Does Waterdrop remove lead?

Last reviewed July 2026.

Some Waterdrop filters do — and some don't. The model number decides. A certified lead claim lives in NSF/ANSI 53, the health-effects standard, and certification is per model. The Waterdrop models below that hold 53 have a lead claim you can verify in a public listing; the ones certified only to NSF/ANSI 42 are certified for chlorine, taste and odour — and nothing else.

Model by model

WDS-F27: NSF-listed under Qingdao Ecopure Filter Co. to NSF/ANSI 53 (health effects, incl. lead) at a rated capacity of 300 gallons, plus 42. Aftermarket, and genuinely certified — Waterdrop holds hundreds of NSF listings. Retail listings also cite NSF/ANSI 372, which is a lead-free MATERIALS standard (the plastic doesn't leach lead) and is NOT a filtration claim — we exclude it from the standards column.

WDP-F27: The 'Plus' (WDP) line adds NSF/ANSI 401 — PFAS and pharmaceuticals — on top of 42 and 53. NSF-listed at 300 gallons, same as the standard WDS line. Same brand, same fridge, one extra standard: the Plus/Standard split is Waterdrop's version of Brita's Elite/Standard split, and it is easy to buy the wrong one.

WDP-UKF8001: NSF-listed under Qingdao Ecopure Filter Co. as EFF-6007S / WDP-UKF8001, rated 300 gallons, with NSF/ANSI 53 reduction claims for lead, cyst, benzene, mercury, carbofuran and endrin — plus 42 and 401 (PFOA/PFOS). Replaces Whirlpool everydrop Filter 4 / Maytag UKF8001.

WD-F38: Sold as 'NSF 42 and 372 certified' — which sounds comprehensive and is not. NSF/ANSI 42 is chlorine, taste and odour; NSF/ANSI 372 only certifies that the housing MATERIAL is lead-free, and is not a filtration claim at all. There is no NSF/ANSI 53 listing, so this filter carries NO certified lead claim — while the everydrop EDR1RXD1 it replaces holds 42, 53 AND 401. Swapping to it to save money silently gives up your lead certification.

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. A filter can be honestly "NSF certified" and still filter nothing but taste — see 42 vs 53 vs 401.

Related: Is Waterdrop 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.