Does PUR remove lead?

Last reviewed July 2026.

Yes — and it's certified, not just claimed. Every PUR filter we track carries a lead-reduction claim under NSF/ANSI 53, certified by an accredited body. That means the lead claim is in a public listing you can check — not just on the box.

Model by model

PPF951K1: IAPMO R&T certificate W-29904 lists the PPF951K under NSF/ANSI 53 with lead and total PFAS among its claims. NSF's own NSF/ANSI 53 listing for the PPF951K (Helen of Troy) does not include lead; the lead claim is IAPMO's. Source: IAPMO R&T certificate W-29904, Kaz USA (PUR), read 2026-10-02.

PPF951K1: NSF lists the PPF951K under NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 at 40 gallons (Helen of Troy listing, read 2026-10-02), but NSF's 53 claim set for it does not include lead and its 401 set has no PFOA or PFOS. The lead and total PFAS claims are IAPMO R&T's: certificate W-29904 (Kaz USA, NSF/ANSI 53-2024, read 2026-10-02) lists both for the PPF951K.

What the certified claim costs to run

Certification is per model, and so is the running cost. The cheapest PUR model carrying the claim is the PLUS Pitcher & Dispenser Replacement Filter (PPF951K1) at about $14.99 per filter for a certified 40 gallons — $0.375 per certified gallon.

That capacity is what the certifier tested to, not a marketing estimate. For one person drinking about half a gallon a day it is roughly 3 months per filter; for a family of four, closer to about 3 weeks. Run past the rated capacity and the claim no longer applies — the media is exhausted even though the filter still passes water.

How to check this yourself

Nothing here needs to be taken on trust. PUR's certifications are held by IAPMO R&T, NSF, and each keeps a public database you can search by brand or model number. Look up the model printed on the filter — not the box, not the retail listing — and read which standards the entry lists. A model certified to 42 only will say exactly that.

Direct listings: PPF951K1

If a figure on this page disagrees with the certifier's listing, the listing wins. Tell us and we will correct it.

Why 53 is the number that matters

NSF/ANSI 42 is aesthetics — chlorine, taste, odour. 53 is health effects, and it is where the lead claim lives — but only where the model's 53 claim set names lead. A filter can be honestly "NSF certified" and still filter nothing but taste, and a 53 listing can cover cadmium, copper and mercury without lead — see 42 vs 53 vs 401.

Related: Is PUR NSF certified? · every filter we track, ranked by cost per certified gallon

We do not test filters — we index what accredited certifiers publish, with attribution, and make no health or treatment claims. A certification covers a specific model against a specific standard; it is not a general seal of quality. We are not affiliated with NSF International.

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