Is filtering really cheaper than buying bottled water?

In the vast majority of cases yes, because tap water costs a few thousandths of a euro per litre and only cartridges are a recurring expense. The gap still depends on what you currently pay for bottles and how often you replace cartridges: the calculator above lets you check it with your own figures.

How long does it take for a filter pitcher to pay for itself?

The break-even point is when the savings on bottles cover the purchase price of the pitcher. With common assumptions this is usually a matter of a few weeks to a few months. It takes longer if you drink little water or already buy cheap bottles.

Is filtered water better for your health?

Nothing supports that claim for water that is already compliant. Domestic filtration mainly improves taste. It also removes part of the calcium and magnesium, which contribute to mineral intake. A health benefit only exists against an identified problem, and only if the chosen technology treats that specific problem.

Do cartridges need changing often?

Yes, and this is the critical point. Manufacturers state a lifespan in litres treated or in weeks. Past that point the cartridge saturates and can encourage bacterial growth. A poorly maintained pitcher delivers worse water than a plain glass from the tap.

Is tap water safe in France?

Water distributed in France is one of the most monitored foodstuffs, with regular analyses published municipality by municipality. The national compliance rate is very high, but localised exceedances exist. Checking the official results for your municipality is the only way to know where you stand.

Costs & uses

Bottled water or filtration: the real cost

Choosing between bottled water and filtered tap water is not only a question of price. Taste, everyday convenience, the weight of packs to carry home and plastic waste weigh as much in the decision as the annual cost.

The financial gap is nonetheless real: tap water costs a few thousandths of a euro per litre, bottled water a few dozen cents. Domestic filtration sits in between, since it adds the recurring cost of cartridges. The calculator below lets you put figures on your own situation, with your own prices.

This page compares orders of magnitude, not products: it recommends no brand and its content is not influenced by any commercial interest.

Calculator: how much does your water cost each year?

Every parameter below is a default assumption and can be edited. Adjust them to the prices you actually pay.

People in the household

Litres drunk per person per day

Average bottled water price (€/L)

Tap water price (€/L)

Price of one filter cartridge (€)

Litres treated per cartridge (L)

Purchase price of the pitcher (€)

Result over one year

Annual cost of bottled water€274/year

Annual cost of tap water + filtration€41/year

Annual volume consumed

1,095 L

Cartridges needed per year

7.3

Estimated annual saving

€233

Pitcher pays for itself in

1 months

Based on a filter pitcher bought for about €20.

Indicative estimates: these results depend entirely on the values you enter and are neither a guaranteed price nor purchasing advice.

What filtration does and does not do

A filter pitcher mainly acts on taste: activated carbon captures residual chlorine and some organic compounds responsible for odours. The ion-exchange resin temporarily reduces hardness, and therefore the feeling of limescale.

However, a pitcher does not make unsafe water drinkable. It does not remove nitrates, and its effectiveness on lead or certain metals depends entirely on the cartridge type and its condition. A cartridge used beyond its lifespan can even degrade water quality.

For a specific need (nitrates, lead, high hardness), the right technology is not always a pitcher. Comparing technologies before buying avoids a pointless expense.

Filter pitcher comparison Which water filter should you choose?

When bottled water still makes sense

Some situations justify bottled water: preparing infant bottles with very low-mineral water, low-sodium diets, targeted magnesium or calcium intake, or an explicit medical recommendation. In these cases the water composition is the criterion, not its price.

The other case is regulatory: when a municipality records a confirmed exceedance (nitrates, pesticides, microbiology), the health authority can restrict tap water consumption. Checking the official analyses for your municipality comes before any decision.

Check my water quality Diagnosis: which water suits me?

Frequently asked questions

Going further

Full guide: treating tap water

All domestic treatment options and their real limits.

Full guide: treating tap water

Bottled water prices

Price readings by brand and retailer, updated regularly.

Bottled water prices

Bottled water ranking

Waters compared by composition and mineral profile.

Bottled water ranking

Water quality by municipality

Official analyses for your distribution network.

Water quality by municipality