Category: Brand questions

Updated October 14, 2026, by the RB Water Desk. How we research.

First: which PUR filter do you have?

“PUR” is a brand, not one filter. In October 2026, PUR publishes performance data sheets for two pitcher and dispenser filters and two faucet filters, and they carry different certified claims. The answer to “does PUR remove lead?” is yes for three of them and no for one.

• PUR pitcher filter, model PPF900Z. The basic blue filter. Rated for 40 gallons. Certified for chlorine taste and odor and some metals and chemicals, but not for lead, PFAS or microplastics.
• PUR PLUS pitcher filter, model PPF951K. The upgraded pitcher and dispenser filter. Rated for 40 gallons. Certified for lead, total PFAS, microplastics and a list of pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
• PUR PLUS faucet filter, model RF-9999 (sold as the Mineral Core filter) and PUR faucet filter, model RF3375. Rated for 100 gallons. PUR’s current faucet data sheet covers both cartridges with one set of results, including lead, total PFAS and microplastics.

Look at the model number printed on the filter or its box before you read on. Both pitcher filters fit the same PUR pitchers and dispensers, so a PUR pitcher on your counter could hold either one. Everything on this page comes from PUR’s performance data sheets, its pitcher quick start guide, its product pages and the American Dental Association’s Seal listing, checked on October 14, 2026. We have not tested any PUR filter ourselves, and we have no commercial relationship with PUR or its owner, Helen of Troy. For each contaminant we say whether it is certified, not certified, or claimed by the brand without a certified result.

What PUR removes: the full table

Contaminant	PUR pitcher (PPF900Z)	PUR PLUS pitcher (PPF951K)	PUR faucet (RF-9999 / RF3375)
Lead (NSF/ANSI 53)	Not certified	Certified, 99.2–99.9%	Certified, 99.6–99.7%
Total PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53)	Not certified	Certified, 99.75%	Certified, 99.92%
Microplastics (NSF/ANSI 401)	Not certified	Certified, 99.8%	Certified, 99.65%
Chlorine taste and odor (NSF/ANSI 42)	Certified, 97.5%	Certified, 97.5%	Certified, 98.71%
Mercury	Certified, 88.8–96.5%	Certified, over 96.4%	Certified, 78.6–81.6%
Copper	Certified, 85.7–90.1%	Certified, 95.9–99.3%	No claim
Cadmium	Certified, 86.7–90.2%	Certified, 98.9% to over 99.3%	No claim
VOCs and pesticides	Some (benzene 86.4%)	Some (benzene over 96.8%)	About 50 compounds (chloroform surrogate 99.51%)
Pharmaceuticals, BPA (NSF/ANSI 401)	Two compounds	Eight compounds, incl. BPA over 99%	Fourteen compounds, incl. BPA 99.5%
Fluoride	No	No	No
Nitrate, arsenic	No claim	No claim	No claim
Bacteria and viruses	No	No	No
Rated life	40 gal or 2 months	40 gal or 2 months	100 gal or 3 months
Certified by	IAPMO R&T	IAPMO R&T	IAPMO R&T

Read the table by column, not by brand. The PUR PLUS pitcher filter and the faucet filters cover the three things people search for most: lead, PFAS and microplastics. The blue PPF900Z does not cover any of them, and it is often the cheapest PUR filter on the shelf, which is how it ends up in many pitchers by default. None of the four touches fluoride, nitrate or germs. If you are comparing PUR with its main rival, our Brita vs PUR comparison puts the two brands’ data sheets side by side.

Does PUR remove lead?

Yes for the PUR PLUS pitcher filter and the faucet filters. No for the blue PPF900Z.

Lead reduction is tested under NSF/ANSI 53. The test water starts at about 150 parts per billion (ppb) of lead, and a filter passes only if the water coming out stays at or below 5 ppb across its whole rated life, at two pH levels. The PUR PLUS pitcher filter averaged 99.9 percent reduction at pH 6.5 and 99.2 percent at pH 8.5. PUR’s faucet data sheet shows 99.70 and 99.60 percent. The PPF900Z sheet marks lead as “not certified”.

Those percentages are averages from a lab test, not a promise for your tap, but they are well clear of the pass line. In practice the decision is not between 99.2 and 99.9 percent. It is between a certified filter and an uncertified one, and between a filter changed on time and one used past its rating. Michigan’s health department, for example, publishes a how-to sheet for PUR faucet filters that calls them a temporary way to reduce lead and tells households to check the box for NSF/ANSI 53 lead certification. If you rely on any filter for lead, the US EPA keeps a consumer tool for choosing filters certified to reduce lead.

A filter is a stopgap, not the fix, if the lead comes from a service line or old solder. Our guide to lead in tap water covers testing, flushing and what to ask your water utility. If you want a pitcher with fewer filter changes, compare the PUR PLUS with the Brita Elite and ZeroWater in what Brita filters remove and what ZeroWater removes.

Does PUR remove PFAS?

Yes, certified, for the PUR PLUS pitcher filter and the faucet filters on PUR’s current data sheet.

On September 15, 2026, PUR announced that IAPMO R&T had certified its PUR PLUS pitcher and dispenser filter (PPF951K) and its PUR PLUS faucet filter (RF-9999) to reduce “total PFAS” under NSF/ANSI 53. The data sheets list 99.75 percent average reduction for the pitcher filter and 99.92 percent for the faucet filter.

“Total PFAS” is the broader of the two PFAS tests in NSF/ANSI 53. The test water contains a mix of seven compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, PFBS and PFDA) at about 2,160 nanograms per liter combined, and the filter must keep the total at 20 nanograms per liter or less for its rated life. The older test covers only PFOA and PFOS, so a total PFAS claim tells you more.

Two cautions. First, the claim is new. PUR’s September 2025 faucet data sheet, still linked on its site as a “legacy” sheet, has no PFAS claim, so a faucet filter from older stock may come with a leaflet that does not list PFAS. Check the leaflet in your box and the IAPMO R&T listing for your model. Second, the blue PPF900Z pitcher filter is not certified for PFAS at all. Before buying anything for PFAS, find out whether your water has it; how to check for PFAS in your tap water lists the free sources. The EPA’s own advice is to look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS.

Does PUR remove fluoride?

No. No PUR data sheet lists fluoride, and PUR’s pitcher quick start guide states that the filter does not remove fluoride from water. The American Dental Association has given its Seal of Acceptance to both the PUR pitcher and dispenser filter and the PUR faucet filter, and the ADA’s listing describes each as an effective filter that does not remove fluoride from tap water.

So if you want to keep the fluoride your utility adds, PUR is a safe choice for that. If you want it out, PUR is the wrong tool. Activated carbon, which is what PUR filters use, does not meaningfully remove fluoride. The options that do are reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for fluoride, activated alumina, and a small number of pitcher filters with a certified fluoride claim, such as the newer Culligan ZeroWater filter. Our guide to water filters that remove fluoride compares them.

Does PUR remove chlorine and chloramine?

Chlorine taste and odor: yes, certified, for every current PUR filter. Chloramine: no specific claim.

Chlorine is the one claim all four filters share. Under NSF/ANSI 42, both pitcher filters averaged 97.5 percent reduction of chlorine taste and odor from water dosed at 2 mg/L, and the faucet filters 98.71 percent. That is why even the basic PPF900Z makes city water taste better.

Many US utilities now disinfect with chloramine instead of chlorine, because it lasts longer in the pipes. Chloramine is harder for ordinary carbon to remove, and NSF/ANSI 42 has a separate chloramine test. No PUR data sheet includes it. If your utility uses chloramine and the taste bothers you, see which filters actually remove chloramine.

Does PUR remove microplastics?

Yes for the PUR PLUS pitcher filter (99.8 percent) and the faucet filters (99.65 percent). No certified claim for the PPF900Z.

Microplastics reduction is tested under NSF/ANSI 401 with particles between 0.5 and 1 micron, and a filter has to cut them by at least 85 percent. The blue PPF900Z lists a much coarser particle class, 50 to 80 microns, which is about sediment you could almost see. For what the microplastics test does and does not show, read our guide to water filters for microplastics.

