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A Université de Montréal Study Found PFAS "Forever Chemicals" in 99.3% of Quebec Municipal Water Supplies. Here's What Some Families Are Already Doing About It.
Microplastics, lead, and heavy metals in the same water. And your Brita isn't removing any of them.
Wellness Insider Editorial Team
May 14, 2025 · 12 min read
1
If you've ever filled a glass from the tap and thought - I wonder if this is actually clean...
2
If you've watched your kids drink tap water and told yourself - it's probably fine...
3
If you own a Brita and still aren't sure it's actually doing anything...
You're not being paranoid.
You're right.
And the Brita in your fridge? It's not fixing the problem. Not even close.
The Night I Stopped Trusting My Own Tap
It started with a news story my husband left open on his phone. A town in Ontario. Lead in the tap water. Old pipes, slowly breaking down over the years. The people living there had no clue until someone came and tested it. The water tasted completely "normal".
Then I just sat there thinking about our house, which was built in 1987. Kids drinking glasses of tap water every morning. I make their hot chocolate with it. Brew my coffee with it. Cook pasta with it twice a week without even thinking.
That night I started looking into it. And guess what? The information has been sitting in Health Canada reports and university studies for years. Nobody hid it. Nobody connects it to the Brita in your fridge, either.
Your Water Gets Treated. But it is NOT Clean.
Isn't that the same thing? Not really. Water gets treated at the plant. Chlorine kills the bacteria - that part works fine. But then it travels through pipes that in many Quebec neighbourhoods haven't been swapped out since the 1970s. Pipes put in the ground before anyone had heard of PFAS. Before microplastics were even something people measured.
By the time it reaches your tap, it's picked up things the plant never touched. Here's what I kept finding, over and over:
CHLORINE
01
You know that pool smell when you turn on the tap? That's chlorine. Most people get used to the taste thinking it's how tap water is supposed to taste. It isn't.
LEAD
02
In 2019, a cross-Canada investigation found lead levels in parts of Montreal higher than Flint, Michigan at the peak of their water crisis. Up to 300,000 residents may be affected.
PFAS: FOREVER CHEMICALS
03
The chemicals in non-stick pans, waterproof jackets, takeout containers. A 2023 Université de Montréal study found PFAS in 99.3% of Quebec municipalities tested.
MICROPLASTICS
04
Tiny plastic particles from old pipes and runoff found in tap water across Canada. You can’t see them, taste them, and most filters can’t catch the smallest ones.
I kept thinking: this has to be fringe science.
It isn’t.
99 %
of Quebec municipalities tested contained PFAS - Université de Montréal, 2023
85 %
of Canadian water systems show PFAS traces - Health Canada national survey
93 %
of bottled water samples globally contained microplastics - SUNY study, 2018
Your Brita Is Better Than Nothing. That's Genuinely All It Is.
Which most of us hear as: just get a Brita. So we do. We put it in the fridge, feel like we’ve handled it, and stop thinking about it.
I had one. I stopped thinking about it too.
But a standard Brita was never built for any of this.
"A Brita reduces chlorine taste and odour. That's the job it was designed to do. For everything else most people are worried about, the standard pitcher falls well short."
Here's what I found out a standard Brita doesn't touch:
PFAS: NOT REMOVED
Basic Brita pitcher filters use loose carbon granules - a design that isn't built to catch PFAS. The forever chemicals are small enough to pass straight through. Certified PFAS removal requires a solid carbon block filter tested specifically for it, which is what Bello uses.
LEAD: ONLY A LITTLE
Some higher-end Brita models claim to reduce lead. But reducing is not removing. The standard Brita pitcher most people own doesn't even claim to do that.
MICROPLASTICS: HIT OR MISS
A standard Brita pitcher filter catches some microplastics. But the smallest ones - the ones researchers worry about most - can pass right through loose carbon granules.
The way I came to think about it: your water is like a mix of sand, grit, and dust. A kitchen strainer catches the sand. The grit goes through. The dust doesn't even slow down. A Brita catches the chlorine taste - that's the sand. The PFAS goes straight through. The microplastics, the smallest ones, slip past. And the lead? Unless you have a higher-end model, it's not being touched.
I looked at mine. I couldn't remember the last time I'd changed the filter. At that point you're running tap water through a dirty, clogged-up filter and telling yourself it's clean.
The Other "Solutions" That Don't Solve It
I didn’t just sit with it either. I went through the options. Here’s what I found.
Bottled Water
You're paying $2.50 a bottle thinking it's cleaner. A 2018 study found microplastics in 93% of bottled water samples tested globally. Same problem, plastic bottle, $900 a year.
Standard Water Filters (Brita, PUR, etc.)
