Meet the Pitcher That Made Me Give Up Plastic Water Bottles for Good

Fresh water is essential—and filtered water is even better. Using a

reusable water bottle is a crucial step toward cutting down on our plastic problem—think the

70 billion plastic water bottles purchased in the United States in 2018. And for those who favor plastic bottles for their presumed freshness, investing in a water filter can be the first step to keeping plastic out of our oceans and landfills.

Enter:

LARQ's Pitcher PureVis. This smart filter is a great option for those who want fresh water without a full-scale overhaul of their kitchen plumbing. According to LARQ, one of the pitcher's filters (designed to be replaced every 2-3 months) can eliminate 500 plastic bottles.

There are two settings on LARQ's Pitcher PureVis: PureVis Mode and Self-Cleaning Mode. PureVis Mode activates automatically (but can also be turned on with the push of a button if necessary) while Self-Cleaning Mode automatically kicks in for ten seconds every six hours.

The pitcher also comes with

its own app that tracks filter performance and replacement needs, water consumption, and even local water quality.

To begin, this pitcher is very pretty. Portable water purification and filtration systems are meant to find homes on counters and tabletops, and this item is sleek enough to leave out without sacrificing in aesthetics. While some of the initial product packaging felt superfluous, LARQ's use of EcoPure plastic bags for item protection was a step in the right direction.

The set-up was also an easy feat: Clean the pitcher, charge the removable wand (the business end of the brand's USB charger is very discreet and cool), soak the filter in water for a quick ten minutes, and assemble. (The instructions remind you to pour out the initial batch of water.) After that, the pitcher's PureVis Mode activates automatically.

The self-cleaning technology means that you only have to wash this pitcher once every 2-3 months (the same time you need to replace the filter), a major boon to the lazy set (of which I am one). When it's time to wash, simply remove the charging wand to wash by hand—the rest of the items can be run through the dishwasher. Speaking of laziness, the pitcher features filter life notifications indicating a life of less than 20% and a fully defunct filter, which takes the guesswork out of the process.

Oh, and the water is perfection.

While the box that houses the

LARQ Pitcher PureVis is recyclable cardboard, the box came in a protective cloth cover that seems designed to be tossed—the same goes for the charging cord. The pitcher itself was protected by styrofoam and (as mentioned) an EcoPure plastic bag.

This may be a personal preference, but I do wish that these pitchers were available in glass. That said, the plastic used is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and food-grade.

In terms of price point, $168 may be a bit steep for some, particularly once you factor in the $25 replacement filters. But you get what you pay for, and LARQ's technology is worlds ahead of traditional filter pitchers.

If you've been wanting to break up with plastic water bottles for good, consider

LARQ's Pitcher PureVis the ultimate impetus. The pitcher is sleek and smart, with self-cleaning benefits that minimize the amount of time and energy you'll need to invest in upkeep. It's also built to last—something you'll have in your home for years to come.