When it comes to drinking water, safety is always a top concern. We all want to make sure that the water we drink is free of harmful contaminants and chemicals. That’s why many people turn to PUR filters as a way to improve the quality of their drinking water. But what do PUR filters remove? And is your drinking water safe?
In this blog post, we will answer all of your questions about PUR filters and help you decide if they are right for you!
Table of Contents
PUR Water Filters: An Overview
PUR offers a variety of water filters for use in different types of systems. Here is a closer look at the features of some of the most popular PUR water filters.
PUR Faucet Filter
The PUR Faucet Filter is a standard filter used in PUR’s faucet filtration systems. Made of coconut shell activated carbon, it can adsorb harmful contaminants like chlorine and an active agent to remove lead. This filter lasts up to 100 gallons or three months and costs around $16.
PUR PLUS Mineral Core Faucet Filter
The PUR PLUS Mineral Core Faucet Filter is similar to the standard PUR Faucet Filter, but it adds a bed of natural minerals to water, giving it a pleasant alkaline taste. It also removes lead and lasts up to 100 gallons or three months. This filter costs about $19.
PUR Pitcher Filter
The PUR Pitcher Filter is a basic water filter designed for use in PUR pitcher filter and dispenser models. It is made of coconut shell activated carbon and ion exchange resin. It costs around $12-$14 and lasts up to 40 gallons or two months of water filtration.
PUR PLUS Pitcher Filter
The PUR PLUS Pitcher Filter is an upgraded version of the standard PUR Pitcher Filter. It removes all the same contaminants as the standard filter, plus some additional ones, such as lead. This filter lasts up to 40 gallons or two months, and costs about $27 for a pack of three.
This table provides a good summary of PUR filters, their key features, and the filter life.
| PUR Water Filter | Features | Filter Life |
| PUR Faucet Filter | Made of coconut shell activated carbon. Adsorbs harmful contaminants like chlorine and an active agent to remove lead. | Up to 100 gallons or three months |
| PUR PLUS Mineral Core Faucet Filter | Similar to the standard PUR Faucet Filter, but adds a bed of natural minerals to water, giving it a pleasant alkaline taste. Removes lead. | Up to 100 gallons or three months |
| PUR Pitcher Filter | Made of coconut shell activated carbon and ion exchange resin. | Up to 40 gallons or two months |
| PUR PLUS Pitcher Filter | Removes all the same contaminants as the standard filter, plus some additional ones such as lead. | Up to 40 gallons or two months |
PUR Filter Technology – How They Work
PUR filters use two different treatment technologies to purify your drinking water. These filtering methods include:
- Activated carbon
- Ion exchange resin
- Particle filter
Activated carbon filter
PUR uses activated carbon in their filters. This type of filter uses a process called adsorption to remove contaminants from your water. Adsorption is the process where molecules of a contaminant are attracted and bonded to the surface of the activated carbon filter media. As water flows through the filter, contaminants are trapped on the surface of the media and clean water is allowed to pass through.
Activated carbon filters are very effective at removing a wide range of contaminants, including:
- Chlorine
- Taste and odor compounds
- Organic chemicals
- Trihalomethanes (THMs)
- Pesticides and herbicides
Ion exchange resin
PUR also uses ion exchange resin to remove heavy metals and other dissolved solids from your water. This type of filter uses a process called ion exchange to remove certain contaminants from your water.
Ion exchange is the process where the positively charged ions of the minerals and other impurities are attracted to and exchanged with the negatively charged ions of the resin media. As water flows through the filter, these unwanted compounds are trapped in the media and clean water is allowed to pass through.
Ion exchange resins are very effective at removing a wide range of contaminants, including:
- Lead
- Copper
- Mercury
- Cadmium
Particle filters
PUR employs fiber filters to remove suspended solids and small particles from your drinking water. This filter also removes turbidity and small amounts of color.
PUR filters are an effective way to improve the quality of your drinking water. By using a combination of activated carbon, ion exchange resin, and particle filters, PUR filters are able to remove a wide range of contaminants from your water.
What Does a PUR Filter Remove?
PUR filters are designed to remove a wide range of contaminants from your drinking water. The specific contaminants removed by each type of PUR filter are listed on the packaging.
