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Home » Water Filtration Systems » Best Water Filter for Lead Removal
The 2014 water crisis in Flint, Michigan, made the general public much more aware about lead and other harmful contaminants present in drinking water.
Most people want to believe that the same thing could never happen to their city water.
However, if your home was built before 1986, there’s a real chance you could have lead pipes, which would mean that lead is likely present in your drinking water.
It’s for this reason that a lead water filter is so important.
It’s important to find one that will deliver you pure drinking water that is completely free from lead, to prevent a serious threat to your health.
For this reason, we’ve researched and reviewed all of the top models to find the best water filter for lead on the market.
We’ve based our selection on criteria including the amount of lead and other substances the water filter removes, water flow rates, and value for money.
We considered sink water filters, faucet mounted filters, Brita filters, and other pitcher filters and then narrowed down everything on the market to just seven lead removal filters that stand out as the very best.
To start, let’s explore exactly what criteria we took into account when comparing lead removal filters. You should look for the same when considering any lead filtration system. This will ensure the water filter you choose meets your needs and provides you with lead-free water.
The best lead water filters remove a high percentage of both kinds of lead: particulate lead and soluble lead. In addition, many filters are able to remove contaminants other than lead.
The main types of filters in a lead filtration system are reverse osmosis filter, KDF filters, activated carbon filters, gravity filters, and manufacturer-specific proprietary blends of media.
Flow is the metric that describes your water pressure. It is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). When water flows through a filtration system, the flow rate always drops to some extent.
The exact amount by which it decreases depends on the type of filtration, the size of the inlet plumbing, and other factors. The best water filters provide you with lead-free water and reduce the concentration of other contaminants in your drinking without severely impacting flow.
Filter capacity is a measure of the filter’s lifespan. For example, a filter with a capacity of 500,000 gallons will last approximately five years, whereas a filter with a 100,000-gallon capacity will only last around a year.
The exact lifespan of any water filter will depend on your household size and water usage, but filters with higher capacities always last longer. A higher capacity also means less maintenance and lower costs in the long term. You should also look at how easy it is to replace the filter cartridge or media, especially if you’ll need to change these often.
The two main independent testing labs that certify water filter products are the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA).
These labs certify water filters to several quality standards, but the most important certification to look for in a lead water filter is standard 53. Certification for this standard means the water filter removes or reduces a subset of harmful contaminants — including lead — to safe levels.
See our certification guide for more information.
When comparing the prices of different lead water filters, the most important factor is value for money. This includes the cost of replacing filters and other maintenance requirements.
After reading customer reviews, comparing product specifications, and using the criteria above to evaluate the many filters for lead removal on the market, we arrived at this shortlist.
This is a whole-house filtration system that both removes lead and reduces the content of other particles, like heavy metals and organic compounds. Its filtration binders use a design that chemically reacts with soluble lead to create an ionic bond, kinetically removing the lead from your drinking water. The carbon block 0.5-micron filters also remove particulate lead and several other harmful contaminants.
This water filter includes an innovative digital notification head, which contains a real-time dynamic LED system that monitors water and flow. It provides a visual, color-coded notification to tell you when you need to replace the filter. A bypass valve and 1-inch MNPT fittings come with the installation kit.
If you have high levels of lead in your drinking water, this is one of the best filters on the market for removing both forms of lead. It is also an excellent choice if your water contains a wide range of contaminants — thanks to the 0.5-micron and carbon block filters. Plus, it does all this without significantly impacting your water flow. If this filter is within your budget, you won’t find anything better for lead removal.
The OptimH20 is a whole-house water filter system that removes lead as well as PFOA, PFOS, chlorine, chloramines, and microorganism cysts using carbon block and 0.5-micron filtration. Unlike the SpringWell filtration system, a sediment pre-filter is included with this water filter.
This water filter has an innovative LED system that monitors water and flow. It uses a color-coded notification to alert when to replace your filter cartridges. Green means the filter is fine, yellow means you’ll need to change the cartridge soon, and red means you should change the filter cartridge immediately.
Anyone who wants a whole-house water filter that can remove 99 percent of lead from drinking water should consider the Aquasana. As it maintains a decent flow rate, it should suit most households’ needs.
The Pelican 6-stage reverse osmosis system is a point-of-use water filter. It is WQA, NSF, and ANSI certified to remove up to 96.8 percent of lead in drinking water. This makes it one of the best budget options for reverse osmosis (RO) lead removal system.
The RO filtration process starts in a single cartridge that filters water through four stages: sediment filtration, carbon filtration, and two reverse osmosis filtration stages.
After these four stages, the water passes into a storage tank. Upon leaving the storage tank, water flows through the two final filtering stages: a second carbon filter and a remineralization stage that adds calcium and magnesium back into the water.
