Brita's and water bottles are commonly used by college students. This article explores the pros and cons of each. 

Price

The price of a 10-cup pitcher Brita costs $32 to $37. Brita recommends that the filter be replaced every two months and the replacement filter costs $8. One water bottle will cost you about $1 and a pack of 24 water bottles costs about $7. A water bottle is generally 16.9 fluid ounces, so a 24-pack would hold 3.168 gallons of water. A Brita can be refilled at anytime, but the maximum capacity it can hold is .625 gallons. Verdict: Brita. The water bottles are cheaper for the amount of water they hold, but the Brita can be refilled as much as you like, so Brita wins the price category.

Ease of use 

Water bottles can be removed from the fridge, ready to be used immediately. A water bottle can travel with you anywhere you go because they are relatively lightweight and a cap keeps the water inside the bottle. Backpacks have water bottles holders, so students can easily bring water to their classes. On the other hand, every time you want to drink water out of a Brita, the pitcher has to be refilled. You cannot drink directly out of a Brita, and the water needs to be poured out into another drinking device. It is not realistic to carry a Brita anywhere outside of your residence. Verdict: Water bottles. Water bottles are made to be a portable source of water that can be brought anywhere. Water bottles easily win this category. 

Cleanliness

Brita’s can collect dirt and germs if the filter is not replaced within the recommended time period. If the filter is not replaced, then you are basically drinking tap water. Water bottles are relatively clean and are regulated by the FDA. Water bottles will always have fresh water that will not be very old. Verdict: Water bottles. Although sometimes water bottle companies use tap water, lazy college students will most likely forget to change the Brita filter and end up drinking impure water.  

Environmental friendliness 

When water bottles are not recycled they are extremely harmful to the environment. Water bottles are filling up landfills and wasting many valuable resources that can be used elsewhere. Brita’s are very effective for saving environmental resources and reducing waste. Verdict: Brita. Brita is by far the better choice if you want to help out the environment in any way possible. 

Availability 

Water bottles are available anywhere there is food or other drinks are sold. Water bottles can be bought whenever needed. Brita’s can bought at most convenient stores, but you need to have water to fill up a Brita. Verdict: Water bottles are very convenient and can be bought on the go at any time.      

Final verdict

Brita very closely beats out water bottles in this competition. Once your water bottle supply runs out you are completely out of water. Brita’s are a source of water every time you need it. As long as you remember to replace your Brita filter and spend a little more money, Brita’s are the way to go.