Thank you for your inquiry. We always recommend a solution of vinegar/water and dawn dish soap. You can let the item soak overnight in the vinegar and water, then use the Dawn Dish soap the next morning, scrubbing all the crevices with a bottle bush (like a baby bottle brush). Please don't forget to rinse it out really well so there is no vinegar or soap left in the bottle. Sincerely, Petmate Consumer Services

I asked agent, they stated The Petmate Replacement Filters for Replendish Auto-Watering Systems, Pack of 3 filters can be purchased together with the Petmate Stainless Steel Replendish Waterer for Dogs, 16 Cup. It will be your discretion if you wanted to save a replacement filter for you waterer. For best results, replace filter every 6-8 weeks"

Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately our Petmate Stainless Steel Gravity Waterer only comes in a 1 gallon size. Sincerely, Petmate Consumer Services

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not currently offer a glass reservoir for this product. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. A standard water jug will not work in this unit.

Thank you for your inquiry. The Plastic Reservoir is BPA free.

Hello from Riothamus. Yes, I'm going to answer my own question! I e-mailed Foster and Smith and returned the waterer after contacting the manufacturer who said, "There are no tricks to taking the waterer apart; it should come apart easily. Return it." I received a replacement waterer, which had the very same problem, so I decided to keep it anyway and see what the problem was. Using a fine chisel and a hammer I finally did take the waterer top off the base. The base and stainless steel top had been held together by three small blobs of metal which had been applied at three places on the inside that coincided with the tiny indentations on the outside which, I presume, are meant to act as gentle friction holds. The metal appeared to have been applied when molten as they made black marks on the base and broke apart with a rough edge, I believe these errors in manufacturing originated at the factory and that all waterers from a certain time window are going to be defective. I am now working on separating the plastic water bottle from its stainless steel support. This appears to be held in by numerous dents in the metal, also apparently damage done at the factory. These waterers are beautifully designed and made of quality materials but are made unusable by their manufacturing problems. Riothamus

It pulls apart. Put the water well under one arm and with your other hand, pull on the reservoir dish until it comes apart.