the pitcher is a pain in the ass, but the water is always cold. The filter that attaches to your tap is more convenient, but is only as cold as the water that comes outta the ground (which in Vegas during the summer is 90+ degrees, but this might not be a prob in NO).
Yes, water around here don't taste good. Well worth it. You don't have to change the filter as often as they say, either. I've using the same one for over a year, tastes great.
I have both a Dow and a Brita faucet filter and I can't tell the difference in the water in my home in NC but I do notice it in my pad up in Virginia. The water is bad here in the city. I noticed the difference right away.