Considering the planet is two thirds covered in water, it seems ridiculous that for the privelege of drinking at least half a litre of clean drinkable water you have to pay around £1. Now bearing in mind the recomended daily intake is two litres per day, you can see this staying healthy thing can be pretty expensive!! However there is another way.

The Brita Aluna XL Water Filter allows you to turn tap water into a clean, refreshing drink that normally retails for ridiculous costs. The Brita four step process cleans the water. Firstly, the water will flow through a fine mesh filter, which retains the particles present in tap water. In the next stage, the hardness of the water is reduced as it comes into contact with the ion reducing resin. It is here that the limescale as well as copper and lead are removed from the water. Then the substances that affect the colour and smell sof your water such as chlorine or organic impurites are removed after coming into contact with the granulated activated carbon. Finally, the water passes through another layer of fine mesh.

The jug itself is a simple device. It has a total capacity of 3.5 litres, 2 of which is the filtered water capacity.You remove the lid with the recessed handle, fill the inner white plastic jug. The water flows through the Maxtra cartidge which completes the four step procedure as described above. Then you pour and drink. Simple.

The jug itself costs around £12 and requires the occasional clean. The cartridges which reside in the narrowed part under the white plastic inner jug require changing. There is an electronic meter on the lid which will let you know when it is time. You recieve one with the jug as well as the instruction booklet. A 4 pack will cost you £10.

And that is it. Admittedly the major grievance I have is that i'm having to pay for something which United Utilities should be capable of delivering to my taps for the money I pay them, but bearing in mind they have imposed a hose pipe ban that has enjoyed three weeks of continuous heavy rain,I may be reaching.

The Brita Aluna delivers the same if not better tasting water that retails in shops and bars and economically it makes sense to buy, and the health benefits of drinking filtered water are numerous.