When it comes to filtered, healthier water, there is very much a hierarchy, with an undersink reverse osmosis filtration system one of the best options for the home.

At the bottom of the pile is bottled water, a very expensive way to enjoy filtered water, particularly in cases such as Dasani where it was not even mineral water or had any reason to be a bottled product, to begin with.

In between the two extremes is the water filter jug, made famous in the UK by the company Brita, which uses a filter made from activated carbon derived from coconut shells to provide its filtration effect.

It does remove some impurities, most notably the chlorine often used to treat water in industrial water treatment plants, which does help make the water taste notably different, and it does remove some heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and copper, but the exact level of protection depends a lot on the filter you get.

For example, the standard Brita filter does not filter out lead, although its more expensive Longlast filters do, so you may want to find a more effective way of protecting you from potential contaminants in the water.

In other words, if you are looking for a filter that makes your water taste better, it will probably do the job, but if you want to reduce the dissolved metals in your water you will probably need a more powerful dedicated water filter.

And then there is the cost to consider. A water jug filter is initially very cheap indeed, especially if you get on with some extra filters for free.

However, if you are using the filter jugs regularly, then they will wear out very quickly, and the costs for replacements can quickly add up in the process.

Ultimately, if you only need a little bit of filtered water or just want to try the system out, a filter jug is a good first step, but a reverse osmosis system with multiple stages of filtration is the best way to ensure the water you drink is healthy and tastes great.