Does PUR remove nitrates or arsenic?

No certified claim. None of PUR’s four data sheets lists nitrate, nitrite or arsenic. These are mainly well-water problems, and they usually need reverse osmosis or special media certified for that contaminant. Nitrate is also a contaminant where a lab test after treatment matters, because the health limit (10 mg/L as nitrogen) is tight for infants. Our well water test results guide explains what the numbers mean, and what reverse osmosis removes covers the main alternative.

Does PUR remove minerals or calcium?

PUR makes no certified claim either way. Mineral removal is not part of the NSF/ANSI tests on PUR’s sheets, and PUR does not say its filters remove or keep calcium and magnesium. The faucet filter sold as “Mineral Core” is described by PUR only as filtering water over natural minerals for taste.

One independent review site, Water Filter Guru, sent PUR PLUS pitcher water to a lab in 2025 and reported large drops in calcium and magnesium and a rise in sodium. That was one test on one water source, not a certification, so treat it as a hint rather than a rule. What is clear is that no PUR filter is a water softener. If scale, spots or soap that will not lather are your problem, see hard water vs soft water. If you want to see what a mineral change does to a meter reading, our page on TDS in water explains it.

Does PUR remove bacteria or viruses?

No. PUR states on every data sheet and in its pitcher guide that its filters do not filter microbes, are not intended to purify water, and must not be used on water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without disinfection before or after the filter. That rules PUR out during a boil-water notice and for untested private wells. If you are on a well, test first; a lab result will tell you whether you need disinfection such as UV.

Filter life: when the claims stop

Every certified number above applies only within the filter’s rated life. PUR’s pitcher guide says to change pitcher and dispenser filters after 40 gallons or 2 months, whichever comes first, and its faucet filter page says 100 gallons or about 3 months. After that, the certification no longer covers the water you drink, even if the water still tastes fine.

As an example only, a household that filters 1 gallon a day for drinking and cooking uses about 365 gallons a year. That is about 10 pitcher filters a year (365 ÷ 40, rounded up) or 4 faucet filters. A single person filtering half a gallon a day hits the time limit first: 6 pitcher filters or 4 faucet filters a year. At 2 gallons a day, a pitcher needs about 19 filters a year, which is usually the point where a faucet filter makes more sense. Multiply your own count by the price you see for the pack size you would buy; we do not quote prices because they change weekly.

PUR pitchers with an electronic light count pours and flash red when it is time to change. Reset the light every time you fit a new filter, or the count will be wrong. Water temperature matters too: PUR rates its filters for water between 34°F and 82°F, so never run hot water through them.

Marketing claims vs certified claims

PUR’s packaging and press releases use a few big phrases. Here is what each one rests on.

• “First and only” filter certified for lead, microplastics and total PFAS. PUR’s September 2026 release makes this claim for pitchers, dispensers and faucet mounts. We have not checked every brand’s listing, so we cannot confirm “only”. What we can confirm is that the PUR PLUS data sheets show all three claims, certified by IAPMO R&T.
• “Reduces 70 contaminants” (faucet filter). This is plausible on the data sheet: the volatile organic chemical claim alone covers about 50 compounds tested together, plus 14 pharmaceuticals and chemicals under NSF/ANSI 401, lead, mercury, PFAS, microplastics and chlorine. A long list of chemicals you are unlikely to have is less useful than the three or four that matter for your water.
• “5 times more contaminants than the leading pitcher filter.” PUR bases this on the number of contaminants certified, compared with an unnamed rival. Treat it as marketing. The useful comparison is contaminant by contaminant, which is what our tables do.
• “Mineral Core.” PUR says the faucet filter runs water over natural minerals for taste. It is not a certified claim and it says nothing about how much calcium or magnesium ends up in your glass.

The rule we use for every brand: a claim counts if it appears on the performance data sheet with a standard, a test concentration and a result, and the model is in a certifier’s listing. Our guide to checking whether a filter is really certified shows how to look a model up in the IAPMO R&T, NSF and WQA directories.

Is PUR the right filter for you?

PUR is a good fit if your concern is lead, PFAS, microplastics or the taste of city water, and you use the right model. It is the wrong tool for anything on the right-hand side of the chart below.

• Good fit: city water with lead service lines or old plumbing (as a stopgap), a utility report that shows PFAS, chlorine taste, renters who cannot install anything under the sink.
• Pick the model carefully: PUR PLUS pitcher filters (PPF951K) or faucet filters, not the blue PPF900Z, for any health claim.
• Not the right tool: fluoride removal, nitrate or arsenic, untested well water, a boil-water notice, hard water and scale.

How to check your own PUR filter in two minutes

• Find the model number on the filter or box: PPF900Z, PPF951K, RF-9999 or RF3375.
• Open PUR’s performance data sheet page and match the model. Look for the contaminant you care about, the standard (42, 53 or 401) and the result.
• For PFAS on a faucet filter, check that the leaflet in your box lists total PFAS. If it does not, you may have older stock covered by the 2025 sheet.
• Confirm the model in the IAPMO R&T listing directory, which is the certifier named on the sheets.
• Note the rated life and set a reminder, or reset the filter light when you change it.

Not sure a pitcher or faucet filter is the right type at all? Answer three questions in the filter finder, check what your utility reports with the ZIP code tap-water check, or see how the two biggest pitcher brands compare in Brita vs PUR.

Sources and how we checked this page

Every claim on this page comes from PUR’s performance data sheets, its pitcher quick start guide and product pages, PUR’s September 2026 announcement, the American Dental Association’s Seal listings, a Michigan health department leaflet and the US EPA, checked on October 14, 2026. We do not test filters in a lab, and we have no commercial relationship with PUR. Data sheets change, so check the one for the exact filter you buy.

• PUR: Performance data sheets (all current models)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR PLUS pitcher filter PPF951K (PDF)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR pitcher filter PPF900Z (PDF)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR PLUS faucet filter RF-9999 (PDF)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR faucet filter RF3375 (PDF)
• PUR: Legacy faucet filter data sheet, September 2025, no PFAS claim (PDF)
• PUR: Pitcher quick start guide (fluoride, filter life, microbes) (PDF)
• PUR: PUR PLUS Mineral Core faucet filter product page
• PUR via GlobeNewswire: PUR PLUS certified to reduce lead, microplastics and total PFAS (Sept 15, 2026)
• American Dental Association: Seal of Acceptance, PUR pitcher/dispenser filter
• American Dental Association: Seal of Acceptance, PUR faucet mount filter
• Michigan MiLeadSafe: How to use your PUR faucet filter (PDF)
• US EPA: Consumer tool for identifying filters certified to reduce lead
• US EPA: Reducing PFAS in your drinking water with a home filter (PDF)
• Water Filter Guru: PUR PLUS pitcher lab test (minerals, 2025)
• IAPMO R&T product listing directory

Updated October 13, 2026, by the RB Water Desk. How we research.

First: which ZeroWater filter do you have?

Most answers online treat “ZeroWater” as one product. In 2026 there are two different ZeroWater filters on US shelves, and they do not carry the same claims. The answer to “does ZeroWater remove fluoride?” is yes for one and no for the other.

• ZeroWater 5-stage filter (replacement ZR-001 or ZF-201). The long-running white filter used in most ZeroWater pitchers and dispensers. Its performance data sheet, dated April 2026, names IAPMO R&T as the certifier and gives a rated life of 15 gallons.
• Culligan with ZeroWater Technology filter (replacement ZEROF01). A newer filter sold under the Culligan name for the new Culligan ZeroWater pitchers and dispensers. Its data sheet lists a longer set of claims and a rated life of 20 gallons. Culligan says it does not fit older ZeroWater pitchers.

Check the model number on the filter or its box before you read on. Everything below comes from each filter’s performance data sheet and the maker’s product pages, checked on October 13, 2026. We have not tested either filter ourselves, and we have no commercial relationship with ZeroWater or Culligan. For each contaminant we say whether it is certified, not certified, or claimed by the brand without a certified result.

