Day 17 of 20: BPA with that H2O?

I've had this plastic water filter for over ten years.

The water in my city is generally safe to drink, in part because the city uses chlorine to lower the risk of microbial contamination.  

Water was chlorinated as early as 1908 in the U.S., which changed the landscape of public health:

"A 2004 statistical study of disease rates in cities found clean water to be the reason for rapid declines in urban death rates during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The study concludes that clean water was responsible for 'nearly half of the total mortality reduction in major cities, three-quarters of the infant mortality reduction, and nearly two-thirds of the child mortality reduction.' The study puts forth a striking finding -- that chlorination and filtration reduced typhoid fever by 91percent within 5 years, leading to its near-eradication by 1936." -Retrieved from Water Quality & Health, based on a 2004 study by National Bureau of Economic Research

The U.S. passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 which regulates and enforces disinfection of the public water supply with chloramine and chlorine dioxide, as well as chlorine.

While chlorine disinfects, it also adds a distinct taste and smell, which is the primary reason I've used a filter for drinking water. Ten years ago, however, no one was talking about bisphenol-A (BPA) in the plastic; it was officially recalled from baby bottles and sippy cups just two years ago, in July of 2012.  

In day #9 of this challenge, I learned that while there's been a more wide-scale movement toward the use of BPA-free plastics, researchers are now concerned that BPA-free substitutes are also unsafe.

I have no idea whether the pitcher filter I've used all these years is BPA-free or not (probably not), but during this challenge, I began researching alternatives for the removal of chlorine. My criteria include the following: 

• The container or mechanism shouldn't be plastic (if I'm going to bother replacing the one I've got...)
• Replaceable filters should generate zero to minimal waste 
• The filtering unit would ideally be economical in size (i.e., not take up a lot of space)
• If the unit requires installation, it shouldn't be so complicated that I have to hire a plumber (this one's negotiable)

Apartment Therapy offered a good overview of drinking water filters. Brondell, for example, produces a product that is easy to install and which offers long-lasting filters (two require replacement every six months and the third has to be replaced once per year). I was curious about the filters themselves though, so I emailed the company. They responded:

"As of now, no, we do not recycle our filters, and our filters are not recyclable.  We do not have a filter recycling program in place for our customers, either.  Though it is regrettable, we are working hard toward creating compostable filters. However, it's still too early in the development stage to be able to give an accurate estimate of when these filters will be available and in our systems."

Soma offers a highly portable filtering carafe that uses filters "made entirely from biodegradable materials, including coconut shells, silk, and a plant-based casing." It appears that the Soma doesn't filter as wide a spectrum of contaminants as the Brondell and its filters have to be replaced every 60 days (similar to a Britta). 

New Wave's 10-Stage faucet filter is also a possibility. It filters a wide spectrum of contaminants, and the filters are meant to last for a full year, but their filters come in heavy-duty plastic, and the water travels through plastic. (Update July 6: This company has not yet responded to either of the emails I sent asking if they take back their filters for re-use/ recycling.) 

I found another refillable kind of filter (similar to the Soma and common Britta) from a company called Big Berkey. They produce a line of filters for various household sizes. The containers are made of stainless steel and the filters are carbon. Their FAQ states that the filters are "made of organic materials and will not leach contaminants back into the ground." When I emailed to ask how they are cased, they replied that "there is no plastic but the base of the filter is nylon." The units require counter space and are expensive compared to the commonly-available 'pitcher-style' filter. However, the portable, stainless steel container with low-waste replaceable filters is definitely a more sustainable option. 

A friend also mentioned that her husband purchased a simple carbon filter from a home improvement store and installed it under the sink. At first glance, most if not all of these are made of plastic, however. 

I haven't decided what I'll use to filter my water when I replace the pitcher, but when I do, I'll send the pitcher to Terracycle's Britta Brigade.  

If you use a filter, what do you use? Any tips?