If you have PFAS and PFOA in your drinking water you’ve come to the right place.
We know how much of a pain in the ass it is dealing with these toxic chemicals in your water supply and we’ve scoured and evaluated water filters on the market which are the best at removing these chemicals.
In this review we will give you detailed information and reviews of the best water filters for PFAS & PFOA helping you to select the perfect filter for your home that will offer you healthy pure water.
Find The Right Section…
- Find our PFAS & PFOA water filter best of list
- Find the evaluation criteria we used to select the best water filter systems to remove PFAS & PFOA
- Find our best water filter systems to remove PFAS & PFOA individual reviews
- Learn more PFAS & PFOA water filter with our buyers guide
Best Filters for PFAS & PFOA Compared
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Best Overall | #1 SpringWell Whole House Water Filter |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | #2 SoftPro Catalytic Carbon Filter |
| CHECK PRICE | |
 | #3 AquaOx Whole House Filter |
| CHECK PRICE | |
 | #4 Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher |
| CHECK PRICE | |
 | #5 Berkeley Countertop Filter |
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 | #6 Waterdrop G3 Reverse Osmosis Filter |
| CHECK PRICE |
Filters for PFAS/PFOA Evaluation Criteria
When searching for a filter to remove toxic PFAS and PFOA it is important to have some solid criteria for comparison. Below are some of the criteria we looked at.
Filtering Technology
There are various systems that work to remove the dangerous per- and polyfluoralkyl substances and perfluoroocanoic acid from your tap water.
Reverse osmosis filters are some of the most common and effective at removing toxic PFAS and PFOA. According to some studies, this kind of filter can remove up to 90% of these dangerous chemicals. These systems work by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane, which filters and removes drinking water contaminants. Many have multiple layers of RO membranes and filters.
Other filters that remove PFOA and PFAS use activated carbon. These are very common, though they are less effective at removing these forever chemicals than the reverse osmosis filters. The filter uses granular activated carbon. When water flows through this active carbon filter, the granules absorb a large portion of the PFAS and PFOA. Some other types of filters have an added carbon filter in the system.
Ion exchange filters work by exchanging ions of the contaminants with those of sodium. The water comes in contact with the charged ion exchange resins. This kind of filtration system is typical in water softeners. These are some of the most effective water treatment systems you can get.
Certifications and Warranty
Water filters certified by an outside authority, such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), have been reviewed by an independent party to verify the quality of the product and the truthfulness of their claims. If a filter is certified, you can have more confidence that the system will work the way it claims.
A long warranty shows you that the manufacturer stands behind their product. They probably put some effort into making something that lasts.
A short warranty doesn’t mean a filter isn’t worth buying, but it does show you that the manufacturer won’t back the quality of their hardware for long. This is something to consider. If the unit breaks a year after you buy it, a warranty can come in handy.
Flow Rate
Flow rate is an important aspect. If a water filter doesn’t allow enough water through to provide enough water for you and your family, all the other features and benefits of it won’t matter.
Price
Price is always a concern when comparing products. While it doesn’t directly impact how well systems work, if two water filters are similar in their specification, price can be a deciding factor. Also, no matter how well a system removes the PFOA and PFAS pollution from your water, it doesn’t do you any good if you can’t afford to buy it.
Best Water Filters That Remove PFAS & PFOA Reviewed
Review Order
- SpringWell Whole House Water Filter
- SoftPro Catalytic Carbon Filter
- AquaOx Whole House Filter
- Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
- Berkeley Countertop Filter
- Waterdrop G3 Reverse Osmosis Filter
1. SpringWell Whole House Water Filter
If you’re looking for a great whole-house filtration system to remove PFAS and PFOA from your tap water, our top pick is the SpringWell Whole House Water Filter. It has a carbon filter to remove the chlorine and other common drinking water contaminants in city water supplies, but it also does a good job of removing PFOA and PFAS.
The SpringWell system is a combination filter and water softener. It has multiple stages of filtration, not just the active carbon. It uses KDF media, active carbon, and a 5 micron sediment filter. This makes it very effective at removing PFOA and PFAS.
This filter has a very long life, handling up to 1,000,000 gallons. It comes with a lifetime warranty, so SpringWell backs up that claim. Despite that, this filter is not NSF certified.
This SpringWell filter is easy to maintain, only requiring you to change a pre-filter every six months or so. That makes it cheap to own, which makes its cost to purchase more palatable.
If you have a little basic knowledge of plumbing and you’re able to use some tools, you can probably install this filter yourself.
Main Features
Flow rate- Depending on the size of the filtration system you choose, the flow rate of the system ranges from 9-17 gpm.
Filtering technology- The SpringWell Whole House Water Filter uses a multi-stage filter system with active carbon to remove PFOA and PFAS.
Ability to remove PFOA & PFAS- Because it is an active carbon filter, you can expect PFOA and PFAS removal of about 75%, on average. Removal varies, and can be anywhere from almost none to all of these chemicals.