This is one of the most efficient reverse osmosis systems on the market, since it produces 50 percent less wastewater than other RO systems.
Overall, we would recommend this sink water filtration system to anyone who is looking for a budget-friendly point-of-use water filter to reduce lead and other contaminants in their drinking water.
If you’re looking for the best water filter for lead removal on a budget, the iSpring 6-stage reverse osmosis drink water system is definitely one to consider.
This RO water filter removes not only lead but more than 1,000 pollutants. It does this by using its sediment filtration, three kinds of carbon filters, a reverse osmosis membrane, and a remineralization stage. The pre-pressurized storage tank holds four gallons of water.
If you’re on a tight budget and are willing to regularly maintain your complete reverse osmosis system, this is a great option to consider. It’s especially well suited to those who have a large and varied number of pollutants in their water supply, including heavy metals.
Next on our list is the Clearly Filtered water pitcher. Unlike the Brita water filter pitchers, this BPA-free Clearly Filtered pitcher has been tested to multiple NSF standards for removing lead and many other contaminants.
In fact, this Clearly Filtered pitcher has several stand-out features. Part of what sets it apart from its competitors is its Affinity Filtration Technology, which utilizes more than seven proprietary filtration materials. These materials create three stages of filtration and include mechanical filtration and coconut-based activated carbon.
The Home Master Ultra Under Sink System features six advanced stages of filtration and purification including KDF, catalytic carbon, and reverse osmosis. In addition to lead removal, it reduces the amount of heavy metals and other chemicals in your water.
This Home Master sink water filter is ideal for homes receiving well water. This is because the system contains an iron pre-filter that protects the unit’s reverse osmosis membrane. It also comes with a UV filter to destroy microorganisms and a permeate pump to maximize the limited pressure typically associated with well water supply systems.
The sink filter features a modular “all-in-one” design. This means the filter incorporates into your water supply without a bulky housing compartment. Not only does this feature make annual filter changes quick and easy, it also helps reduce biofilm and microorganism buildup. The all-in-one housing also helps prevent leaks.
If your household uses a large amount of water, you’ll appreciate the built-in permeate pump, which boosts filtered water production at the same time as cutting down on wastewater. This filtration system is also ideal for those who have well water (thanks to the iron filter) and for those who are concerned about microbial contamination.
The iSpring WGB32B is a three-stage whole-house water filtration system featuring a sediment filter, a carbon block filter, and a proprietary lead-reduction filter.
This water filter is specifically designed to remove lead and has a capacity of 15,000 ppm for lead removal. It requires minimal maintenance and has minimal impact on the water flow rate.
This filtration system is great for just about anyone. iSpring makes several different filter cartridges, including iron and manganese filters and various-size micron filters, many of which are compatible with this system. This means you can customize the filtration to your home’s needs, whether you have well water or city water.
| Product | Lead Removed | Filter LifeSpan | Flow Rate / Gallons Per Day (GPD) | Certifications | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpringWell Whole-House Lead & Cyst | 99.62% | 12 months | 8 GPM | N/A | $$$ |
| Aquasana OptimH20 | 99% | 12 months | 8 GPM | NSF/ANSI 53 | $$$ |
| Pelican 6-stage RO | 96.8% | 18 months | 17.9 GPD | NSF/ANSI 58 | $ |
| iSpring 6-stage RO | 98% | 2-3 years | 75 GPD | NSF/ANSI 58 | $ |
| Clearly Filtered water pitche | 99.5% | 4 months | N/A | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 244, 401, 473 | $ |
| Home Master Ultra Under Sink | 99% | 12 months | 1 GPM to Storage Tank | N/A | $$ |
| iSpring WGB32B | 99.9% (under 15,000ppb) | 12 months | 15 GPM | NSF 61 | $$ |
Now that you’re clear about what to look for in a lead removal system, it’s important to understand just why it’s so important to filter water.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines lead as a toxic element that naturally occurs in small amounts within the Earth’s crust. Despite making up approximately 0.0013 percent of land mass, lead is not rare and is easily extractable.
The chemical symbol for this element is Pb, which comes from the Latin word plumbum. Plumbum means “waterworks,” which refers to when lead was widely used in water pipe construction.
Whereas there are benefits of lead, the metal is toxic to animals and humans if ingested and can cause severe health issues. Despite this, it has been used in many products, including batteries, ceramics, gasoline, paint, plumbing, and various cosmetics. Today, many older constructions still have lead pipes.
Since lead causes such major health risks, the government placed restrictions on lead content in home faucets, piping, and soldering as well as other building materials and products in 1986.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that exposure to high levels of lead can lead to several health conditions. This includes anemia, brain disorders, damaged blood cells, kidney damage, nervous system disorders, high blood pressure, and problems with physical development (especially in young children). Extremely high exposure to lead can be fatal.
