GoKawiilHeavy metal is best absorbed as music. You don't want it in your water. If you're a renter, or can't afford expensive whole-house or under-sink filters, your best and most convenient line of defense against PFAS forever chemicals or lead may be to find the best water filter pitcher to fit in your fridge door.
It's not just Brita anymore. A new generation of water filter companies now promises clean and healthy water to an American public newly and justifiably wary about PFAS “forever chemicals,” lead, or microplastics in their water. But health and filter claims can be hard to sort through. Not all filter companies have certified their claims with international testing bodies. And not all third-party testing is equal.
If your biggest worry is removing the most contaminants from your water, especially PFAS, the pitcher you want is likely the ZeroWater Pitcher from Culligan ($40). But note that this pitcher also removes helpful, tasty minerals ike calcium and magnesium. Clearly Filtered ($100) is an an excellent, though more expensive, filtered water pitcher for removing PFAS and other chemicals without reduced mineral content.
For this buying guide, I've privileged filters that are efficacious against cancer-associated PFAS and PFOA “forever chemicals,” because around half of Americans may currently be exposed to these chemicals in their water supply, amid slackening federal oversight. But if you're in the half of the country without PFAS exposure, the best-designed pitcher is the Brita Everyday Elite ($42), which does little for PFAS or fluoride, but is otherwise certified for removing perhaps the broadest number of potential health hazards.
But note that most of these fridge pitchers, including the best-certified, contain plastic. If you want to avoid this, I suggest you look instead at my head-to-head testing of stainless steel gravity-fed water filters for your countertop. For other guides to a contaminant-free life, look to WIRED's coverage of the Best Shower Water Filters, Best Backpacking Water Filters, Best Air Purifiers, and Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors.
Best Water Pitcher Filter for Overall Performance: Culligan ZeroWater
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Culligan ZeroWater Filtered Pitcher $40 Amazon
The Cullligan uses ZeroWater's proprietary reverse osmosis system, which among all of these pitchers is best tested and certified according to NSF standards to remove the most troublesome contaminants from your water—including PFAS and PFOA “forever chemicals,” lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium. Chlorine disappears. Particulates disappear. A helpful and accurate electronic meter comes attached to the pitcher and will detect the total dissolved solids in the filtered water. When the number climbs above zero, it's time to replace the filter.