Lead is deadly. Depending on where you’re living, water-soluble lead may be silently lurking in your drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the safe level for lead at 0 because consuming it can cause lead poisoning and irreparable neurological and physical disabilities.
You can hardly drink bottled water for the rest of your life, so you have to filter lead out of your drinking water. With so many filtration methods claiming to remove lead from tap water, it’s hard to find ones that actually do what they promise.
So, to save you the effort and time, I’ve spent four months analyzing, reviewing, and thoroughly testing the best lead-removal water filtration systems in terms of performance, quality, certifications, and cost.
Let’s dive into it.
1. SpringWell Whole House Lead & Cyst Removal System (9.87/10)
- High-performing, certified
- $1554.98
The SpringWell Whole House Lead Removal System is the best for your home because it removes 99.95% of lead along with microbial cysts, chlorine, PFOA and PFAS from your water. Made and assembled in the US with only certified components, this system is guaranteed to produce fresh and delicious water for one whole year before needing a filter swap.
Pros
The SpringWell whole-house filter uses two filtration technologies to knock out soluble and insoluble lead in water.
The first stage of this water filter system features a 0.5-micron filter that traps solid lead particulates and other pollutants like dirt, chlorine, chloramine, organic chemicals, giardia, and cryptosporidium.
The second stage is a KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) media that turns soluble lead and other nasty chemicals into harmless components by exchanging electrons and altering their molecular structures.
I liked that this water filter does not in the slightest affect the water pressure in your pipes. It’s equipped with a flow rate of 8 gallons per minute (GPM), which is good enough to run at least four taps in your house at the same time. An average whole-house lead filter offers 6–7 GPM, but SpringWell stacks up pretty well against this competition.
The SpringWell water filter is capable of cleaning 100,000 gallons of water without needing a filter replacement. This means you’ll get fresh and clean water from all your taps for almost one whole year without interruption or the need for frequent check-ups.
The best part is you don’t need to set a reminder to replace the filter. It comes with a digital notification head that shows the exact situation of the filter using three different colors—green, yellow, and red. When your display turns red, it means the filter can’t remove any more lead, and you need to replace it.
This filter is third-party certified for NSF-58 and NSF-P473 standards for removing lead and PFOA in water.
On top of it all, SpringWell gives its customers a one-year warranty and six-month money-back guarantee, like no other brand. An unconditional guarantee like this gives you peace of mind when purchasing whole-house equipment, and you’ll truly appreciate SpringWell for this.
Cons
Some users may find the SpringWell system expensive. The added cost of annual filter replacement and maintenance running around $400, might discourage you from buying it.
But when it comes to removing lead, it’s important to look for a certified system that treats it with certainty and doesn’t lose cleaning efficiency with time. SpringWell’s performance, coupled with the fact that it offers such a generous warranty and money-back guarantee, makes it worth the price tag.
Overall
SpringWell’s whole-house lead removal system will treat soluble and insoluble lead and many other contaminants, including parasitic giardia and crypto. It’s made of only certified components and guaranteed to last a year before needing a filter replacement.
Offering a decent flow rate of 8 GPM, a water capacity of 100,000 gallons, and a splendid warranty and money-back guarantee, SpringWell might just be the last whole-house water system you buy for your home.
So, if you have lead in your water, get yourself SpingWell’s whole-house lead filter today.
2. iSpring RCC1UP-AK Under-Sink RO Filter (8.89/10)
- Affordable, efficient
- $459.99
The iSpring 7-Stage Under-Sink Water Filter combines a Water Quality Association (WQA)-certified reverse osmosis filter, carbon filters, alkaline filter, and UV filter to remove 98% of lead along with 100% of chlorine, organic compounds, heavy metals, and microbes from your tap water while restoring healthy minerals.
Pros
The first thing I look for in a lead-removal system is the quality of its filters and certifications. iSpring’s reverse osmosis technology is NSF/ANSI 58 certified, so you can trust the company’s claims of removing harmful contaminants.
The first filtration stage traps all the dirt, silt, and solid sediments in a high-performing sediment filter. This is followed by two carbon filters to filter chlorine, chloramine, and other odor-causing pollutants.
The next stage features the star of the show—a reverse osmosis filter that removes almost every contaminant in water, including lead, iron, magnesium, heavy metals, organic matter, minerals, and microbes.