Adequate for chlorine taste. Not certified for PFAS. Inconsistent on microplastics. Often used well past replacement date. Not solving the full problem.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Genuinely effective at removing most contaminants. But strips essential minerals, requires professional installation, and wastes several litres for every litre it produces. Most people in apartments can't use them.
18-Litre Delivery Jugs
Heavy. Expensive. Inconvenient. Still packaged in plastic. And you have no idea where the water actually came from.
Flavoured Drinks & Sparkling Water Alternatives
Adds sugar, artificial sweeteners, or other compounds you were trying to avoid in the first place.
Every one of those fixes one thing. None of them fix all of it.
I just wanted clean water I actually liked drinking. Without lugging jugs home. Without spending $900 a year on plastic bottles. Without calling a plumber.
Turns out the team behind it had been sitting with the exact same problem.
So They Spent Years Building the Thing That Didn’t Exist Yet
They weren’t trying to build a water filter. They were trying to solve the same problem I’d been sitting with.
Not a filter that only cuts the smell. Not a flavour drop you squeeze into water that still hasn’t been cleaned. Not a massive under-sink system that strips out the good minerals too.
Something that actually cleans the water properly - and then tastes good enough that you actually want to drink it every day.
They started working on it back in 2020. They went on Dans l'oil du dragon in 2023. They launched in Quebec in November 2024.
Quebec knew exactly what they were talking about. Their first batch sold out within six months.
They built something I hadn’t seen anywhere else.
From tap to glass in four steps
01
Fill the tank
Tap water. 2 litres. No bottles, no delivery, no waiting.
02
Place a capsule
The smart sensor detects it automatically. No programming required.
03
Choose your intensity
Light infusion or full flavour. Your water, your preference.
04
Drink it
Filtered. Flavoured. 66 plus contaminants removed. Done.
Every other option I’d looked at solved one thing.
The Brita handled the taste. The under-sink system removed more, but stripped the minerals out too, and needed a plumber. The flavour drops tasted good, but went into water I still hadn’t cleaned. SodaStream just added bubbles.
This does both.
It filters first, then flavours. In one machine, on the counter, in about 30 seconds.
The thing I kept coming back to when I was researching it: the filter is certified under four independent NSF/ANSI standards…
NSF 53
Lead, cysts & VOCs
NSF 42
Chlorine taste & odour
NSF 401
PFAS, pharma & microplastics
NSF 372
Filter is lead-free
That means a third party tested it and confirmed it removes what it claims to remove. (Over 66 contaminants)
Then the capsule. You place it on the machine, it detects it automatically, and it infuses your clean water with whatever you choose. Real plant ingredients. A light fruit flavour. Electrolytes. Whatever you want that day. No sugar. No artificial sweeteners. Nothing in it that defeats the purpose. I’d been telling myself I’d drink more water for years. I stopped having to think about it.
Then the Capsule. You Choose What Goes In.
You place it on the machine, it detects it automatically, and it infuses your clean water with whatever you choose. Real plant ingredients. A light fruit flavour. Electrolytes. Whatever you want that day. No sugar. No artificial sweeteners. Nothing in it that defeats the purpose.
WELLNESS
Real plant ingredients. You notice it.
0-CALORIE
A whisper of fruit or floral. Zero sugar. For people who like their water clean.
ELECTROLYTE
Natural minerals and electrolytes for better hydration.
The capsules are glass, not single-use plastic.
The filter lasts six months and can be set on auto-renewal.
The machine tells you when it needs replacing.
No delivery schedule… No heavy jugs... No bottles piling up.
Finally, it was just clean (and tasty) water for the first time.
Here's What People Started Saying After They Got It
After I ordered it, I started reading the reviews properly.
The same things kept coming up.
“I’ve known something was off with my tap water for years. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”
“I’ve been buying bottled water for two years because the tap smells wrong. I finally stopped.”
“I never drink enough water. Never have. Three weeks in, I’m hitting two litres a day without even thinking about it.”
That last one hit me. Because that was me too.
Years of knowing I should drink more water. Never doing it. Because plain water is just boring. Once it tasted like something I actually wanted, I stopped having to force it.
"My water consumption has tripled. I feel more energetic and my skin is more radiant. I didn't realise how little water I was actually drinking until I had something I actually wanted to drink."
- Lucie P.
Verified customer
Then there was the kids thing. Parents who bought it for themselves found their kids fighting over which capsule to use in the morning. Zero sugar. Nothing artificial. Kids who wouldn't touch water are suddenly asking for it.
"It's become a hit with the entire family. My kids ask for it by name now. They choose their flavour every morning. I feel good knowing they are actually hydrated and I know exactly what is in it."
- Natasha S.
Verified customer
Kids drink what they like. Mine are the same.
