Will This Water Pitcher Filter PFAS? How to Check Certifications

"The EPA announced that as many as 10 percent of US water systems may have unsafe levels of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," in the water. Lead pipes are still all over the place, even if they're no longer in Flint, Michigan, as of July 2025. Heck, there are maybe heavy metals in the groundwater, depending where you are, and bottled water risks excess microplastics."

"In response to worries about the water supply, a whole new generation of water filters are making wondrous promises about reductions in contaminants: chlorine, PFAS, heavy metals, stray pharmaceuticals like acetaminophen, fluoride if that's a worry for you. Some of these are whole-home or under-sink reverse osmosis systems. Others are simple countertop systems, gravity-fed through mesh or carbon or other filters."

"The first main sources of comfort for me when assessing water filters are certifications and independent testing. Vague claims of 99 percent reduction in chlorine or PFAS or arsenic are harder to trust if the testing is internal to the company itself. To be credible, any claims of third-party testing should also clearly identify the lab that conducted the testing."

The EPA's announcement that up to 10 percent of US water systems contain unsafe PFAS levels has driven increased interest in water filters. While most drinking water complies with federal standards, concerns about lead pipes, heavy metals, microplastics, and pharmaceutical residues persist. New water filter technologies promise reductions in various contaminants including chlorine, PFAS, heavy metals, and fluoride through whole-home systems, under-sink reverse osmosis, and countertop gravity-fed filters. Evaluating filter credibility requires scrutinizing manufacturer claims and seeking independent verification. NSF/ANSI standards provide the most reliable certification framework for assessing water filter performance claims.

Read at WIRED