- Filter indicator
- Lid
- Reservoir
- Water filter cartridge
- Tank
- Wooden handle
Maintenance
You don’t need to do much more than to replace the filter cartridge and wash the pitcher’s body on a regular basis – every time you replace the cartridge, ideally. One cartridge can last for about 200 gallons of water or 3 months of use, and replacements will cost you around $45 per year. This is very cheap, given all the properties of the pitcher in general.
Pay attention to the filter replacement light indicator – it not only tells you when it’s time to replace the cartridge, but gives you an early warning as well.
- Blue light: filter is okay.
- Red flashing light: 10 days of filter life remaining.
- Red light constantly on for 5 seconds: replace filter immediately.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
NSF and Other Certifications
The Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher comes with two NSF certifications: 42 and 372.
- NSF 42: covers the reduction of chlorine.
- NSF 372: ensures the product is manufactured with materials with a low lead content.
Earlier Product Versions
There are no earlier product versions that we know of.
Waterdrop Filter Pitcher Cons
- Not much information about the seven filtration stages – we only know for sure that the Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup uses activated carbon.
- Only NSF-certified for reduction of chlorine, and no reduction rates provided for any other contaminants.
- Fast flow rate could indicate subpar filtration.
- We would have appreciated a lifetime warranty like some other products on the market have, instead you only get 3 months.
- Can get quite heavy when full.
- You may need to hold down the lid when pouring to avoid spills.
Waterdrop Chubby Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher is an affordable model, but we are not sure if it brings much to the table in terms of thorough filtration. In other words, if you need something to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water, the pitcher should be fine. Otherwise, you should look into something more advanced. Overall, we give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 3.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
What else is there to consider if you’re in the market for a good water filter pitcher? Our top recommendations at the moment are the Clearly Filtered and Epic Pure.
Clearly Filtered |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 17 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$150 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Epic Pure |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | $90-135 |
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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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Waterdrop Chubby |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon + Other |
| Filter Capacity: | 200 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 10 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$45 |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘ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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Clearly Filtered is a well-known premium brand. Their pitcher comes with some serious specifications right out of the box, carrying testing against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401, and can reduce/remove more than 350 contaminants. The company behind this pitcher is obviously serious about making a solid impression.
Some of the contaminants targeted include:
- Chloramine
- Chlorine
- DBPs
- Lead
- Chromium-6
- Arsenic
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pesticides
- VOCs
- Semi-volatile compounds
- PFAS
- Fluoride
- Radiologicals
Filtration is done with a combination of granular activated carbon and a mix of proprietary filtration media which can target many different types of contaminants.
You get about 100 gallons of use, or 4 months from a single cartridge – the Waterdrop admittedly comes out on top in this regard. The Clearly Filtered also has a removable lid to assist with refilling, and it’s made from 100% BPA-free materials completely in the USA. Finally, you also get a limited lifetime warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, both of which are better than what the Waterdrop Chubby has to offer. However, as we mentioned above, this is a premium model and its price tag corresponds to that.
The Epic Pure is a bit cheaper than the Clearly Filtered, but still more expensive compared to the Waterdrop. It’s mostly aimed at filtering tap water with fluoride, using a blend of activated carbon with proprietary filter media that target more than 200 contaminants. The pitcher is also tested against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401, which makes it stand out compared to the Waterdrop Chubby.
The Epic Pure can reduce or remove the following contaminants, at the very least:
- Chlorine
- Fluoride
- Nitrate
- Chloramine
- Sulfate
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Hexavalent Chromium
- Lead
- Mercury
- VOCs
- Pharmaceuticals
- Disinfection byproducts
- Pesticides
- PFOA
- PFOS
With its 150-gallon filter life, this pitcher requires less frequent maintenance than the Clearly Filtered, but still more than the Waterdrop Chubby. You get a built-in indicator to remind you when it’s time to replace your filter, and you can even send four expired filters to the company for a free replacement!
The Epic Pure holds 14.8 cups of water and is made of BPA-free materials (filter cartridges are made in the USA). Its lifetime warranty and return policy are better than those of the Waterdrop Chubby. Keep in mind that you can get a discount if you’re in the army, or are a first responder, medical worker, teacher, student, senior, or an owner/employee of a non-profit organization.
All in all, we consider the Clearly Filtered Pitcher to be the best and most effective. Next comes the Epic Pure. The Waterdrop Chubby is really affordable but we would only recommend it if you just want to improve water aesthetics.
More Waterdrop Reviews:
This completes our review of the Waterdrop Chubby 10-Cup 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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