Certifications and Warranty- While this SpringWell filter is not NSF certified, it uses filtering media that is certified. It comes with a lifetime warranty.
Price- The price for the SpringWell Whole House Water Filter ranges from 981.79 to 1677.99, so it can have vastly different price tags, depending on the size you opt for.
Pros
- 9-17 gpm flow rate
- Low maintenance
- Easy installation
- Long lasting pre-filter
- Whole-house coverage
- Very long lasting
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Costly
- Active carbon is not as effect at removing PFAS and PFOA as some other methods
2. SoftPro Catalytic Carbon Filter
The SoftPro Catalytic Carbon Filter is another great option to remove PFOA and PFAS from your water supply. It also removes up to 99% of other drinking water contaminants found in either a city or well water system.
As the name suggests, this is an activated carbon filter. That means you can expect a wide range in its ability to remove PFAS and PFOA. The average removal rate is around 75%.
This filter’s ability to remove chlorine and other contaminants is part of its allure, though. You won’t find many whole-house systems that do a better job in that regard.
And it’s another long lasting filter system, treating 600,000 gallons. That goes well with its lifetime warranty, and suggests that you probably won’t run into any troubles with this unit for a very long time. This system is not NSF certified, however.
Installation of this filter is simple, and it comes with detailed instructions to make the process easier. Most DIYers can handle it with no trouble.
Main Features
Flow rate- Expect a flow rate from 6-11 gpm, depending on the size you purchase.
Filtering technology- This filter uses active carbon filtration to remove the PFOA and PFAS from your water.
Ability to remove PFOA & PFAS- The SoftPro, being an active carbon filter, should remove about 75% of PFOA and PFAS, on average.
Certifications and Warranty- This filter has a lifetime warranty, but it is not certified by NSF or other independent organizations.
Price- You can expect to pay about $1010-1370 for this filter, depending on the size you choose.
Pros
- 6-11 gpm flow rate
- Simple to install
- Long lasting
- Whole-house coverage
- Good choice for well water
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- Only a filter, doesn’t soften the water
- Not certified by an independ authority
3. AquaOx Whole House Filter
The AquaOx Whole House Filter is not your typical carbon filter. With two carbon filter layers used in its 7-layer filtration method, it provides very well purified water. According to AquaOx, their filtration removes more contaminants than any other system available.
This is a zero maintenance water filter. While other filters require a lot of work to be properly maintained, this has a backwash self-cleaning system.
Speaking of lifespan, AquaOx claims this will last you twenty years. It will clean an astounding two-million gallons of water.
It’s NSF certified, and it comes with a 10-year warranty. On top of that, you get a money-back guarantee that lasts 12 months. So basically, you have up to a year to test it and see if you want to keep it. That makes the hefty price tag a bit more reasonable.
Main Features
Flow rate- The AquaOx filter flows up 15 gpm, providing plenty of water to even large homes.
Filtering technology- They use a 7-layer system to filter the water in this unit, two of which use activated carbon.
Ability to remove PFOA & PFAS- A typical active carbon filter removes about 75% of the PFOA and PFAS contaminants. The dual active carbon nature of this system provides better performance, leading to lower PFOA and PFAS contamination..
Certifications and Warranty- AquaOx provides a 10-year warranty on this filter. It’s also NSF certified, adding some peace of mind to your purchase.
Price- Expect to pay about $3,499 for this filter.
Pros
- Extremely long lasting
- No maintenance
- 12 month money-back guarantee
- 7-layer filtration
- 15 gpm flow
- Easy to install
- Whole-house purifier
- NSF certified
Cons
- Very expensive.
- Only a fllter, doesn’t soften
4. Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
For those of you looking to filter the toxic PFAS and PFOA from your drinking water using pitcher style filters, the Clearly Filtered water pitcher is a perfect pick. It removes up to 95% of these chemicals from your water.
This is not a whole-house solution. However, it makes it very handy to just keep one of these in the refrigerator. That way you’ll have cold, fresh drinking water whenever you need it.
By being a small water filter, it keeps the price down, and you’ll only pay about $90 for this. That’s compared to the hundreds or thousands you’ll spend on the larger systems and still reduces PFOA and PFAS levels..
Expect this pitcher to take about 45 minutes to filter through its 80 ounce capacity. While that sounds like a long time, remember that you’re only filtering what you are drinking.
It’s diminutive nature doesn’t mean this isn’t a quality unity. In fact, the Clearly Filtered pitcher comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s also NSF certified. If that’s not enough, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Main Features
Flow rate- This filters up to 80 ounces per 45 minutes, or about 105 ounces per hour.
Filtering technology- This pitcher uses a granular activated carbon filter to remove contaminants.
Ability to remove PFOA & PFAS- While a typical carbon filter removes about 75% of the PFOA and PFAS contaminants, this one has been tested to remove 95%.
Certifications and Warranty- This pitcher comes with a lifetime warranty and NSF certification.
Price- You’ll only pay about $90 for the pitcher. Additional filters will cost you about $40 each, and should last you around four months.
