Many popular water filter pitchers aren't certified to remove lead

September 14, 2011|By Ellen Gabler, Tribune reporter

Many consumers may assume that filtering their water will make it safe to drink. But when it comes to lead, many popular pitchers with built-in filters, including Brita and PUR, don't reduce lead enough to meet current standards.


A group called NSF International that helped set the standards also certifies products if they meet various marks. The group decided to change the requirements on lead to mimic what consumers might actually be exposed to, said Rick Andrew, general manager of NSF's drinking water treatment program.

To be certified in lead reduction, a filter has to be able to take water with 150 parts per billion of lead and reduce it to 10 parts per billion or less. During testing, 30 percent of the lead must be particles and 70 percent can be dissolved.

Most brands of popular water pitchers that people keep in their refrigerators still may reduce lead levels. But meeting the standards would require technology that removes particles, and, so far, water can't flow through such filters at a reasonable rate. Water would eventually trickle into the pitcher, but not fast enough to be practical for consumers.

A pitcher called ZeroWater that is certified for lead reduction employs a patented filter that uses ion exchange to remove lead and other contaminants. ZeroWater pitchers cost about $5 more than a Brita pitcher, and the filters cost about twice as much, or $30 for two.

In addition, many filters that attach to faucets are certified to reduce lead because pressure from the sink helps force water through the filter. Many reverse osmosis systems, usually installed below a sink, are certified to reduce lead too.

You can see specifically what devices are certified to reduce lead by visiting NSF's website at