The bottle in the water purifier
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Are you thinking of buying a carafe filter to improve the taste and quality of your tap waterIf you're looking for a new product, but you're wondering about its effectiveness and how it works?Â
Over the last few years, a number of scientific studies, including those by ANSES and the association "Que choisir", have issued a warning of the need to take action. more than reserved opinion on the beneficial effects of filtering jugs on health (concentration of bacteria in filters, acidity of water, microplastics, etc.).Â
Their ecological impact is also under fire: non-recyclable cartridges have to be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks, which generates a lot of plastic waste.Â
In this article, you will find our (unfiltered) opinion on the usefulness of these carafes and their filters. We will also discuss the various disadvantages related to their use. Finally, we will see that there are a number of numerous alternatives more healthy, efficient and environmentally friendly, such as LAVIE filter carafe.
A carafe filter (some would sayfilter jug"orfilter coffee maker"is a way of improving taste and the quality oftap water from your kitchen. It operates in filtering out certain impurities that can be found in the tap water in your home.Â
But be warned: not all carafes are created equal! To find out more, we compare the LAVIE purifier with classic models such as Brita in our article on the best filter carafes.
Using this type of filter gives you access to a range of drinking water cleaner and better tastewithout the additives or extra cost of bottled water.
It is true that a decanter does not require no complicated installation and is easy to use. All you have to do is fill it with cold tap water and leave it to stand for a few minutes. You'll then be able to enjoy freshly filtered water and better quality.
The device consists of a double-tank container. Sa upper part is designed to receive the water to be filtered. The lower part stores the filtered water. Finally, the appliance is fitted with a cartridge containing the filter itself.
Le filter or the filter cartridge of the carafe is the nerve centre of the appliance.
Inside, you'll find white ballsion exchange resins, and black ballscomposed of activated carbon. The activated carbon is a material obtained by carbonising and activating carbon-rich organic materials such as coconut shells and wood. Its porous structure allows it to capture impurities such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. chlorinethe pesticides and organic residues by adsorbing them to its surface.
Finally, everything is wrapped in plastic and enriched with silver particles to prevent bacterial growth in the filter.
In this way, the water you pour into the carafe's top reservoir will flow through the top of the carafe. gravity through these beads (this takes several minutes and must be done several times) into the bottom tank.
Before presenting the main disadvantages of conventional filter carafes and the alternatives availableA simple test using methylene blue can easily call into question their filtration efficiency.
Here, we compare a classic model with the LAVIE carafe with UV-A technology (i.e. without a filter!), which destroys bacteria, viruses and other unwanted contaminants in just a few minutes.
Filter cartridges for carafes, like those for coffee podsare very difficult to recycle. The process is specific and costly, due to the mix of components and the low value of the materials.
Cartridges therefore produce a large number of plastic wastewhich have a major environmental impact. What's more, the pollutants concentrated in these filters, which will never be recycled (at best burnt in an incinerator, at worst dumped in an open-air landfill), will return to the environment - it's a vicious circle!
So, no, the carafe and its filters made of ion exchange resins and activated carbon are not the best choice. are not an ecological solution.
It is also important to understand that useful capacity of the decanters is not the one advertised, but only that of the low tank !
In fact, a advertised capacity of 2.4 litres for the models of the best-known brands do not contain 1.4 litres of filtered water. Nonetheless, the appliance will occupy 3 litres of space in your fridgewhich generally has no dedicated space for this type of container.
So, yes, it's a fact that a filtering jug reduces the chlorine. In fact, that's probably the main reason why it's used. In fact, tap water that has been purified of chlorine (used primarily to disinfect the water) will be much more pleasant to drink. better taste.
However, according to ANSES, the process of reducing the minerals in carafes will produce acidic water. Its pH will fall from an average of 7.5 to 6, and will become corrosive to metals in household appliances.
For example, if your water is filtered by a carafe, it will protect your kettle from limescale and scale, it will also damage it through its acidity. The metal in your kettle will corrode and then break if you boil it in acidic, salty water too often!
Another tip for getting rid of limescale if you use water that is balanced in terms of trace elements in your kettle: a spoonful of citric acid effectively removes limescale and costs just a few euros per kg. See all our tips for descaling a kettle.
In conclusion, you've got it, it is not advisable to use water from the filter carafe in household appliances that heat water in metal: kettles, coffee machines, etc.
The final point is bacteriological. L'UFC Que Choisir and theANSES warn after analysis of "nests of bacteriaIn other words, it's "measured" in the day-to-day use of carafes.
In fact, a report by the French National Health and Safety Agency (ANSES) published in March 2017 concludes that the effectiveness of filter carafes is open to debate.