Pros
- Low price
- Lifetime warranty
- NSF certified
- No installation required
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not a whole-house solution
- Filters last only a few months
- Small size requires frequent refills
5. Berkey Countertop Filter
The Berkey Countertop Filter is another great option if all you want is pure drinking water. It holds up to 2.25 gallons of water, and the stainless steel design makes a nice additional to your kitchen counter.
Berkey uses an activated carbon filter, which they claim will remove up to 99.9% of the PFOA and PFAS contaminants from your drinking water. That’s a greater reduction than usually seen in a carbon filter system.
This is a gravity-fed system, and that makes it a little slow. It takes around two hours to pass the 2.25 gallon capacity through its filters.
The filters included with this system clean 6,000 gallons of water. That’s a good amount, and this should work well for about four people. Expect those filters to last a long time.
That’s a good thing, because a new pair of filters– and it requires a pair– cost about $160. You have the option to add a second pair to the system to increase its flow rate and lifespan, which is an interesting ability that many similar water filters don’t offer.
The Berkey is NSF certified and comes with a lifetime warranty. You also get a month to try it out, since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Main Features
Flow rate- The flow rate on this system is just over a gallon per hour.
Filtering technology- This filter uses granulated carbon.
Ability to remove PFOA & PFAS- Berkey says this filter removes 99.9% of toxic PFAS and PFOA from your drinking water.
Certifications and Warranty- Berkey offers a lifetime warranty, and this unit is NSF certified.
Price- The price on this countertop filter is $387, and you’ll pay about $160 for additional filters.
Pros
- NSF certified
- Money-back guarantee
- Lifetime warranty
- Great PFOA and PFAS removal rate
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not a whole-house system
- Pricey
6. Waterdrop G3 Reverse Osmosis Filter
The Waterdrop G3 is a compact, under-sink reverse osmosis unit. Its tankless design takes up very little space under your sink.
Waterdrop uses a reverse osmosis filtering system, as the name implies, but it also has activated carbon filters to remove even more contaminants. Expect it to remove around 90% of PFOA and PFAS. It also does a great job of filtering out chlorine and other chemicals from your water.
Something you don’t find in many water filters is a smart faucet like the one that the G3 reverse osmosis filter comes with. It has a light around the base to warn you when to replace the filters.
The filters in this water filtration system last a long time. Even though it’s compact, there are three filters in this under-sink reverse osmosis system. The lifespan ranges from 6-24 months each, and range from about $30 to $100 each to replace.
The G3 under-sink reverse osmosis system is NSF certified, and it comes with a one-year warranty. You also have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Main Features
Flow rate- This system has a flow rate of .28 gpm.
Filtering technology- This filter uses both a reverse osmosis membrane and granulated carbon filters.
Ability to remove PFOA & PFAS- You can expect PFOA and PFAS removal of about 90%.
Certifications and Warranty- One-year warranty. NSF certified.
Price- You’ll pay about $499 for this filter.
Pros
- Compact, tankless under-sink design
- Easy to install
- .28 gpm flow rate
- Smart faucet reminds you to replace filters
- NSF certified
- Low maintenance
Cons
- High price
- Short warranty
- Not a whole-house solution
PFAS & PFOA Water Filters Buyers Guide
What is PFAS and PFOA?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFOA stands for perfluoroocanic acid. These are toxic chemicals that take an extremely long time to break down in the environment or in the human body.
You’ll find these forever chemicals in such things as fire fighting foams, non-stick cookware, water-resistant carpets, and food packaging. They are possible carcinogens, are linked kidney disease, can lead to low birth weight in babies, and can result in impaired immune function.
How Do You Filter PFAS And PFOA From Water?
Removing toxic PFAS and PFOA is difficult for city water treatment systems. The best methods for removing toxic PFAS and PFOA contaminants are home filtration systems using activated carbon filters, ion-exchange filters, or reverse osmosis filters. Typically, the best overall results come from using a combination of these three technologies.
If you have to choose just one, PFOA is often best removed with reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis filters and activated carbon filters are both good at removing PFAS. Ion-exchange also works well with both PFAS and PFOA, and is a great option in combination with the other two.
Which Type Of Filter Is Best For Removing Both PFAS and PFOA From Your Water?
Any of the ion-exchange filters, activated carbon filters, and reverse osmosis filter systems can be very effective at removing these contaminants from your drinking water. For the best results, use a combination of at least two of these methods. A popular option is a carbon filter and reverse osmosis duo, and this combination achieves some of the best results.
In Conclusion
If you’re worried about PFAS and PFOA in your tap water and you want to get rid of these forever chemicals, any of the filters mentioned above are great options. We’ve discussed our top picks, and we explained the criteria we used to select the SpringWell system as our top pick. There are details about each of the others, showing why they also make great options.
You can’t go wrong with any of the water filters we’ve mentioned. Compare the features and consider which matter most to you. By choosing one of these systems, you’ll get purer drinking water and protect your health and the health of your family.