Something they actually want with zero sugar and nothing artificial? That's a different conversation from begging them to finish a glass of plain water.
"I was hauling 18-litre jugs from the grocery store every single week. That stopped the day Bello arrived. I will not go back."
- Chloe F.
Verified customer
Developed With Montreal In Mind. Certified Everywhere.
Developed By Montreal-Based Entrepreneurs. Tested by an Independent Lab.
That mattered to me, too, by the way. It's developed by people living in Montreal - drinking the same water, living in the same province.
“While the aesthetics interested me, it was the fact that Bello is developed by Montreal-based Canadian entrepreneurs that motivated my purchase.”
- Verified customer, Instagram
I looked up the certifications. The filter is independently certified under four NSF/ANSI standards. NSF 42 covers chlorine taste and odour. NSF 53 covers lead, cysts, and VOCs. NSF 401 targets PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. NSF 372 verifies the filter itself is lead-free. All tested by a third party. Not by Bello.
Over 66 contaminants removed. Not a claim. A test result.
It Doesn't Ask You to Remember Anything
The filter lasts six months. The machine tells you when it needs replacing. You can set capsules to auto-renew so your favourites just show up. No running out, no reordering, no thinking about it. This is the part I didn’t expect to matter as much as it does. Every other water solution I tried put something on my to-do list. The 18-litre jug needed to be ordered before it ran out. The Brita filter needed to be replaced but I could never remember when. The bottled water needed to be carried in from the car.
Bello just runs. It tells you what it needs. You don’t have to manage it.
For me, that was the thing that made it stick.
4.7/5
· 1201+ reviews
The Wellness Pack. The Recommended Way to Start.
Bello purifies your tap water and infuses it with natural flavors and functional ingredients - making it effortless to drink more water throughout the day.
Removes chlorine, lead, microplastics and PFAS
No added sugar, nothing artificial - just natural ingredients
Smart, sleek, and easy to use
Sleek and compact design to fit any kitchen countertop
1x Bello™ Home machine
1x Bello Carbon Filter (NSF/ANSI certified, 6-month lifespan)
4x Wellness Capsules (60 servings)
60 servings, ~$0.60 per serving
Free Shipping
30-Day Risk-Free Returns
1-Year Warranty
Best in Class Filter
We designed our filtration to be best-in-class. Tested to NSF 42, 53, 372 and 401 standards, Bello’s Carbon Filter achieves >90% reduction on a range of contaminants:
NSF 42 - Reduces aesthetic impurities such as:
Chlorine (taste and odor)
Particulate (Class I)
NSF 53 - Reduces health-related contaminants including:
Lead
Mercury
Copper
Chromium III
Cadmium
Selenium
Barium
Cysts (Cryptosporidium, Giardia)
Asbestos
Toxaphene
VOCs (e.g. benzene, carbon tetrachloride, TCE)
NSF 401 - Reduces emerging, potentially harmful contaminants not yet regulated by the EPA, such as:
Pharmaceuticals (e.g. Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Trimethoprim, Atenolol)
Pesticides & Herbicides (e.g. DEET, Metolachlor, Linuron)
Chemicals of concern (e.g. BPA, Nonylphenol, TCPP, TCEP)
Best in Class Drinks
Inside the glass capsules, our flavour infusions are made of natural concentrates containing real ingredients like fruit and plant extracts, vitamins and minerals.
One single glass capsule makes up to five litres of wellness beverages using 10x less packaging and 25x less CO2 than a plastic-bottled beverage.
What’s in our capsules:
✓ Low in Calories
✓ Organic Fruits
✓ Organic Agave
✓ Organic Ginger
✓ Organic Matcha
✓ Natural Flavours
What’s not in our capsules:
⤫ Anything Artificial
⤫ Stevia
⤫ Sucralose
⤫ Fructose
⤫ Zero Artificial Sweeteners
⤫ Potassium Sorbate (preservatives)
⤫ Sodium Benzoate (preservatives)
In the Box
What's in the box:
✓ Bello Home Machine
✓ Bello Carbon Filter
✓ Drip Tray
✓ User Manual
✓ Mobile App
We designed our shipper box from cardboard and paper pulp. If you decide you don’t love Bello, the same box we shipped it to you in is the same box you ship it back to us in.
Bello will give you your best hydration guaranteed. Try out Bello and if you don’t like it — though we promise you will — you can return your Bello with full refund within 30 days.
Specs
Water tank capacity: 1.9 litres (8 cups)
Voltage: 12V
Timeless design: designed with durability in mind
The perfect size: 12" W x 6.5" D x 13" H (Small enough to fix any counter)
Shipping & Returns
Shipping Times
Canada: Orders are typically delivered within 10 business
days after processing.
United States: Orders are typically delivered within 10 business days after processing.
