Living in town definitely has its perks, but it can also have its downside.  We used to live on a farm, so we really got spoiled having well water, plus not having to pay for water.  Now we not only have to pay for city water, but it’s got that lovely chlorine scent and taste to it.  We usually fill two water jugs every day to keep in the fridge, so we always have cold water, and the chlorine can really settle to the bottom of those jugs, it seems.

Given the chance to review the Filtrete Water Station, I was totally ready to try it out and see if it passed the test.  This water station is a filter that filters the water from your faucet right into four reusable, plastic bottles.  These bottles are BPA free, and you can wash them in the dishwasher.  It can filter in all four of the bottles at the same time, or you can filter into just one or two bottles.  Even though it’s designed to use with the bottles, we’ve actually found a way to use the filter to fill our water jugs too, as the water station comes apart easily.  However, filling these bottles is so awesome because we are always off to the bike trails, my son has tae kwon do and cub scouts, and I can easily take one to choir rehearsal if need be.  They’re so handy for anywhere that we have to be.

When I first saw the water station, I really thought it would take forever to filter the water down through the filter into the bottles, but it really doesn’t; it takes a matter of seconds really.  You just pour water slowly through the filter.  I also wondered how well it would work with our chlorine situation, so we put it to the test.  It works wonderfully!  We have no chlorine scent in our water anymore, and we have no more of that nasty taste.  Our water tastes as fresh as the well water we used to drink. We also had an issue with the bottle lids in the very beginning.  They just pop onto the bottles, and at first they were a bit awkward to position and pop on correctly; we were afraid our kids might have trouble with that or easily break them, but the kids have done fine with them.  No broken bottles so far, as they are very sturdy.  I usually send them with my boys when they’re playing outside, and if they can withstand being outside with two rambunctious boys (something not all of our cups/bottles have survived), they are a-ok in my book.:)

The Filtrete Water Station is designed to help reduce both sediment and chlorine; it definitely makes me feel that we are making a healthier choice by filtering our water.  The filter will filter up to 100 gallons of water, or for about 3 months, which is quite a long time.  It also has an indicator that will tell you when it’s time for a filter change.  The filter housing itself is recyclable, made of #2 plastic.

You can purchase the Filtrete Water Station at your local Walmart or hardware store.  Prices depend on your local stores, but suggested retail price of the water station (everything included) is $42.99; for the water bottles, $15.99; and for the fast flow filter, $12.99.  Find out where to buy in your area.  I’m also including a coupon here, which you can print and use to get $5 off your purchase, good until 12/1/10. This water station can save up to 3,000 bottles of water a year, which not only makes a difference on our pocketbooks, but it makes a significant difference to our environment and to our landfills.  Make a difference by reusing what you can.  You can Like Filtrete Water on Facebook or follow @FiltreteWater on Twitter.

(Disclosure: I received the Filtrete Water Station, free of charge, from 3M and Hunter Public Relations, for the purposes of this review.)