What ZeroWater removes: the full table

Contaminant	ZeroWater 5-stage (ZR-001)	Culligan ZeroWater (ZEROF01)
Fluoride	Not certified (brand page claims 99%)	Certified, 99.7% (NSF/ANSI 53)
PFAS	PFOA/PFOS certified, 99.8%	Total PFAS certified, 99.7%
Lead	Certified, 98.8–98.9%	Certified, 98.8–98.9%
Microplastics	No claim	No claim
Nitrate	No claim	Listed, 99.1%
Chromium-6	Certified, 99.4–99.5%	Certified, 99.4–99.5%
Mercury	Certified, 94.2–96.6%	Certified, 94.2–96.6%
Chlorine taste and odor	Certified, 99.4% (NSF/ANSI 42)	Certified, 99.4% (NSF/ANSI 42)
Pharmaceuticals, BPA (NSF/ANSI 401)	No claim	Listed (for example BPA 99.3%)
Minerals / TDS	Nearly all (brand claim)	Nearly all (brand claim)
Bacteria and viruses	No	No
Rated life	15 gallons	20 gallons

Two things stand out. First, the newer Culligan filter covers almost everything the old one does plus fluoride, total PFAS and nitrate, and lasts 5 gallons longer on paper. Second, neither filter has a microplastics claim, even though microplastics are one of the most searched ZeroWater questions. If you want to see how a listing is checked, our guide to checking whether a filter is really certified walks through the IAPMO R&T directory.

Does ZeroWater remove fluoride?

The Culligan ZeroWater filter: yes, certified. The standard 5-stage filter: not certified.

Culligan states that its ZeroWater Technology filter is certified by IAPMO to NSF/ANSI 53 to reduce fluoride 99.7 percent, in a test where water containing 8.0 mg/L of fluoride was brought down to 1.0 mg/L or less. That is a strong, specific claim, and 8.0 mg/L is about ten times the 0.7 mg/L the US Public Health Service recommends for community water fluoridation.

The same Culligan page says plainly that older ZeroWater filters are not certified to reduce fluoride. That matters because an older ZeroWater blog post still says its 5-stage filter removes 99 percent of fluoride, without naming a test, a standard or a certifier. Ion exchange resin can take out fluoride, so the claim is plausible, but a number without a certification gives you nothing to rely on, and it tells you nothing about how long the effect lasts as the resin fills up. Treat the 5-stage filter as uncertified for fluoride.

If fluoride is your main reason for filtering, the certified Culligan filter is one option. Reverse osmosis systems certified for fluoride under NSF/ANSI 58 are the other main route, and they keep working on hard water where a ZeroWater filter would run out quickly. Our guide to water filters that remove fluoride compares every method that works.

Does ZeroWater remove PFAS?

Yes. Both filters have a certified PFAS claim, but not the same one.

The 5-stage filter’s data sheet lists PFOA and PFOS under NSF/ANSI 53, with 99.8 percent average reduction from a challenge of 1.5 micrograms per liter. PFOA and PFOS are the two best-known “forever chemicals” and the only two with US drinking water limits that the EPA has proposed keeping, at 4 parts per trillion each.

The Culligan ZeroWater filter is certified for “total PFAS” at 99.7 percent. Total PFAS is the newer, broader test: the water contains a mix of seven PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, PFBS and PFDA), and the filter has to keep the combined total at 20 nanograms per liter or less. If you are buying new, that is the more complete claim. Before you buy, check whether your water has PFAS at all: how to find out if your tap water has PFAS lists the free sources.

One caution applies to every pitcher. A certified result holds for the rated life on the data sheet, which is 15 or 20 gallons here. ZeroWater’s own replace-at signal is a TDS reading of 006, and on soft water that can come well after the rated gallons. If PFAS is your reason for buying, change the filter at the rated gallons, not when the meter tells you.

Does ZeroWater remove lead?

Yes, certified. Both ZeroWater filters are certified under NSF/ANSI 53 to reduce lead. In that test, water starts at 150 parts per billion of lead and the filter must keep the output at or below 5 ppb for its rated life. The data sheets show 98.9 percent average reduction at pH 6.5 and 98.8 percent at pH 8.5.

That puts ZeroWater alongside the Brita Elite and PUR PLUS pitcher filters, which pass the same test. The difference is filter life: a Brita Elite is rated for 120 gallons, a ZeroWater filter for 15 or 20. Our ZeroWater vs Brita comparison puts the numbers side by side. If you have lead pipes, a filter is a stopgap, not the fix; see lead in tap water for testing and what else to do.

Does ZeroWater remove microplastics?

No certified claim. Microplastics reduction is certified under NSF/ANSI 401, using particles between 0.5 and 1 micron, and a filter must reduce them by at least 85 percent to pass. Neither ZeroWater data sheet includes that test.

That does not mean ZeroWater lets every particle through. The filter has screens and dense media that will catch some particles. But without a certified result there is no number to quote, and “probably catches some” is not the same as “certified at 99 percent.” If microplastics are your priority, the Brita Elite (99.6 percent) and PUR PLUS pitcher filter (99.8 percent) have certified claims. Our guide to filters for microplastics explains what the test does and does not cover.

Does ZeroWater remove nitrates?

The Culligan filter lists nitrate. The 5-stage filter does not.

Culligan lists nitrate at 99.1 percent and nitrite at 90.2 percent for the ZeroWater Technology filter, and its product page describes nitrate as part of its certified claims. On the data sheet, though, the nitrate rows sit apart from the NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 sections, so confirm nitrate in the IAPMO listing for the model before relying on it. The standard 5-stage filter has no nitrate claim at all.

Nitrate is mainly a concern for private wells near farmland and for formula-fed babies. A pitcher with a 20-gallon life is a short-term measure for a well with a nitrate problem. Test the well, and look at the treatment options in our well water results guide.

Does ZeroWater remove minerals?

Yes, nearly all of them, and that is by design. ZeroWater’s large ion exchange stage pulls out calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate and other dissolved minerals along with the harmful ions. That is why a ZeroWater pitcher comes with a TDS meter and why filtered water reads 000.

This has two practical effects. Taste: some people love the very clean taste, others find it flat. Filter life: the resin has a fixed capacity, so the more minerals in your tap water, the faster it fills. ZeroWater estimates 40 gallons or more per filter when tap water TDS is under 50, 25 to 40 gallons at 51 to 200, 15 to 25 at 201 to 300, and as little as 8 gallons above 300. On very hard water, an under-sink reverse osmosis system is usually cheaper to run. Our guide to what a TDS reading means explains the numbers, and why a low reading is not the same as safe water.

Does ZeroWater remove chlorine, chloramine and bacteria?

Chlorine: yes, certified. Both filters are certified under NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine taste and odor, at 99.4 percent.

Chloramine: no claim. Many US cities disinfect with chloramine instead of chlorine. Neither ZeroWater data sheet lists it, so there is no certified result for chloramine taste or odor.

Bacteria and viruses: no. ZeroWater is a filter, not a purifier. The data sheet states that it is intended only for potable water and must not be used with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after. On a boil-water notice, boil first.

Marketing claims vs certified claims

ZeroWater’s own pages do not always agree with each other or with the data sheet, which is one reason to read the data sheet first:

• An older ZeroWater blog post says the 5-stage filter removes 99 percent of fluoride. Culligan’s current page says older ZeroWater filters are not certified for fluoride, and the data sheet does not list it.
• The same older post gives 94.9 percent for PFOA and PFOS. The April 2026 data sheet gives 99.8 percent. The data sheet is the certified number.
• ZeroWater’s performance results page compares lead and PFOA/PFOS with a Brita Standard filter at different volumes (15 vs 20 gallons). Brand-run side-by-side tests are marketing, not certification.

The rule we use for every brand: a contaminant counts only if it appears on the current data sheet for the exact model, with a standard and a certifier, and the certifier’s directory agrees. Everything else is a claim.

Is ZeroWater the right filter for you?

• Good fit: you want certified lead and PFAS reduction in a pitcher, your tap water TDS is under about 200, and you like the very clean taste. If you are buying new, choose the Culligan version for fluoride and total PFAS.
• Think twice: your water is hard or high in TDS (filters may last only 8 to 15 gallons), you want few filter changes, or microplastics are your main concern.
• Not the right tool: untested well water, any boil-water notice, or a need for whole-house treatment.

