Reverse osmosis filters
One of the most controversial ingredients found in tap water is fluoride. In the 1960s, the United States Public Health Service (PHS) recommended that fluoride be added to tap water to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is now provided to public drinking water in approximately 3 out of 4 U.S. homes. Only a reverse osmosis system will remove fluoride from your drinking water.
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process of separation that uses water pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. Think about it like pasta getting caught in a colander. The semi-permeable membrane retains solid contaminants on one side while allowing water to pass on to the other side. This membrane is effective at removing anything that is bigger than a water molecule.
The reverse osmosis process removes fluoride, sodium, sulfate, nitrate, iron, zinc, mercury, lead, arsenic, chloride, and cyanide, along with a few other water contaminants. Because RO systems are effective at removing solids from water, they also demineralize the treated water. RO systems remove healthy minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Without these minerals present, the water can become acidic. The Aquasana OptimH2O® Reverse Osmosis + Claryum® filter, on the other hand, includes a remineralizer that adds back in those healthy minerals your body craves and restores pH. Not to mention, it removes more than 5x the contaminants than other RO systems, including 95% of fluoride and mercury, 97% of chlorine and arsenic, and 99% of lead and asbestos.
Under sink drinking filters
Unlike many other filters, all of Aquasana’s under sink drinking water filters have been tested and certified to meet NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401. They all feature Claryum® selective filtration, which effectively reduces toxins such as microplastic, herbicides, pesticides, cysts, asbestos, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), pharmaceuticals, chlorine-resistant cysts like giardia and cryptosporidium, all while retaining beneficial minerals, including calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Aquasana’s line of under sink filters includes the Claryum® 2-Stage, Claryum® 3-Stage, Claryum® 3-Stage Max Flow, and the Claryum® Direct Connect.
Countertop water filters
The Clean Water Machine is Water Quality Association tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401. This system also has the added benefit of not requiring permanent installation or fixtures, so they are easily transportable and great for the average home renter.
Testing and certifications
Before making a purchase, it's important to know the health benefits of any drinking water system. Water filters should be tested to the National Sanitation Foundation Standards (NSF). A water filter can either be tested and certified by NSF, or it can be tested and certified by a third-party to NSF Standards. Those third-parties include Water Quality Association (WQA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). Certifying bodies have their own seals to look for, as well as a listing on their website to show the tested and certified performance of that system.

When looking at different water filters and certifications, various systems will have different testing standard numbers. These numbers indicate what the system was tested for, according to the NSF Standards.
- Standard 42: Reduces aesthetic impurities like chloramine, chlorine, taste, and odor.
- Standard 53: Reduces contaminants with health effects. These contaminants include asbestos, cysts, PFOA/PFOS, VOCs, and more.
- Standard 55: Sterilizes bacteria, viruses, and cysts. This standard is associated with ultraviolet treatment systems that use a UV lamp.
- Standard 58: A reverse osmosis only standard that incorporates filtration through a semi-permeable membrane. Reduces arsenic, fluoride, TDS, and more.
Which water filter is best for you?
Choosing the best water filter ultimately comes down to what specific contaminants need to be filtered from your water, where you want to install your filter (or perhaps you don’t want to install anything), and your budget. If you still need help selecting the perfect water filtration solution for your home, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.