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Our Verdict (Best for)
The PUR PLUS 11-Cup is affordable upfront and offers sufficient usability. However, the pitcher showed rather weak performance in our lab testing where it failed to wholly remove 4 to 5 contaminants. And, there was an alarming 1,200% spike in barium. Plus, we tested another PUR PLUS filter cartridge in PUR’s 30-Cup dispenser, and barium and boron apparently leached into our water actually exceeding their strictest guidelines. Additionally, although a great start, the 28 contaminants for which the PUR PLUS is NSF-certified for are mostly limited to easier-to-remove organics. Finally, our filtered water still had a residual taste. Bottom line: No buying recommendation.
The PUR PLUS 11-Cup is a water filter pitcher. It’s designed for use as a drinking water filter and can purify both tap water and properly disinfected well water.
As usual, we’ve tested the pitcher with our own hands:
- Hands-on experience: We assembled, primed, used, and maintained it.
- Filtration effectiveness: We sent an unfiltered and a filtered tap water sample to a professional lab for analysis in order to determine real-life contaminant reduction capabilities. Plus, we checked for NSF certifications and other test data.
- More testing: We performed a taste & odor test as well as a filtration speed test.
- All other product aspects: We considered initial + long-term cost, product warranties, additional features, frequent customer complaints, etc.
Contents
Overall Rating: /5.00
Filtration: /5.00
Usability: /5.00
Costs: /5.00
| Type: | Water Filter Pitcher |
| Price (Jan 20, 2025, w/o Short-Term Sales): | $34.98 |
| Estimated Yearly Cost (Mar 19, 2024): | ~$100 |
Overall Rating: /5.00
What We Like Most
- Filtered water was free from odor.
- NSF/ANSI certifications for 28 contaminants against standards 42,53, and 401.
- Easy to assemble, use, and maintain, with a flip-top lid for easy refilling.
- Filter life indicator.
- Affordable upfront.
What We Don’t Like
- No or only partial reduction in 4 (5) contaminants in our lab testing.
- Barium rose 1,200% in our lab testing (still below the strictest health guidelines). In our 2nd round of testing the filter element (installed in PUR PLUS 30-Cup dispenser using a fresh cartridge), barium and boron were detected above health guidelines.
- Silver detected post-filtration at levels just a little below EPA guidelines for nuisance chemicals.
- Filtered water had some taste left.
- NSF/ANSI certifications mostly for easy-to-remove organics.
- Flap doesn’t move easily when pouring, and it drips.
- Shorter 40-gallon filter lifespan.
- Short 90-day warranty.
- 3rd-party customers complained about clogged filters and the lid falling off when pouring.
How the PUR PLUS 11-Cup Compares to…
10 Other Water Filter Pitchers
In this video, Mike highlights our water filter pitcher top picks. The PUR PLUS 11-Cup was included in our testing, but didn’t make the cut.
Please note: Our full guide on the best water filter pitchers is available here.
Video Chapters + Comparison Sheet
- Link to Comparison Sheet
- 00:00 – Intro
- 00:58 – Our 11 Pitchers
- 02:00 – How We Tested & Ranked
- 04:29 – Pitcher Assembly & Filter Priming
- 05:21 – Sampling Process
- 06:18 – Taste & Odor Test
- 06:58 – Speed Test
- 08:28 – Best Overall (Clearly Filtered)
- 12:27 – Best for Usability + Affordability (Waterdrop)
- 15:45 – Best for Bacteria & Cyst (LifeStraw)
- 18:30 – Best for Nitrate (ZeroWater)
- 23:00 – Best for Fluoride
- 23:39 – Summary
Full Analysis of the PUR PLUS 11-Cup
Filtration: /5.00
1. Lab Results: /5.00
Remember that our before vs after lab comparison is not an exact science. It’s informational and subject to variability, inaccuracies, and interferences caused by natural fluctuations in water quality, accidental contamination, human error, instrumentation issues, and more. Furthermore, our lab-testing is limited to those contaminants present in our water supplies and at their respective concentrations. As such, it can only give us a general idea for how effective a certain water treatment product might be.
Lab Results Chart
| Potentially Harmful | Aesthetic Issues | Feed Water Level | Filtered Water Level | Reduction Rate | |
| Water Disinfectants | |||||
| Chlorine (mg/L) | ✖ | ✖ | 0.2 | 0 | 100% |
| Disinfection Byproducts | |||||
| Bromodichloromethane (µg/l) | ✖ | 0.58 | 0 | 100% | |
| Bromoform (µg/l) | ✖ | 0.75 | 0 | 100% | |
| Dibromochloromethane (µg/l) | ✖ | 0.94 | 0 | 100% | |
| Metals | |||||
| Copper (mg/L) | ✖ | ✖ | 0.01 | 0 | 100% |
| Barium (mg/L) | ✖ | 0.01 | 0.13 | 1,200% Increase | |
| Boron (mg/L) | ✖ | 0.04 | 0.02 | 50% | |
| Lithium (mg/L) | ✖ | 0.01 | 0 | 100% | |
| Strontium (mg/L) | ✖ | 0.18 | 0.01 | 94% | |
| Salts | |||||
| Nitrate (N) (mg/L) | ✖ | 1.65 | <0.5 | Anywhere Between 70% and 99% | |
| Fluoride (mg/L) (Flawed?) | ✖ | 0.46 | 0.55* | 20% Increase* | |
| Other | |||||
| Uranium (µg/L) | ✖ | 7 | 0 | 100% | |
| Aesthetic Parameters | |||||
| Hardness (mg/L) | ✖ | 111.9 | 1.6 | 99% | |
| Impurities NOT Detected in Unfiltered Tap Water Sample | |||||
| Iron (mg/L) | ✖ | 0 | 0.01 | ||
| Silver (mg/L) | ✖ | 0 | 0.07 | ||
| Zinc (mg/L) | ✖ | 0 | 0.07 | ||
| *Due to known interferences of the applied testing method, we assume fluoride levels must be taken with a grain of salt. | |||||
| Explanation: | |||||
| Full Removal | |||||
| Considerable Reduction | |||||
| Concentration More Than Double of Unfiltered Water Sample | |||||
| Potential Leaching Reached or Exceeded the Strictest Public Health Guideline We Could Find | |||||
*100% means reduction to below the minimum detection level. To learn more about our testing procedures check our editorial guidelines.
Link to Filtered Water Report
Link to Unfiltered Water Report
Usability: /5.00
Costs: /5.00
Please note: This page is still a work in progress. Additional content and details will be added shortly – stay tuned!
About the Author(s)
Mike is a former team member who made his mark by contributing to our first big water filter pitcher comparison video and reviewing a couple POE water treatment systems. Beyond the world of water solutions, Mike is a full-time blogger and YouTuber alongside his wife, Ashley. Together, they’ve transformed their passions into a creative space called Joyfully Growing, where they share DIY tutorials and simple home improvement tips to help others love the homes they’re in.
Raoul has a background in mechanical engineering and has been writing about home water treatment since 2015. He designs our product review processes, analyzes the results, and ties everything together. As editor-in-chief, he tries hard to keep the whole operation running smoothly behind the scenes.