Quick question on the Brita filter

rutchtkim

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2001
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I see tiny specs of that black filter stuff in my water. Is it safe to drink? I followed the instruction on how to use the filter but I still get some small black particles in my cup.

Thanks
 

civad

Golden Member
May 30, 2001
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Edit: didnt read the first post properly....The black flakes in Brita seem to be a common prblem (AFAIK). I havent found anything that suggests that it might be harmful.
 

TwinkleToes77

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2002
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Interesting you say that.. we have a brita pitcher... and after replacing the filter in that we were getting black flecks ( i assume charcoal filter) in the water thats already been filtered too.
 

rutchtkim

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2001
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well , im not sure... I live at my dorm.. I get the water from the water fountain and just fill the brita thing up. But when I pour water out of the brita filter, I see the small black filter material that came out of the brita filter alonf with the water. Any ideas?
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
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Are there black flecks in the water before it gets run through the Brita? If not, then the black flecs are probably from the carbon filter.
 

rutchtkim

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: tweakmm
Are there black flecks in the water before it gets run through the Brita? If not, then the black flecs are probably from the carbon filter.

No, only happens when the water goes through the brita filter. Is is safe to drink?
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
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Originally posted by: rutchtkim
well , im not sure... I live at my dorm.. I get the water from the water fountain and just fill the brita thing up. But when I pour water out of the brita filter, I see the small black filter material that came out of the brita filter alonf with the water. Any ideas?

i get lots of those black particles in the unfiltered part of the pitcher. make sure you pour water only when the top part is dry so you don't get get some of the water from the top into the bottom part/your cup

(i've never seen the black particles in the bottom part btw)
 

SyahM

Golden Member
Nov 6, 2001
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I'm pretty sure that black flecks are coming from the carbon filter. I see them all the time from my two brita filter.
 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
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Originally posted by: dighn
Originally posted by: rutchtkim
well , im not sure... I live at my dorm.. I get the water from the water fountain and just fill the brita thing up. But when I pour water out of the brita filter, I see the small black filter material that came out of the brita filter alonf with the water. Any ideas?

i get lots of those black particles in the unfiltered part of the pitcher. make sure you pour water only when the top part is dry so you don't get get some of the water from the top into the bottom part/your cup

(i've never seen the black particles in the bottom part btw)

Yea, I only get those particles in top part of the pitcher, never the bottom.
 

Kyteland

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2002
5,747
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The filter insert is filled with those little black specks. That's all that's inside that white plastic outter casing. They are some kind of activated charcoal or something like that. It is not something that the filter missed, it is the filter itself. Usually you only get them in the top of the filter, as someone else mentioned, but they won't hurt your water if they are in it.

You probably shouldn't be chugging the things down with your drink, but they won't hurt your water any.
 

Carbo

Diamond Member
Aug 6, 2000
5,263
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A water filter that pollutes your drinking water? And you're paying for this concept? I'm in the wrong business.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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i guess pur is better. they used to have a couple black flecks in the first filling, but it doesn't happen anymore it seems.
 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
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Originally posted by: rutchtkim
Originally posted by: PipBoy
is the filter new? you're not supposed to get flecks unless it's a new filter.

yeah, brand new... so is it safe to drink?

Brand brand new? If I remember reading directions, it says you should use the filter and dump the water quite a few times before drinking.
 

Ime

Diamond Member
May 3, 2001
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I use a PUR faucet mounted filter. I follow the directions for flushing the new filter when I install it and have never had any problems.
 

Broncho

Member
Jan 3, 2002
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There is nothing wrong with ingesting charcoal, especially in those small of a quantites. As long as it isn't thick with the flecks (meaning it is water with flecks not flecks with water) it shouldn't be a problem. You still might want to get a new filter though.