Not sure a pitcher is the right type at all? Answer three questions in the filter finder, check what your utility reports with the ZIP code tap-water check, or compare pitcher brands in what Brita filters remove. For the widest coverage, see what reverse osmosis removes.

Sources and how we checked this page

Every claim on this page comes from ZeroWater’s and Culligan’s performance data sheets and product pages and from the US EPA, checked on October 13, 2026. We do not test filters in a lab, and we have no commercial relationship with ZeroWater or Culligan. Data sheets change, so check the one for the exact filter you buy.

• ZeroWater: performance data sheet, 5-stage filter family (April 2026, PDF)
• Culligan: performance data sheet, Culligan with ZeroWater Technology (PDF)
• Culligan: Does the ZeroWater filter remove fluoride? (Oct 7, 2026)
• Culligan: ZeroWater replacement filter ZEROF01 (claims and compatibility)
• ZeroWater: older blog post on fluoride (uncertified claims)
• ZeroWater: How long will my ZeroWater filter last? (TDS chart)
• ZeroWater: performance results page
• US EPA: PFAS national primary drinking water regulation
• IAPMO R&T product listing directory

Published October 12, 2026. Every claim is checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. How we research.

Which ZeroWater and which Brita are you comparing?

“ZeroWater vs Brita” sounds like a two-product question, but there are four filters that matter, and two of them changed recently. If you compare the wrong pair, the answer flips.

• ZeroWater 5-stage filter (replacement ZR-001 / ZF-201): the filter most ZeroWater pitchers and dispensers on store shelves use. Its April 2026 data sheet names IAPMO R&T as the certifier and a rated life of 15 gallons.
• Culligan with ZeroWater Technology filter (ZEROF01): a newer filter sold under the Culligan name. Its data sheet lists more claims, including total PFAS and fluoride, and a rated life of 20 gallons. It does not fit older ZeroWater pitchers, and older filters do not fit the new pitchers.
• Brita Standard (OB03): Brita’s basic white filter, rated for 40 gallons. Certified for chlorine taste and a few metals, not for lead.
• Brita Elite (OB06, formerly Longlast+): rated for 120 gallons. Certified for lead, microplastics and a long list of chemicals, but no PFAS on its current data sheet.

So the useful comparisons are ZeroWater 5-stage vs Brita Elite (the two filters most people are choosing between) and, if you are buying a new pitcher anyway, Culligan ZeroWater vs Brita Elite. Everything below comes from each filter’s performance data sheet, the document that lists what was tested, at what concentration and with what result. We checked them on October 12, 2026. We did not test any filter ourselves, and packaging slogans and review-site scores were not used as evidence.

ZeroWater vs Brita: certified claims side by side

“No claim” means the contaminant is not on that filter’s data sheet. It does not prove the filter removes none of it; it means nobody certified a result you can rely on.

Contaminant	ZeroWater 5-stage	Culligan ZeroWater	Brita Standard	Brita Elite
Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, 5 ppb limit)	98.8–98.9%	98.8–98.9%	No claim	99.5–99.6%
PFOA / PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53)	99.8%	Total PFAS 99.7%	No claim	No claim
Microplastics (NSF/ANSI 401)	No claim	No claim	No claim	99.6%
Chromium-6	99.4–99.5%	99.4–99.5%	No claim	No claim
Mercury	94.2–96.6%	94.2–96.6%	82–86%	95.5–95.9%
Fluoride	No claim	99.7% (listed)	No	No
Nitrate	No claim	99.1% (listed)	No	No
Chlorine taste and odor (NSF/ANSI 42)	99.4%	99.4%	95%	97.4%
Dissolved solids (TDS)	Nearly all (brand claim)	Nearly all (brand claim)	Not listed	Not listed
Bacteria and viruses	No	No	No	No
Rated life	15 gallons	20 gallons	40 gallons	120 gallons
Certifier named	IAPMO R&T	IAPMO (product page)	WQA	IAPMO R&T, NSF, WQA

Read the table by row. On lead, it is a tie between the certified models. On PFAS, ZeroWater has a certified claim and Brita does not. On microplastics, Brita Elite has a certified claim and ZeroWater does not. On filter life, Brita wins by a wide margin. Our guide to checking whether a filter is really certified explains why an IAPMO R&T or WQA listing counts the same as one from NSF International.

How each filter works, in plain terms

Both brands use activated carbon, which grabs chlorine and many organic chemicals by sticking them to its huge internal surface. Both also use ion exchange resin, tiny beads that swap one dissolved ion for another. The difference is how much resin, and what it is designed to do.

Brita’s filters are built mainly for taste and a targeted list of contaminants. They leave most of the natural minerals (calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate) in the water, so the water tastes like your tap water without the chlorine.

ZeroWater calls its design a “5-stage ion exchange” filter, and the key stage is a large bed of mixed resin that pulls out almost every charged particle in the water: the harmful ones like lead, and the harmless ones like calcium and sodium. That is why ZeroWater ships a TDS meter with its pitchers and promises a reading of 000. It is also why the filter wears out faster: the resin has a fixed capacity, and every milligram of ordinary minerals uses some of it up.

Lead: both certified models pass the same test

If lead is why you are buying a filter, either brand works, as long as you buy the right model. Under NSF/ANSI 53, the test water starts at 150 parts per billion (ppb) of lead and the filter must keep the output at or below 5 ppb for its whole rated life. ZeroWater’s data sheet shows 98.9 percent average reduction at pH 6.5 and 98.8 percent at pH 8.5. The Brita Elite sheet shows 99.5 and 99.6 percent.

Do not read much into the gap. Both filters passed the same pass-or-fail limit, and a fraction of a percent between averages in a lab run tells you little about your kitchen. The real risk is buying the Brita Standard by mistake: it is usually the cheaper filter on the shelf and has no lead claim. If you have lead pipes or an older home, see lead in tap water: testing and filters that work for what to do besides filtering.

One more point for ZeroWater users: the lead claim applies within the rated life on the data sheet, which is 15 gallons for the 5-stage filter. ZeroWater’s own advice is to change the filter when the TDS meter reads 006, which on low-TDS water can be well past 15 gallons. If lead is your main concern, the conservative choice is to follow the rated gallons, not the meter.

PFAS: ZeroWater has a certified claim, Brita does not

This is the clearest difference between the brands. The ZeroWater 5-stage data sheet lists PFOA and PFOS together under NSF/ANSI 53, with 99.8 percent average reduction from a challenge of about 1.5 micrograms per liter (1,500 nanograms per liter). The newer Culligan ZeroWater sheet goes further and lists “total PFAS” at 99.7 percent, the newer test that covers a mix of seven PFAS compounds, not just PFOA and PFOS.

The Brita Elite data sheet dated January 2026 lists no PFOA, PFOS or total PFAS, and the Brita Standard sheet does not either. Some older articles cite a 2023 Canadian Elite sheet with a PFOA/PFOS claim; the current sheet does not carry it, so we treat Brita pitcher filters as having no certified PFAS reduction. Our page on what Brita filters remove covers the history.

Before you buy for PFAS, check whether your water has it. Many utilities have now tested for PFAS, and results are free to look up; how to find out if your tap water has PFAS shows where. If it does, a certified pitcher is one option. An under-sink reverse osmosis system certified under NSF/ANSI 58 is the other, with wider coverage and lower cost per gallon over time.

TDS: why ZeroWater reads 000 and Brita does not

Total dissolved solids (TDS) is the combined weight of everything dissolved in water, mostly harmless minerals and salts, measured in milligrams per liter (about the same as parts per million). Most US tap water sits somewhere between 50 and a few hundred. The US EPA’s non-enforceable guideline for TDS is 500 mg/L, set for taste, scaling and staining, not for health. Our guide to what a TDS reading means explains the scale in more detail.

ZeroWater’s 0 reading is real: the resin removes nearly all of those minerals. A Brita filter barely changes TDS, because it was never designed to remove calcium and magnesium. That is why “zero water vs brita TDS” videos always look like a knockout for ZeroWater.

