Standard/SMART Water Pitcher Cartridge
Standard/SMART Water Pitcher Cartridge
Water that smells faintly of chlorine. Ice that tastes like the tap. A fridge pitcher that only gets you halfway to water you actually want to drink. The cartridge is what does the work, and this one does five jobs, not one.
The Standard/SMART Water Pitcher Cartridge is the everyday water pitcher filter replacement for the Crystal Quest Water Pitcher Filter System. Five stages of SMART media target chlorine, VOCs, THMs and heavy metals, along with bad taste and odor, and each cartridge lasts about 2,000 gallons, typically 6 to 12 months. That is far longer than the basic carbon pitcher filters most people are used to changing.
At a glance
- Five stages in one cartridge: ERA 6500 and ERA 9500 redox media, ion exchange resin, coconut shell GAC and catalytic carbon
- Independently lab tested for chlorine: 97.3 percent average reduction across a 40-gallon NSF/ANSI 42 test (report linked above)
- About 2,000 gallons per cartridge, typically 6 to 12 months
- Simple prep: soak, rinse, press in, pour off the first two pitchers
- Packs of 2, 4 and 6 so the next change is already in the cupboard
What you are looking at
A slim cartridge with mesh inlet screens on top. It presses into the bottom of your pitcher's reservoir, where it forms a seal so every drop poured into the reservoir has to pass through the media to reach the pitcher below. Cartridge color can change between production runs; the part number, CQE-RC-04047, stays the same.
How the five stages work
A pitcher filters by gravity. Water trickles through the cartridge instead of being pushed by line pressure, so it spends more time in contact with the media than it would in a faucet or shower filter. That slow pass is what lets a pitcher cartridge carry five different media and give each one time to do its job.
Redox media: ERA 6500 and ERA 9500 (two stages)
ERA (Eagle Redox Alloy) is Crystal Quest's own high-purity copper-zinc granular media. It works by redox, an exchange of electrons between the metals and dissolved contaminants. ERA 6500 is the chlorine specialist. ERA 9500 targets iron and hydrogen sulfide. Together they also go after dissolved heavy metals.
Ion exchange resin
Resin beads carry exchange sites that trade harmless ions for dissolved metal ions as water passes. The resin in the SMART blend is chosen for its selectivity toward heavy metals.
Coconut shell granular activated carbon
Activated carbon is full of microscopic pores with an enormous internal surface. Organic chemicals such as VOCs and THMs, and the compounds behind chlorine taste and odor, are attracted to that surface and held there. This is adsorption, and it is the reason filtered water tastes clean.
Catalytic carbon
Catalytic carbon is activated carbon processed to be more chemically active, so it treats chlorine-family disinfectants by reaction on its surface as well as by adsorption. It is the finishing stage that keeps taste and odor in check.
What it reduces
Primary targets:
- Chlorine taste and odor (independently lab tested)
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Trihalomethanes (THMs)
- Heavy metals
- Bad taste and odor
Not designed to treat: fluoride, arsenic, nitrate or total dissolved solids, and it is not for water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality. For fluoride or arsenic, swap in the SMART/Fluoride Removal or SMART/Arsenic Removal cartridge, which fit the same pitcher.
Why Crystal Quest
- Five stages in one cartridge. Two Crystal Quest redox alloys, ion exchange resin and two types of carbon, each doing a different job.
- Tested, with the report shown. The NSF/ANSI 42 chlorine report for this exact cartridge is linked at the top of this page.
- Long life. About 2,000 gallons per cartridge means fewer changes and less plastic in the trash.
- Made in the USA. Over 1,000,000 people served since 1994, under ISO 9001 quality management.
Where it fits
This is the standard replacement cartridge for the Crystal Quest Water Pitcher Filter System in every pitcher color, and the one the pitcher manual names. The same pitcher also accepts four specialty cartridges, so you can change what your pitcher does without changing pitchers:
- SMART/Fluoride Removal for fluoride
- SMART/Arsenic Removal for arsenic
- Alkalizing to enhance alkalinity
- Demineralizer (DI) for low-TDS water for non-drinking uses
Common questions
How long does the pitcher cartridge last?
Approximately 2,000 gallons, typically 6 to 12 months. Replace it sooner if taste, odor or flow changes. Actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage.
How do I prepare a new cartridge?
Soak it upright in cold water for 20 minutes, rinse it under cold running water for 10 to 15 seconds, press it firmly into the reservoir, then fill and discard the first two full pitchers. The soak and discard steps are for first use only.
Why do I see dark specks in the filtered water?
Fine media particles can escape a new cartridge, especially after shipping. The manual says dust in the filtered water means the cartridge was not flushed enough, so rinse it and discard the first two pitchers. The pitcher page notes this residue does not affect performance.
What if water filters slowly or not at all?
Check that the cartridge is pressed firmly into the reservoir. The manual recommends cleaning the cartridge to avoid clogging, more often in some areas; if flow does not recover, replace the cartridge.
Does this pitcher filter remove fluoride?
No. The Standard/SMART cartridge targets chlorine, VOCs, THMs, heavy metals and taste and odor. For fluoride, use the SMART/Fluoride Removal Water Pitcher Cartridge in the same pitcher.
Can I use the pitcher on well water?
Only if the water is microbiologically safe. The cartridge is not designed to treat bacteria or viruses, so test a private well first and do not use the pitcher on water of unknown quality.
How many stages does the pitcher cartridge have?
Five: ERA 6500 and ERA 9500 redox media, ion exchange resin, coconut shell granular activated carbon and catalytic carbon.
Published cartridge specifications
| Part numbers | CQE-RC-04047 (single); CQE-RC-04906, CQE-RC-04907, CQE-RC-04908 (packs of 2, 4 and 6) |
| Filtration | 5 stages of SMART multi-media: ERA 6500 and ERA 9500 redox media, ion exchange resin, coconut shell GAC, catalytic carbon |
| Reduces | Chlorine taste and odor, VOCs, THMs, heavy metals, bad taste and odor |
| Chlorine test | IAPMO R&T Lab report 2295-20552 (2020), NSF/ANSI 42 chlorine reduction, 97.3 percent average over a 40-gallon test capacity; a test report, not a certification |
| Not designed for | Fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, TDS, microbiologically unsafe water |
| First use | Soak 20 minutes in cold water, rinse 10 to 15 seconds, discard the first two full pitchers |
| Capacity | Approximately 2,000 gallons (6 to 12 months)* |
| Water temperature | Cold water only, 40 to 85°F (4.4 to 29°C) |
| Construction materials | Polypropylene end caps, polyolefin inner and outer wraps, polyethylene netting, Buna-N gaskets |
*Capacity is an estimate only and depends on influent water contaminants and filter usage. Actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage.
Cartridge color is subject to change without notice.
What is and is not included
| Not included | Pitcher, lid and reservoir (they come with the Water Pitcher Filter System) |
A little checking. A better fit.
Compare the number on your current filter with the compatibility details above.
Confirm dimensions, connections and equipment model. A similar appearance does not confirm fit.
Check the selected size, pack quantity and included items before adding to your cart.