But that’s not all.
What I love the most about this under-sink unit is its remineralization filter made of calcite, which restores the essential minerals in drinking water, giving it a delicious taste.
The last step features a UV filter that kills any leftover microbes and parasites.
This filter can clean 100 gallons daily, which is suitable for medium to large families. Its RO membrane lasts up to two years, while the carbon and sediment filters will need a replacement every 6–12 months, depending on your water quality. Your annual filter replacement cost will run around $300–$500.
If you’re handy, you can easily install the unit yourself. And if not, don’t worry. Just spend some time on iSpring’s Youtube channel, and you’ll soon be knowledgeable enough to install your neighbors’ filters as well.
iSpring provides a one-year warranty on all its products and extended warranty on purchase. Plus, you’ll have a 30-day window after purchasing to return the product and get your money back in full.
Cons
This unit has no digital display or any kind of alarm that indicates the life of the filters inside. When treating lead, it’s important to change the filters as soon as they max out, or you risk consuming lead. The only way to judge this filter’s life is by noticing a dip in water pressure or a change in the water taste.
It also has a slow flow rate considering it has an RO booster pump installed. It shouldn’t be a big deal if you’re OK with waiting for about 10 seconds to fill your glass of water.
I’ve low patience.
Overall
The iSpring under-sink filter will certainly produce lead-free water. You can have peace of mind knowing that this filter’s RO technology is NSF certified for removing many contaminants in both private wells and city water.
Your drinking water will be fresher and healthier because of the addition of healthy minerals.
At just $460 and an annual replacement cost of about $200, you’ll be getting crisp water free of toxic pollutants and microbes. I’d say, it’s a pretty good bargain.
Learn more about iSpring here.
3. Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink Filter (7.50/10)
- Space-saving design, quick installation
- $550
Clearly Filtered Under-Sink Water Filter boasts a sleek, space-saving design that installs in less than 15 minutes to deliver top-quality water from your existing tap. It is independently certified to meet NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 standards to remove various contaminants, including lead.
Pros
Clearly Filtered’s under-sink filter features a proprietary Affinity Filtration Technology that combines mechanical and magnet-like media to trap and attract the pollutant matter, removing 98.9% lead and 360 other contaminants in both well and municipal water.
This number seemed too good to be accurate, but when I skimmed through test results and filter performance data, I was convinced.
The first stage is a coconut carbon pre-filter, which is primarily responsible for removing solid sediments and odor-causing pollutants, such as chlorine and its by-products. The second and third stages of Affinity Filtration remove lead, heavy metals, VOCs, fluoride, and many other organic and chemical contaminants.
I was a big fan of its ability to retain healthy minerals in the water, even though this filtration technology doesn’t let any nasty pollutants pass through it.
This filter will keep producing delicious and clean drinking water with a brisk flow rate until its 2000-gallons life is over. The replacement filters will cost you about $440. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, you can subscribe to the monthly and yearly plans and earn decent discounts.
Besides this, Clearly Filtered provides a limited lifetime warranty on its units and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
This filter started leaking after a few weeks of use. I’m not a fan of water leakages that invite mold under my kitchen sink.
It also doesn’t provide any method to track the filter’s life.
Another downside to this water filter is it’s only suitable for a small family because of its low filtration capacity. If your family’s daily water consumption exceeds five gallons a day, you’ll have to buy the filter replacement for $440 after every 6–9 months, which is not very economical.
Overall
For small families and renters, the Clearly Filtered under-sink filter is a decent alternative for improving contaminated water. It features a high-performing proprietary filtration technology, tested by the NSF to remove over 360 contaminants in water.
You can get it up and running in less than 15 minutes and start consuming fresh-tasting water just as quickly.
For more information, head to Clearly Filtered’s website.
4. Brita Tahoe Water Pitcher With Elite Filter
You can never go wrong with Brita filters, since they’re easy to use and portable. This 10-cup water filter pitcher removes lead, chlorine, cadmium, mercury, and a number of other pollutants to produce delicious water.
Brita’s patented filter technology features a layer of adsorbents, activated carbon, and fibrous matrix that trap all that’s objectionable in your water. Plus, it’s NSF and WQA certified for NSF/ANSI 53, 48, and 401.
