Best Water Filters for Riverside, Certified for PFAS
Matched to Riverside's own record: lead, PFAS, hard water. Each option names the certification to check. Not a generic “best filters” list.
Three concerns to filter for. Three 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.
Lead
Lead 1 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level (detected below the limit)
Lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis · NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)
PFAS
PFOS 4 ng/L, below the 4 ng/L limit (+2 more PFAS detected) (detected below the limit)
Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS · NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxA/PFOS/PFPeA named on the listing
Hard water
11.3 gpg (very hard) (aesthetic)
Ion-exchange water softener · NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners)
Lithium
9.1µg/L · 2023
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)
6.3ppb · 2024
TTHMs are disinfection by-products that form when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in water.
Relevant treatment: Activated carbon, Reverse osmosis.
Water hardness
11.3gpg · 193 mg/L as CaCO₃ · 2024
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 Riverside 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$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
See all 12 drinking-water options for PFAS
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsPFOS and leadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFOS 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$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFOS and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFOS and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOS.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Whole-houseHealthShield™ | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Riverside’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), PFOS 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 Riverside?
Ask your utility first
Find out if your building has a lead service line
Water utilities keep an inventory of service-line materials. Ask Riverside Public Utilities 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: RIVERSIDE, CITY OF (CA3310031)US EPA · 2026-10-15View source ↗
- State SDWIS Compliance RecordLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: RIVERSIDE, CITY OF (CA3310031)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-10-13View source ↗
- Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)Riverside Public Utilities 2024 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)Riverside Public Utilities · 2024-01-01View source ↗
Frequently asked
What water filter do I need in Riverside?
Based on the published record: Lead 1 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). PFAS: PFOS 4 ng/L, below the 4 ng/L limit (+2 more PFAS detected); detected below the limit. If you choose to filter, look for reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS, certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxA/PFOS/PFPeA named on the listing. Hard water: 11.3 gpg (very hard); aesthetic. If you choose to filter, look for ion-exchange water softener, certified to NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners). Pick a model whose certification names each contaminant you want to reduce.
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 Riverside?
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.