If New York's Water Is So Good, Do You Need a Brita?

"It's called the champagne of the Catskills," Adam Bosch, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection, said of New York City's water supply. "It's really great water."

But there are two major reasons why you might want to filter your water in your home. (New York City already filters some of its water as it comes down to the city from upstate reservoirs.) 

One is taste. Filters can remove chlorine, which is added to New York's water supply for health reasons, and which carries an odor.

The second reason is to remove or reduce the amount of lead in the water. While the city tests water as it goes through its network of water mains, it does not monitor the water as it enters homes and apartment buildings.

"If you have a home with older piping, one of the concerns that's common is the leeching of lead off of that old piping," said Robert Herman, director of lab operations at NSF, an independent group that certifies the quality of water filters.

The catch is that the common pitcher-style Brita filter (OB03) does not reduce lead, though some of its other products and those of other manufacturers do, according to NSF.

For more information about what contaminants different filter systems remove and how much, check out the NSF website.

Still not sure if a filter is for you? You can request a free water lead test from the city.