PUR filters are a trusted and affordable water filtration for many families whose products can significantly improve the taste and quality of water. But can PUR filters remove lead from your drinking water, and how effectively can they do so?
All PUR filters remove over 98% of lead in all their models. PUR puts special emphasis on lead removal and is consistent and careful in doing so, as the health risks of consuming lead are considerable.
Keep reading to learn more about how PUR filters remove lead, the harmful effects of consuming lead in your drinking water, and how to keep your family safe from lead poisoning.
You may be interested in my articles on water pitcher filters for lead removal and What Does a PUR Filter Remove.
Table of Contents
Can PUR Filters Remove Lead?
When you study PUR’s water filter data sheets, you will notice that lead is the first material noted on their pitcher’s data list. PUR takes special care to eliminate lead consistently and thoroughly to keep your drinking water safe, delicious, and healthy for the entire family.
Pitcher filters capture at least 98.5% of lead, while faucet models remove more than 98.7% of lead from your tap water. This helps reduce the quantity of lead in your drinking water to safe, drinkable levels that are comparable to what one would find naturally in spring water.
So how does lead find its way into my water anyway? Is it added accidentally, or are there other reasons why you might have lead in your drinking water?
Check out my other articles about lead treatment:
Do Brita Filters Remove Lead: Which water filters work?
Do ZeroWater Filters Remove Lead?
Do Refrigerator Filters Remove Lead? Comprehensive Evaluation
Reverse Osmosis Lead Removal: How well does RO remove lead
PUR Water Filters and Lead Removal
PUR makes a variety of filters to purify your tap water. They offer three filters:
- PUR PLUS Mineral Core Filter
- PUR Pitcher Filter
- PUR PLUS Lead Reduction Filter
According to PUR, two of their filters are designed for removing lead: the Longlast+ filter and their faucet filters.
PUR PLUS Mineral Core Filter and lead treatment
The PUR PLUS Mineral Core Filter is designed to reduce lead and other contaminants, while also adding essential minerals back into your drinking water for improved taste and quality. This filter is suitable for use in both pitchers and dispensers, making it a convenient option for families who want to enjoy clean, refreshing water at home.
- Certified to reduce lead
- Filters water over natural minerals for great taste
- 1 filter treats up to 100 gallons or 3 months
- Fits all PUR Faucet Filtration Systems
PUR Pitcher Filter and lead treatment
The PUR Filter is a trusted and affordable water filtration option that is perfect for families on a budget. This filter removes up to 99% of lead and other contaminants from drinking water, while also improving taste and odor. The PUR Filter is compatible with a range of pitcher and dispenser models, making it easy to find a filter that fits your needs.
- WQA Certified to filter lead
- Filters up to 40 gallons or 2 months
- Fits in all PUR Pitcher and Dispenser Filtration Systems
- Reduces Chlorine for Great Taste
PUR PLUS Lead Reduction Filter and lead treatment
The PUR PLUS Lead Reduction Filter is specifically designed to target lead in drinking water, removing up to 99% of lead particles from your tap water. This filter also reduces other contaminants and impurities, while adding back essential minerals for improved taste and quality. The PUR PLUS Lead Reduction Filter is compatible with select PUR pitchers and dispensers.
- WQA Certified to filter lead
- Filters up to 40 gallons or 2 months
- Fits in all PUR Pitcher and Dispenser Filtration Systems
- Reduces Chlorine for Great Taste
| Key Takeaways |
| All PUR water filters capture at least 98.5% of lead, making them effective at removing lead from drinking water. |
| PUR takes special care to eliminate lead consistently and thoroughly, as the health risks of consuming lead are considerable. |
| Lead can enter drinking water through old lead pipes used in older homes, buildings, and schools, as well as metal fixtures, tanks, and hardware connected to plumbing. |
| Lead poisoning can result in several concerning and life-threatening symptoms, especially in children. |
| Changing your PUR filter every 2-3 months is recommended for maximum quality, and it is a safer, smarter choice to eliminate the problem of lead before it becomes a health hazard. |
How Does a PUR Filter Remove Lead from Water?
PUR filters use a combination of activated carbon and ion exchange resins to remove lead and other contaminants from water effectively. They are WSP certified to remove as much as 98.5% of the lead in your tap water.
How does a PUR filter remove lead? It uses the following proven treatment technologies.
Activated carbon
Activated carbon is a highly porous form of carbon that is activated with high-temperature steam, creating millions of tiny pores that can trap contaminants like lead, chlorine, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. This process allows the carbon to remove impurities from water effectively.
Ion exchange
Ion exchange is a reversible physical separation process that removes dissolved ions from solution and replaces them with other similar ions. The ion exchange resin in PUR filters holds on to the contaminants on its surface due to their electrical charge, rather than chemically reacting with them.
Together, these technologies make PUR filters an effective and reliable way to remove lead and other contaminants from drinking water, ensuring that your family can enjoy clean and safe water at home.
Strategies to Be Certain Your PUR Filter is Removing Lead
How can you ensure your PUR filter is working effectively and removing lead? Follow these proven strategies:
- Test your water. Testing your drinking water for lead is simple, and there are various methods you can use to collect a sample (see discussion below). To be safe, only drink the water if the concentration of lead is 0 (i.e., not detected).
