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    Fridge Filters

    • All Fridge Filters →
    • Does a Refrigerator Filter Remove PFAS? What NSF P473 Actually Certifies
    • Are Water Filters Interchangeable? Fit, Certification, and the Wrong-Filter Trap
    • Most ‘Compatible’ Refrigerator Filters Don’t Carry the Lead Certification They Replace
    • How Often Should You Change a Refrigerator Water Filter?

    Reverse Osmosis

    • All Reverse Osmosis →
    • Beyond PFAS and Lead: About 1 in 4 US Systems Reported Another Contaminant Over a Limit
    • The 2027 EPA Lead Rule Nearly Triples the Water Systems Over the Line
    • About 1 in 9 US Water Systems Averaged PFOA or PFOS Above the EPA Limit
    • Does a Refrigerator Water Filter Remove Lead? What NSF 53 Actually Means

    Softeners & Whole-House

    • All Softeners & Whole-House →
    • Water Softener Salt Types: Rock vs Solar vs Evaporated
    • How to Get Iron Out of Well Water: Test First, Then Match the Filter
    • Well Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs: What It Is and Which Filter Fixes It
    • What Size Water Softener Do I Need? Sizing by Hardness and Household

    Pitcher & Faucet Filters

    • All Pitcher & Faucet Filters →
    • How to Read Your Water Quality Report (CCR): A Plain-English Guide
    • ZeroWater vs Brita: TDS Numbers vs Certified Reduction
    • Brita Elite vs Standard: What Each Filter Is Actually Certified to Remove
    • Pitcher & Faucet Filters: The Cheapest Way In, Done Right
    Browse all guides →
  • Free Tools
    • Which Filter Fits Find the exact filter your fridge or system takes.
    • Water Watchdog Look up your water system by ZIP -- what it reported, plainly.
    • RO Cost Calculator What reverse osmosis really costs per gallon, with sources.
    • Softener Sizing Calculator Size a softener from hardness and household use.
    • Filter Certification Registry NSF-listed vs manufacturer-claimed, filter by filter.
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  • Guides
    Fridge Filters Does a Refrigerator Filter Remove PFAS? What NSF P473 Actually Certifies Are Water Filters Interchangeable? Fit, Certification, and the Wrong-Filter Trap Most ‘Compatible’ Refrigerator Filters Don’t Carry the Lead Certification They Replace How Often Should You Change a Refrigerator Water Filter? Reverse Osmosis Beyond PFAS and Lead: About 1 in 4 US Systems Reported Another Contaminant Over a Limit The 2027 EPA Lead Rule Nearly Triples the Water Systems Over the Line About 1 in 9 US Water Systems Averaged PFOA or PFOS Above the EPA Limit Does a Refrigerator Water Filter Remove Lead? What NSF 53 Actually Means Softeners & Whole-House Water Softener Salt Types: Rock vs Solar vs Evaporated How to Get Iron Out of Well Water: Test First, Then Match the Filter Well Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs: What It Is and Which Filter Fixes It What Size Water Softener Do I Need? Sizing by Hardness and Household Pitcher & Faucet Filters How to Read Your Water Quality Report (CCR): A Plain-English Guide ZeroWater vs Brita: TDS Numbers vs Certified Reduction Brita Elite vs Standard: What Each Filter Is Actually Certified to Remove Pitcher & Faucet Filters: The Cheapest Way In, Done Right
  • Free Tools
    Which Filter Fits Water Watchdog RO Cost Calculator Softener Sizing Calculator Filter Certification Registry
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  • Water Quality by State: PFAS in US Drinking Water
    • Is Your City’s Tap Water Safe? The 100 Largest US Water Systems
    • Alabama Water Quality: 19.3% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Birmingham Tap Water Safe? Birmingham Water Works’s EPA Records
    • Is Alaska Tap Water Safe? PFAS Levels by the EPA Data
    • Arizona Water Quality: 15.8% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Phoenix Tap Water Safe? Phoenix City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Tucson Tap Water Safe? Tucson City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Mesa Tap Water Safe? Mesa City of’s EPA Records
    • Arkansas Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Little Rock Tap Water Safe? Central Arkansas Water’s EPA Records
    • California Water Quality: 18.7% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Los Angeles Tap Water Safe? Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)’s EPA Records
      • Is Oakland Tap Water Safe? East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)’s EPA Records
      • Is San Diego Tap Water Safe? San Diego, City of’s EPA Records
      • Is San Jose Tap Water Safe? San Jose Water Company’s EPA Records
      • Is San Francisco Tap Water Safe? San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (city distribution)’s EPA Records
      • Eastern Municipal Water District Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Is Fresno Tap Water Safe? City of Fresno’s EPA Records
      • Is Sacramento Tap Water Safe? City of Sacramento (main system)’s EPA Records
      • Is Long Beach Tap Water Safe? Long Beach Utilities’s EPA Records
      • Is Irvine Tap Water Safe? Irvine Ranch Water District’s EPA Records
      • Is Anaheim Tap Water Safe? City of Anaheim’s EPA Records
      • Is Fremont Tap Water Safe? Alameda County Water District’s EPA Records
    • Colorado Water Quality: 2.8% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Denver Tap Water Safe? Denver Water’s EPA Records
      • Is Aurora Tap Water Safe? Aurora City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Colorado Springs Tap Water Safe? Colorado Springs Utilities’s EPA Records
    • Connecticut Water Quality: 43.5% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is New Haven Tap Water Safe? South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority’s EPA Records
      • Is Hartford Tap Water Safe? Metropolitan District Commission (MDC)’s EPA Records
      • Is Bridgeport Tap Water Safe? Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut (main system)’s EPA Records
    • Delaware Water Quality: 33.3% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Florida Water Quality: 32.4% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Miami Tap Water Safe? Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (main system)’s EPA Records
      • Is Jacksonville Tap Water Safe? JEA (Jacksonville major grid)’s EPA Records
      • Is Tampa Tap Water Safe? City of Tampa Water Department’s EPA Records
      • Is Palm Beach County Tap Water Safe? Palm Beach County Water Utilities’s EPA Records
      • Is Orlando Tap Water Safe? Orlando Utilities Commission’s EPA Records
      • Hillsborough County Public Utilities (South-Central system) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Is Pinellas County Tap Water Safe? Pinellas County Utilities’s EPA Records
      • Is St. Petersburg Tap Water Safe? City of St. Petersburg water system’s EPA Records
      • Is Manatee County Tap Water Safe? Manatee County Utilities’s EPA Records
    • Georgia Water Quality: 11.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Atlanta Tap Water Safe? City of Atlanta water system’s EPA Records
      • Is Gwinnett County Tap Water Safe? Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources’s EPA Records
      • Is DeKalb County Tap Water Safe? DeKalb County water system’s EPA Records
      • Is Cobb County Tap Water Safe? Cobb County Water System’s EPA Records
      • Fulton County water (North Fulton system) Water Quality: The EPA Records
    • Hawaii Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Honolulu Tap Water Safe? Honolulu Board of Water Supply (Windward-Pearl Harbor system)’s EPA Records
    • Idaho Water Quality: 3.6% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Illinois Water Quality: 2.9% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Chicago Tap Water Safe? City of Chicago water system’s EPA Records
