Science showsdrinking water can contain PFAS, microplastics, heavy metals, and VOCs. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems effectively remove all PFAS, including short-chain compounds. Microfiltration membranes achieve 78-100% removal of microplastics. Activated carbon and ion exchange components reduce lead, other heavy metals, and many VOCs.
Laurel recommendsmulti-stage or reverse osmosis (RO) water filters with NSF/ANSI certifications that specifically cover contaminants like heavy metals and PFAS. Under-sink and countertop filters are both fine.
Laurel avoids filters that lack third-party certification or don't specify which contaminants they remove. Improperly maintained filters can actually increase contaminant levels.
Tip: Changing filters on schedule is critical! Some filters show removal efficiency dropping below 50% by the end of cartridge life.