Although these jugs promise healthier water than tap water at a lower cost than bottled water, the agency warns that inappropriate use can lead to the proliferation of bacteria.
The report warns against microbiological contamination linked to misuse of carafes at home. According to ANSES, when used at home, carafes can can become veritable breeding grounds for bacteriacompromising water quality.
Using filter jugs can release certain contaminants such as silver, sodium, potassium and ammonium ions in drinking water.
In addition, as we mentioned earlier, some carafes can lower the pH of the water. According to Canadian and British studies, this lowering could promote release of certain metals when heated in contact with metal or ceramic utensils. However, ANSES states that current data do not indicate any health risk for consumers.
As far as water quality is concerned, ANSES believes that most carafes meet the standards for reducing odour, bad taste, chlorine, lead and copper. But performance varies considerably between models. ANSES also raises the question of the relevance of filtering the calcium and the copperMany people already have inadequate intakes of these minerals.
Finally, in 2010, analyses had already shown that all the carafes tested at home had led to a deterioration in water quality.
Although carafes don't offer all the filtration efficiency you need for your tap water, you shouldn't conclude from this that the solution lies in buying water packs !
In fact, bottled water is a much worse alternative, both for the environment and for our health.environment and your wallet ! Did you know thatbottled water is at least 300 times more expensive than tap water ?
But don't worry, there are several alternatives for purify tap water naturallyincluding LAVIE carafe and its UV-A technology.
The tap water purifiers LAVIE works without filters or maintenance and allows you to purify your tap water in just a few minutes. 15 minutes.
They use an innovative technology, different from the gravity filtration of the carafe, patented and exclusive to LaVie: the photolysis of chlorine by UV-A radiation.
This treatment, which has been shown to be effective (see the scientific advice), enableschlorine removal and its derivatives, chemical compounds such as certain pesticides, herbicides, drug residues. As a result unpleasant tastes and smells that can be found in tap water are eliminated.
Here's how to use it:Â
Your LaVie bottle of tap water
The bottle in the water purifier
Time taken for UV-A light to activate chlorine photolysis (15 minutes)
And enjoy the real taste of healthy water!
The results are very qualitative, allowing us to draw a definitive line under the consumption of plastic bottled water and regain pleasant taste of the water.
L'carbon footprint linked to the manufacture of the UV water purifier's aluminium tube is neutralised in just a few days' use, compared with the equivalent consumption of water in plastic bottles.
Finally, the savings on the cost of plastic water bottles will quickly pay for itself.
Find out more about LAVIE purifiers and enjoy healthy, pure tap water for your family!
With its large 5L tank, LaFontaine is the she ideal filtration system for families. As with LAVIE purifiers, this product uses UV-A technology to eliminate chlorine taste and odour, traces of pesticides, drug residues and bacteria.
Of course, all the while preserving all of the trace elements essential for good health. Enjoying quality mineral water at home, without plastic bottles or polluting filters, is now child's play with LAVIE!
Conventional filter jugs such as Brita models improve the taste of water and reduce certain contaminants such as chlorine, but they do not eliminate them completely. What's more, the filtration process also removes essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which can have a negative impact on the taste of water. impact on health.
What's more, according to ANSES, improper use of filter jugs can lead to proliferation of bacteriaThis will result in considerably degrade the quality of your waterinstead of improving it.
a. Environmental impact Filter cartridges for carafes, like coffee pods, are very difficult to recycle, unless you pay a lot of money for a specific process, because of the mix of components and the low value of the materials.
b. Low useful capacity Carafes take up more space in the fridge than the amount of water they actually contain.
c. Reduction in essential trace elements Carafes: Carafes significantly reduce the levels of calcium and magnesium in water, which are essential for good health.
d. Chlorine reduction Water softeners: Although they reduce chlorine, they also make the water more acidic and corrosive to household appliances.
e. Bacteria Poorly maintained filter carafes can become breeding grounds for bacteria, compromising water quality.
Some decanters, such as the LAVIE 2GO, LAVIE PURE, or LAVIE PREMIUM models, which use the UV-A technology. are capable of eliminating traces of pesticides from water, unlike conventional systems.
The under-sink activated carbon filters and UV-A purifiers are effective, easy to use and economical. They reduce the majority of common contaminants without generating polluting waste or requiring costly maintenance.Â
These solutions are better for the environment and the economyThis is much more efficient than filter carafes or more complex systems such as reverse osmosis.
The most effective alternatives include :
So-called "natural" solutions such as binchotan coal or clay balls are not to be preferred, as there are no independent scientific studies proving their effectiveness against bacteria, pesticides, etc.
Article updated on 08/07/2025 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.
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