Activated carbon
The usual answer to chlorine taste — inside pitchers, faucet mounts, and under-sink cartridges.
Taste job
chlorine, odour
Activated carbon
adsorbs organics
Not hardness/microbes
know the limits
What it is for
- Chlorine taste and everyday odour — its main strength.
- Some certified models also claim specific reductions (for example lead) — only if that exact claim is on the certification.
What it usually does not fix
- Hardness / scale
- Microbes (not a disinfectant)
- Most dissolved salts and minerals
Upkeep
Change cartridges on the stated schedule. An exhausted carbon filter stops helping and can harbour growth.
If you want more detail
When shopping, people often look for NSF/ANSI 42 (taste/odour) and — for health claims — NSF/ANSI 53, reading exactly which claims are listed. Education only — this site recommends no products. On city water, taste filtering is a comfort choice, not a compliance need.