As explained above, PUR offers several different types of filter systems to purify your drinking water. Depending on which type of filter system you have, your PUR filter will remove different contaminants.
The following table summarizes the contaminants that NSF certifies PUR filters to remove.
| Contaminants Removed by PUR Products | Basic | PLUS | Faucet | PLUS Faucet |
| Chlorine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lead | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cadmium | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Copper | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Mercury | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zinc | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| TTHMs | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Particulate Class I | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Particulate Class VI | Yes | No | No | No |
| Benzene | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chlorobenzene | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| DEET | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Xylene | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Ethylbenzene | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Styrene | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Toluene | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trichloroethylene | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| TCEP | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| TCPP | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Asbestos | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| 32 VOCs | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2,4-D | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Alachlor | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Atrazine | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Carbofuran | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Chlordane | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Endrin | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lindane | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Linuron | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Methoxychlor | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Metolachlor | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Each of these filters uses a different combination of filtering technologies to remove contaminants. In the following section, we discuss how well each type of filter works at removing specific contaminants.
1 – Chlorine removal with PUR filters
Chlorine is used as a disinfectant in many public water supplies. It is relatively inexpensive, has the lowest production and operating costs, and longest history for large continuous disinfection operations. Chlorine is a strong oxidizer.
PUR filters remove chlorine from drinking water extremely well. Chlorine is one of the first contaminants PUR targeted when they developed their filtration systems.
PUR filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine from water. Activated carbon works very well at removing this impurity. PUR uses coconut shell carbon which is especially good at removing this disinfectant.
PUR makes several different types of filter systems and sells several different filters.
2 – Lead removal with PUR filters
Lead can be found in many products such as paints, plumbing fixtures or pipes. It enters our drinking water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge from industrial pollution and erosion of soil deposits.
Lead exposure causes behavioral issues and learning disabilities in children. Children under the age of six are most at risk because this is when their brains are still developing.
The maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for lead is 0 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The MCLG is set by the US EPA. It is highest contaminant concentration in drinking water where there is no expected risk to health.
Lead can be removed from drinking water using ion exchange resin. PUR uses this treatment media in some of its filters to remove lead.
The following PUR filters can remove lead:
- PUR Basic filter
- PUR Faucet filter
PUR makes several different types of filter systems and sells several different filters.
3 – Benzene removal with PUR filters
Benzene is a clear, colorless volatile organic compound (VOC). It is very flammable. It is found in gasoline, cigarette smoke, and crude oil.
Benzene can contaminate drinking water from industrial discharges, leaking underground storage tanks, and landfills.
Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It also causes anemia, reduced blood platelet levels, and liver damage.
The drinking water standard (MCL) for benzene is 5 parts per billion (ppb). Several state health agencies have set lower drinking water limits for this compound.
Benzene can be removed from water using activated carbon. PUR uses coconut shell carbon, which is especially good at removing this VOC.
4 – Particulate and turbidity removal with PUR filters
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness in water, and it’s used to indicate how well your filter keeps you safe from disease-causing microorganisms like viruses, parasites or bacteria. Many experts believe that increased turbidity is linked to an increase of dangerous microorganisms, such as viruses, parasites and certain types of bacteria. These organisms may lead to symptoms like nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and headaches.
The primary source of turbidity in drinking water is runoff from agricultural and industrial activity. It is especially noticeable following a rainstorm.
There is no drinking water standard for turbidity.
The removal of particulates and turbidity is an important function of drinking water filters. PUR filters contain a microfilter that removes cysts and other larger particles that may be present in the water.
5 – Mercury Removal with PUR Filters
Mercury is a toxic metal found in many different places around the environment. It can come from refinery and factory pollution, coal burning, or landfill leachate. Half of the mercury used in electrical products like dry-cell batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, switches, and other control equipment.
Mercury enters our drinking water supplies through natural deposits, discharge from refineries and factories, and runoff from landfills and croplands.
The primary health effect of mercury exposure is kidney damage. The national drinking water standard (MCL) for mercury is 2 parts per billion (ppb).
Activated carbon is quite effective at removing mercury from water. PUR filters use activated carbon to remove mercury from drinking water very well.
6 – Lead Removal with PUR Filters
Lead can be found in many products such as paints, plumbing fixtures or pipes. It enters our drinking water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge from industrial pollution, and erosion of soil deposits.