Even short-term exposure to this metal from untreated water can cause health issues, including lead poisoning. If you believe that you or someone you know may be suffering from lead poisoning, look out for the following signs symptoms:
The EPA explains that lead enters our drinking water when pipes that contain lead begin to corrode. This process is exacerbated when water has a low mineral content or high acidity. Faucets, fixtures, and pipes are the most common sources of lead in our drinking water. Typically, the corrosion occurs in water mains underneath streets, between treatment plants, and in homes.
Although local authorities have taken steps to reduce lead in drinking water, lead contamination still occurs. The Flint water crisis is just one example. Two recent pieces of legislation to prevent or reduce lead contamination are the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Lead and Copper Rule.
The amount of lead that enters water relates to:
To find out if lead is leaching into your water supply, use a water testing kit. This will tell you exactly how much lead (and other major contaminants) are in your water.
There are multiple benefits to testing your water. For one thing, you’ll be able to see exactly how much lead is in your water and pick a filter that will ensure lead is completely removed. In addition, if it turns out that your water has many additional contaminants, you can search for a multi-stage system that will address those as well. Ultimately, this will result in far fewer contaminants in your water.
Check out our review of the best water testing kits.
According to the CDC, the first step in lead removal is identifying the source of the lead. You should then remove that building material entirely. This is an excellent first line of defense. However, if municipal water pipes are the culprit, you’ll still need to filter lead out of your water.
If you have a private water well, remember to check the pump, as this is also a potential source of lead contamination. For example, well pumps that are more than 20 years old may contain lead in the “packer” element — the part that helps create a seal above the well’s screen. It also isn’t uncommon for older versions of submersible pumps to contain brass components that contain lead.
If you know that your water supply contains lead, boiling your water is not the answer. This could, in fact, cause more problems. Since boiling water causes some of the water to evaporate, it can actually concentrate the amount of lead in your water.
If you are unable to replace all the faucets, fixtures, or plumbing that may contain lead, you could try flushing. When water remains in pipes for six hours or longer, it may accumulate lead. Flushing can provide you with fresh water that has a lower concentration of lead. For example, you could allow a faucet to run for a minute or two. Instead of wasting this water, you could use it to water plants or wash dishes.
However, using a filtration system is the best option for removing lead from water. These typically remove lead at the point of use or cold water line at the point of entry to your home and many remove lead up to 99 percent.
In summary, you have three options to remove lead from your water:
Lead water filters take many forms, but they all do the same thing: remove particulate and soluble lead from your water supply. If you’ve tested your water and found that it contains high levels of lead or if you have concerns that your plumbing may leach lead, you should use some kind of filter for lead reduction.
There are several different types of filtration systems for lead removal. The six most common are gravity filters, whole-house water filters, RO systems, filter pitchers, faucet mount units, and distillers. Each style uses a slightly different filtration mechanism, as we’ll explain below.
A whole-house filter system is installed directly on your main cold water line — at the point where water enters your home. This means every appliance, faucet, fixture, and shower receives filtered water. Some consumers believe they need a separate water filter for each of their water heaters. However, this is not the case: no matter how many water heaters you have, you only need one whole-house filter system for lead removal.
Some of the main filtration methods whole house systems use include activated carbon, KDF, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis. We will explain RO filtration in more detail below, as this kind of filtration is less common for whole-house filters. RO systems are highly effective at removing lead and many other contaminants when used as point-of-use filtration (such as in a countertop water filter), but they tend to be extremely inefficient and waste much more water when installed on a cold water line.
Activated carbon filters use an adsorption method. Compounds in the water bind to the surface of the granulated carbon or carbon block. As activated carbon is less efficient at reducing lead than some other filtration methods, it is unsuitable for homes with water that has a high concentration of lead.
KDF media is a good option for removing high levels of soluble lead. It uses copper–zinc granules to exchange electrons with lead particles. This is called a redox reaction. The exchange means lead particles are no longer water soluble, meaning they become suspended particulates that sediment filtration can easily remove.
Ion-exchange filters are also capable of removing lead, provided water is slightly acidic (with a pH of less than 7). The negatively-charged lead particles bind to the ion exchange resin, each one displacing a positively-charged particle like sodium into the water.
Many manufacturers also use a proprietary blend of media formulated specifically for lead. Although these don’t fall into any of the above categories, such media blends can even be even more effective.
Reverse osmosis systems remove pollutants and other impurities from feed water and unfiltered water. Pressure forces the water through a semi-permeable membrane with small pores. These pores mean that only water molecules are able to pass through the membrane but substances like lead are filtered out.
