What are the best water filtration systems for toxic PFAS “forever chemical” filtration? According to recent reporting from the US Geological Survey, close to half of Americans are drinking water with per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) over advisory levels. What do you do if your local well or water district has detectable levels of PFAS? You should get a water filter as soon as possible, but which ones are the most effective? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest cookware without PFAS and nanomaterials, safest period underwear without PFAS, safest ketchup brands without detectable PFAS, and safest parchment paper without PFAS, now join us for the best water filtration system for home use that filter out toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” and improve water quality based on independent consumer studies. Where can you find this great-tasting water? Scroll down to the bottom or use the clickable table of contents below. Otherwise, stick with us as we bring you more information on water filters.
Disclosure: This post has been medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post contains affiliate links.
Table of Contents
Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Found in Half of American’s Drinking Water
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (aka PFAS “forever chemicals”) include several thousand chemicals (up to 12,000) that have been used for over 50 years for a variety of things like stain and water repellency in jackets & furniture, lubrication of manufacturing equipment, printing, wiring in electronics, non-stick coatings in pans, grease resistance in food packaging, and grease fire fighting foams at military bases and airports. As a result, these chemicals have been detected in our air, water, groundwater, soil, and household dust.
In 2023, the US Geological Survey released a report stating that close to half of Americans have PFAS in their drinking water. According to another study by the Environmental Working Group, as of August 2021, 2,854 locations in 50 states and two territories are known to be contaminated with PFAS “forever chemicals.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has known about the health hazards of PFAS for decades but has failed to limit PFAS discharges into the air and water or set cleanup standards. Mamavation joined a press conference with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discover there was some forward progress being planned to address these issues, but in our opinion, they are VERY late getting to the table on this. We are thankful they have finally decided to make plans of action, however, for the purposes of your family, this may be too late. Based on the prevalence of the contamination already present in the United States, you may need to take immediate action to protect your family by purchasing a water filtration system that is specifically designed to filter PFAS.
Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Have Been Linked to Numerous Human Health Concerns
PFAS “forever chemicals” are pretty much everywhere, which is why they are referred to as being ubiquitous. To underscore that point, researchers have found that 98% of people in the United States have some of these chemicals (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA) inside their bodies. Coupled with the fact that close to 100% of samples of breastmilk show traces of PFAS, it’s apparent how ubiquitous they really are.
These chemicals are also persistent, which means they build up in your body over time and do not go anywhere for months, years, or decades depending on the specific chemical. Therefore it’s very important to minimize the amount of PFAS chemicals you are exposed to, even if those levels are very small. Unless you avoid PFAS, your exposure level would only increase over time, which can lead to disease.
Here is the list of health problems (PFAS) perfluorinated chemicals are linked with.
- reduction in immunity
- metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
- reduced vaccination response
- cardiovascular disease
- affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
- increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
- lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
- increase the chances of miscarriage
- low birth weight
- increase cholesterol levels
- low sperm count
- smaller penis size
- increase the risk of cancer like testicular & kidney cancers
- thyroid disease
In June of 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a statement saying that PFAS is more toxic to human health and the environment than they previously thought. If you’d like to talk to your doctor about your own exposure to PFAS, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of Community Health Investigations has created this fact sheet to use.
How Prevalent are Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” & What To Do If You Find Them Locally
Due to the widespread nature of PFAS chemicals and increased scrutiny, long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been phased out of production and replaced with short-chain “current use” PFAAs and per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs), such as GenX, ADONA, and F-53B, and these chemicals are becoming very prevalent in our environment. It’s important to also remember that even though chemicals like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been phased out, they are persistent so they are still being found in drinking water, soil, and ambient air.
However, it’s surmised by researchers that the main exposure pathway for PFAS “forever chemicals” is through ingestion of contaminated drinking water. But despite all the increased awareness, PFAS are repeatedly detected at elevated levels in treated drinking water because they are not always removed in full-scale water treatment plants. These water treatment plants would need to use expensive technology combining the following methods to be successful and not all have these technologies:
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) absorption (carbon filter)
- Anion exchange
- High-pressure membrane filtration, such as nanofiltration and reverse-osmosis systems (RO)
First, check the water database from the Environmental Working Group to see if your local tap water has any PFAS contamination issues. If you have well water, we recommend having your water tested. You can use Tapscore to test your water for 25 different types of PFAS. If you find anything in the EWG database for your area or inside a Tapscore test, you’ll want to purchase and maintain an at-home water filtration system that is particularly powerful at removing PFAS. This investigation will go over which types of residential water filters are effective at removing the following chemicals via a consumer study in 2020: GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, & PFDA. We’ve also added results from a more recent study from the Environmental Working Group in 2023 which covered more additional PFAS chemicals.
Next, choose from several types of water treatment systems like pitcher-style filters, under-the-sink reverse osmosis filters, whole-home filtration with whole-house systems, ion exchange, carbon treatments, etc. Please note that whole home filters are also known as whole-house water filters, whole house water filtration systems, or whole house filtration system. Unfortunately, neither study tested a whole house system, so we are mostly bringing you pitchers and under-the-sink models. Not all systems include water softener for hard water. We prefer NSF certification, & BPA-free parts, but you can find others independently tested (like in this post) to filter PFAS compounds. Some require a plumber to install systems inside your plumbing system. Not all systems will be able to handle different types of PFAS or high levels of PFAS, so do your research before buying.
Then finally, do your best to avoid PFAS in other areas of your home. Mamavation can help you with that here.
