Most water filters do a great job of removing a variety of contaminants, but if arsenic is your main concern, we’ve done the legwork for you. We tested the best water filters on the market to find the ones that excel specifically at arsenic removal.
The best overall is the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. It can remove a minimum of 98.3% of arsenic and over 364 other contaminants. It’s also NSF-certified for standard 53, and its filters are impressively long-lasting for a water pitcher.
If you’re looking for an under-sink RO system that removes arsenic, we recommend the Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis. It has a minimum arsenic removal rate of 97.6%, and comes with a remineralizer that adds beneficial minerals back in after filtering out the contaminants.
However, if you’d prefer an under-sink model that doesn’t use RO, the Clearly Filtered Under-the-Sink is your best bet. Its 94.3% arsenic removal rates are just below the SmartFlow, and its filters can last up to a year, making it a strong contender.
- Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
- Filter type: Water filter pitcher
- Arsenic reduction rate: Minimum of 98.3%
- Contaminants removed: 365+
- Filtered Water Capacity: 10 cups (80oz)
- NSF 53 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: Claryum + reverse osmosis
- Filter type: Under-the-sink RO unit
- Arsenic reduction rate: Minimum of 97.6%
- Contaminants removed: 88+
- Filtration capacity: 13.32 gallons per day
- NSF 53 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Two years
- Filtration technology: Clearly Filtered’s 3-stage filtration tech
- Filter type: Under-the-sink system
- Arsenic reduction rate: Minimum of 94.3%
- Contaminants removed: 232+
- Filtration capacity: 2,000 gallons for each filter (lasting roughly a year)
- NSF 53 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher – Best Water Pitcher for Arsenic Removal
- Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
- Filter type: Water filter pitcher
- Arsenic reduction rate: Minimum of 98.3%
- Contaminants removed: 365+
- Filtered Water Capacity: 10 cups (80oz)
- NSF 53 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher has the best contaminant removal levels we’ve ever come across in a pitcher filter. Its arsenic removal rate of 98.3% minimum is the best on our list, which is why it takes the top spot. And on top of that, it can remove hundreds of other contaminants just as successfully.
This unit is a great option for anyone who wants to remove arsenic from their drinking water. However, if you live in a home with high water demands, you might want to opt for a more comprehensive system, like an under-the-sink filter.
Affinity Filtration Technology
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher employs a unique technique called Affinity Filtration, thanks to which it can reduce arsenic by 98.3% alongside 365+ other contaminants.
The unit’s main cartridge has a unique structure, subjecting contaminants to a path full of twists and turns. Ultimately, the twists and turns prolong the contact time between the filters and water, ensuring an extensive filtration process and a remarkable reduction of arsenic.
Additionally, the inner walls of the filter cartridge act as a contaminant magnet, and the magnet targets contaminants with ionic structures like arsenic, attracting and binding them.
Filter Longevity
Most water pitchers have a filter life lasting up to three months. Yet, in the case of Clearly Filtered, they last up to four months, making them the most long-lasting water pitcher filters on the market.
This is a welcome feature, as the replacement filters for this unit cost $49.50 each, which is more than half the cost of the entire pitcher. So, we were glad to find out we’d only need to pay this three times a year.
NSF Certification
In addition to the long filter life, Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher bears an NSF 53 certification pertaining to health hazards like arsenic. This was a particularly reassuring aspect for us, as it provides scientific evidence for the brand's claims about the product.
Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis – Best Under-the-Sink Reverse Osmosis Filter for Arsenic Removal
- Filtration technology: Claryum + reverse osmosis
- Filter type: Under-the-sink RO unit
- Arsenic reduction rate: Minimum of 97.6%
- Contaminants removed: 88+
- Filtration capacity: 13.32 gallons per day
- NSF 53 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Two years
Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most popular methods for removing arsenic from water. And while most RO units either can’t achieve EPA standards for removing arsenic or don’t provide enough unbiased data regarding their products’ performance, this is not the case with the Aquasana SmartFlow.
Plus, this unit is much more affordable than many other under-sink RO systems on the market. This makes it an excellent choice if you want a highly effective RO system but have a limited budget.
Impressive Arsenic Removal Rates
We loved this unit because it removes arsenic by 97.6%, the highest rate among RO and under-the-sink units, and it’s NSF-certified (NSF/ANSI standards 53 and 58).
We must note here that Aquasana’s RO technology isn’t solely responsible for its removal capacity for arsenic specifically. Rather, the RO technology is enhanced with the brand’s patented Claryum technique.