- Replace the filter regularly. Your PUR filter has a limited capacity, which means it can only treat a certain volume of water. Keep track of the volume you’ve purified so that you know when it’s time to replace the filter.
- Fill with cold water. Hot water can reduce the adsorption capacity of activated carbon, which is essential for lead removal. Fill your pitcher filter with cold water to maximize its lead removal efficiency, and use cold water from your faucet for drinking and cooking purposes.
- Inspect for damage. If your filter or its housing is damaged, it can compromise the filter’s effectiveness. If you notice any cracks, leaks, or poor connections, it’s time for a replacement filter.
What Is the Maximum Concentration of Lead a PUR Filter Can Remove
Pitcher filters, including PUR, cannot remove 100% of the lead present in water. If your drinking water has high levels of lead, it is not advisable to rely solely on a PUR or any other pitcher filter system from any manufacturer to safeguard your family’s health.
Fortunately, PUR filters do remove some lead – up to 98.5%. However, if you want to completely eliminate lead from your water, you should supplement your pitcher with a water filter system that is specifically designed to remove lead. I view my PUR filter as an additional measure to supplement my RO filter.
It is worth noting that independent testing agencies such as NSF and the Water Quality Association assess filters using water with a lead concentration of 150 parts per billion (ppb). When these agencies report that a filter removes 99% of lead, there may still be 1.5 ppb (1%) of lead remaining in the water. While this level is considered safe according to the EPA’s action level of 15 ppb, I believe that no amount of lead is truly safe, though this is the official standard used by the leading health agency in the US.
A PUR filter is effective for low levels of lead (below 20 ppb). However, if your water has higher lead levels, it is recommended to use a reverse osmosis filter to ensure the safety of your drinking water. While most pitcher filters can reduce lead levels, they should not be relied upon as the sole source of water purification.
Why Is There Lead in My Water?
One of the most common ways that lead gets into your drinking water is through the old lead pipes that can be used to transport it. Many older homes, buildings, factories, and schools used lead piping widely before the material was widely known to cause health risks. This lead can corrode over time and seep imperceptibly into water.
Lead pipes are an especially big risk in older buildings whose plumbing has not been updated. This may also be true of rural or out-rated water service systems, which may still utilize lead piping.
While steps were taken in the 80s and 90’s to reduce the use of lead piping in human water sources, some metal fixtures, tanks, and hardware connected to your plumbing may still contain lead, which can seep into your home’s water.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to see, smell, or taste lead, so detecting it in your water can be difficult without testing. This makes PUR water filters an even safer, smarter choice to eliminate the problem before it becomes a health hazard.
So what are the risks associated with consuming lead, and why is it so important to keep it out of your water?
What Makes Lead So Dangerous?
Lead is one of those metals you’ll likely hear about in worried, anxious tones, even if you’re not fully sure what it does. The harmful effects of lead on the body, especially on the bodies of growing children, have been well-documented, and it is one of the most toxic common materials one can find.
Lead builds up in the body over time and can poison a person, making gradual and constant ingestion of lead through the water supply especially dangerous.
Symptoms of lead poisoning include:
- Developmental delays in toddlers and children
- Weight loss
- Feeling Tired or Irritable All the Time
- Stomach Pain
- Vomiting
- Muscular Pain
- Joint Pain
- Reproductive Harm
- Loss of Pregnancies in Women
These are all concerning and even life-threatening problems, so it’s important to make sure your family is not consuming any lead through your water system, as even tiny amounts over time can cause serious damage. This damage can even be passed on to children when a mother is expecting, leading to multiple generations of harm and birth defects.
Apart from using a PUR filter, what other steps can you take to minimize contact with lead?
How Else Can I Avoid Lead in My Home?
PUR water filters are a fantastic way to filter lead out of your drinking water, and they’ll work great so long as they’re changed out every 2-3 months. Make sure to keep replacement filters on hand, and change your filter sooner if you notice a change in your water’s smell, taste, texture, or quality.
Other ways to protect your family from lead include avoiding exposure to lead paint. While banned in the 1970s, lead paint may still be found in older homes and buildings and will need to be removed and replaced with safer, modern paints.
Some cosmetics from abroad may contain lead, and some toys and even foods that are imported from countries with lower safety standards have been found to contain lead, as well. Be sure that your food comes from countries with strong, rigorous, and professional quality and safety standards, and be sure to buy from trusted sellers with strict safety metrics.
Those working in certain professions, such as auto care, metalworking, and construction, can also be exposed to lead. Make sure to always wear face and eye protection if working in these industries, and wash your clothing after every shift.
Conclusion
PUR water filters are excellent at filtering out lead from drinking water, trapping at least 98% of all lead from your water. This is true for all models and for all filter types, whether you use a PUR filter in a pitcher or through a sink unit.
PUR takes steps to ensure that the maximum amount of lead possible is removed from your water, as it is a uniquely harmful metal, especially if ingested frequently over time. Lead poisoning can result in birth defects, developmental delays in children, nausea, vomiting, reproductive harm, and loss of pregnancy.
Make sure you change your PUR filter every 2-3 months for maximum quality or before this should you notice a change in water taste or quality. Be sure to test for, remove, and replace lead paint in your home, wear PPE, and wash your clothing after every shift if working in the automotive or construction industries, and avoid buying and using products from countries with lower safety standards.
Related articles about PUR filters:
Do PUR Filters Remove PFAS
Do PUR Filters Remove Hardness