Consumer Study on Water Filters Compared Labs of Over 80 Units for PFAS “Forever Chemical” Filtration
In 2020 researchers, including Heather Stapleton from Duke University, published a study in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology Letters called Assessing the Effectiveness of Point-of-Use Residential Drinking Water Filters for Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs). This study looked at 89 water filters inside homes that had contaminated drinking water in North Carolina with PFAS pollution.
In order to assess each filter, the Wilcoxon-Rank sum test was conducted on the pre- and post-filter of each water system on the following PFAS chemicals: GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, & PFDA. (Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all the PFAS compounds out there, but ones under a regulatory health advisory.)
There were some main findings:
- All reverse osmosis and dual-stage use filters showed significant removal (p < 0.05) for PFCAs and PFSAs, reducing levels over 90% efficiency.
- All reverse osmosis and dual-stage filters showed removal of PFEAs at 97% efficiency.
- 74% of reverse osmosis and dual-stage systems were able to reduce GenX to a non-detect level.
Then in 2023, the Environmental Working Group released a consumer study that tested for 25 individual PFAS using SimpleLab’s GenX and PFAS Water Test. Taps were flushed completely before 10 gallons of unfiltered tap water were passed through each water filter. The reservoir in the pitcher was filled and drained completely. Then they took samples of water from the pitcher after the filtration was complete and took a sample of water directly from the faucet on the same day to compare detections of PFAS. To calculate the percentage of PFAS reduction achieved by each filter, EWG’s lab contrasted the sum of the total PFAS found in the tap water sample with the PFAS detected in the filtered water.
The differences between the studies are slight but could be major depending on where you live. The EWG study did not offer raw information on what PFAS chemical was inside the drinking water BEFORE the filter started working so we’re not sure what chemicals they were filtering. However, they were able to include 25 different PFAS chemicals total in their analysis, whereas the one done at Duke University only considered 11.
Mamavation did not assess replacement filters, water bottles, fixtures, appliances, warranty, or ease of installation.
What About The Berkey?
The Berkey is one of the most popular water filters of all time. It’s been around for over 30 years and it’s stainless steel design makes it very memorable and sought after by those who are trying to avoid microplastics in water. However, over the years some issues have manifested which calls into question their safesty and effectiveness.
- Berkey Lawsuit #1: Several lawsuits in the past few years have brought some concerns to consumers. One lawsuit One World Filter Corporation v. Koslow Tecnologies Corporation, Evan E. Koslow, and New Millennium Concepts, LTD is a fight between Berkey and a company hired to build their filter membrances. These filters membranes never worked as contracted and were never NSF certified even though this company was contracted to do that. We are left wondering, did they even work past 100 gallons?
- Berkey Class Action Lawsuit #2: Another lawsuit was brought to the court system as a class action. This lawsuit alleges that the Berkey was tested at a lab and the outcome was that it wasn’t able to filter the contaminants after 25 or 100 gallons. However, the company maintains that these tested filters were copycat machines and sucessfully got the case moved from California to Texas where class action consumer lawsuits go to die. We are unsure if these machines were real or copycats.
- Most Berkey Products Are Illegal to Sell to Californians: In 2009, California passed the “no-lead law” that bans any water filters from California that do not meet standards set by third-party ANSI/NSF-approved independent companies that confirms the unit is “lead-free.” Because Berkey refuses to get NSF certification to prove they filter what they say they do, they cannot sell the following units in California: Royal Berkey, Crown Berkey, & Imperial Berkey. California does allow the Travel Berkey and the Big Berkey.
- Aluminum Oxide Filters: Water Filter Guru sent Berkey filtered water off to Tapscore and found an increase in aluminum inside Berkey filtered water. Later, Berkey admited that it’s filters are made from aluminum oxide and alludes that this is perfectly “safe” to have leaching into your water in trace amounts from the filters. However, our advisors disagree. According to Dr. Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, “Aluminum ions are thought to be toxic in many different ways.”
In the sudy released in 2023 by EWG, they rated the Berkey as their highest recommended brand for filtering PFAS “forever chemicals.” However, EWG did not address the failing Berkey results from Duke University’s study in 2020, nor did they include information on the latest lawsuit or aluminum oxide in their filters, which Mamavation is concerned about. Therefore, Mamavation does not recommend the Berkey for precautionary reasons.
Mamavation’s Recommended Water Filtration Products for PFAS: AquaTru & Clearly Filtered
After we categorized all the water filters, pitchers, and refrigerator filters, it was clear that there was an affordable option! Mamavation is recommending you get an AquaTru system OR a Clearly Filtered system.
More About AquaTru
- AquaTru is the first and only countertop reverse osmosis water purifier. They also sell under-the-sink models using the same technology that was used in the study. You can choose from Tritan plastic or a glass caraffe.
- Certified to NSF standards to remove 85 contaminants, including lead, Chromium-6, Chlorine, Fluoride, PFAs, and more.
- Was the only countertop brand independently tested to have non-detect levels of all PFAS chemicals in the Duke University independent study: GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA
- Two different locations in the study had Aqua Tru machines and both had similar results–all the PFAS was at non-detectable levels.
- This system also removes additional chemicals like fluoride, chlorine, chloramines, lead, hexavalent chromium “the Erin Brockovich chemical,” arsenic, perchlorate, & nitrates.
- You can choose from a regular reverse osmosis OR a system that adds your softener minerals back in like salt, magnesium, calcium, & potassium. Check with your doctor for their recommendations on what type of system you need.
