A system for water purification, filtration and item sanitization are described herein. In one embodiment, a water filtration device uses an extruded carbon sheet or granulated activated carbon to filter unpurified, gravity-fed water. A filtering medium is provided within a lower opening of an upper reservoir for filtering unfiltered water passing therethrough, the filtering medium being located above and not extending into a lower reservoir. The device can be a stand-alone water container or incorporated within a water purification system having a further purification technology located in a base in fluid communication with the water container. The base can include controls for informing a user when the water filtration or item sanitization has been completed. Practical applications include drinking water filtration, sanitization of household items, medical equipment, and the like.