Independent product analysis
Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)
The renter-friendly way to treat documented PFAS or lead: no plumbing, and the reduction claims are certified, not just lab-tested.
Countertop System · Activated Carbon (Claryum) · Aquasana
Product recordPurityMap analysisThis profile evaluates where the product record fits, what its listed technology can address, and the constraints a household should check before buying.
The renter-friendly way to treat documented PFAS or lead: no plumbing, and the reduction claims are certified, not just lab-tested.
Match factors
- No installation
- Certified for PFOA/PFOS and lead
- Chlorine and chloramine taste reduction
Watch-outs
- Hand-filled, takes counter space
- Not certified for fluoride, arsenic or nitrate
Assessment basis: Certification checked against the WQA Gold Seal listing for Aquasana (NSF/ANSI 53 and 42, model AQ-CWM2-X-Y) on 2026-09-24. The Waterdrop M6SL was also checked: its IAPMO NSF/ANSI 58 listing covers TDS only, so it was not used.
Which water problems is this relevant to?Each target in PurityMap’s evidence register for this product, with its state. Relevance starts with a documented water problem, then the treatment technology, then a product whose exact, current certification covers that target.
- PFOA Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- PFOS Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- Lead Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- Mercury Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- Asbestos Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- MTBE Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- VOC (chloroform surrogate) Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- Cyst Eligible · NSF/ANSI 53
- Aesthetic chlorine Eligible · NSF/ANSI 42
- Aesthetic chloramine Eligible · NSF/ANSI 42
- Microplastics Not established
A capability listed here does not mean that contaminant is present in your water. Find your water system before deciding what treatment is relevant.
Certification and claim scope
One row per target in PurityMap's evidence register. Eligible means a current certification record for this exact product covers that target, checked in the certifier's registry within the last 90 days. Not established always comes with the reason.
| Target | Evidence | Certification | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| PFOS | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Lead | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Mercury | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Asbestos | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| MTBE | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| VOC (chloroform surrogate) | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Cyst | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Aesthetic chlorine | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 42WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 42 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Aesthetic chloramine | ✓ Eligible | WQA · NSF/ANSI 42WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 42 | checked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24 |
| Microplastics | Not establishedEvidence insufficient to verify this product for Microplastics. | Listing checked: WQA asserted in manufacturer sheet · NSF/ANSI 401 (not established for this product)Aquasana AQ-CWM2 performance sheet | No current check recorded |
Not suitable for
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Test first
- Plumbing inside a home can add lead that the system record can't show. A tap test tells you what reaches your glass.
- A tap test can confirm levels at your home before you choose treatment.
Installation, ownership, and maintenanceCapacity and upkeep are planning figures from the product record, not guarantees. Actual replacement timing depends on use, influent water, flow, and manufacturer instructions.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Not a reverse-osmosis system: not certified for fluoride, arsenic, nitrate or PFHxS.
- Treats the water you pour through it, not a whole tap.
- Replace the cartridge on schedule; a spent cartridge stops reducing lead and PFAS.
- Sits on the counter and is filled by hand
- Slower than a plumbed filter
No filter treats every water problem. This analysis does not replace household testing, installation requirements, or the manufacturer’s current performance data sheet.
Manufacturer claims we could not verifyThese appear in manufacturer or retailer material but are not backed by a certification PurityMap could confirm. Treat them as unverified.
- Microplastics reduction appears in the retail listing; this model was not found in the NSF/ANSI 401 listing.