Mamavation reached out to AquaTru and this link will get you $100 off a unit deducted automatically at checkout.
- AquaTru Countertop Water Purifier Connect (with Wifi connectivity built-in meters & tracking) — $499.00 ($349 with automatic Mamavation discount)
- AquaTru Countertop Water Purifier Classic — $449 ($299 with automatic Mamavation discount)
- AquaTru Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier — $299
- AquaTru Under Sink Alkaline Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier (with added minerals) — $319
More About Clearly Filtered
- Clearly Filtered was one of the three filters tested that achieved a 100 percent reduction in PFAS from drinking water in the EWG study in 2023.
- Independently tested to NSF standards 42, 53, 401 & 473.
- Targets Fluoride, Lead, BPA, Glyphosate, PFOAs, Hormones & over 365 of the most harmful tap water impurities like VOCs, bacteria, other heavy metals, dissolved solids, pharmaceuticals & pesticides.
- According to the advertising, “Our intelligent technology does not target beneficial minerals” so no need to add minerals back into the water after filtration.
Mamavation reached out to Clearly Filtered and this link will get you a 10% discount on their products. Here are some options you can pick up using the same technology that EWG tested in their study.
- Clearly Filtered 3 Stage Under Sink System with Affinity Technology — $495 (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off purchase)
- Clearly Filtered Universal Inline 3 Stage Fridge Filter with Affinity Technology — $149 (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off purchase)
- Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher with Affinity Filtration Technology — $89 (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off purchase)
Mamavation’s Investigation of Water Filter Systems for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” Filtration
Mamavation is reporting on the results from the consumer studies in 2020 & 2023 and dividing the systems into clear winners and ones that are “not our favorite” in terms of removing toxic PFAS “forever chemicals.” These units will remove PFAS levels in the water supply at various rates so pay attention to details.
- For the “best” category, we pulled systems that were tested against eight or more of the PFAS chemicals and had non-detect levels after filtration. We also pulled recommendations from EWG that did not have aluminum oxide in their filters or pending lawsuits.
- For the “better” category, we pulled systems that were tested against less than 8 PFAS chemicals and had non-detect levels after filtration. This category does not mean they are “worse” per se, but just that there was no independent proof they worked against all the other additional chemicals. We also put here some units that were tested in the EWG study and missed some chemicals.
- For the “not our favorite” category, we pulled brands that filtered PFAS, but not all of them. We also put here some units that were tested in the EWG study and missed more chemicals.
We believe this arrangement will help consumers get their water to the safest levels.
Not Our Favorite Water Filter Systems for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” Filtration
For the “not our favorite” category, we pulled brands that filtered PFAS, but did not bring all the PFAS chemicals to non-detectable levels. These water filters didn’t filter some of these PFAS chemicals: GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA. (Please note that EWG recommends the Travel Berkey because it passed all their tests, however, we kept it here because of a pending lawsuit and also because the filter is made from aluminum oxide and has been shown to increase aluminum in water after filtration.)
- Amana Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- Amazon Basics Pitcher (EWG 2023 study)
- AquaGear Filter Pitcher (EWG study 2023)
- AquaSauna EQ- Whole House -GAC (Didn’t filter all PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, & PFDA)
- AquaSauna Under Sink OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis Claryum (Didn’t filter all PFHxA or PFHpA)
- Berkey Pitcher (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, & PFHxA)
- Big Berkey with 2 Black Filters (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFPA, & PFHxA)
- Bosch Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all PFBS, PFBA, & PFHpA)
- Brita Pitcher (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, & PFOA, and also didn’t do well in the EWG study either)
- Brita Elite Filter (EWG 2023 study)
- Brita Soho Pitcher (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA)
- Clear Choice Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA, & PFOA)
- Culligan Under Sink Single Stage (Didn’t filter all PFBA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFNA)
- Every Drop Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, & PFOA)
- Filtrete: 3US-PF01 Under Sink single Stage (Didn’t filter all PFBA & PFPA)
- GE Refrigerator (unknown model) (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA)
- GE Smart Water Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, & PFOA)
- GE Smart WaterPlus Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all PFBA & PFHxA)
- HydroViv Under-Sink Single Stage (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- Jenn-Air Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- PUR Faucet (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- PUR Pitcher (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA, and also didn’t do well in the EWG study)
- Primo Reverse Osmosis (Didn’t filter all PFOS)
- Puronics Clarius-WIGEN Whole House-GAC/CIX (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- Puronics Clarius-W Whole House-GAC/CIX (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- Puronics Defender IGEN Whole House-GAC/CIX (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- Samsung Refrigerator Filter (unknown model) (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, & PFOA)
- Seychelle Pitcher Filter (EWG 2023 study)
- Whirlpool Refrigerator Filter (unknown model) (Didn’t filter all PFBA, PFPA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
- Whirlpool WHEM B40 Dual-Stage (Didn’t filter all PFBA & PFOS)
- Whirlpool HDX FMW-5 Refrigerator Filter (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA)
- Whirlpool WHCF-DUF Under-Sink Single Stage (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA)
- Whirlpool Under Sink Single Stage (Didn’t filter all GenX, PFBA, PFHxA, & PFHpA)
Better Water Filter Systems for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” Filtration
For the “better” category, we pulled systems that were tested against less than 8 PFAS chemicals and had non-detect levels after filtration. This category does not mean they are “worse” per se, but just that there was no independent proof they worked against all PFAS chemicals within the study.
