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FilterScored

Water · Best-of

Best Water Filter for Well Water

For well water, prioritize a system with a sediment pre-filter and the contaminant certification your well test calls for - reverse osmosis covers the widest range.

Private wells are not covered by the EPA, so no utility tests them for you. Well water often carries sediment, hardness, and sometimes arsenic or nitrates, so a sediment pre-filter plus contaminant certification matters. Test your well first, then match the filter to what you find.

How we score: We surface units with a sediment pre-filter or that are explicitly rated for well and hard-water sources, then rank by composite score.

  1. 17.2
    AquaTru Classic Countertop RO

    The AquaTru Classic Countertop RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce lead, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, arsenic, chromium-6, nitrate, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs. It is also marketed for microplastics, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.287 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: lead, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, arsenic, chromium-6, nitrate, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs
    • Cartridge life: 600 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.287
  2. 26.8
    Frizzlife SK99 Under-Sink Filter

    The Frizzlife SK99 Under-Sink Filter is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead. It is also marketed for chloramine, mercury, cadmium, fluoride, VOCs, PFOA, PFOS, sediment, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.031 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead
    • Cartridge life: 1,600 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.031
  3. 36.1
    iSpring RCC7 5-Stage RO

    The iSpring RCC7 5-Stage RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF) to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS). It is also marketed for lead, fluoride, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, selenium, chlorine taste and odor, PFAS, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.024 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: total dissolved solids (TDS)
    • Cartridge life: 547,500 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.024
  4. 46.0
    Express Water RO5DX 5-Stage RO

    The Express Water RO5DX 5-Stage RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF) to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS). It is also marketed for lead, arsenic, fluoride, chromium, mercury, uranium, radium, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.021 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: total dissolved solids (TDS)
    • Cartridge life: 4,380 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.021
  5. 54.9
    Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO

    The Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, total dissolved solids (TDS), lead, fluoride, cadmium, chromium-6, selenium. It is also marketed for PFOA, PFOS, arsenic, nitrate, mercury, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.123 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, total dissolved solids (TDS), lead, fluoride, cadmium, chromium-6, selenium
    • Cartridge life: 2,200 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.123
  6. 64.3
    Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian RO

    The Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian RO is a ro water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, lead, fluoride, total dissolved solids (TDS), arsenic, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.038 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
    • Cartridge life: 27,375 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.038
  7. 74.0
    APEC ROES-50 Essence RO

    The APEC ROES-50 Essence RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS). It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, lead, arsenic, fluoride, VOCs, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.145 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: total dissolved solids (TDS)
    • Cartridge life: 550 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.145
  8. 83.8
    Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 Whole House

    The Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 Whole House is a whole house water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF/WQA) to reduce chlorine taste and odor. It is also marketed for chloramine, sediment, rust, VOCs, herbicides, pesticides, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.001 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor
    • Cartridge life: 1,000,000 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.001
  9. 93.7
    SpringWell CF1 Whole House

    The SpringWell CF1 Whole House is a whole house water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs, PFAS, pesticides, herbicides, lead, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.000 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
    • Cartridge life: 1,000,000 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.000
  10. 101.7
    Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink

    The Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, fluoride, lead, PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, arsenic, mercury, chromium, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, VOCs, chloramine, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.198 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
    • Cartridge life: 2,000 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.198

FAQ

Do I need to test my well water first?
Yes. Wells are unregulated, so the only way to know what is in your water is a certified lab test. Match the filter certification to what the test finds.
Is reverse osmosis good for well water?
RO covers the broadest range of dissolved contaminants, but pair it with adequate sediment pre-filtration so the membrane does not clog prematurely on turbid well water.