    • Indiana Water Quality: 2.8% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Indianapolis Tap Water Safe? Citizens Water (Indianapolis)’s EPA Records
    • Iowa Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Kansas Water Quality: 2.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Johnson County Tap Water Safe? WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County)’s EPA Records
      • Is Wichita Tap Water Safe? Wichita, City of’s EPA Records
    • Kentucky Water Quality: 4.4% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Louisville Tap Water Safe? Louisville Water Company’s EPA Records
      • Is Lexington Tap Water Safe? Kentucky American Water (Lexington)’s EPA Records
    • Louisiana Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Baton Rouge Tap Water Safe? Baton Rouge Water Company’s EPA Records
    • Maine Water Quality: 5.6% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Maryland Water Quality: 18.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Is Baltimore Tap Water Safe? City of Baltimore’s EPA Records
    • Massachusetts Water Quality: 26.7% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Boston Tap Water Safe? Boston Water and Sewer Commission (MWRA water)’s EPA Records
    • Michigan Water Quality: 1.7% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Detroit Tap Water Safe? Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (GLWA water)’s EPA Records
    • Minnesota Water Quality: 5.6% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Minneapolis Tap Water Safe? City of Minneapolis water system’s EPA Records
      • Is Saint Paul Tap Water Safe? Saint Paul Regional Water Services’s EPA Records
    • Mississippi Water Quality: 1.9% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Missouri Water Quality: 2.4% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Missouri American Water (St. Louis and St. Charles counties) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Is Kansas City Tap Water Safe? KC Water (Kansas City, Missouri)’s EPA Records
    • Montana Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Nebraska Water Quality: 6.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Omaha Tap Water Safe? Metropolitan Utilities District (Omaha)’s EPA Records
    • Nevada Water Quality: 6.4% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Las Vegas Tap Water Safe? Las Vegas Valley Water District’s EPA Records
      • Is Reno Tap Water Safe? Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s EPA Records
      • Is North Las Vegas Tap Water Safe? North Las Vegas Utilities’s EPA Records
    • New Hampshire Water Quality: 16.7% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • New Jersey Water Quality: 44.1% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Hackensack Tap Water Safe? Veolia Water New Jersey (Hackensack system)’s EPA Records
      • New Jersey American Water (Raritan) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • New Jersey American Water (Coastal North) Water Quality: The EPA Records
    • New Mexico Water Quality: 1.6% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Albuquerque Tap Water Safe? Albuquerque Water System’s EPA Records
    • New York Water Quality: 9.9% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is New York City Tap Water Safe? New York City water supply system’s EPA Records
      • Is Suffolk County Tap Water Safe? Suffolk County Water Authority’s EPA Records
      • Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) Water Quality: The EPA Records
    • North Carolina Water Quality: 24.4% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Charlotte Tap Water Safe? Charlotte Water’s EPA Records
      • Is Raleigh Tap Water Safe? Raleigh, City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Winston-Salem Tap Water Safe? Winston-Salem, City of’s EPA Records
    • North Dakota Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Ohio Water Quality: 10.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Cleveland Tap Water Safe? Cleveland Public Water System’s EPA Records
      • Is Columbus Tap Water Safe? Columbus Public Water System’s EPA Records
      • Is Cincinnati Tap Water Safe? Cincinnati Public Water System’s EPA Records
      • Is Toledo Tap Water Safe? Toledo, City of’s EPA Records
    • Oklahoma Water Quality: 5.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Oklahoma City Tap Water Safe? City of Oklahoma City water system’s EPA Records
      • Is Tulsa Tap Water Safe? City of Tulsa water system’s EPA Records
    • Oregon Water Quality: 8.5% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Portland Tap Water Safe? Portland Water Bureau’s EPA Records
    • Pennsylvania Water Quality: 24.9% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Philadelphia Tap Water Safe? Philadelphia Water Department’s EPA Records
      • Aqua Pennsylvania (main system) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Pennsylvania American Water (Pittsburgh district) Water Quality: The EPA Records
      • Is Pittsburgh Tap Water Safe? Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s EPA Records
    • Is Rhode Island Tap Water Safe? PFAS Levels by the EPA Data
    • South Carolina Water Quality: 31.3% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Greenville Tap Water Safe? Greenville Water’s EPA Records
    • South Dakota Water Quality: 2.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Tennessee Water Quality: 6.2% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Nashville Tap Water Safe? Metro Water Services (Nashville)’s EPA Records
      • Is Memphis Tap Water Safe? Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s EPA Records
    • Texas Water Quality: 2.5% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Houston Tap Water Safe? City of Houston’s EPA Records
      • Is San Antonio Tap Water Safe? San Antonio Water System’s EPA Records
      • Is Dallas Tap Water Safe? Dallas Water Utility’s EPA Records
      • Is Austin Tap Water Safe? Austin Water’s EPA Records
      • Is Fort Worth Tap Water Safe? City of Fort Worth’s EPA Records
      • Is El Paso Tap Water Safe? El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B’s EPA Records
      • Is Arlington Tap Water Safe? City of Arlington’s EPA Records
    • Utah Water Quality: 1.7% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Salt Lake City Tap Water Safe? Salt Lake City Water System’s EPA Records
    • Vermont Water Quality: 0.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Virginia Water Quality: 7.8% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Fairfax County Tap Water Safe? Fairfax Water (Fairfax County Water Authority)’s EPA Records
      • Is Virginia Beach Tap Water Safe? Virginia Beach, City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Newport News Tap Water Safe? Newport News, City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Chesterfield County Tap Water Safe? Chesterfield County Central Water System’s EPA Records
    • Washington Water Quality: 8.4% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Seattle Tap Water Safe? Seattle Public Utilities’s EPA Records
      • Is Tacoma Tap Water Safe? Tacoma Water’s EPA Records
      • Is Vancouver Tap Water Safe? Vancouver City of’s EPA Records
      • Is Spokane Tap Water Safe? Spokane City of’s EPA Records
    • West Virginia Water Quality: 12.0% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
    • Wisconsin Water Quality: 9.9% of Systems Over the PFAS Limit
      • Is Milwaukee Tap Water Safe? Milwaukee Waterworks’s EPA Records
    • Is Wyoming Tap Water Safe? PFAS Levels by the EPA Data
    • Is District of Columbia Tap Water Safe? PFAS Levels by the EPA Data
      • Is Washington, DC Tap Water Safe? DC Water’s EPA Records
  • About WaterByTheBook – Our Editorial Process
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  • Editorial Policy
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Category