- Custom Formulations KDF/GAC Under Sink Single Stage (5 absent chemicals: PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA, & PFDA)
- EcoAquaEFF Refrigerator (5 chemicals absent: PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA, & PFDA)
- Epic Pure Water Filter Picher (EWG study 2023)
- eSpring 100189 (UV lamp off) Under-sink Single Stage (6 chemicals absent: PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, & PFDA)
- Puronics Micromax 7000 Reverse Osmosis (10 chemicals absent: PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, & PFDA)
- Titan Water Pro NW- RO50-NP35 (5 chemicals absent: PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA, & PFDA)
Best Water Filter Systems for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” Filtration
These brands had PFAS at Minimum Detection Levels (MDL) meaning it was not detected when the filter was running. The following PFAS chemicals were accounted for: GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, & PFDA. These water filters were tested against at least 8 of these chemicals and passed. There was some variance on what chemicals were present in the water at each home and if any were not present, we called that out for you as an FYI.
- APEC Water: RO-45 Reverse Osmosis & Zero Water Reverse Osmosis running in a series (1 absent chemical: PFBS)
- APEC RO-45 Reverse Osmosis (3 absent chemicals: PFOA, PFNA, & PFDA)
- AQUA TRU Countertop Water Filtration Reverse Osmosis (No absent chemicals) (This link will deduct $100 off a unit for you automatically at checkout.)
- Culligan Reverse Osmosis (3 absent chemicals: PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA)
- Culligan Aqua-Cleer Reverse Osmosis (3 absent chemicals: PFBS, PFNA, & PFDA)
- Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher with Affinity Filtration Technology (EWG study in 2023) (This link will deduct 10% off purchase.)
- EcoWater Reverse Osmosis (1 absent chemical: PFBS)
- GE: FXSVC Dual-Stage (3 absent chemicals: PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA)
- GE Refrigerator (unknown model) (1 absent chemical: PFBS) (We are looking further into which one, so please hold off from buying for now)
- Hydroviv Tailored Tapwater & HDX Whirlpool 3 Dual-Stage (3 absent chemicals: PFBS, PFNA, & PFDA)
- Kenmore Dual-stage (3 absent chemicals: PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA)
- Kinetico K-5 Reverse Osmosis (3 absent chemicals: PFBS, PFNA, & PFDA)
- LG Refrigerator Filter (3 absent chemicals: PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA)
- PUR Refrigerator Filter (No absent chemicals)
- Samsung Refrigerator (Unknown model)(3 absent chemicals: PFBS, PFNA, & PFDA) (We are looking further into which one, so please hold off on buying for now)
- Whirlpool: WHEEDF Dual-Stage (2 absent chemicals: PFNA & PFDA)
- ZeroWater 7-Cup 5 Stage Filter (EWG study in 2023, however, it’s also important to note that a recent study by Consumer Labs found this filter added microplastics to the water as well. This is contested by ZeroWater and the differences may be the types of microplastics that were measured in the study. This product did not do well in prior studies at Duke University either, however, it’s possible it has improved since then.)
Knix Period Underwear “PFAS” Forever Chemicals Laboratory Results
Am I better off buying spring water in a glass container? They make a 5 gallon glass container.
Mountain Valley Spring water in 2.5 or 5 gallon glass container is the best I’ve found. That’s if you don’t want to purchase single bottles.
Am I better off buying spring water in a glass container? They make 5 gallon glass containers.
I ordered the Clearly Filtered water pitcher. The pitcher itself has a recycle symbol 7 /other. 7 is not always safe. Very confused.
Where is Cyclopure? Funded by the US government it removes 100% pfas. They now offer whole house filters as well. Thought you should know cause you need to update this. Reverse osmosis pales in comparison.
Where can I find more information about this?
I would like a shower filter that removes all chemicals, or most, including fluoride. Any available and tested.
Bluevua RO water filtering not mentioned
GREAT reporting & research, however, you really need to correct Aqua Sauna to read Aquasana. With all due respect, this is misleading and needs correcting. Those of us that have aquasana filters would appreciate this clarification. Thank you.
Aqua Tru doesn’t remove mercury. Not sure how good it is
Also reviews say it stops working after their 1 year warranty. How convenient. Also customer service is atrocious
Aqua Tru also tastes terrible. I’ve had both the ‘alkaline’ and the reguler Aqua Tru and the water tasted bad in both. Now here I am again researching systems before I go to Amazon for Big Deals day.
I’m surprised Epic Pure Water Filters didn’t do better that “better.” I use both an under the sink filter from them to get rid of heavy metals and other sediment and then filter that through their pitcher filter, which I would be surprised if those don’t remove PFAS, since they send out newsletters about that stuff.
Oh, here’s was Epic says “Sub-micron filtration removes up to 99.9% of tap water contaminants including PFAS forever chemical, heavy metals, fluoride, pesticides, and more. The filters are 100% replaceable, 100% recyclable, 100% BPA-free (Check out our Recycling Program for more info).”
It sounds like you either work for them or are a deceptive bot posting as an actual person.
Finding a good filter is exhausting. The data for removal is important, the components are important. I am trying to find something that does not have plastic and that is impossible. Aqua Tru has a glass jug but the water storage to be filtered is plastic. There are others like SANS that are new with glass but have a certification that is not NSF. Also when a bunch of fancy options (like ability to have hot water) are included I start to worry about heat near plastic. A bunch of people have posted that they put Pink Himalayan salt in their water. That has lead. Not a great idea.
