Many water filtration brands say their products have been tested. But tested and certified are not the same.
Testing simply means a product was evaluated. Certification means an independent, accredited organization has verified that the product meets established performance standards.
Knowing the difference helps you make a more informed decision about the water you drink every day.
These claims sound reassuring, but what do they actually mean?
Who performed the testing? What standards were used? Were the results independently verified?
Not all testing claims are created equal.
A company can conduct or commission its own testing
Evaluated by an independent, accredited certification body
Testing methods may vary by brand
Uses standardized testing protocols
Success criteria may be determined by the company
Must meet established performance standards
Results are not necessarily independently certified
Claims are independently validated
Pilots donβt just take a test. They earn licenses verified by an independent authority before they can fly.
USDA Organic isnβt self-declared. Products must meet USDA organic standards through independent certification.
Doctors donβt simply complete training. They must pass standardized licensing requirements before practicing medicine.
Contaminants like lead, βforever chemicalsβ (PFOA/PFOS), and microplastics are invisible.
That means consumers often rely on product claims when choosing a water filter.
Certification provides independent verification that a product has met established performance standards.
Itβs easy to compare features like size, color, or price. Filtration performance is different.
Because you canβt easily verify contaminant reduction yourself, independent certification helps provide confidence that certified filtration claims have been independently evaluated.
The Key Difference
Marketing claim
βRemoves 99% of contaminants.β
Certified claim
βCertified by IAPMO to NSF standards to remove 84 contaminants.β
AquaTru purifiers are certified to reduce 84 contaminants, including lead, βforever chemicalsβ (PFOA/PFOS), arsenic, chromium-6, fluoride, nitrates, VOCs, and microplastics.
Certification verifies that performance meets the applicable NSF standards throughout the certified life of the filter when used as directedβso you can have confidence in the filtration performance youβre getting.
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) is one of the leading independent certification organizations for residential water filtration products in North America.
Along with organizations such as National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA), IAPMO certifies products to applicable NSF/ANSI drinking water standards.
AquaTru chooses IAPMO to independently certify the filtration performance of its products, providing third-party verification that certified contaminant reduction claims meet established industry standards.
A toxic metal with no safe level of exposure.β¨
Lead enters drinking water when aging pipes and plumbing corrode. The EPA has set its health goal for lead at zero β there is no level considered safe. Long-term exposure is linked to nervous system damage, developmental delays in children, and kidney and heart problems in adults.
An industrial chemical linked to cancer risk.β¨
Hexavalent chromium enters water through discharge from steel mills, metal-plating facilities, and the natural erosion of rock and soil. The EPA classifies it as βlikely carcinogenic to humansβ when consumed in drinking water. Chronic exposure has also been linked to liver and reproductive damage.
Tiny plastic particles now found throughout the human body.β¨
Microplastics are fragments smaller than 5 millimeters that shed from larger plastics and enter water supplies through runoff and environmental breakdown. They have been detected in human blood, breast milk, and major organs. In 2026, the EPA officially identified microplastics as a drinking water contaminant of concern for the first time.
Man-made chemicals that donβt break down in the environment or in your body.β¨
PFAS chemicals have been used since the 1940s in nonstick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam. They persist in the environment indefinitely because they donβt degrade. The EPA has set its health goal for both PFOA and PFOS at zero, citing cancer risk. Long-term exposure is linked to cardiovascular disease, kidney cancer, and reproductive harm.
Naturally occurring, odorless, tasteless, and dangerous over time.β¨
Arsenic seeps into water from natural geological deposits and industrial or agricultural sources. You canβt detect it by taste or smell. Long-term exposure at low levels is associated with cancers of the bladder, lungs, and liver, as well as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Industrial and household chemicals that dissolve into water and are invisible to taste or smell.β¨
VOCs are carbon-based chemicals found in fuels, solvents, dry-cleaning agents, and industrial runoff. They dissolve easily into groundwater and can persist for years. The EPA has identified elevated VOC levels in drinking water as a health concern, with some linked to liver and kidney damage, nervous system effects, and increased cancer risk.
An under-the-sink solution for pure water, perfect for families and high-use households.
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Certification means an independent, accredited organization has verified that a water filter meets established performance standards. It provides additional confidence that certified contaminant reduction claims have been independently evaluated.
Yes. A product can be tested without undergoing independent certification. Certification is a separate process that evaluates a product against recognized standards through an accredited third-party organization.
AquaTru purifiers are certified to reduceΒ 84 contaminants, including lead, βforever chemicalsβ (PFOA/PFOS), chromium-6, arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and microplastics.
AquaTru countertop purifiers are theΒ only countertop water purification systems certified to reduce 84 contaminantsΒ to applicable NSF/ANSI standards, giving you independently verified filtration performance you can trust.
AquaTru products are independently certified by IAPMO R&T, an accredited certification organization that certifies water filtration products to NSF/ANSI standards.
