Review on 🚰 Brita Marina Black Water Filter Pitcher - BPA Free, 8 Cup Capacity with Standard Filter by Melanie Hartmann

Let me start by saying that the water that comes out of the faucet in my house is pretty gross. Sometimes it smells like bleach, sometimes like eggs, but always hard and thick. Making such water palatable is no easy task, but Brita's filter system helps (so far I've changed the filter every two weeks). It may not taste as good as the water I used to bring home, but it's a lot cheaper. If I have any issues with the Brita Marina pitcher, it's not because of its ability to filter water. The filter snaps securely into place and I've had no issues with stray carbon particles getting into my drinking water. They are also not based on design aesthetics because it is a beautiful jug. The first issue I had with this pitcher is that it's really bulky. It takes up way more space in the fridge than it should and is a constant nuisance. It's too big to fit comfortably in a refrigerator door and chunkier than a gallon of milk. Secondly, the filter change indicator does not work properly. Again, I need to change the filter more often than most people, so I don't use it, but I do notice that it flickers to indicate water is leaking out when it shouldn't and doesn't flicker when it should. The problem it causes for me has more to do with cleanup than misbehavior. Hard water leaves hard water residue and the lid would be a lot easier to clean without the display (or its randomly flashing lights). Next is that the spout has a small valve attached to the top of the lid. When you pour, the valve should (in theory) open to allow water to flow from the pitcher into the glass. The problem is that it doesn't always open, which allows water to flow from the jug to the floor, from the jug to the counter, and, if you're very, very lucky, from the jug onto your clothes. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that the valve keeps the jug free of fridge and dirt smells. I just wish it wasn't so spirited. Last but not least is the problem of leakage. I haven't done enough detective work to figure out why I often find this pitcher in a puddle, but I don't overfill my pitcher, so I suspect the water needs to get to the handle as I fill it (and then slowly into the drain in fridge). Whatever the cause, it's not a leak that really does any damage, but the constant mopping of puddles becomes tiresome over time. It is written like this: Brita must make a better pitcher than this. Sure, it's nice, but there should be a Brita jug on the market that pours constantly, doesn't leak, is easy to clean and takes up less space in the fridge.