Is there a “best” option for a whole house filter ?
Hi,
Would you know the approximate micron size of prescription medications in tap water?
I’m wondering the same.
The same NCU/Duke study cited here found that whole house filters has the worst performance. In some cases, they actually introduced additional contamination from mold and bacterial growth. The problem with whole house filters is the volume and speed of the water as it comes in through the mainline–there is so much water moving so fast at that point that the water does not stay in contact with the filtration elements for long enough to effectively remove contaminants, compared to how long it spends swirling around a much slower filter under the sink. This same problem occurs with the models that attach right to the faucet–the filters are too small and do not maintain contact with the water for long enough, so most of the contaminants do not get to react with the filter and actually stick there.
Would love to know this. I am installing, as we ‘speak’ a SpringWell whole house filtration/softener w UV and a reverse osmosis at the sink. Not cheap. Hopefully it’s a good system
I am also interested in a Best whole house filtering system.
Hi! I am wondering about the clearly filtered pitcher. It is made of triton and you do not recommend triton in another post. Thanks!
Did you ever determine which Samsung refrigerator it was?
Ordered CF pitcher and was absolutely disappointed. So flimsy, the plastic that holds the filter inside arrived completely shattered but hold together. I didn’t feel confident to even try it. It was sent back.
Aqua Tru water tasted horrible, just as you would drink water out of the plastic bottles that sat in your hot trunk for long. But it has glass pitcher. Went back!
Recently I found that Soma is as good as Clearly Filtered, going to order it and see if it works.
It’s so exhausting to find a good quality pitcher.
Hi! I just got a clearly filtered pitcher and love it! But I’m wondering about the triton material it is made from. You have other posts that don’t recommend triton, so wondering your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Why
I would love to see the LARQ pitcher tested too. Considering that one over the ClearlyFiltered pitcher since it does UV cleaning automatically which removes bacteria that grow in water.
Is it aqua sauna or aquasana that you mention? wondering if there was a typo. thank you
I can’t find “ Hydroviv Tailored Tapwater & HDX Whirlpool 3 Dual-Stage” on their website. Maybe the name changed? But now I’m skepticcal which one is this so I’m not sure which one to buy…. Any ideas
That was the exact description on the study we covered.
Any idea about the the Brondell under sink filtration system?
GE is mentioned in both the “not favorite” and “best”. Is it possible to see what filter for a fridge was used? We’ve been using the GE RPWFE filter for years now and it advertises that it filters out 99% of PFOS and PFAS
This site sucks!, Not one person had their questions answered, they list the same items both in the worse and best categories and in the “best” water filter category, they list a filter that consumer report deemed to be bad. Sure, they mention that, but why not list it in the bad category? This same errors and discrepancies occur for every item tested! They don’t care or don’t know what the heck they’re doing. You can’t trust anything mamavation says. I trust Consumer Report much more.
Thank you for noticing all the problems with this site.
APEC RO-45 Reverse Osmosis
The above RO system is recommended by you but this model is no longer available. It seems to have been replaced by model Roes-50. Is this model OK?
This is always a problem with appliance recommendations – the exact model has often been replaced.
Thank
What about the everydrop by Whirlpool Ice and Water Refrigerator Filter 1, EDR1RXD1, Single-Pack , Purple?
We are unsure of those details. They were not specified in the study. But we did include everything they had there.
I was wondering the same (I have a Kenmore).. But just get the PUR version.. that one passed.
Hi, would you consider testing Doulton water filters/units? I would love to know what you find.
Thanks….
From the video regarding the Berkey, the test actually only showed leaching of aluminum from the extra fluoride filters that can be added, not from the standard filters that come with it. The Information in this article makes it sound as though all the filters had the issue since it just states, Berkey filters. I personally use a different brand but just for accuracy and not to mislead anyone, you may want to specify that it was the add on optional filters that leached aluminum.
Hey, have you actually tried this water filter unit? Have you read the one star reviews? Maybe you should!
Do you have a link for the PUR refridgerator filter you tested? Or a model number for the one metioned? I’m having trouble finding any PUR refridgerator filters available online.
I’m experiencing the same issue. A link the to the correct product would be very helpful.
I get the feeling that Whirlpool formed everydrop and bought out PUR’s fridge filter line.. bc PUT doesn’t sell them anymore.. and everydrop literally uses the exact same color/filter-stage color coding scheme (e.g. I used to buy the PUR purple.. now I buy the everydrop purple).
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Hi! I tried to go to AquaTru with the link to purchase one, but nothing was deducted at checkout- is there a coupon code or something that I should be using? Thanks 🙂
Yes Im having the same issue. I think theyre trying to use the sale price of the item as the so called discount theyre giving you. I brought the aqua water purifier up on the internet not through their link and they were the same prices so…?
Try MAMAVATION or MAMAVATION10
How about waterdrop system??
I would like to know that too.
Try MAMAVATION or MAMAVATION10
I would avoid that company if I were you. They are not transparent. Their product affected by blood work and my pet’s bloodwork.
What company are you referring to?
Hi what company please are you referring to that water affected blood work?
An outstanding article with a mountain of data to back it up. Thank you for posting this. We are all at the mercy of the EPA which is slow in providing regulatory protection and guidance. We should all assume there are PFAS in our water supply and take necessary precautions to minimize the health risks. Public water suppliers were recently notified by the EPA to reduce these dangerous chemicals in our water. However, this will take time and money, something public utilities have limited amounts. I believe the best strategy, for now, is to use a RO system for your cooking/drinking and add Himalayan salt to your drinking water in order to get the minerals your body needs. Drinking just RO water is not healthy as it will leach minerals from the body as it passes through.
Clearly Filtered
The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is made of bpa-free Titan and is convenient for countertop filtration.
I like the amazing purity of its water. The filter eliminates most of the harmful toxins in our water, most of the Alzheimer’s causing aluminum from airplane chemtrails, most of the toxic fluoride and chloramine mandated by the City, and more! But healthy minerals are selectively retained. The huge list of contaminants (and its %) removed is listed at website.
https://www.clearlyfiltered.com/pages/performance-data-for-the-clearly-filtered-water-pitcher-and-filter
When filtering water, I ensure that the filtered water does not touch the filter. If it does, contaminants from the filter will seep into the water again. I do muscle testing (aka Kinesiology), and my muscle tests weak when the filtered water touches the filter.
TIP: Quickly move your fingernail around the edge of a new filter to prevent water seeping through the edge.
I didn’t see where this brand was tested, did I miss it? I have been using Clearly Filtered for a few years now.
Hi what do you mean to run fingernail around edge what does that do
Then can water touch water filter? Thanks
I noticed you recommend theAQUA TRU Countertop Water Filtration Reverse Osmosis – did you test the under sink option as well but you still think this countertop option is better?
KY. Did you ever get an answer. I was wondering the same thing. I would love the under counter model. Thanks
Lots of people were confused (as was I) by the “no absent chemicals” or “1, 2, or 3 absent chemicals”. I had to reread it several times to figure it out. I believe what Leah is saying is that those specific chemicals were absent/not present in the ORIGINAL water being tested by that system. Therefore, not finding it in the filtered water doesn’t tell you if that system is actually capable of filtering that particular chemical! So if your particular water at home does have that chemical that was absent, you won’t know if that brand will be able to filter it out for you. Therefore, the best system is one that had ALL the tested for chemicals present in the water prior to filtering, showing that that system is able to filter ALL of them. She also tends to show the brand she most recommends by underlining it and often gives a link with a coupon.
Correct me if I’m wrong, Leah.
Thank you! – I was very foggy on the “no absent chemicals” part. Your interpretation makes sense.
Just to be sure I understand, are you saying that “no absent chemicals” means that the water used in testing contained “all” chemicals? (The Water Quality Association tests filters against 195 contaminants, for example.) I should clarify that I don’t have an opinion. At this point I remain confused.
Meanwhile, I am baffled why Mamavation would recommend the AquaTru Under Sink Alkaline Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier without providing any additional comment, test results, or mention of these absent chemicals. I was leaning toward buying this unit, but I find that the Water Quality Assoc. has not certified it. I should add that the AquaTru website states that their units “Effectively Removes 83 Contaminants.” i.e. Only 83, not 195.
I have written to AquaTru asking for a list the 83 contaminants. I am suspicious of their claims because they say that they remove PFAS chemicals. A broad statement like that is simply not possible, as there are between 11,000 and 15,000 PFAS chemicals.
isn’t it pretty relevant that the ZeroWater filter used in the study was a month old? for high TDS water, the ZeroWater filter isn’t really expected to last that long. i typically change mine every 2 weeks or so. great information here though thanks
Our filter change interval is 2 weeks also. I seen where someone recomended reusing an old filter and pitcher to prefilter and extending the Main filter.
Do you have a link to the published results for each filter? Maybe I missed it but I couldn’t find a link to the direct information.
Thanks
It seems people forget that reverse osmosis also removes all nutrients and minerals in your water. It’s so dangerous to drink if you don’t replace them.
You shouldn’t be getting all your nutrients from water? Add a pinch of Himalayan Sea Salt. What do you suggest?
i agree, i am confounded with the knowledge my tap water is harmful and i can’t find clean drinking water that won’t leach minerals from my body. I mean i have a whole house filter i spent thousands of dollars on in 2016 and now i find it hasn’t been protecting us from the radium chromium and other carcinogenic toxins found in my water ..we have been bathing in the toxic. I am so mad and frustrated. I am trying to do the right thing and it’s so hard and expensive.
Did you find another system that will remove the chromium, radium, pfas and so on. I’m looking for a quality home treatment system.
Exactly ????
It is absolutely maddening.
I think “dangerous” is a strong word to use here. While, yes, we should absolutely be aware of our mineral levels/intake as they are vital to good health, I would consider the actual danger being the consumption of toxicants. Water is not our only source of minerals.
You can get RO systems with remineralization cartridges.
What are your thoughts on Springwell whole house system and under sink?
Hi Leah,
Did you mean for the url above: “check the water database” to go to the water database? Currently it simply comes back to this section on your recommendations.
High-pressure membrane filtration, such as nanofiltration and reverse osmosis filters
First, check the water database from the Environmental Working Group to see if your local tap water has any PFAS contamination issues. If you find anything, you’ll want to purchase and maintain an at-home water filtration system that is particularly powerful at removing PFAS if these chemicals have been found in their area. This investigation will go over which types of residential water filters are effective at removing the following chemicals via a consumer study in 2020: GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFPA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, & PFDA.
I would be interested in learning more about whole-house filters that get rid of PFAs, fluoride and chlorine. Thanks!