The filter lasts about six months, double the life of average water filter pitchers. But if you have a high level of sediment in the water, expect it to last around four months.
You’ll find it’s hard to tell when the filter is due for a change. If you forget to change it in time and fail to notice that it’s not cleaning your water, you might end up consuming toxins.
The pitcher costs $41.99, and the replacement filters will set you back only $35 annually.
5. Waterdrop G3P800 Under-Sink RO Filter
This system is super stylish and sleek and goes well with minimalist kitchen hardware. If budget is not an issue for you and you’ve got a big family with big needs, the Waterdrop under-sink filter with an 800-gallon filter capacity per day might be what you need.
It takes out many contaminants from tap water, including lead, fluoride, heavy metals, and PFOS using its high-performing, NSF 58-certified reverse osmosis filter. It also features a UV lamp that neutralizes bacteria and viruses in water.
In this day and age, one shouldn’t need to wait more than six seconds to fill a glass of water. This filter does it in only five seconds. Superb!
It has a smart, digital display on the faucet that shows the total dissolved solids (TDS) level of filtered water. You will also be able to track the life of filters through the LED lights on the front panel.
Note that this filter is only suitable for treating the city water supply. Sorry, well water folks. Also, it runs on electricity, so in case of a power outage, you’re out of luck.
The filter costs $999, and the replacement filter can set you back around $100 every 6–12 months. It does come with a 1-year warranty and 30 days money-back guarantee, though.
You can get yourself a SpringWell whole-house filter instead for almost the same cost and get clean water from every tap in your house.
6. Epic Water Filter Pitcher
Epic water filter pitcher removes 99.4% of lead from tap water along with trihalomethanes, PFOS, and that awful chlorine taste. It is independently certified by NSF to eliminate over 80 contaminants, and you can check out the test results on the website.
It will cost you $65, but you can get a 20% discount if you subscribe to Epic’s “Clean Water Club Package,” in which Epic will send you replacement filter cartridges every three months, which is the average life of this water filter.
I love that it’s equipped with an LED timer that lets you track the filter’s life.
It comes with a lifetime warranty and a 100% money-back guarantee.
But what made me fall in love with this brand is its contribution toward eco-friendly initiatives. Epic gives 1% of its annual revenue to environmental organizations as a member of 1% for the Planet. It has also set up a recycling program where you can earn rewards for recycling your filters.
Not only is it “epic” for your drinking water, but also for the planet.
7. ZeroWater ZP-010 Water Filter Pitcher
The ZeroWater Water Pitcher, priced at $37.99, is your best option if you want a lead filter under $50.
This pitcher is independently certified to NSF 42 and 53 for lead, chromium, and PFOS removal. It passes water through five stages of filtration, including its patented ion-exchange resin and carbon filter, which removes many contaminants in city water supply.
You’ll get 10 cups of super fresh and tasty water whenever and wherever you want.
This filter has a spigot that easily dispenses water. It also comes equipped with a laboratory-grade TDS meter.
Just a small disclaimer: If your water has a high TDS level, this water pitcher will clog up quickly and break down within a few weeks. Don’t use it if you’ve high levels of TDS in water.
Overall, it’s suitable if you live alone and don’t mind changing the filter frequently.
8. AquaTru Countertop RO Filter
This AquaTru’s countertop filter produces clean water through its patented four-stage RO filter, which IAPMO also tests to meet NSF standards 41, 53, 58, and 40 for removing multiple pollutants, including lead.
Its filter elements include a sediment filter, an activated carbon filter, a reverse-osmosis membrane, and a carbon block.
Shoutout to whoever in AquaTru’s team designed this filter because it looks super-gorgeous and saves space at the same time. You’ll even receive alerts when the filter is due for a change.
The classic model of this system costs $449, with an annual maintenance and replacement cost running around $100. If you want its fancier version with a Wi-Fi connection and an alkaline filter, you will need to pay an extra $70.
AquaTru provides its customers with a one-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Unfortunately, this filter leaks a lot and is not durable. At first I thought maybe only my unit was malfunctioning, but I received similar complaints from the customers I interviewed.
Once AquaTru works on the durability of this water filtration system, I’ll think of ranking it higher.
Bottom Line
After four months of research, I can confidently say that SpringWell Whole House Lead Water Filter is the best filter to remove lead in water.