Pillar 4 – Pitcher Faucet Filters

An annual water quality report booklet lying open on a kitchen counter beside a filled glass of clear tap water in natural daylight

How to Read Your Water Quality Report (CCR): A Plain-English Guide

If an annual water quality report showed up in your mail or inbox recently, that is your CCR – the consumer confidence…

July 21, 2026 · 10 min read

Two water filter pitchers side by side on a kitchen counter, one with a slim cartridge and one with a larger sealed cartridge

ZeroWater vs Brita: TDS Numbers vs Certified Reduction

ZeroWater vs Brita comes down to one question: do you want a low number on a TDS meter, or a certified reduction…

July 6, 2026 · 8 min read

Two white pitcher filter cartridges of similar shape standing side by side on a light surface

Brita Elite vs Standard: What Each Filter Is Actually Certified to Remove

The difference between Brita Elite vs Standard comes down to one line on a certification sheet: the Elite filter is NSF/ANSI 53…

July 6, 2026 · 7 min read

A water filter pitcher and a faucet-mount filter unit arranged together on a kitchen counter, wide composition

Pitcher & Faucet Filters: The Cheapest Way In, Done Right

The cheapest entry point – but read the certification A $30 pitcher or a faucet-mount filter is the lowest-cost way to improve…

July 6, 2026 · 2 min read

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Water by the Book.

The honest field guide to home water filtration. Free tools, plain-English guides, and what the data actually says about your water.

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