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)
Certified for 10 targets
- Eligible: current record covers it
- Not established, with the reason
✓PFOAEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓PFOSEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓LeadEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓MercuryEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓AsbestosEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓MTBEEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓VOC (chloroform surrogate)EligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓CystEligibleNSF/ANSI 53
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓Aesthetic chlorineEligibleNSF/ANSI 42
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
✓Aesthetic chloramineEligibleNSF/ANSI 42
CheckedChecked 2026-09-25 · recheck due 2026-12-24
?MicroplasticsNot established
CertificationListing checked: WQA asserted in manufacturer sheet · NSF/ANSI 401 (not established for this product)
Why notNo current check recorded. Evidence insufficient to verify this product for Microplastics.
A target listed here does not mean that contaminant is present in your water.
How to verify a certified claim →Verify in the certifier’s registry ↗- Microplastics reduction appears in the retail listing; this model was not found in the NSF/ANSI 401 listing.
PurityMap analysis · bottom line
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.The renter-friendly way to treat documented PFAS or lead: no plumbing, and the reduction claims are certified, not just lab-tested.
- ✓ No installation
- ✓ Certified for PFOA/PFOS and lead
- ✓ Chlorine and chloramine taste reduction
- – Hand-filled, takes counter space
- – Not certified for fluoride, arsenic or nitrate
Limitations and trade-offs
- 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.
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
Installation, ownership and maintenance
Capacity and upkeep are planning figures from the product record, not guarantees. Actual replacement timing depends on use, influent water, flow and the manufacturer’s instructions.- Manufacturer
- Aquasana
- Model number
- AQ-CWM2
- Installation format
- Countertop System
- Dimensions
- Countertop unit, no plumbing or faucet changes
- Typical annual upkeep
- $74
Certification last checked Sep 25, 2026
Start from your water, not the product.
Plumbing inside a home can add lead that the system record can't show. A tap test tells you what reaches your glass.
Where to buy
Aquasana Countertop Water Filter | Reduces Lead, PFAS & Microplastics
The listing mentions microplastics and PFAS; PurityMap verified 10 targets for this model (see Fit for your water).
The fit above is assessed before an offer is attached; a retailer link never changes capabilities, limitations or eligibility. Commercial independence →