We can label the Claryum technology as a humbler version of Affinity Filtration. It blends four different water treatment methods, including ion adsorption, all within a single cartridge. This innovative approach enhances the system’s efficiency in tackling arsenic and over 88 other contaminants.
Remineralizer
The biggest downside of using RO filters is that, along with contaminants, they also remove beneficial minerals from water. This means that your water won’t contain the right levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. That’s why we were very happy to learn that the SmartFlow includes a remineralizer.
This reintroduces beneficial minerals to the water once the contaminants have been removed. As a result, you get healthy water that’s free of contaminants but still contains the minerals your body requires.
Easy Maintenance
Another thing we really like about this unit is how easy it is to replace the filters. All you need to do is unscrew the old one and screw in the new one. It literally takes a few seconds!
Unlike with many other RO systems we’ve tested, there’s no need to disconnect water lines or hoses when replacing the filters. It really is an absolute breeze.
Clearly Filtered Under-the-Sink – Best Non-RO Under-the-Sink Filter for Arsenic Removal
- Filtration technology: Clearly Filtered’s 3-stage filtration tech
- Filter type: Under-the-sink system
- Arsenic reduction rate: Minimum of 94.3%
- Contaminants removed: 232+
- Filtration capacity: 2,000 gallons for each filter (lasting roughly a year)
- NSF 53 certification: Certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
Our review of the Aquasana SmartFlow established that reverse osmosis removes healthy minerals crucial for bone growth and healthy blood pH levels from the water alongside arsenic. So, if you want an under-the-sink product that retains beneficial minerals while effectively reducing arsenic, the Clearly Filtered model is our top choice.
Key Features:
- High arsenic removal rate: Although it has a lower arsenic reduction rate (94.3%) compared to Aquasana OptimH2O, it’s still able to reduce arsenic ions levels below the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold (10 parts per billion).
- Great contaminant removal capabilities: Additionally, as seen in its performance data sheet, Clearly Filtered Under-the-Sink reduces more than 232 other contaminants with equal or better capacity. The Clearly Filtered Under-the-Sink model differs from its water pitcher sibling because it doesn’t utilize the Affinity Filtration technology. Instead, this unit’s leading technology entails a unique filter that reduces heavy metals like arsenic and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Long-lasting filters: The Clearly Filtered system’s advantages over the Aquasana SmartFlow aren’t limited to retaining minerals. Its filters provide arsenic-free water for a year without needing replacements, making them the most long-lasting under-the-sink filters currently available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s answer some of the most commonly searched questions about arsenic removal and filters.
Drinking arsenic-contaminated water has various short-term and long-term health effects. The short-term health effects include:
Arrhythmia
Neurological impairments such as peripheral neuropathy
Nausea and vomiting
Fatigue, resulting from a decrease in the production of red and white blood cells
The long-term effects of drinking arsenic-contaminated water are more detrimental and include the following:
Anemia, mainly among pregnant women
Various types of cancer, bladder, liver, colon, and lung cancers
Neurological and cognitive dysfunction
Cardiovascular disease
Changes in heart structure
Because of the substantial body of research linking arsenic to all these negative side effects, the EPA has set the maximum threshold for arsenic in drinking water at 10 parts per billion or 0.010 mg/L. However, most people don’t want to risk it and take measures to remove it completely from their water supply.
If your water is contaminated with arsenic, you should take action immediately. Purchasing a water filter to remove arsenic is both a quick and long-term solution. Considering the detrimental effects arsenic has on health, you should take it very seriously.
If you suspect arsenic presence in your water, the best and most secure action is to collect a water sample and send it to an EPA-certified water-testing lab.
These labs charge between $25 to $400 but will provide a detailed list of contaminants and their levels in your water, including arsenic.
We advise you to refrain from drinking water from your faucets until the test results come. In such cases, it’s best to stick with bottled water.
According to NSF reports, the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher has at least a 98.3% removal rate concerning arsenic. That number makes it the most effective device for producing arsenic-free water.
Arsenic is a heavy metal regulated by the EPA under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs). The National Sanitation Foundation certifies products with claims regarding contaminants regulated under the NPDWRs with its NSF/ANSI 53 Standards certification.
But not all water treatment products with an NSF 53 certification remove or reduce arsenic to levels below EPA standards. For instance, the AquaTru RO System holds an NSF 53 certification, but there’s no indication in its performance data sheet that it reduces arsenic.
So, the best practice is to examine the performance data sheets of the device you want to purchase and ensure it’s suitable for removing this heavy metal.