But a low TDS number does not mean safer water, and a high one does not mean dangerous water. Lead at a worrying level is a few parts per billion, thousands of times too small to move a TDS meter. PFAS are measured in parts per trillion. A TDS meter tells you how many minerals are in the water and whether a ZeroWater filter is exhausted. It cannot tell you whether a Brita filter is working. The World Health Organization notes that water with very low TDS can taste flat; some people love ZeroWater’s clean taste for exactly that reason, and others find it bland. Our guide to whether low-mineral RO water is good for you covers the mineral question in more depth, and it applies equally to ZeroWater water.

Filter life: the biggest practical difference

Brita filters are rated by volume: 40 gallons for the Standard and 120 for the Elite, whatever your water is like. ZeroWater’s rated life is 15 gallons on its data sheet, but in practice the filter lasts until its resin is full of minerals, so the life depends on your tap water’s TDS. ZeroWater says each filter removes about 18,000 milligrams of dissolved solids and publishes this estimate:

Tap water TDS	ZeroWater’s estimate per filter	Filters a year at 1 gallon a day
2–50 (low)	40 gallons or more	About 9 or fewer
51–200 (typical, per ZeroWater)	25–40 gallons	About 9 to 15
201–300 (high)	15–25 gallons	About 15 to 24
301–400 (very high)	8–15 gallons	About 24 to 46
Over 400	8 gallons or less	46 or more
Brita Elite (any TDS)	120 gallons (rated)	About 3
Brita Standard (any TDS)	40 gallons (rated)	About 9 to 10

The worked example uses 365 gallons a year, a household that filters 1 gallon a day for drinking and cooking. That is an example only; use the quick check at the top of this page with your own numbers. For a typical tap water around 150 to 200 mg/L, a ZeroWater user changes filters roughly every 3 to 6 weeks, while a Brita Elite user changes about 3 times a year.

This is why cost-per-gallon claims vary so much between review sites: the answer depends on your water. We do not quote prices here, because filter prices change weekly and differ by pack size. Take the number of filters a year from the table, multiply by today’s price per filter, and you have a fair yearly cost for your home. If your TDS is above about 300, the math usually favors an under-sink reverse osmosis system, whose membrane and filters last months rather than weeks.

Fluoride, microplastics, nitrate and bacteria

Fluoride

Neither Brita filter lists fluoride. The ZeroWater 5-stage data sheet does not list fluoride either, although ion exchange resin can remove some fluoride; without a certified result, you cannot know how much or for how long. The newer Culligan ZeroWater sheet lists fluoride at 99.7 percent average reduction. If fluoride is your reason to filter, check that the claim appears in the certifier’s listing for the exact model, or look at the proven options in water filters that remove fluoride.

Microplastics

The Brita Elite is certified under NSF/ANSI 401 for microplastics, with 99.6 percent reduction of particles in the 0.5 to 1 micron range. Neither ZeroWater data sheet lists microplastics. That does not mean ZeroWater lets them through, only that there is no certified number. If microplastics are your priority, the Elite is the documented choice; see what the microplastics certification says.

Nitrate

Nitrate matters mostly for private wells near farmland and for formula-fed infants. The Culligan ZeroWater sheet lists nitrate at 99.1 percent, but it sits outside the NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 sections on the sheet, so treat it as a manufacturer result until you see it in a certifier listing. No Brita filter lists nitrate. For a well with nitrate, start with our well water results guide.

Bacteria and viruses

Neither brand is a purifier. Both data sheets say the filters are for water that is already microbiologically safe and should not be used on water of unknown quality without disinfection.

ZeroWater vs PUR, and ZeroWater vs reverse osmosis

ZeroWater vs PUR: the PUR PLUS pitcher filter is certified for lead, total PFAS and microplastics and is rated for 40 gallons, so it covers the three headline contaminants in one filter and lasts longer than ZeroWater on most tap water. ZeroWater’s advantages are chromium-6 and the near-zero TDS. Our Brita vs PUR comparison has the PUR data sheet numbers.

ZeroWater vs reverse osmosis: both lower TDS sharply. An under-sink RO system certified under NSF/ANSI 58 must cut TDS from a 750 mg/L test water to 187 mg/L or less, and many systems do much better; ZeroWater gets closer to zero. The difference is in running cost and coverage. RO membranes last months or years, RO systems are often certified for fluoride, arsenic and nitrate as well, and they work on high-TDS water where ZeroWater filters run out in days. ZeroWater needs no installation, which matters for renters. See what reverse osmosis removes for the full list.

ZeroWater or Brita: which one to buy

• Choose ZeroWater if PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) is your main concern, your tap water TDS is under about 200, and you like the very clean taste. Change filters at the rated life if you rely on it for lead.
• Choose the Culligan ZeroWater pitcher if you are buying new and want total PFAS and a fluoride claim in a pitcher, after confirming the listing.
• Choose the Brita Elite if you want lead and microplastics covered with about three filter changes a year, and PFAS is not a known issue in your water.
• Skip both if your TDS is over 300 (ZeroWater filters will run out fast; consider RO), if you need a certified PFAS pitcher that lasts longer (look at PUR PLUS), or if you are on an untested private well.
• Do not buy the Brita Standard for health reasons; it is a taste filter.

How to check a ZeroWater or Brita claim before you buy

1. Find the replacement filter’s model number: ZR-001 or ZF-201 for ZeroWater 5-stage, ZEROF01 for Culligan ZeroWater, OB03 or OB06 for Brita.
2. Open that model’s performance data sheet (linked in the sources below) and find your contaminant.
3. Note the rated life in gallons. A claim only applies within it.
4. Confirm the listing with the certifier named on the sheet or product page, using the IAPMO R&T, WQA or NSF directories.
5. For ZeroWater, measure your tap water with the included TDS meter on day one, so you can predict how long each filter will last.

Still deciding what type of filter you need? Start with how to choose a water filter in 5 steps, answer three questions in the filter finder, or run the ZIP code tap-water check to see what your utility reports.

Sources and how we checked this page

Every claim on this page comes from ZeroWater’s, Culligan’s and Brita’s performance data sheets and product pages, the US EPA, the World Health Organization and NSF, checked on October 12, 2026. We do not test filters in a lab, and we have no commercial relationship with ZeroWater, Culligan or Brita. Data sheets change, so check the one for the exact filter you buy.

• ZeroWater: performance data sheet, 5-stage filter family (April 2026, PDF)
• ZeroWater: performance results page
• ZeroWater: How long will my ZeroWater filter last? (TDS chart)
• Culligan: performance data sheet, Culligan with ZeroWater Technology (PDF)
• Culligan: ZeroWater replacement filter ZEROF01 (compatibility and certifier)
• Brita: performance data sheet, Brita Elite filter (January 2026, PDF)
• Brita: performance data sheet, Brita Standard filter OB03 (PDF)
• US EPA: secondary drinking water standards (TDS 500 mg/L)
• World Health Organization: total dissolved solids in drinking-water (PDF)
• A. O. Smith: example NSF/ANSI 58 data sheet showing the 750 mg/L TDS test (PDF)
• NSF: stricter requirements for lead reduction certification
• IAPMO R&T product listing directory
• NSF certified drinking water treatment unit listings

Published October 11, 2026. Every claim is checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. How we research.

Which Brita and which PUR are you comparing?

Most “Brita vs PUR” comparisons go wrong in the first line, because both brands sell a cheap filter and a better one, and the cheap ones are very different products. If you compare the wrong pair, you get the wrong answer. The four pitcher filters that matter in the US are:

• Brita Standard (model OB03): Brita’s basic pitcher filter, rated for 40 gallons. Certified for chlorine taste and odor and a few metals, but not for lead.
• Brita Elite (model OB06, sold for years as Longlast+): rated for 120 gallons and no more than 2 gallons a day. Certified for lead, microplastics and a long list of chemicals.
• PUR pitcher filter (model PPF900Z, the blue one): PUR’s basic filter. Certified for chlorine taste and odor and some metals and chemicals, but not for lead.
• PUR PLUS pitcher filter (model PPF951K): rated for 40 gallons. Certified for lead, microplastics, total PFAS and a group of emerging compounds.

