If you’re looking to improve the quality of your drinking water, chances are you’ve considered a water filter jug. They’re easy to find on the high street, relatively affordable, and promise cleaner, better-tasting water with minimal effort. But are they really the best solution?
In this blog, we’re looking at the difference between a water filter jug and a professionally fitted drinking water filter tap – and why a proper system might be the smarter choice for your home and your health.
Water Filter Jugs: The Basic Option
Water filter jugs are a common household item, often found in fridges across the country. They use replaceable cartridges to reduce impurities like chlorine, limescale, and heavy metals. You fill the jug from the tap, and the water passes through the filter, drip by drip.
Sounds simple enough – and it is. But that simplicity comes with limitations.
The downsides of water filter jugs:
- Slow filtration: If you need more than a few glasses at once, you’ll be waiting.
- Small capacity: Most jugs only hold a couple of litres, meaning frequent refills.
- Limited filtration: Many jug filters can’t remove microplastics, bacteria, or pesticides.
- Ongoing cost: Filter cartridges need replacing regularly – and that cost adds up.
- Short lifespan: Cartridges only last a few weeks before they lose effectiveness.
While they’re fine for occasional use or as a stopgap, jugs are very much a short-term fix – not a long-term solution for consistently high-quality drinking water.
Drinking Water Filters: The Premium Solution
Unlike a jug, a fitted drinking water filter tap is installed under your kitchen sink or at the point of use. It connects directly to your water supply, filtering the water before it even reaches your glass. Depending on the system you choose, it can target a much wider range of contaminants and deliver filtered water instantly, whenever you need it.
Why fitted filters are the better choice:
- Powerful purification: Removes a wider range of impurities, including chlorine, lead, bacteria, microplastics, and even pharmaceutical residues.
- Unlimited supply: No waiting around – just turn on the tap for instant filtered water.
- Cost-effective: While there’s an upfront cost, long-term savings on cartridges (and bottled water) make it a smart investment.
- Discreet design: Installed out of sight, leaving your worktops clear and uncluttered.
- Eco-friendly: No plastic cartridges every few weeks, and no need to buy bottled water again.
Fitted systems are designed for serious water quality – giving you peace of mind that every glass is clean, fresh, and safe.
Contaminant Comparison: Jug vs Fitted Filter
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of what each type of filter typically removes:
| Contaminant | Water Filter JUG | Fitted Drinking Water Filter TAP |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Limescale | ✅ Some reduction | ✅ Significant reduction |
| Heavy metals (e.g., lead) | ✅ Partial | ✅ Effective removal |
| Microplastics | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pesticides & herbicides | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Bacteria & viruses | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (with advanced systems) |
| Nitrates | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pharmaceutical residues | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Taste & odour improvements | ✅ Some | ✅ Noticeable improvement |
Note: Performance varies depending on the brand and model, but fitted systems consistently outperform jugs in nearly every category.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a quick, cheap fix for occasional use, a water filter jug might do the job. But if you care about the long-term health of your family, reducing your plastic waste, and improving the taste and safety of your water every single day, a proper drinking water filter tap system is the way to go.
At AquaSoft, we offer a range of drinking water filter tap systems designed to meet different needs and budgets – all expertly installed and easy to maintain.
Ready to Ditch the Jug?
Say goodbye to slow-drip filters and hello to fresh, filtered water on tap. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen, improving your family’s health, or just tired of replacing cartridges every month, we can help.
Contact AquaSoft today to find out more about our professional drinking water filter systems – and discover the difference for yourself.