P.S. This site seems a bit glitchy. Comments disappear or are flagged as duplicates when they’re not. Also, when reading these long articles I am frequently sent back to the top and need to scroll back through to figure out where I left off.
Can you check Epic Water Filters? They have testing on their website for PFAS for all of their products.
Please advise what you know about Kangen water machines, the water purified through them, etc.
Are they safe to use?
It’s unknown for this study. They did not include a Kangen machine.
Plus one for evaluation of Alexapure – love to know how it stacks up.
Thank you so much for these recommendations. I realize the independent data is limited to the types of filters used in this particular study, but if you ever do more research into water filters, I’d love to find out how the combination ceramic/carbon gravity filters perform, like the AquaCera CeraMetix-GF. That particular filter claims a reduction rate of >99% for Fluorinated Organic Acids (PFOA & PFOS), which is shown in their published lab results (https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0272/0661/files/16-112_AquaCera_Chem_Red_test.pdf?7672504941760631133)—but it sounds like it might be unwise to trust those numbers. I imagine the carbon element is doing most of the work of filtering PFAS, and the ceramic element doesn’t add much?
Clearly Filtered would be smart to get into this mix.
That’s what we have. We actually filter with an under the cabinet filter, then a Berkey and then a clearly filtered.
What are your thoughts on Pure Effects Filter?
We are waiting for some additional independent studies to hit before we update with some other brands.
What about clearly filtered? So Berkey doesnt filter any PFA’s?
I’d also like to find out about Clearly Filtered. They say they do remove pretty much everything
Did you folks ever get clarity on clearly filtered? I’m considering them but I’m not sure and wondered if other people had experience.
Same! Add an edit for clearly filtered please!
Yes would also like to know how Clearly Filtered rates for purity . This is too important to have confusion. I also like a previous comment have trouble following the results. Please try to clarify results .
Was hoping to see Rkin U1 RO on that list…
We just bought a house in St. Charles county, MO 63304, and today read an article in the Saint Louis Dispatch about ground water contaminated by vinyl chloride. So following….
Have you done any research on a clearly filtered water pitcher made w/ tritan plastic?
I have a clearly filtered and love it. I see quite a few people asked about them, but no one responded yet…hopefully they do soon, I’m curious!
Cyclopure now makes a PFAS filter that works with Brita pitchers.
Any updates on which GE fridge filters were good? We just got a GE Cafe fridge. Hoping we can use the ice from the ice machine!
Have you conducted any research on the RKIN reverse osmosis table top system? I own one and love it but wonder if you are familiar with their product. I prefer it over other tabletop units due to putting vital elements back into the water. Taste is important as well. Thanks so much for your time.
Thank you again for all the testing you’ve done. CuZn under sink water filters are relatively inexpensive ($115) and have sent me their test results on a wide range of contaminates. I would love to see an independent test done on it and other KDF/GAC Filters. Thanks.
+1 on reviewing CuZn!
Yes, I’m curious to know about CuZn as well! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000923524?ref=myi_title_dp
Can you plz share their test results. Do they remove pfas?
Does their test report show they remove pfas？
Question: Many whole-house systems have tanks lined with HDPE. Is there any data on plastics leaching into these systems from the liners? It seems odd they would use plastic-lined storage tanks when the purpose of filtration is to remove the contaminants.
I’ve not seen a study like that before
I’m confused:
What do you mean by “absent chemicals?”
Does that mean that there were none of those present before filtering? Or that they were 100% filtered out; absent from the processed water?
Thank you!
It means those contaminants were not present in their water
Not present before or after the filtration? You didn’t answer the question completely.
They weren’t present in the water being tested in that area is how I read it… hope that helps.
I agree. It’s just not clear .
I’m confused why you would recommend PUR if there are no absent chemicals.
This meant that all chemicals were present before filtration.
I’m still very confused, is NO absent chemicals better than 3 absent chemicals??
Following. I found that confusing as well.
The text reads “There was some variance on what chemicals were present in the water at each home and if any were not present, we called that out for you as an FYI.” I gathered from this statement that “no absent chemicals” means all chemicals were present PRIOR to filtration. Therefore, “3 absent chemicals” is not ideal for the study as it cannot be determined if these chemicals would have been filtered since they were not present to begin with.
I’m looking for a refrigerator filter for a Frigidaire. That filters forever chemicals. I’m not seeing any here.
Before filtering or after?
Do you recommend any whole home filtration systems?
Thank you!
Hello! What I am hearing people do is get a Berkey and use ProOne filters inplace of Berkey. It also removes fluoride withoutthe need for a separate filter. ProOne is formally known as ProPur.
How does ProOne score with PFAS? Thanks!
I would also like to know this. I replaced my Berkey carbon filters with ProOne filters.
I would also like to know more about whole house systems
I would also love to know more about whole house filters that filter PFAs and other nastiest like fluoride and chlorine.
I’m curious about the Pro One Big +. Have you tested any of these?
I was also wondering about the Pro One filters. I have a countertop one and when I researched prior to your research on PFAs, it was the one that seemed to remove the most contaminants. Did you research/test this brand?
Hello,
I was wondering about the clearly filtered water pitcher ?
I noticed they didn’t compare clearly filtered to these other filters
Quantitative product-specific reviews, rather than “didn’t remove everything” would have been helpful for consumers.
Unless you can capture the runoff and use it productively, such as in irrigation, reverse osmosis systems waste 4 gallons of water for every gallon delivered — not a great scenario in a drought.