So the fair comparisons are Standard vs PPF900Z (the budget filters) and Elite vs PUR PLUS (the filters most people should be looking at). On the faucet, it is Brita’s FR-200 cartridge against PUR’s RF-9999 (PUR PLUS) and RF3375 cartridges. Everything below comes from each filter’s performance data sheet, the document that lists what was tested, at what concentration and with what result. We checked each one on October 9, 2026. Packaging claims and review-site scores were not used as evidence.

One thing has changed recently. On September 15, 2026, PUR announced that its PUR PLUS pitcher, dispenser and faucet filters had been certified by IAPMO R&T to reduce total PFAS, alongside lead and microplastics. Most Brita vs PUR articles were written before that and still say neither brand handles PFAS. For PUR PLUS, that is now out of date.

Brita vs PUR pitcher filters, side by side

This table compares the certified claims on the four pitcher data sheets. “No claim” means the contaminant does not appear on the sheet. It does not prove the filter removes nothing; it means nobody certified a result.

Contaminant	Brita Standard	Brita Elite	PUR (PPF900Z)	PUR PLUS (PPF951K)
Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, 5 ppb limit)	No claim	99.5–99.6%	No claim	99.2–99.9%
Total PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53)	No claim	No claim	No claim	99.75%
Microplastics (NSF/ANSI 401)	No claim	99.6%	No claim	99.8%
Chlorine taste and odor (NSF/ANSI 42)	95%	97.4%	97.5%	97.5%
Mercury	82–86%	95.5–95.9%	88.8–96.5%	>96.4%
Copper	73–89%	No claim	85.7–90.1%	95.9–99.3%
Cadmium	91–94%	96.9–99.2%	86.7–90.2%	98.9–>99.3%
Benzene	No claim	Yes	86.4%	>96.8%
Bisphenol A (NSF/ANSI 401)	No claim	Yes	No claim	>99.0%
Fluoride, nitrate, arsenic	No	No	No	No
Bacteria and viruses	No	No	No	No
Rated life	40 gallons	120 gallons	40 gallons	40 gallons
Certified by	WQA	IAPMO R&T, NSF, WQA	IAPMO R&T	IAPMO R&T

Read the table by rows, not by brand. On the health claims people search for most (lead, PFAS and microplastics), PUR PLUS covers all three and the Brita Elite covers two. On life per filter, the Elite wins easily. On the budget filters, both cover taste and a few metals, and neither is the right choice if lead is your concern.

The certifier line is worth a note, because some readers expect to see “NSF” and do not. NSF International is one of several accredited certifiers that test to the NSF/ANSI standards. IAPMO R&T and the Water Quality Association (WQA) are accredited too, and a listing from any of them counts. Our guide to checking whether a filter is really certified shows how to look up a model on each certifier’s directory.

Lead: a tie between the right models

If lead is your reason for buying, both brands have a certified answer, and both have a filter that is not one. The Brita Elite data sheet shows lead cut from 150 parts per billion (ppb) to below the 5 ppb limit, with 99.5 percent average reduction at pH 6.5 and 99.6 percent at pH 8.5. The current PUR PLUS pitcher sheet shows 99.9 percent at pH 6.5 and 99.2 percent at pH 8.5, against the same 5 ppb limit.

Those numbers are close enough that they should not decide your purchase. Both filters passed the same pass-or-fail test against the same 5 ppb limit, and a fraction of a percentage point between averages tells you little about real use. What matters more is that you buy the certified model. The Brita Standard and the blue PUR PPF900Z have no lead claim at all, and they are usually the cheapest filters on the shelf, which is why they end up in many pitchers by default.

A detail for anyone who kept an old PUR leaflet: an earlier version of PUR’s pitcher data sheet showed the lead test against a 10 ppb limit, the rule before NSF tightened it in 2019. The current sheet shows 5 ppb. If you rely on a pitcher for lead, use the current sheet, and change the filter on time, because the claim only applies within the rated 40 or 120 gallons. Our guide to lead in tap water covers testing and what else to do while you wait for pipe replacement.

PFAS: only PUR PLUS carries a certified claim

This is the biggest difference between the two brands right now. The PUR PLUS pitcher data sheet lists “Total PFAS” under NSF/ANSI 53 with a 99.75 percent average reduction. The test water starts at about 2,160 nanograms per liter of a mix of seven PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, PFBS and PFDA), and the filter has to bring the total down to 20 nanograms per liter or less across its rated life. PUR’s faucet filter lists the same test at 99.92 percent.

The Brita Elite data sheet dated January 2026 lists no PFOA, PFOS or total PFAS. You may find an older Elite data sheet online, dated February 2023 and posted on Brita’s Canadian site, that lists PFOA and PFOS at 98.1 percent. The current sheet does not include that claim, so treat Brita’s pitcher filters as having no certified PFAS reduction unless the leaflet in your own box says otherwise. Independent testing points the same way: a 2024 Université de Montréal study measured only partial and variable PFAS reduction from both Brita pitcher filters. Our page on what Brita filters remove has the details.

Two cautions keep this in proportion. First, the PUR PFAS certification was announced in September 2026, so filters made before then may come with an older leaflet that does not list it; check that the model number on your box matches the current data sheet and the IAPMO R&T listing. Second, a certified pitcher is one option, not the only one. The US EPA’s advice is to look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction, and under-sink reverse osmosis systems certified under NSF/ANSI 58 remain the widest-coverage choice. Before you buy anything, it is worth finding out whether your water has PFAS at all; how to check for PFAS in your tap water walks through the free sources.

Microplastics: both premium filters are certified

Microplastics reduction is tested under NSF/ANSI 401, using particles between 0.5 and 1 micron, and a filter must reduce them by at least 85 percent. The Brita Elite averaged 99.6 percent and the PUR PLUS pitcher 99.8 percent. On the faucet, Brita’s FR-200 lists 99.9 percent and PUR’s faucet filter 99.65 percent.

Any of those four is a reasonable choice if microplastics are your main concern. The basic filters from both brands make no microplastics claim. The PUR PPF900Z lists a much coarser particle class (50 to 80 microns), which is about sediment, not microplastics. For what the 401 test does and does not tell you, see our guide to water filters for microplastics.

Filter life and cost per gallon

Here Brita has the clear advantage. The Elite is rated for 120 gallons. The PUR PLUS, PUR basic and Brita Standard pitcher filters are each rated for 40. Both brands’ faucet filters are rated for 100 gallons.

Rated gallons turn into a yearly filter count you can plan around. As an example only, take a household that filters 1 gallon a day for drinking and cooking, or 365 gallons a year:

• A 40-gallon pitcher filter (PUR PLUS, PUR basic or Brita Standard): about 9 to 10 filters a year.
• A Brita Elite at 120 gallons: about 3 filters a year.
• A 100-gallon faucet filter from either brand: about 4 filters a year.

Multiply those counts by the price you actually see in your store or online, for the pack size you would buy. We do not quote prices here because they change weekly and vary by retailer. The point is the ratio: a PUR PLUS filter has to cost about a third of a Brita Elite filter to match it per gallon. If you filter more than 2 gallons a day, though, note that Brita says the Elite should process no more than 2 gallons daily for best results, and a faucet filter may suit you better than any pitcher.

Filter life has a practical side too. A filter used past its rating does not just slow down; the certified claims no longer apply. If you know you are bad at remembering replacements, fewer changes a year is a real benefit, not just a cost one.

Faucet filters: Brita vs PUR

The faucet comparison follows the same pattern as the pitchers. Both brands rate their faucet cartridges for 100 gallons and certify them for lead, microplastics, chlorine and a long list of volatile organic chemicals and pesticides. The difference is PFAS.

