Best Water Filter for Arsenic
Long-term arsenic exposure is a known cause of bladder, lung and skin cancer.
Short answer
Use Reverse osmosis (NSF 58). The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS. Budget roughly $180–500 upfront and $60–150 a year in replacements (diy under-sink).
Regulatory context: EPA MCL 10 ppb (µg/L).
What actually removes arsenic
Carbon filters do essentially nothing for arsenic, which is why pitcher filters are the wrong tool here. Reverse osmosis is the practical home fix. One nuance worth knowing: arsenic exists as As(V) and As(III), and RO removes As(V) far more completely — well water is more likely to contain As(III), which needs oxidation first. If you are on a private well, test for both species before buying.
Works
- Reverse osmosis (NSF 58)The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS.
- Activated aluminaTargeted media for fluoride and arsenic V where RO is impractical.
- Anion exchangeWhole-house option for nitrate and uranium on well water.
Will not fix this
- Basic activated carbon (NSF 42)
- Carbon certified for lead (NSF 53)
- Ion-exchange water softener
- UV disinfection (NSF 55)
- Boiling Makes it worse — evaporation concentrates what's left behind.
Test before you buy.Arsenic can't be seen, tasted or smelled, and the right hardware depends on the concentration you actually have. A certified lab test costs a fraction of the wrong filtration system. Start with your local water quality report, and get a mail-in lab test if you're on a private well.
Options that carry the right certification
Ordered cheapest-adequate first. Prices are indicative bands and move often.
| Product | Certification | Upfront | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEC ROES-50 EssenceUnder-sink | Built with WQA-certified components to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:Needs an under-sink drain connection and a spare hole for the dedicated faucet. Strips minerals — some people dislike the flat taste. | $180–240 | $50–80 | Check price |
| iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage ROUnder-sink | WQA Gold Seal certified to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:The alkaline remineralization stage adds minerals back, which slightly raises TDS readings — expected, not a fault. | $200–280 | $60–90 | Check price |
| AquaTru Countertop Reverse OsmosisCountertop | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58, 401 and P473 certified.Catch:Takes counter space and you refill a tank by hand. Wastes some water as brine, like all RO. | $400–500 | $80–130 | Check price |
Certification listings change. Before buying, confirm the current listing for the exact model in the NSF certified products database — a manufacturer's marketing page is not a certification. WaterQ earns a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you; see our affiliate disclosure. This is general information, not medical or engineering advice.
Check your own water before you buy
Filter shopping goes wrong in one predictable way: buying for a contaminant you don't have while missing the one you do. Your utility is required to publish detected contaminant levels every year, and those numbers tell you which row of the table above applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of water filter removes arsenic?
Reverse osmosis (NSF 58) is the most reliable option: The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS. Typical cost is $180–500 upfront and $60–150 per year.
Does a basic activated carbon (nsf 42) remove arsenic?
No. Basic activated carbon (NSF 42) does not reduce arsenic to any meaningful degree, despite being the most commonly recommended filter type. Carbon filters do essentially nothing for arsenic, which is why pitcher filters are the wrong tool here. Reverse osmosis is the practical home fix. One nuance worth knowing: arsenic exists as As(V) and As(III), and RO removes As(V) far more completely — well water is more likely to contain As(III), which needs oxidation first. If you are on a private well, test for both species before buying.
Does boiling water remove arsenic?
No — boiling makes it worse. As water evaporates the arsenic that remains becomes more concentrated, so boiled water can contain a higher level than what came out of the tap.
What is the EPA limit for arsenic?
EPA MCL 10 ppb (µg/L).