Best water filters for lead and PFAS: certified picks only (2026)

CDC says you can reduce your exposure to lead in tap water by using a point-of-use filter certified by an independent testing organization, and that the certification should indicate NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. Every filter here is in the Water Quality Association's certified listings for lead, and the two Aquasana filters for PFOA and PFOS as well; we checked each model on October 23, 2026. Filters that are only 'tested to' a standard aren't on this page.

By Tom Calder · Updated October 23, 2026 · 5 products, prices indicative

Water filters for lead and PFAS compared for US households

Our picks

Best for lead and PFAS 4.5

Aquasana AQ-5200 (under-sink)

Under-sink, 2-stage · Lead, PFOA, PFOS · NSF/ANSI 53 · 6 months or 500 gallons

Lead and PFAS from a dedicated faucet

Researched

Check price →

Best with no install 4.5

Brita Everyday Elite pitcher

Pitcher, 10 cups · Lead · NSF/ANSI 53 · About 6 months

Lead reduction with nothing to install

Researched

Check price →

Best on the faucet 4.5

PUR Plus faucet filter

Faucet mount · Lead · NSF/ANSI 53 · Up to 3 months or 100 gallons

Filtered water straight from the faucet

Researched

Check price →

Best reverse osmosis 4.0

APEC ROES-50 (reverse osmosis)

Under-sink reverse osmosis, 50 gal/day · Lead, arsenic · NSF/ANSI 58 · Filters every 6-24 months

Reverse osmosis certified for lead and arsenic

Researched

Check price →

All 5 compared

Filter	Type	Certified to reduce (WQA)	Standard	Filter life (maker)	Price
1. Brita Everyday Elite Water Filter Pitcher (10 cups) Best with no install Pitcher, 10 cups · Lead · NSF/ANSI 53 · About 6 months Lead reduction with nothing to install 4.5	Pitcher, 10 cups	Lead	NSF/ANSI 53	About 6 months	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The simplest certified option: a 10-cup pitcher whose Elite filter is WQA-certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. It's not certified for PFAS, so if PFAS is your worry, look at the Aquasana filters. Best for Lead reduction with nothing to install Good Certified for lead (WQA) No installation Cheap to start Worth knowing Not certified for PFAS Small batches: refill often Who shouldn't buy it: PFAS is your main concern.
2. PUR Plus Faucet-Mount Water Filtration System (lead reducing) Best on the faucet Faucet mount · Lead · NSF/ANSI 53 · Up to 3 months or 100 gallons Filtered water straight from the faucet 4.5	Faucet mount	Lead	NSF/ANSI 53	Up to 3 months or 100 gallons	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Clips onto most standard faucets and gives lead-certified water on tap, with a light that tells you when the filter's due. The trade-off is frequent filter changes: about every 3 months or 100 gallons. Best for Filtered water straight from the faucet Good Certified for lead (WQA) Filtered water on tap Filter-change light Worth knowing Filters every 3 months or 100 gallons Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you would rather not change filters every few months.
3. Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under Sink Water Filter (AQ-5200) Best for lead and PFAS Under-sink, 2-stage · Lead, PFOA, PFOS · NSF/ANSI 53 · 6 months or 500 gallons Lead and PFAS from a dedicated faucet 4.5	Under-sink, 2-stage	Lead, PFOA, PFOS	NSF/ANSI 53	6 months or 500 gallons	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Certified for lead and for the two most-studied PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, and it fits under the sink with its own faucet. Filters last 6 months or 500 gallons. Best for Lead and PFAS from a dedicated faucet Good Certified for lead, PFOA and PFOS (WQA) 500 gallons per filter set Own faucet Worth knowing Needs installing under the sink Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you rent and can't fit anything under the sink: a pitcher is simpler.
4. Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under Sink Water Filter (AQ-6300M) Under-sink, 3-stage, high flow · Lead, PFOA, PFOS · NSF/ANSI 53 · Up to 6 months or 800 gallons The fastest flow and longest filter life here 4.5	Under-sink, 3-stage, high flow	Lead, PFOA, PFOS	NSF/ANSI 53	Up to 6 months or 800 gallons	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The same lead, PFOA and PFOS certification as the AQ-5200 with a third stage, faster flow (0.72 gallons a minute) and filters rated for up to 800 gallons. Best for The fastest flow and longest filter life here Good Certified for lead, PFOA and PFOS (WQA) 0.72 gal/min flow Up to 800 gallons per set Worth knowing Needs installing under the sink Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only need a pitcher's worth of water a day.
5. APEC ROES-50 5-Stage Under Sink Reverse Osmosis System (50 GPD) Best reverse osmosis Under-sink reverse osmosis, 50 gal/day · Lead, arsenic · NSF/ANSI 58 · Filters every 6-24 months Reverse osmosis certified for lead and arsenic 4.0	Under-sink reverse osmosis, 50 gal/day	Lead, arsenic	NSF/ANSI 58	Filters every 6-24 months	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A 5-stage reverse osmosis system certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for lead and arsenic, a good fit for well water with arsenic. It's not listed for PFAS, has the most parts to install and maintain, and fills a storage tank rather than filtering on demand. Best for Reverse osmosis certified for lead and arsenic Good Certified for lead and arsenic (WQA) Reverse osmosis Worth knowing Not listed for PFAS Most complex install Storage tank under the sink Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a quick, no-tools install.

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The honest bit

CDC says boiling water will not reduce the amount of lead in it. And a home filter is not a substitute for a boil-water notice: when your utility issues one, follow its instructions. Change cartridges on schedule, because a filter only does what it's certified for within its rated life.

Before you buy

Look for certification, not 'tested to'.

CDC says a lead filter's certification should indicate NSF/ANSI 53. Some brands say a filter was tested to a standard without being certified, which isn't the same thing.

Check what it's certified for.

Brita's Elite filter and PUR's faucet filters are certified for lead but not PFAS; Aquasana's Claryum filters are certified for lead, PFOA and PFOS; the APEC system for lead and arsenic.

Pick the type for your kitchen

A pitcher needs no installing; a faucet mount fits most standard faucets; under-sink and reverse osmosis systems go under the sink.

Find out what's in your water first.

Your water utility's annual water quality report lists what it found, and EPA says water systems must give the public information on PFAS levels from 2027.

How we choose

We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →

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How much water to store for an emergency: per person, per pet and for how long

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Common questions

Does a Brita filter remove lead?

The Elite filter is the one to buy for lead. The Water Quality Association lists Brita pitchers such as the Everyday as certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, with no PFOA or PFOS claim.

Do water filters remove PFAS?

Some are certified to reduce specific PFAS. The Water Quality Association lists Aquasana's Claryum AQ-5200 and AQ-6300M as certified to reduce PFOA and PFOS under NSF/ANSI 53. Check the certification on the specific model, not the box.

Does boiling water remove lead?

No. CDC says boiling water will not reduce the amount of lead in it. Use a filter certified for lead, or bottled water.

Is reverse osmosis better?

It's certified under a different standard, NSF/ANSI 58. The Water Quality Association lists the APEC ROES-50 for lead and arsenic, but not PFAS. It needs installing under the sink and has the most filters to replace.

Sources (3)