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.