Questions about products and water filtration

Both functions refer to an electronic cartridge replacement indicator; in other words, a filter reminder that tells you when to replace your filter cartridge.

The BRITA Memo takes the time since the filter cartridge was last replaced into consideration: simply press the button to start the countdown for the remaining cartridge life and you are automatically reminded to replace the cartridge after four weeks. The practical Memo function is featured on the Navelia, Fjord, Marella and Optimax BRITA models.

The BRITA Meter on the other hand, determines the optimum time to replace the cartridge on an individual basis, depending on the volume of water filtered, water hardness and the time since the cartridge was last replaced. This unique technology is integrated into the BRITA Elemaris premium model. You can also simply remove it from the lid so this can be cleaned in the dishwasher without any problems.

After preparing a new MAXTRA filter cartridge, press and hold down the "START" button on the BRITA Meter for approximately six seconds until four bars appear in the display and "O.K." flashes.

Provided that the "O.K." filter cartridge icon is displayed and flashing, your MAXTRA cartridge is filtering properly. The percentages shown in the individual bars on your display tell you the remaining capacity of the MAXTRA filter cartridge. Flashing water droplets that move in succession from top to bottom on the display indicate the filtration process is active. If the empty filter cartridge icon flashes with "NEW", you should replace your MAXTRA filter cartridge.

Please remember to replace the filter cartridge every four weeks at the latest, as the requirement for careful hygiene to ensure that you are experiencing optimum performance from your BRITA cartridge.

Simply press and hold down the start button on the lid until all four bars appear in the display and flash twice. The BRITA Memo is now set.

The flashing dot in the bottom right-hand corner of the display indicates that the Memo is working. One bar will disappear each week and the remaining bars in the display indicate the remaining lifetime of the cartridge.

Please remember to replace the filter cartridge every four weeks at the latest, as the requirement for careful hygiene to ensure that you are experiencing optimum performance from your BRITA cartridge.

MAXTRA and Classic filter cartridges:

1. 1. Fill your jug or a bowl with water.
2. 2. Immerse your cartridge in the water and shake vigorously from side to side to ciculate water within your cartridge and to remove all air bubbles for about 1 minute.
3. 3. Insert the cartridge firmly in your funnel/hopper, until it clicks into place.
4. 4. Filter and discard the first two litres of filtered water. Your filter is now ready to use.

Multifit filter cartridge:

1. 1. Fill your jug or a bowl with water.
2. 2. Immerse your cartridge into the bowl and shake vigorously to circulate water within your cartridge and to remove all air bubbles and leave to soak for a minimum of 30 minutes.
3. 3. Insert the cartridge firmly into your funnel/hopper.
4. 4. Filter and discard the first two litres of filtered water. Your filter is now ready to use.

Inline, P 1000 and A 1000 filter cartridges:

1. 1. Connect your filter cartridge (as per your dispenser instructions).
2. 2. Turn on the BRITA dispenser and filter and discard the first two litres of water. Your filter is now ready to use.

As the first company in our field, we developed a recycling programme for used cartridges back in 1992. Using a complex process, the components of the BRITA filter cartridges are separated and fully recycled. 

• Temperatures between 1°C and 50°C.
• No direct sunlight.
• No exposure to radiation.
• The cartridges must be kept in the original sealed packaging.

In order that the quality of your BRITA filtered water is maintained at a high level, you should replace the filter cartridge at regular intervals.

The service life of the filter cartridge depends on the local water quality: if your mains water contains a carbonate hardness of 12 to 14.5° EH (degree of clarke hardness), then the filter cartridge should be replaced after a consumption of 100 litres of water. If the water is harder or consumption is greater, the lifetime of the cartridge reduces accordingly.

The cartridge should be replaced after four weeks at the latest, as the requirement for careful hygiene to ensure that you are experiencing optimum performance from your BRITA cartridge.

You don't know the carbonate hardness of your water?

No problem, simply request your free and non-binding BRITA water hardness test strip. It takes just a few seconds to use it to determine, if you have soft or hard water. Email your address details to
enquiries@brita.co.uk.

Important: the test strip can only be dispatched within the UK.

The filter material of the MAXTRA filter cartridge contains a mixture of ion exchange resins and activated carbon that has been tested to food grade quality. The ion exchange resin used reduces the carbonate hardness (limescale) and reduces metals, such as copper and lead, that can occur as a result of domestic installation. The activated carbon removes substances that may impair taste, such as chlorine and chlorine compounds (where present).

The innovative MAXTRA FlowControl technology ensures an even water flow and consistent quality of the filter performance. For your enjoyment — every day.

The black particles are parts of one of BRITA's filter media, the activated carbon. The granulated activated carbon is made of coconut shells. Like each natural product, coconut shells are subject to natural variances regarding product quality. This can lead to abrasion of parts of the carbon into your filtered water. To eradicate any carbon dust which may be present, preparation of your cartridge is crucial. 

Please prepare as per your cartridge instructions or see "How to prepare your cartridge". 

Please be assured that the contents of the cartridge are food grade and completely harmless to yourself and if accidentally consumed will be harmless to health.  Their presence will not affect the performance of the cartridge.

If there are still dust or particles present after this initial preparation, then we would suggest that the cartridge is removed from the system and re-prepared by:

MAXTRA, Classic & Multifit cartridges:

Vigorously shaking under water, then re-install and flush through with two litres of water.

Inline, P 1000 & A 1000 cartridges:

Flush a futher two litres of water through the cartridge.

The contents of all BRITA cartridges are food grade and completely harmless to yourself and if accidentally consumed will be harmless to health. 

The BRITA cartridge is not designed to remove fluoride. Some fluoride is naturally present in tap water, whilst some water companies add fluoride to the water. If you are concerned about the presence of fluoride in your tap water, you should check with your water supplier.

Once the BRITA cartridge is full it will simply stop filtering. It will not leak impurities back into the filtered water. The worst case will be tap water in, tap water out.

No, this cannot happen - the key step in preventing such an occurrence is a process called INNER EXCHANGE. First the contaminants absorb (stick to the surface of the materials) and then, over the next few hours, these contaminants permanently absorb through INNER EXCHANGE into the interior of the beads thus preventing any release from the surface back into the water.

• The carbonate hardness (calcium and magnesium ions) in the mains water is reduced.
• The free and bound chlorine content is reduced (if present).
• The lead or copper content in the mains water, which can be increased by corresponding domestic installations, is reduced.

The overall hardness of water consists of permanent hardness and temporary hardness. Permanent hardness (caused by calcium and magnesium sulphates as well as chloride) does not influence the taste of water or the function of household appliances. Temporary hardness (caused by calcium and magnesium hydrogen carbonate) primarily affects the taste of food and other beverages prepared with hot water. It is also responsible for the scale deposits found in household appliances that heat water. Not least important, many plants and flowers flourish with decarbonised water. 

The BRITA water filter cartridge reduces the temporary hardness of drinking water. The results of this reduction: greater tasting water for hot drinks and cooked food and less scale build up in household appliances. Tea tests performed for over 40 years have consistently shown that consumers perceive differences between the appearance and taste of tea prepared with BRITA filtered water versus with unfiltered water. This difference is clearly more pronounced in regions with harder water than in soft water areas.