Claim	Brita faucet (FR-200)	PUR faucet (RF-9999 / RF3375)
Lead	99.9%	99.6–99.7%
Total PFAS	No claim	99.92%
Microplastics	99.9%	99.65%
Chlorine taste and odor	99.0%	98.71%
Asbestos	99.9%	No claim
Mercury	No claim	78.6–81.6%
VOCs (chloroform surrogate)	99.8%	99.51%
Rated life	100 gallons	100 gallons
Rated flow	0.58 gal/min	0.52 gal/min
Certified by	WQA	IAPMO R&T

PUR’s current faucet data sheet covers both of its replacement cartridges, the RF-9999 (PUR PLUS, with its Mineral Core) and the RF3375, with one set of results, while PUR’s announcement names the RF-9999. If PFAS is your reason for choosing PUR’s faucet filter, check that the cartridge you buy appears on the IAPMO R&T listing with a PFAS claim. Brita’s faucet sheet covers its FF-100 and SAFF-100 systems with the FR-200 cartridge.

Faucet filters suit people who go through more water than a pitcher can keep up with, and renters who cannot install anything under the sink. They generally do not fit pull-down or sprayer faucets, so check the brand’s compatibility notes against your tap first. For more renter-friendly options, see our guide to water filters for an apartment.

What neither Brita nor PUR removes

A pitcher or faucet filter from either brand is a carbon filter. That makes it good at taste, chlorine, many metals and many organic chemicals, and no use at all for some common concerns:

• Fluoride: no data sheet from either brand lists it. Brita says outright that its filters are not designed to remove fluoride. See filters that actually remove fluoride.
• Nitrate and arsenic: not listed by either brand. These usually need reverse osmosis or specialist media.
• Bacteria and viruses: both brands say their filters do not remove microbes and must not be used on unsafe water without disinfection. They are not for boil-water notices or untested wells.
• Chloramine: neither pitcher sheet has a specific chloramine claim, which matters if your utility disinfects with chloramine.
• Hardness: neither softens water or stops scale in a meaningful way.

If your concern is on that list, the brand question does not matter. The reverse osmosis guide covers the main alternative.

Which one to buy

There is no single winner, but there is a clear answer for each situation:

• You want the most certified claims in a pitcher: PUR PLUS (PPF951K). It is the only one of the four with lead, microplastics and total PFAS all certified.
• You want lead and microplastics with the fewest filter changes: Brita Elite (OB06). Three times the life per filter, and lead and microplastics certified.
• You only want better-tasting city water: either brand’s basic filter is enough, but do not rely on it for lead.
• You want a faucet filter and care about PFAS: PUR, after confirming the cartridge’s listing.
• You need fluoride, nitrate or arsenic removed, or you are on a well: neither. Look at certified reverse osmosis, after testing.

How to check a Brita or PUR claim before you buy

Both brands sell several filters in similar boxes, and store listings mix them up. Five minutes of checking avoids buying the wrong one:

1. Find the exact model number of the replacement filter: OB03 or OB06 for Brita pitchers, PPF900Z or PPF951K for PUR pitchers, FR-200 for Brita faucet, RF-9999 or RF3375 for PUR faucet.
2. Open the performance data sheet for that model (links in the sources below) and find your contaminant in the table.
3. Check the limit and the rated life. A lead claim with a 5 ppb limit is the current standard.
4. Confirm the listing with the certifier named on the sheet: IAPMO R&T for PUR, and WQA, NSF or IAPMO R&T for Brita.
5. If a contaminant is missing from the data sheet, treat it as not covered, whatever the packaging says.

If you are still deciding which type of filter you need, start with how to choose a water filter in 5 steps, or answer three questions in the filter finder. And if you are on city water, the ZIP code tap-water check on our homepage shows what your utility reports.

Sources and how we checked this page

Every claim on this page comes from Brita’s and PUR’s performance data sheets, PUR’s September 2026 announcement, the US EPA and a peer-reviewed study, checked on October 9, 2026. We do not test filters in a lab, and we have no commercial relationship with Brita or PUR. Data sheets change, so check the one for the exact filter you buy.

• PUR: Performance data sheets (all current models)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR PLUS pitcher filter PPF951K (PDF)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR pitcher filter PPF900Z (PDF)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR PLUS faucet filter RF-9999 (PDF)
• PUR: Performance data sheet, PUR faucet filter RF3375 (PDF)
• PUR via GlobeNewswire: PUR PLUS certified to reduce lead, microplastics and total PFAS (Sept 15, 2026)
• Brita: Performance data sheet, Brita Elite filter (January 2026, PDF)
• Brita Canada: Elite data sheet with PFOA/PFOS claim (February 2023, PDF)
• Brita: Performance data sheet, Brita Standard filter OB03 (PDF)
• Brita: Performance data sheet, faucet systems FF-100 and SAFF-100 with FR-200 filter (PDF)
• Teymoorian et al. (2024), Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry: PFAS removal by pitcher filters
• US EPA: Reducing PFAS in your drinking water with a home filter (PDF)
• NSF: Stricter requirements for lead reduction certification (2019)
• IAPMO R&T product listing directory
• NSF certified drinking water treatment unit listings

Published October 5, 2026. Every claim is checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. How we research.

Which Brita filter do you have?

“Brita” is a brand, not a single filter. The answer to almost every “does Brita remove…” question changes depending on which filter is inside the pitcher or on the faucet. In the US, the three you are most likely to have are:

• Brita Standard filter (model OB03): the basic pitcher and dispenser filter. Brita rates it for 40 gallons, or about every 2 months for an average family.
• Brita Elite filter (model OB06, sold for years as Longlast+): the longer-life pitcher filter. Brita rates it for 120 gallons, or about every 6 months, and no more than 2 gallons a day.
• Brita faucet filters: the cartridges that clip onto a kitchen tap. Brita rates them for about 4 months of use.

The easiest way to tell is to read the name printed on the filter or its box. If you cannot see it, look at your replacement order history. Everything below is based on each filter’s performance data sheet: the document that lists what the filter was tested and certified to reduce, at what concentration and by how much. That sheet is the only place a claim counts. Packaging slogans, review sites and “reduces 60 contaminants” headlines do not tell you which contaminants were tested.

Brita claims at a glance

This table summarizes the certified claims on the Standard and Elite data sheets and Brita’s published faucet claims, checked on October 4, 2026. “No claim” means the contaminant does not appear on the data sheet. It does not prove the filter removes zero percent; it means nobody certified that it does.

Contaminant	Brita Standard	Brita Elite	Brita faucet
Chlorine taste and odor	Yes, 95% (NSF/ANSI 42)	Yes, 97.4% (NSF/ANSI 42)	Yes (Brita claim)
Lead	No claim	Yes, 99.5–99.6% (NSF/ANSI 53)	99% (Brita claim)
PFAS (PFOA, PFOS)	No claim	No claim	No claim found
Fluoride	No	No	No
Microplastics	No claim	Yes, 99.6% (NSF/ANSI 401)	99% (Brita claim)
Mercury	Yes, 82–86%	Yes, 95.5–95.9%	See data sheet
Cadmium	Yes, 91–94%	Yes, 96.9–99.2%	See data sheet
Copper	Yes, 73–89%	No claim	See data sheet
Benzene and other VOCs	No claim	Yes (several, NSF/ANSI 53)	Benzene (Brita claim)
Bacteria and viruses	No	No (not a purifier)	No
Rated life	40 gallons / about 2 months	120 gallons / about 6 months	About 4 months

Two patterns stand out. First, the Elite is a much more capable filter than the Standard on paper: it adds lead, microplastics, asbestos, several pesticides and solvents, and a set of “emerging” compounds such as bisphenol A and some pharmaceuticals under NSF/ANSI 401. Second, neither pitcher filter has a PFAS claim, which is the question people search most. For a side-by-side with PUR’s listings, see Brita vs PUR.

Does Brita remove PFAS?

Not as a certified claim. We checked the current Brita Elite data sheet (dated December 2025) and the Brita Standard data sheet. Neither lists PFOA, PFOS or total PFAS. So Brita does not claim, and no certifier has confirmed, that either pitcher filter reduces PFAS to a stated level.

That does not mean the filters do nothing. Activated carbon, the main ingredient in both, can adsorb some PFAS. The question is how much, for how long and for which types. A 2024 peer-reviewed study from the Université de Montréal, published in Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry, ran naturally contaminated Canadian tap water through five pitcher filters for up to 160 liters. Its results for Brita were modest and inconsistent:

• Brita Elite: about 20 percent average PFAS reduction with one water source and 48 percent with another.
• Brita Standard: about 38 percent average PFAS reduction with the one water source tested.
• Two other pitchers in the same study, ZeroWater and Clearly Filtered, reduced PFAS by roughly 99 to 100 percent (see ZeroWater vs Brita for the certified claims).

