Best Water Filters for Glendale, Certified for PFAS
Matched to Glendale's own record: PFAS, lead, lithium, hard water. Each option names the certification to check. Not a generic “best filters” list.
Four needs to treat. One other finding 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 15.8 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (+7 more PFAS detected)
Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS · NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFOA/PFOS/PFBS/PFHxA/PFHxS/PFBA/PFHpA/PFPeA named on the listing
Lead
Lead 5.3 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level (detected below the limit)
Lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis · NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)
Lithium
Lithium 60.4 µg/L, above the 10.0 µg/L EPA health reference level (above a health screening level, not a legal limit)
Depends on the contaminant · The certifier's listing for each named contaminant
Hard water
14.3 gpg (very hard) (aesthetic)
Ion-exchange water softener · NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners)
Water hardness
14.3gpg · 245 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 Glendale 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 PFOA, 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) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
See all 12 drinking-water options for PFAS
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) 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$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA).
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Whole-houseHealthShield™ | TreatsPFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)Price$$$$ | Certified for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), found in Glendale’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, PFOS, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
Also: lead picks → · hard water picks →
Certified filters for lithium →
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 Glendale?
Ask your utility first
Find out if your building has a lead service line
Water utilities keep an inventory of service-line materials. Ask Glendale Water and Power whether your address is on it before you replace pipes.
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: GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT. (CA1910043)US EPA · 2026-10-15View source ↗
- State SDWIS Compliance RecordLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT. (CA1910043)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-10-13View source ↗
- Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)City of Glendale Water & Power 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)City of Glendale Water & Power · 2025-01-01View source ↗
Frequently asked
What water filter do I need in Glendale?
Based on the published record: PFAS: PFOS 15.8 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (+7 more PFAS detected). This calls for reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS, certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFOA/PFOS/PFBS/PFHxA/PFHxS/PFBA/PFHpA/PFPeA named on the listing. Lead 5.3 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level; detected below the limit. If you choose to filter, look for lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis, certified to NSF/ANSI 53 (lead). Lithium 60.4 µg/L, above the 10.0 µg/L EPA health reference level; above a health screening level, not a legal limit. If you choose to filter, the treatment depends on the contaminant: check the certifier's listing for each one. Hard water: 14.3 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 Glendale?
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.