Best Water Filters for Allentown, Certified for PFAS
Matched to Allentown's own record: PFAS, lead, hard water. Each option names the certification to check. Not a generic “best filters” list.
Three needs to treat. Six other findings detected.
Each card starts from a finding in the published record. The certification is what to look for on the certifier’s listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO) for the exact model.
PFAS
PFOS 4.4 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (+3 more PFAS detected)
Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS · NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFOS/PFBS/PFHxA/PFPeA named on the listing
Lead
Lead 7 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level (detected below the limit); 4,552 lead service lines; 5,839 galvanized lines to replace (context, not a tap measurement)
Lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis · NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)
Hard water
15 gpg (very hard) (aesthetic)
Ion-exchange water softener · NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners)
Nitrate
4.96mg/L · 2025
Nitrate is a nitrogen compound that enters water mainly from fertilizer, animal waste, and septic systems.
Relevant treatment: Reverse osmosis, Anion exchange, Distillation.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
23.4ppb · 2025
HAA5 is a group of five haloacetic acids: disinfection by-products that, like TTHMs, form when chlorine reacts with organic matter.
Relevant treatment: Activated carbon, Reverse osmosis.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)
28ppb · 2025
TTHMs are disinfection by-products that form when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in water.
Relevant treatment: Activated carbon, Reverse osmosis.
Fluoride
0.55mg/L · 2025
Fluoride occurs naturally in groundwater and is also added by many utilities at low levels to reduce tooth decay.
Relevant treatment: Reverse osmosis, Activated alumina / adsorptive media, Distillation.
Copper
0.083mg/L · 2025
Copper is a metal that usually enters drinking water from the corrosion of household copper pipes and brass fixtures rather than from the source water.
Relevant treatment: Reverse osmosis, Corrosion-control / pH adjustment, Flushing standing water before use.
Water hardness
15gpg · 257 mg/L as CaCO₃ · 2025
Hardness is dissolved calcium and magnesium picked up from rock and soil.
Relevant treatment: Ion-exchange water softener, Salt-free conditioner, Reverse osmosis (point-of-use).
Filters for the PFAS found in Allentown water
Affiliate linksPurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure★ Best choice: Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200), certified for PFOS and lead.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
See all 12 drinking-water options for PFAS
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsPFOS and leadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UVUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOS.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Whole-houseHealthShield™ | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Allentown’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
Also: lead picks → · hard water picks →
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Know what reaches your glass.
Plumbing inside a home can add lead that the system record can't show. A tap test tells you what reaches your glass.
Lead pipes or fixtures in Allentown?
Lead service lines
Ask your utility first
Lehigh County Authority (Allentown) reported 4,552 lead and 5,839 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask Lehigh County Authority (Allentown) whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.
Local help
Think your plumbing may be adding lead?
Call to be connected with a local plumbing provider about lead service lines, repiping or fixture replacement.
Test your own tap
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Varify 17-in-1 Complete Water Test Kit
Varify
17 strip readings, including lead, chlorine, fluoride, iron and hardness, plus 2 coliform bacteria tests
- Turnaround: About 1 minute; the bacteria test takes 48 hours
What it can't tell you: Strip colors give rough ranges, not lab numbers, and it cannot detect PFAS or arsenic.
Lab-certified results
ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
- Analyzed by Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories (ETR Labs), Leominster, MA · ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ANAB certificate AT-2638
- Turnaround: 2–4 business days after the lab receives it
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
When your results arrive, read them here → · Compare every kit we list
Sources and methodology
Analysis first, commerce second: retail relationships do not change which products qualify. How PurityMap evaluates recommendations
- UCMR5 Analytical ResultsUCMR5 Analytical Results: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION (PA3390024)US EPA · 2026-10-15View source ↗
- State SDWIS Compliance RecordLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION (PA3390024)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-10-13View source ↗
- Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)Lehigh County Authority (Allentown Division) 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)Lehigh County Authority (Allentown Division) · 2025-01-01View source ↗
Frequently asked
What water filter do I need in Allentown?
Based on the published record: PFAS: PFOS 4.4 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (+3 more PFAS detected). This calls for reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS, certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFOS/PFBS/PFHxA/PFPeA named on the listing. Lead 7 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level (detected below the limit); 4,552 lead service lines; 5,839 galvanized lines to replace (context, not a tap measurement). If you choose to filter, look for lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis, certified to NSF/ANSI 53 (lead). Hard water: 15 gpg (very hard); aesthetic. If you choose to filter, look for ion-exchange water softener, certified to NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners). Choose a model whose certification names each contaminant you need to treat.
Does "NSF certified" mean a filter removes everything?
No. Certification is per contaminant: a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine taste says nothing about lead or PFAS. Check the certifier's listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO) for the exact model and the exact contaminant.
Is a pitcher enough for lead in Allentown?
A pitcher certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduces lead in the water you pour through it; replace cartridges on schedule. For a lead service line, replacing the line is the lasting fix; ask the utility about its replacement program.