One study is not a certification, and the results depended on the water chemistry and the length of the PFAS molecules. But it lines up with what the data sheets imply: Brita filters are not built for PFAS. The US EPA’s advice for home filters is simple. If PFAS is your concern, check the packaging or data sheet for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 that names PFAS reduction, from an accredited certifier. Our guide to NSF 53 vs 58 explains the difference, and reverse osmosis is one of the most effective home options for PFAS.

What to do first: find out whether your water actually has PFAS. Your utility’s annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) lists detected contaminants, and many utilities have started PFAS monitoring. If your levels are low or not detected, you may not need a PFAS filter at all.

Does Brita remove lead?

The Brita Elite does. The Brita Standard does not. This is the most important difference between the two pitcher filters.

The Elite data sheet lists lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53, tested at two pH levels. In both tests, water started at 150 parts per billion (ppb) of lead and had to come out at 5 ppb or less. The Elite averaged 99.5 percent reduction at pH 6.5 and 99.6 percent at pH 8.5. That 5 ppb limit is the stricter rule NSF introduced in 2019; before that, filters only had to reach 10 ppb.

The Standard filter’s data sheet does not list lead at all. Its metal claims are copper, cadmium, mercury and zinc. If you bought a Brita pitcher years ago because of lead pipes, check which filter you are buying now, because the difference matters.

Brita also advertises its faucet filters as removing 99 percent of lead. If you prefer a faucet mount, read the data sheet for the exact faucet cartridge before you rely on it, since Brita sells more than one faucet filter.

Three practical points for lead. Use the filter for drinking and cooking water, not just occasionally. Replace it on time, because a lead claim only applies within the rated capacity. And if you are in a home with a lead service line, our guide to checking whether a filter is really certified shows how to confirm the exact model number on the certifier’s listing.

Does Brita remove fluoride?

No. Brita states in its own FAQ that its cartridges are not designed to remove fluoride, and neither the Standard nor the Elite data sheet lists fluoride. That is not a flaw in Brita specifically. Activated carbon, the medium most pitcher and faucet filters rely on, is not a fluoride treatment; the Water Quality Association’s fluoride fact sheet does not list it among the methods that work.

If you want less fluoride, the methods that work are reverse osmosis, activated alumina, bone char, some anion exchange media and distillation. Reverse osmosis is the most common home choice, and many reverse osmosis systems carry a certified fluoride reduction claim under NSF/ANSI 58. In that test, water starting at 8.0 milligrams per liter must come out at 1.5 mg/L or less. See what reverse osmosis removes for the full list.

Does Brita remove microplastics?

The Brita Elite has a certified microplastics claim; the Standard does not. Microplastics reduction is tested under NSF/ANSI 401. The Elite data sheet lists “microplastics, particles 0.5–1 µm” with 99.6 percent average reduction, against a pass mark of 85 percent. That size range is tiny: a micron is a thousandth of a millimeter, so these particles are far smaller than anything you could see.

Brita also says its faucet filters remove 99 percent of microplastics. The Standard pitcher filter makes no microplastics claim. For a deeper explanation of what the 401 standard covers, see our guide to water filter certifications.

Chlorine, chloramine, nitrate and bacteria

Chlorine: yes, every Brita filter

Chlorine taste and odor reduction under NSF/ANSI 42 is what every Brita filter does well. The Standard averaged 95 percent and the Elite 97.4 percent in testing, starting from 2 parts per million. If your main complaint is that tap water tastes like a swimming pool, a Standard filter is usually enough.

Chloramine: no certified claim

Many US utilities disinfect with chloramine, a mix of chlorine and ammonia, instead of chlorine. Chloramine is harder for carbon to remove and needs its own NSF/ANSI 42 chloramine claim. Neither Brita pitcher data sheet lists it. Your utility’s water quality report usually says which disinfectant it uses.

Nitrate, arsenic and minerals: no

Neither data sheet lists nitrate, nitrite or arsenic. These are common concerns on private wells and are usually handled with reverse osmosis or specialized media. Brita filters also have no hardness claim in the US, so they will not fix scale on your kettle in a meaningful way, and they do not strip out the calcium and magnesium that are naturally in water.

Bacteria and viruses: not a purifier

The Elite data sheet says the filter is not intended to purify water and should not be used with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without disinfection before or after. The filter media contains a small amount of silver to support filter hygiene, and some silver may pass into the water. If you are under a boil-water notice or your well has tested positive for bacteria, a Brita is not the answer.

Brita Standard vs Brita Elite: which should you use?

For most people deciding between the two, the Elite is the more useful filter. It covers lead and microplastics, it lasts three times as long per filter, and you change it twice a year instead of about six times.

The Standard filter still makes sense in a narrow case: your water is from a utility with no lead concerns, you mainly want better-tasting water, and you go through more than 2 gallons of filtered water a day, which is the Elite’s stated daily limit. Whichever you pick, the price per gallon depends on the store and the pack size, so compare the cost of a year’s worth of filters, not a single cartridge.

If you need PFAS, fluoride, nitrate or arsenic reduced, the honest answer is that neither Brita pitcher filter is the right tool. Here are the three directions that usually fit:

How to check a Brita claim yourself

Brita filters are certified by more than one organization. The current Elite data sheet names IAPMO R&T, NSF International and the Water Quality Association (WQA). The Standard data sheet names WQA. That is normal, and all three are accredited certifiers. Here is how to check any claim in about five minutes:

1. Find the exact filter name and model number on the box or cartridge.
2. Open the performance data sheet. Brita links them from each product page, and a printed copy is in the box.
3. Look for your contaminant in the table. Check the influent (starting) level, the maximum allowed in filtered water and the average reduction.
4. Check the rated capacity. The claim only holds up to that number of gallons.
5. Confirm the listing on the certifier’s website, such as the NSF certified product listings, using the model number.

If a contaminant is missing from the data sheet, treat it as not covered, however the packaging is worded. Our step-by-step guide on how to check whether a filter is really NSF certified covers the common traps, like “tested to NSF standards” wording that does not mean certified.

When Brita is enough, and when it is not

A Brita filter is a reasonable choice when you are on city water, your annual water quality report shows no violations, and your main goal is better taste or a lead backstop. In that situation the Elite covers more ground than the Standard for not much extra effort.

Brita is not enough when:

• Your water report or a lab test shows PFAS you want reduced. Look for a certified PFAS claim under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58.
• You want less fluoride. You will need reverse osmosis or another fluoride-specific method.
• You are on a private well. Test first for bacteria, nitrate and arsenic, then choose treatment to match the results.
• Your utility uses chloramine and the taste bothers you. Look for a specific chloramine claim.
• You live in an older home with a known lead service line and want the strongest protection. A certified under-sink filter or reverse osmosis system can treat more water with less refilling.

If you are not sure what your water needs, start with our guide to choosing a water filter in 5 steps, or answer three quick questions in the filter finder to get a filter type that matches your water.

Sources and how we checked this page

Every claim on this page comes from Brita’s own performance data sheets and FAQ, the US EPA, NSF and a peer-reviewed study, checked on October 4, 2026. We do not test filters in a lab, and we have no commercial relationship with Brita. Data sheets change, so check the one for the exact filter you buy.

• Brita: Performance data sheet, Brita Elite filter (Dec 2025, PDF)
• Brita: Performance data sheet, Brita Standard filter, model OB03 (PDF)
• Brita: FAQ on filters and fluoride
• Brita: Basic faucet filtration system product page
• Teymoorian et al. (2024), Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry: PFAS removal by pitcher filters
• US EPA: Reducing PFAS in your drinking water with a home filter (fact sheet, PDF)
• NSF: Stricter requirements for lead reduction certification (2019)
• NSF: NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 filtration systems standards
• NSF certified drinking water treatment unit listings
• Water Quality Association: Fluoride fact sheet (PDF)
• US EPA: Protect your home’s water (private wells)