Lead‚ Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)‚ Organic Contaminants‚ and Disinfection By-Products (THMs‚ Trihalomethanes) are the most noticeable problems on these reports. Often these toxic chemicals exceed the MCLGs or healthful thresholds. Also, these thresholds are relevant only to the one contaminant; if more than one contaminant is present, the thresholds for heath risks drop considerably.

All performance claims and pricing were taken from the manufacturer’s literature and certified claims.
Many models were reviewed but not included in this comparison because of undocumented performance claims. Some brands made exaggerated claims in their literature and on their company web sites that did not match the “certified claims” on the product’s “Performance Data Sheet.” Only performance claims that have been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), or the Dept. of Health were included in our comparisons. The water treatment industry is extremely regulated. Companies that market undocumented products or make uncertified claims are heavily restricted as to how and where they can sell their products. One should beware of products that offer different performance claims in different states. California, Wisconsin, Iowa, and several other states prohibit uncertified claims.