It uses high-performing carbon and KDF filters to remove lead, chlorine, trihalomethanes, heavy metals, PFOS/PFAS, and many other harmful contaminants in water. Plus, this filter is certified to meet NSF/ANSI 53 standards for removing lead.
SpringWell’s whole-house water filter offers a brisk flow rate of 8 GPM and can filter 100,000 gallons of water without interruption. The filter lasts around one entire year before needing a replacement.
If you need safe, healthy water in every tap of your house, SpringWell is your best choice.
Methodology
Of course, you want to know how I ended up with my list of top lead water filters on the market.
Mind you, it was like wading through a minefield of manufacturers claiming to be the best. But my four-month-long research helped me figure out which ones actually remove lead from water.
This section is a summary of my research process.
Step 1: A big list of the most popular water filters available on the market
The first step was to make a big list of lead filters that had the highest sales on the market. I sat down with my cup of coffee and started scouring the internet. I looked up websites such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, and Costco and called my friends and family for suggestions. By the time I finished my coffee, I had 15 water filters on my list.
Step 2: Online reviews of water filtration systems
The next step was to read online reviews and feedback left by verified customers who bought the water filters I had just listed in the morning. I spent most of the day skimming through the positive and negative reviews and making notes. Some people were pleased with the filters, while others demanded a refund. It was exhausting, and I deserved a break, so I took a nap.
Step 3: Product/service analysis
Before interviewing customers, I needed to list what one should look for in lead-filtering water systems.
Lead is a tricky pollutant to remove. After consulting professionals and reading a few authentic articles, I learned that lead could be best removed by a reverse osmosis membrane, coconut-based activated carbon filter, KDF filter, or distillation.
Here are the questions one should ask:
- What technology the filter uses to eliminate lead, and why?
- How well does it remove lead?
- Does it remove total dissolved solids and other common pollutants as well as lead?
- Is the filter NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 certified?
- What’s the average life of this filter?
- What’s the cost of replacing filters?
- Does it have an LED display screen or some kind of alarm to indicate the filter life?
- How many gallons of water can it filter?
Step 4: Interviews with real customers
The next logical step was to contact the customers and ask them about their experiences with the water filters. It took me a whole week just setting up Zoom sessions and arranging live meet-ups, and I was super stoked about it.
The customers I talked with were kind enough to send me pictures and videos of their filters. Some even promised to update me about their filter’s performance after a few weeks of using it.
This process helped me knock five filters off my list.
Step 5: Interviews with the companies
To judge the customer service of brands on my list, I decided to give each of them a call. Some companies quickly responded to my queries and even followed up afterward, while others didn’t answer my calls or emails at all.
I struck off two other brands from my list.
Step 6: Test drives
Of course, I couldn’t rank the filters just yet! I needed to test them myself, and for this, I rented filters that were over $500 and bought the rest. I ordered a water testing kit as well.
The pitchers and countertop filters were easy to test. But I took my time with the whole-house and under-sink filters. The tests lasted for three weeks. I checked the taste, smell, and color of filtered water along with the number of contaminants it removed using my testing kit.
In the end, I knew which filter deserved the first spot on my list.
Step 7: Final ranking
At this point, I knew a lot about the filters on my list. This last step was all about scoring and ranking the filters based on the following factors:
- Quality of the filtered water
- Ease of installation
- Flow rate
- Filtering capacity and life
- Durability of the filter casing
- Certifications
- Warranties
- Cost
And I was happy with my results.
The Best Lead Filter on the Market
Lead contamination is no joke. You’ll find many filters that remove lead, but only a few remove it with certainty, and the SpringWell Whole House Lead Filter is one of them. It is manufactured and assembled with top-notch components in the US.
Here are some key characteristics of the SpringWell filter:
- Removes 99.9% of lead
- NSF/ANSI 53 certified
- 8 GPM flow rate
- 100,000-gallon filtering capacity
- One-year warranty
- Six-month money-back guarantee
If you want a lead removal water filtration system that produces squeaky clean water you can trust, get the SpringWell Whole House Lead Filter today.
If you’re interested in expanding your understanding of different water filters, we provide a wide range of articles that explore various options and their functionalities. Here are a few articles you can explore to enhance your knowledge:
