Certified Water Filters Compared: What Each Is Actually Certified to Remove
Every filter we list, matched to its NSF, WQA, or IAPMO listing: PFAS, lead, fluoride, nitrate, chlorine, and what each is not certified for.
Most filter marketing says "removes" or "tested to." What protects you is a current listing with an independent certifier (NSF, WQA, or IAPMO) for the specific contaminant in your water. This table lists only filters we could match to such a listing, by exact model, and says what each one is not certified for.
How to use this table
- Start with your water, not the filter. Look up your city's EPA record to see whether PFOA/PFOS, lead, nitrate, or disinfection byproducts are the issue.
- Match the contaminant to the claim. PFAS claims fall under NSF/ANSI 53 (carbon) or 58 (reverse osmosis). Fluoride, nitrate, and arsenic claims appear only under NSF/ANSI 58. Shower filters can only be certified for free chlorine (NSF/ANSI 177); none is certified for chloramine.
- Confirm the model. Certification is model-specific, including the replacement cartridge. Each row links to the listing we checked.
Pitchers
| Product | Certified for | Not certified for | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brita Elite Filter Pitcher | NSF/ANSI 53 (lead), WQA listing for LONGLAST OB06 (Elite) filter | PFOA/PFOS | WQA |
| ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher | NSF/ANSI 53 (PFOA/PFOS), IAPMO file W-14820; NSF/ANSI 53 (lead), IAPMO file W-14820 | — | IAPMO R&T |
| PUR PLUS Pitcher (PPF951K filter) | NSF/ANSI 53-2024: lead, Total PFAS, cadmium, copper, mercury, benzene and more | — | IAPMO R&T |
Faucet mounts
| Product | Certified for | Not certified for | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUR PFM400H Faucet Mount | NSF/ANSI 53-2024 (Total PFAS), IAPMO file W-29904; NSF/ANSI 53 (lead), NSF listing | — | IAPMO R&T and NSF |
Under-sink carbon
| Product | Certified for | Not certified for | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterdrop G3P800 Under-Sink | NSF/ANSI 53 (PFOA/PFOS), IAPMO file WC-14805; NSF/ANSI 58 (lead), IAPMO file WC-13976 | — | IAPMO R&T |
| Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage AQ-5200 | NSF/ANSI 53: PFOA, PFOS, lead, mercury, VOCs, cysts; NSF/ANSI 42: chloramine, chlorine | — | WQA |
Reverse osmosis
| Product | Certified for | Not certified for | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterdrop G3P800 | NSF/ANSI 53 (PFOA/PFOS), IAPMO file WC-14805; NSF/ANSI 58 (lead), IAPMO file WC-13976 | — | IAPMO R&T |
| APEC ROES-50 | PFOA/PFOS, lead | WQA | |
| AquaTru Classic | NSF/ANSI 53 (PFOA/PFOS), IAPMO file W-10193; NSF/ANSI 58 (lead), IAPMO file W-10194 | — | IAPMO R&T |
| iSpring RCC7AK | NSF/ANSI 58: fluoride, lead, barium, cadmium, chromium (III), copper, selenium, TDS | PFOA/PFOS | NSF |
| GE GXRQ18NBN | NSF/ANSI 58: nitrate/nitrite, arsenic (V), fluoride, lead, chromium (VI and III), barium, cadmium, copper, radium, selenium, cysts | PFOA/PFOS | NSF |
| APEC RO-90 | NSF/ANSI 58: fluoride, lead, arsenic (V), barium, cadmium, copper, chromium (VI and III), radium, selenium, TDS | PFOA/PFOS | WQA |
Refrigerator filters
| Product | Certified for | Not certified for | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| everydrop Filter 3 (EDR3RXD1) | NSF/ANSI 53: PFOA, PFOS, lead, TTHM, VOCs, cysts; NSF/ANSI 42 and 401 | — | NSF |
Shower filters
| Product | Certified for | Not certified for | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weddell Duo (WD-100) | NSF/ANSI 177: free available chlorine reduction | PFOA/PFOS, chloramine | NSF |
What these certifications do and don't mean
A certification means an independent lab confirmed the product reduces that contaminant under the standard's test conditions, and the certifier audits the manufacturer. It does not mean the filter removes everything, and performance depends on changing the cartridge on schedule. "Tested to NSF standards" or "meets NSF standards" in a product description is not the same as being listed. The older NSF P473 PFAS protocol was retired in 2021; PFAS claims now sit inside NSF/ANSI 53 and 58.
Not on this list
Products without a listing we could verify are left off, even popular ones. That includes salt-free "conditioners" (there is no certification that confirms scale prevention for the products sold on Amazon) and whole-house PFAS systems, which are sold through dealers rather than online. See our salt-free conditioner explainer and PFAS filter buying guide.
Certifications checked on November 1, 2026. Listings change; confirm the current listing before buying. Product links are affiliate links; we earn a commission at no cost to you, and it does not affect which products qualify.
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