Please note that business days do not include weekends or public holidays.
Order Processing Time
Once your order is placed, it will be processed and prepared for shipment within 1-2 business days. You will receive a confirmation email with tracking information as soon as your order is dispatched.
Shipping Fees
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your location and order size.
Order Tracking
Once your order has shipped, you will receive a tracking number to monitor its journey.
Return & Refund Policy
At Bello, we strive to ensure you are completely satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you're not happy with your machine purchase, we accept returns within 30 days, as long as the item is in new or unused condition, in its original packaging (please keep your original box after opening), and with proof of purchase. Please note that used food products, including Bello capsules of flavours, and water filters, are final sale and cannot be returned.
Learn more about our Refund Policy here.
The Questions People Ask Before They Buy
Is Bello Actually Cheaper Than Bottled Water?
I did the maths before I ordered. Here’s what I was spending:
| Option | Annual Cost (Estimated) | NSF/ANSI Certified for PFAS Removal? | NSF/ANSI Certified for Lead Removal? | Flavoured Drinks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottled water (1.5L/day) | ~$912 CAD/year | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Standard Brita pitcher + filters | ~$80–100 CAD/year | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bello Wellness Pack | ~$571 year 1 / ~$290 year 2+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Brita is cheaper. There's no getting around that. But a standard Brita pitcher wasn't built to remove PFAS, lead, or microplastics. It reduces chlorine taste. That's it. Bello costs more. What you're paying for is a filter that actually removes the things you're worried about - and water you'll want to drink every single day. Most Bello customers find they stop buying bottled water entirely. At $912/year for bottles versus $290/year from year two with Bello, it pays for itself before the end of year two.
Bello cost estimated based on Wellness Pack ($325 one-time), average 1–2 capsules/month at $12.95 each, and filter replacement every 6 months at $44.10. Bottled water estimated at 1.5L/day at average Canadian retail price. Brita estimate based on standard pitcher plus six filter replacements annually. Individual usage varies.
FAQs
The Gold Standard in Water Purity
What if I don’t like the flavours?
You have 30 days to try it. If it doesn’t work for you, send it back. Full refund. No forms, no hassle.
The 0-Calorie range is light. Just a hint of fruit. Good if you want your water to basically taste like water, just a little better. The Wellness range is stronger. You’ll actually taste something. The Electrolyte range is for people who want to feel it working.
Zero sugar across all of them. No fake sweeteners. Nothing weird in it.
Is the machine solid? Will it last?
1-year warranty. 4.7/5 from 1,201+ reviews.
It sits on your counter and gets used every day. Not stuffed in a drawer. The filter lasts six months and you can set it to auto-renew so you never have to think about it. The machine lets you know when it needs a new one.
What about cold water?
Bello filters and infuses at tap temperature. It does not cool or heat the water.
The filtration system works at tap temperature by design. Most customers keep a filled jug in the fridge for the next pour. It becomes habit within a week.
Better to know now than find out after it arrives. That’s the whole point of the 30 days.
AFTER 12 MONTHS
What Changes When the Water Actually Gets Fixed
The thing nobody tells you is that it’s not really about the machine. It’s about stopping the weekly jug run. It’s my kids asking for water instead of juice. That chlorine smell that used to hit me every morning. Gone. And the simple thing of filling a glass and not wondering anymore.
Actually knowing.
"The tap water smells like bleach. I've been buying bottled water since I left my parents' house. I finally stopped. I didn't think I'd ever feel good about drinking from the tap again."
- Emily D.
Verified customer
- Sophie
Verified customer
"While the aesthetics interested me, it was the fact that Bello is built by Montreal entrepreneurs that made me buy. I feel good about where my money went. And the water is genuinely better."
- Oliver B.
Verified customer
Those weren’t one-off stories. They were my story too.
The jug run stopping. My kids actually drinking water. That chlorine smell, gone. And the quiet relief of filling a glass and just not wondering anymore.
Try It for 30 Days. Doesn’t Work? Send It Back.
You already know your tap water isn’t as clean as you’d like.
You already know your Brita isn’t fixing it. The only question is whether you do something about it.
30 days. Full refund if it’s not right for you. No forms, no restocking fee, no runaround.
By week two I was drinking more water than I had in years. The kids ask for it now. The bottles stopped piling up.
And I stopped thinking about it at all. In the best possible way.
30-Day Risk-Free Trial · 1-Year Warranty · Free Shipping over $49 CAD
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT AN ACTUAL NEWS ARTICLE OR EDITORIAL CONTENT. The information on this page is not intended as specific medical advice and is not a substitute for professional health guidance. Results mentioned are from customer surveys and individual testimonials. Individual results may vary. © 2025 Wellness Insider. All rights reserved.