ZeroWater 5-stage water filter replacement - 2 pack

I love my ZeroWater container. I live in an area that has very high total dissolved solids (TDS). I expect to have to change a filter every 8 gallons. To have my water go from 370 TDS to zero TDS makes the cost worth it. My coffee tastes better and my ice cubes sparkle. The only thing that could be better would be for Culligan to accept used filters for recycling. I thought about taking them apart myself but the heavy metal aspect turn that thought off.

The only pitcher filter rated by Consumer Reports to remove forever chemicals PFAS %26 PFOA. As for convenience, they fit on my old BRITA pitcher and filter cloudy water to clear in about 3 minutes. Most important they reduce impurities from 98 ppm to 1 ppm per my meter. (I remember reading in one review that the Amazon ones did not have this efficacy.) You can never be 100% sure of anything but I am very pleased with these and more comfortable serving ice and water to my kids.

I made sure to buy zero water brand filters so they would work properly and the first one, no water would drain through it at all. And the second filter worked for a bit and then all of a sudden, I poured myself a glass of water and have the worst fishy smell ever. I immediately Emptied out the water, throughout the filter and I'm never using this product again. It smelled like dead fish.

The product came damaged. After installing the first filter, the water seemed alright, but then I started getting a pungent smell from the filtered water. I checked the water inlet and found tiny plastic beads at the bottom of the container. Then I replaced the first filter with the second one from the pack, and I noticed the same tiny beads right after adding water to the container.

Price was OK, but when these are opened they have what I hope is filter residue on top of the filter--black what looks like charcoal specks and some sore of yellowish brown granuals. Of Course I try to shake them off, but to use am now finding I have to open the top of the water container and wipe this 'gorp' out between tank fillings??? The water that comes out seems to task OK, but if I were squeamish I probably would have returned. And if my girlfriend were visiting she would have demanded they be returned.