Most folks don’t drink that much per day. The real water waste is in agriculture, especially when the produce is sold overseas. That means our water (in the form of fruits/veggies/hay) is being shipped overseas.
Hi, I’ve seen some articles note that reverse osmosis removes minerals that are essential to our body, but other articles dispute this. Any thoughts on this?
Thank you!
The reverse osmosis filter we recommended in this post has an option where it adds those minerals back. You are correct in thinking this can cause an issue if you drink lots of water, so make sure to purchase a system that adds these minerals back.
Hello, yes reverse osmosis removes just about everything in your water making it slightly acidic. You can always add an alkaline filter to any ro to add the healthy minerals back into your water and raise ph.
Well PFAS and microplatics are my real concerns and Aqutru done fantastic thing to minimize the level of PFAS and microplatic in it
The link for the discount on the AquaTru product doesn’t seem to be working. Has it expired?
Go to their website they are having a 25% off Black Friday sale
Thanks for this! Did you ever get the model of the GE fridge?
Question about the recommendations on the best Water Filter Systems for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” filtration. What do you mean by absent?
For example, when you state “Culligan Reverse Osmosis (3 absent chemicals: PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA)” I found the wording confusing.
Does that mean that for the 3 absent chemicals – PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA …those were not detected but trace levels of GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFOS, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA were in fact detected?
Any clarification would be greatly appreciated on the “absent chemicals” meaning. Thanks so much for your time effort and help.
The descriptions, none found, 1, 2 3 present or not present… are ridiculously difficult to follow as many have mentioned and no one has bothered to respond, clear up the confusion, or make the descriptions easier to follow. They have clarified and responded to other comments.
The ads on the page and site are also over the top. I’m beginning to wonder if this is all one big scam site so they purposely make the results difficult to follow.
Imagine how expensive it must be to test all these products.
Were the carbon filters on the various systems new or same age/amount of use – or were they at varying levels of previous usage/age?
Question about the recommendations on the best Water Filter Systems for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” filtration. What do you mean by absent?
For example, when you state “Culligan Reverse Osmosis (3 absent chemicals: PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA)” I found the wording confusing.
Does that mean that for the 3 absent chemicals – PFPA, PFNA, & PFDA …those were not detected? Or does it mean they were not tested for?
Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
What about the Lifestraw pitcher??
Will the Berkey work with four black filters?
None of the 89 homes tested were using that so I can’t be sure. I can only be sure of what was independently verified.
What about Mercola’s fluoride filter?
And Fluoride is also critical to remove but barely referenced in this post?
You never seem to address comments on your posts though…?
This post is not about fluoride, it’s about PFAS. They both contain fluorine but are different chemicals. PFAS is far more concerning.
I also want to see your results on clearlyfiltered.
This is great! Thank you! What about the plastic reservoir in the Aqua tru that you recommended? Will that cause BPA or bps of phthalates into the filtered water?
If you have issues with PFAS in your tap water, the plastic components are the least of your worries. If you do not have PFAS in your tap water, there are other systems that you may like more than this one. We recommended the filter here that has the best efficiency based on an independent study. (Not from studies paid for by the brand themselves.) But there are many other things your tap water can have that may make another type of filter more attractive to you. Take a look at the EWG water database and look into your zipcode to find out first, https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/water-filter-guide.php
Leah thank you for your hard work here! You did not reference the plastics used to house the filter and the filter pitcher where applicable. Many of these (e.g. Pur) are made of Tritan, which as you know is terrible. I’ve struggled to answer this question myself. Can this list be further filtered to consider the plastic parts contained in the filter housing and other parts that touch the water?
We aren’t a fan of Tritan, but in terms of PFAS, I think Tritan is a lower concern. I would say not to store this in direct sunlight and drink the water within a few days. Leaching happens when you apply heat, have high-fat content or there is some type of acid involved. But again, this post is just about PFAS. And that’s a BIG deal.
You mention the Berkey with 2 black filters. What about with 4 black filters?
Thank you for this! How bad exactly was Berkey?
The Berkey may be good for other things, but it’s not efficient in filtering out certain types of PFAS.
You mention the Berkey with 2 black filters. What about with 4?
I can only be sure of what systems were indepedently verified in that study.
Lauren, I think it doesn’t matter in a Berkey if you use 1, 2, 3, or 4 at once. I would suspect that using 1 at a time is overall more likely to be efficient and when the filter is reaching it’s intended lifetime you just swap in a new filter. If you use 4 at a time, the duration or lifetime of the filters will be longer, but how can you determine that limit?
I use a PRO One now for 3 months and I love it, but I already had to wash it (it is ceramic) because of apparent rust is my water source. They claim it will last 6 months. I find no diminishment of flow so far.
What about Radient Life water systems? Also Kishu charcoal sticks? Thanks!
They didn’t look into this brand.
Also looking for the same clarification “Tim” asked for on Dec. 8th. Please let us know, thanks!
Have you researched Radient Life water systems? How about Kishu charcoal sticks?
What about AlexaPure as a filter for PFAS?
There’s 3 different Hydroviv filters mention in this but when I ordered mine a couple months ago, they only had either under sink or fridge in line filter. Do you know which ones those fall under in terms of filtering PFAS since one type seemed to be missing several types while the other two filters did better?
Same question. Which hydroviv is good?
This is great! I don’t see ClearlyFilteted on here?
They didn’t have that brand as part of the study in homes in North Carolina.
I would like to see Clearly Filtered rated, will you be doing an updated study?