Lead exposure causes behavioral issues and learning disabilities in children. Children under the age of six are most at risk because this is when their brains are still developing.
The maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for lead is 0 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The MCLG is set by the US EPA. It is the highest contaminant concentration in drinking water where there is no expected risk to health.
The following PUR filters can remove lead:
- PUR Basic Faucet Mount
- PUR Ultimate Faucet Mount
- PUR Advanced Faucet Mount
7 – Chlorine Removal with PUR Filters
Chlorine is used as a disinfectant in many public water supplies. It is relatively inexpensive, has the lowest production and operating costs, and the longest history for large continuous disinfection operations. Chlorine is a strong oxidizer.
PUR filters remove chlorine from drinking water very well. PUR uses activated carbon to remove chlorine from water. Activated carbon works very well at removing this impurity.
8 – Arsenic Removal with PUR Filters
Arsenic is a highly toxic metalloid that can enter the water supply through the erosion of natural deposits or runoff from orchards, runoff from glass and electronics production, and runoff from mines. Exposure to arsenic can lead to a variety of health problems, including skin damage, circulatory problems, and increased risk of cancer.
The national drinking water standard (MCL) for arsenic is 10 parts per billion (ppb).
PUR offers a specialized filter, the PUR Ultimate Pitcher, which is certified to remove 99% of arsenic and other contaminants.
9 – Pharmaceuticals Removal with PUR Filters
Although you may not be able to see it, small amounts of prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs are present in our drinking water. Examples of these pharmaceuticals include antibiotics, hormones, mood stabilizers, and other pharmaceuticals.
One of the most common ways that pharmaceuticals get into our water supply is when people flush prescription or over the counter medications down toilets. You may think wastewater treatment plants would take care of this situation, but they do not have any effect on these substances passing through surface waters.
Drinking water with pharmaceuticals is undesirable because of the potential side effects these drugs have. For example, ingesting hormones when you don’t need them can lead to health problems.
Depending on which chemical is involved, pharmaceuticals can be removed from water using activated carbon and ion exchange resin. PUR filters use these treatment technologies.
Several PUR filters have been tested and shown to remove 99% of ibuprofen, atenolol, progesterone, and estrone from water. The following table summarizes the pharmaceutical removal performance of each filter sold by PUR.
10 – 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene removal with PUR filters
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene is an environmental toxin that comes from the textile finishing factories and industrial chemical manufacturing. It is primarily used as a dye carrier, but it can also be found in herbicides, solvents, wood treatments, and a pesticide used against termites.
The primary way this contaminant gets into our drinking water is from textile finishing factories.
Health effects from 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene include changes in adrenal glands, liver, and kidney function. Short-term exposure to high levels of the contaminant can lead to dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Long-term exposure has been linked with an increased risk for cancer.
The EPA established a MCLG of 70 ppb for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. This is the highest level that can be consumed without adverse effects.
Activated carbon works very well to remove 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene from water, and all PUR filters use carbon filtration. As a result, all PUR filters remove 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene from drinking water.
11 – Asbestos removal with PUR filters
Asbestos is found in a wide variety of products, including:
- building products
- roof shingles
- tiles
- textured paint
- stove-top pads
- some vinyl floor tiles
- insulation materials and gaskets
There are two primary sources of asbestos in our drinking water:
- the decay of asbestos cement in water mains
- the erosion of asbestos natural deposits
Asbestos causes several negative health effects including:
- lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- asbestosis
The EPA established a MCLG of 7 million fibers per liter for asbestos.
Asbestos fibers can be removed from water with particle filters. All PUR filters include at least one type of particle filter. PUR filters can remove asbestos fibers from water. Not all filters are certified for asbestos removal.
12 – Pesticide and herbicide removal with PUR filters
Pesticides and herbicides are widely used throughout the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these chemicals are designed to kill pests, weeds, and other unwanted vegetation.
While pesticides and herbicides can be effective at killing unwanted plants and insects, they can also be harmful to human health. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer, reproductive damage, and endocrine disruption.
Runoff from these chemicals can end up in our drinking water, where they can be harmful to our health.
Many pesticides and herbicides can be removed using activated carbon. PUR filters all use carbon filtration to remove pesticides and herbicides from water.
