Abstract: A drinking water pitcher is provided including an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, and preferably a filter or filter housing. The upper and lower reservoirs are removably mated with one another. The interface between the upper and lower reservoirs restricts or prevents water flow from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir unless the reservoirs are properly mated/seated together, such as by a water restriction means in the upper reservoir. In another aspect, a drinking water purification system is provided including a base unit and a drinking water pitcher. The drinking water pitcher includes an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir and preferably a filter or a filter housing. The base unit can include a sanitization means. The upper and lower reservoirs are removably mated with one another, and the upper reservoir can be removably mated with the base unit. A method of purifying water is also described.

Abstract: A filter housing for a drinking water pitcher is provided. The filter housing includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion. A filter media can be housed in between the upper and lower housing portions. The upper and lower housing portions co-operate to provide increased water flow through rate. The filter housing includes a necked down inlet port. Chambers in the upper housing are filled with air. Preferably, an angle of the lower housing preferably extends to the exit port to create a consistent surface tension across the entire surface of the filter media. The filter housing is preferably placed between an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir of the drinking water pitcher, and can be removably attached to, or seated within, the lower reservoir.

Abstract: A multi-use sanitization system is disclosed which includes one or more containers in fluid communication with other system components. Components of the system include an ozone contacting device, such as a vortex-venturi or a sparger, for incorporating ozone into a liquid, an ozone generator to provide ozone to the vortex-venturi, a fluid transfer valve to allow simultaneous flow of liquid into and out of the container, and a pump to promote fluid flow through the system. Optionally, a gas-liquid separator with an optional integral gas release valve, an ozone destructor, an oxidation-reduction potential ozone sensor, or a pour-through type pre-filter may be incorporated into the system.