Independent product analysis
Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)
The lowest-cost certified under-sink answer to documented PFOA/PFOS or lead.
See the certification recordTest your tap firstCheck price on Amazon As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. The offer never changes the analysis.
Under-Sink Filter · Activated Carbon (Claryum) · Aquasana
Product recordBest suited forCertified PFOA/PFOS and lead reduction (NSF/ANSI 53) at a kitchen tap, at about half the price of the 3-stage model.
Verified certifications Distinct certification standards on current, registry-checked evidence for this exact product. See Certification and claim scope below.1
Typical upkeep$80/year
PurityMap analysisThis profile evaluates where the product record fits, what its listed technology can address, and the constraints a household should check before buying.
Bottom line
The lowest-cost certified under-sink answer to documented PFOA/PFOS or lead.
Match factors
- WQA-certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS and lead
- No reverse-osmosis wastewater
Watch-outs
- Needs a dedicated faucet (drilling)
- Takes under-sink space
Assessment basis: Certification checked against the WQA registry (NSF/ANSI 53 listing, model AQ-5200; the Amazon AQ-5200.55 differs only by finish) on 2026-10-11.
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
Reported water finding→Activated Carbon (Claryum)→Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)
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 Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| PFOS | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| Lead | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| Mercury | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| Asbestos | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| MTBE | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| VOC (chloroform surrogate) | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
| Cyst | ✓ Eligible | WQA Gold Seal listing current 2026-10-11 · NSF/ANSI 53WQA Aquasana NSF/ANSI 53 | checked 2026-10-11 · recheck due 2027-01-09 |
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
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
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.
ManufacturerAquasana
Model numberAQ-5200
Installation formatUnder-Sink Filter
DimensionsUnder-sink canisters with a dedicated faucet
Typical annual upkeep$80
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Not a reverse-osmosis system: not certified for fluoride, arsenic, nitrate or PFHxS.
- Needs a dedicated faucet and under-sink space; renters should ask the landlord.
- Replace the cartridges on schedule; spent cartridges stop reducing lead and PFAS.
- Needs a dedicated faucet (drilling)
- Takes under-sink space
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.
- Retail listings mention further contaminants (for example chlorine taste and microplastics); only the NSF/ANSI 53 claims above were checked in the WQA listing.