RO is a cost-effective way to remove lead from drinking water. In addition to lead removal, RO filters reduce contaminants like bacteria and harmful chemicals. RO systems work best when installed into the existing plumbing under your sink because, this way, they waste less water.
A filtered pitcher is a fully-functioning, self-contained water filtration system. These portable systems can hold various volumes of water (the exact amount depends on the model) and eliminate the need to purchase bottled water.
The great thing about a filtered pitcher is that it’s easy to use. These filters eliminate lead and other contaminants from your tap water or well water supply primarily with an activated carbon filter. You have a large amount of choice for models, including from PUR, the Brita tap water filter, and the Clearly Filtered water pitcher.
A gravity filter sits on your kitchen countertop. It filters pollutants from your water supply using gravity: water flows from the upper chamber down through the filtration system. The purified water then accumulates in a tank underneath the filter.
Since these units operate using gravity, there’s no need for hardwiring or electricity. However, some users dislike that these filters take up countertop space, especially when space is limited to begin with.
Faucet mount units fit directly onto a faucet. When you turn on your kitchen tap, filtered water comes out of the unit. Many people find these systems more convenient than refillable filter pitchers. Plus, these filters take up a minimal amount of space because they fit directly onto a tap. Most faucet filters have a simple design, which means easy installation.
If you are considering a faucet filter, look for features like a filter change sensor, long filter life, and a 360-degree swivel. Also bear in mind that not all faucet filters are effective on the same contaminants. Make sure the one you choose rated for iron or — better yet — is independently certified.
A water distiller converts water into vapor or steam before condensing it back to its liquid state. This water treatment method removes many impurities (including lead, arsenic, bacteria, and heavy metals) during the evaporation process. Removal occurs because these pollutants are unable to turn into steam. Instead, they remain in the boiling chamber as water transitions from liquid to vapor.
Water distillation as a filtration method is similar to how the Earth naturally purifies and redistributes water. In the case of natural purification, heat from the sun evaporates water and turns it into vapor. The vapor cools when rising, turning into clouds. The evaporated water then returns to the Earth in precipitation as rain or snow.
Although water distillers are not traditional water filters, they can effectively purify water, removing lead and additional contaminants. However, since distillers are slow, you may prefer a different other NSF-certified option if you require a large amount of water.
The most obvious benefit of using a lead water filter is it ensures your water is safe to drink and free of a contaminant that has notorious health effects. A water filter may also be a suitable solution if you would rather avoid redoing all of the plumbing in your home.
The main drawback to lead water filters is they can have a negative impact on your water flow rate. In addition, they are often specialty filters — heavy-duty lead filters mostly just remove lead. Having said that, you do have the option of purchasing a filtration system with multiple stages.
How easy it will be to install your water filter will depend on the kind of filter, how much plumbing experience you have, and the exact model you choose. Some filters come with DIY installation kits. In other cases, you may void the manufacturer’s warranty if anyone other than a plumber installs the filter. Always check installation requirements before you purchase.
The definition of standard 53 is broad. It states that “filters are certified to reduce a contaminant with a health effect.” Lead is one of the contaminants specifically tested under this standard.
Manufacturers can make a variety of claims about the effectiveness of their water filters based on in-house tests. A certification for standard 53 means you can rest assured that filters meet manufacturers’ claims in terms of lead removal.
A: Few, if any, companies specialize in lead filtration specifically, but some of the top water filtration companies that produce lead-reducing filters are SpringWell, Pelican, Aquasana, iSpring, Home Master, Brita, and Berkey.
A: It would be extremely difficult to remove lead without the proper filtration media. Having said that, filter types like reverse osmosis and sediment filters are completely chemical-free.
A: The Brita Longlast and the Brita faucet systems remove lead, but not all Brita models are effective for lead.
A: Unfortunately, simply boiling your drinking water will not reduce lead content. It is necessary to filter out lead particles using media like activated carbon, RO filters, KDF filters, or an ion exchange process.
Our top pick for lead filtration removes a host of contaminants from all the water in your home, including showers. We chose the SpringWell whole house lead and cyst removal system because of its bypass valve, color-coded notifications, shower filter capabilities, and excellent whole home water filtration system capacity.
We chose the Aquasana Optimh20 Whole House Filtration System as the second-best system due to its LED flow meter, ultra-dense carbon block, and flow rate.
No matter if you’re buying a three-stage whole-house water filtration system or a sink RO water filter, make sure the filter removes the amounts of lead you require by testing your water beforehand. In addition, search for filters that have been certified for NSF/ANSI standard 53 and make sure you take factors like the flow and filter lifespan into consideration to ensure you get the best lead water filter for your needs.
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