The following table summarizes the herbicide and pesticide removal performance of each filter sold by PUR.
13 – Atrazine removal with PUR filters
Atrazine is a widely used herbicide for control of broadleaf and grassy weeds. As of 1993, its uses were greatly restricted due to the discovery that it can cause adverse reproductive effects as well as toxicity on immune system cells.
Drinking water contamination comes primarily from herbicide used on row crops such as corn, sugarcane and sorghum.
Atrazine causes harm to the cardiovascular system and can lead to reproductive difficulties.
The drinking water standard for atrazine is 3 parts per billion (ppb).
The following table summarizes the atrazine removal performance of each filter sold by PUR.
14 – Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) removal with PUR filters
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.
Bromoform is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Research on animals suggests that chronic oral exposure to bromoform can have negative effects on the liver, kidney, and central nervous system.
Chloroform is a disinfection byproduct that forms when water is treated with chlorine. It is a suspected carcinogen that can harm the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
Bromodichloromethane is created when chlorine and other disinfectants react with organic material in water. It is a suspected carcinogen that may cause liver damage, kidney damage, and decreases in immune response.
Dibromochloromethane is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. It can damage the liver and kidneys and affect the brain.
The USEPA has set an MCL for TTHM of 80 parts per billion (ppb)
The following table summarizes the trihalomethanes removal performance of each filter sold by PUR.
15 – Nitrate removal with PUR filters
Nitrates are naturally occurring compounds that are present in most water supplies. However, excessive amounts of nitrates in drinking water can be harmful to human health, particularly for infants and pregnant women. Ingesting high levels of nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia, a condition that reduces the amount of oxygen carried by the blood.
Sources of nitrate contamination in drinking water include fertilizer runoff, leaky septic systems, and animal waste.
PUR filters use anion exchange resin to remove nitrates from drinking water. The PUR Classic and PUR Advanced filters are both certified to remove 95% of nitrates from water.
It is important to note that not all PUR filters are certified to remove nitrates, so be sure to check the product packaging or manufacturer’s website for information on the specific filter you are using.
Comparing PUR Faucet Filters vs. Pitcher Filters
Overall, the PUR Faucet Filters offer better performance than the PUR Pitcher Filters. The Faucet Filters can remove 70 impurities, including additional pharmaceuticals, pesticides and herbicides, volatile organic compounds, and asbestos. The Pitcher Filters, on the other hand, can only remove 15 or 21 contaminants depending on the model.
For most people, the PUR PLUS filters are a better choice as they can remove a greater number of total contaminants, including lead and common pharmaceuticals. However, the standard filters can be a more cost-effective option if you don’t require the additional mineralization or if you are on a budget.
Contaminants That PUR Only Partially Removes from Water
PUR is a popular brand of water filters that is known for its ability to remove various contaminants from drinking water. However, it is important to note that there are some contaminants that PUR filters only partially remove. In such cases, it is recommended to consider alternative methods of water purification.
Some of the contaminants that PUR filters only partially remove include:
Read my article on PFAS removal with PUR filters.
NSF Certification
Similar to Brita, PUR filters are also certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), an independent, non-profit organization that tests and certifies products to ensure they meet strict public health standards. The NSF certification process ensures that the product is capable of removing specific contaminants effectively.
The following PUR filters have been evaluated by NSF to meet NSF/ANSI standards:
- PUR Classic and Basic Faucet Filters
- PUR Ultimate and Advanced Faucet Filters
- PUR Basic and Advanced Pitcher Filters
The NSF certification process provides assurance to consumers that a product will perform as advertised and meets strict public health standards. It is important to look for the NSF logo on PUR filters to ensure they have been independently tested and certified to reduce the contaminants listed by NSF.
Value of NSF Certification
The primary benefit of NSF certification is that it provides peace of mind to consumers that a product meets strict public health standards. It also ensures that PUR filters continue to remove contaminants effectively over time.
While NSF certification is not a guarantee that a filter will remove all contaminants, it is a good indication of a filter’s effectiveness at removing specific contaminants. It is important to keep in mind that proper maintenance and regular filter replacement are crucial to ensure the continued effectiveness of the filter.
PUR filters are effective at removing many contaminants from drinking water but only partially remove some. Consumers should consider the NSF certification and maintenance requirements when selecting a filter for their drinking water.