How To Check Brita Filter Status

Photo: Stocksy/Lumina

You might consider yourself a hydrationqueen: Yous chug water in the a.grand. (a la Rachel Zoe), snack on fruit, and sip marshmallow root water (information technology'southward a thing) mid-flight. But if the first step of your H2O routine involves reaching for your Brita, your salubrious habit might not be as clean every bit you think.

"The whole idea of a h2o filter is to remove chemical contaminants—they're not all that great at removing microbial contaminants," explains Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author of The Germ Files. So while your pitcher or faucet filter likely does safeguard against chlorine, copper, zinc, and little black specks in your tap water (AKA particulates), after about six months, microbes can build up and class what'south called a biofilm on the within of your filter.

Icky, yeah. But harmful? Probably non, says Tetro. Most of the bacteria calling your filter home is innocuous. But if left to its own devices for too long, your filter tin become a breeding footing for fungi and viruses—whichcanbe detrimental to your health. Then how can you tell if you're filter needs to exist tossed? (After all, yous desire your water to be cleanerafterwardit's filtered through, non before.)

Here'southward Tetro's advice on how to use your senses to determine whether or non you lot need to retire your quondam water filter.

germ water filter checklist — Photo: Stocksy/BONNINSTUDIO

Requite your h2o filter a diagnostic

Since most water filters don't allow you to take a peek inside to check for biofilm, Tetro says you'll have to enlist your senses of aroma and gustation to evaluate its status.

Beginning, pour yourself a glass of water and give it a sniff. "When yous starting time to have bacterial growth, it tends to odor," says Tetro. If y'all've ever skipped a shower for a few days, you're familiar with the certainripenessthat comes from abstaining, yes? Well, it's the same with water.

What ends up happening, explains Tetro, "is that as the microbes grow, they produce [bacterial] byproducts that get into the water." Luckily for you, sure types of leaner have tell-tale scents. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, for instance, is known to smell like grapes or freshly baked tortillas.

If y'all've ever skipped a shower for a few days, you're familiar with the certainripenessthat comes from abstaining, yes? Well, it'due south the same with h2o.

After smelling your water, take a sip:Tetro says there are three distinct flavors that should point to your gustatory modality buds that something's awry. Go prepare—none of them are particularly appetizing.

Start up, if your water starts to emanate a beer-like yeastiness, it's definitely time to make a change. If your H20 tastes a little musty, it's probablythe result of a soil-leap bacteria. And finally, any pathogens (AKA disease-causing bacteria) will give your h2o a fishy taste.

If these quickie tests yield any of the above results, Tetro says it's loftier time to add a new filter to your Amazon cart.

At present that you've detoxed your Brita (phew), castor upwardly on these 3hydration tips everyone should follow and the morn drink that has hydration superpowers.