Which water filter pitchers filter out PFAS? How to check

It’s time to thrive For water filters, ever since EPA announced As much as 10 percent of water systems in the United States may contain unsafe levels PFASalso known as the “forever chemicals” found in water. Still lead pipes everywhereEven if they were He is no longer located in Flint, Michigan, as of July 2025. Heck, maybe there is Heavy metals in groundwaterdepending on where you are, and Bottled water risks increased microplastics.

I’m not saying this to panic you. Your drinking water is likely compliant with federal standards, and only about 4 percent of water systems end up with unsafe contaminant levels, according to EPA study in 2020. This said, local water systems You won’t have to comply with new federal caps on PFAS and PFOA for drinking water until 2031.

In response to concerns about the water supply, a whole new generation of water filters is making great promises about reducing contaminants: chlorine, PFAS, heavy metals, stray pharmaceuticals like acetaminophen, and fluoride if that’s a concern for you. Some of these systems are whole-house or under-sink reverse osmosis systems. Others are simple countertop systems, gravity-fed through mesh, carbon, or other filters.

So how do you determine which water claims are credible? I was Test water filters Since 2024, he often uses chemical indicators and equipment, and can attest that it is not always easy. Here’s a quick guide to checking the water filter that caught your eye.

What are NSF/ANSI water filter standards?

My first major comfort when evaluating water filters is certifications and independent testing. It’s hard to trust vague claims of 99 percent reduction of chlorine, PFAS, or arsenic if the testing is internal to the company itself. For any claims of third-party testing to be credible, they must also clearly identify the laboratory that performed the testing.

The most reliable and standardized form of certification is testing according to NSF/ANSI standards. NSF, formerly called the National Sanitation Foundation, is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization founded in 1944 that develops and verifies compliance with a number of different testing standards—including those for water filters. ANSI, or American National Standards Institute, is an independent, non-profit organization that accredits accreditation and testing organizations such as NSF.

there Three major NSF/ANSI standards Applicable to filters for domestic drinking water.

• NSF-ANSI 42: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Aesthetic Effects.
  This certifies the removal of substances that are not considered harmful but may affect the cosmetics or taste of the water. This includes chlorine and chloramines that cities use to disinfect drinking water.
• NSF/ANSI 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects
  This certifies the removal of any number of compounds thought to be harmful, including lead, arsenic, PFAS, and more. Each compound is tested individually, from more than 50 potential contaminants.
• NSF/ANSI 401: Emerging Compounds/Accidental Contaminants
  This certifies the filtering out of compounds that “emerge” as potential concerns, including pharmaceuticals, herbicides and pesticides.

If you have the item on hand, it may be marked on the box. But don’t assume that certification is the rule. within Shower water filters in particularOnly one filter has been NSF certified for chlorine free removal: Weddell Duo.