Brita filters: what they are certified to remove

Updated 2026-10-27 · Written from EPA, NSF, CDC and maker documents, each linked at the end · How we decide what to say

Short answer

Brita's Elite filter is certified for lead (NSF/ANSI 53) and chlorine and particulates (NSF/ANSI 42). The Standard filter has chlorine, taste and odor claims and no lead claim. Brita's U.S. data sheets list no PFAS claim, so do not rely on a Brita for PFAS.

Standard vs Elite

Brita sells several filters, and their certifications differ. Here is what each manufacturer data sheet says, as of the sheets we read on October 27, 2026:

Filter	Lead (NSF/ANSI 53)	Chlorine (NSF/ANSI 42)	PFAS
Brita Standard (model OB03)	No lead claim; its health-effects claims are cadmium, copper and mercury	Chlorine reduction, taste and odor, zinc	No claim
Brita Elite (model OB06)	Lead reduction	Chlorine and particulate reduction	No claim on the U.S. data sheet

The Elite sheet lists lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 at two pH levels, and chlorine and particulate under NSF/ANSI 42. Brita also publishes data sheets for other formats such as Stream and dispensers; the claims are specific to each filter model and to the pitchers it was tested in.

What “certified” does and does not mean here

Certification covers the claims on the data sheet, at the test conditions on the data sheet, for the filter’s rated life. Brita says the Elite filter lasts 120 gallons or about six months; after that the claim no longer applies. A Brita is a convenient point-of-use pitcher, not whole-home treatment. It treats the water you pour through it.

Lead: the Elite is the one with the claim

EPA’s lead guidance says to use a filter certified to remove lead, to follow replacement instructions and to use cold water only. If lead is your concern, check that the Elite (OB06) filter and your pitcher model appear on the data sheet, and do not assume that every Brita filter has a lead claim. Boiling does not remove lead (why).

PFAS: no claim on Brita’s U.S. sheets

We found no PFAS reduction claim on Brita’s U.S. Standard or Elite data sheets. Brita’s Canadian website has published an Elite data sheet that lists PFOA and PFOS reduction for specified models, certified through IAPMO R&T under NSF/ANSI 53; that is a Canadian listing for specified models, so check your own pitcher and filter before relying on it. EPA’s PFAS filter page advises looking for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification with a PFAS claim and checking the certifier’s database for the type of PFAS you want to remove (PFAS filters).

Practical tips

Buy the filter named on the data sheet for your pitcher model.
Replace it on the schedule, not when the water starts to taste off.
Use cold water. EPA says not to run hot water through lead filters.

Brita Elite pitcher and replacement filter

As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Links are marked sponsored and never change what the data says. We list a product only where a certifier or the maker's data sheet supports the claim. We do not test products, and prices are on Amazon, not here. Certification is specific to a model and cartridge: confirm on the NSF database or IAPMO R&T listings before buying.

Brita Large 10-Cup Elite water filter pitcher (includes 1 Elite filter)Pitcher at the tapBrita's Elite performance data sheet (filter model OB06) lists lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 and chlorine and particulate reduction under NSF/ANSI 42, certified by WQA and, for lead, IAPMO R&T. Listing: WQA/NSF/ANSI certified, lasts 120 gallons or about six months.No PFAS claim on Brita's U.S. data sheet, so do not use it for PFAS. The lead certification names specific pitcher models; check yours on the data sheet. Replace on schedule and use cold water only.

Brita Elite replacement filter, 1 pack (model OB06)Replacement pitcher filterListing: WQA NSF/ANSI certified Elite filter, 120 gallons or about six months, fits Brita pitchers and dispensers except Stream. Brita's data sheet lists lead under NSF/ANSI 53 and chlorine under 42.Elite only: the white Standard filter has no lead claim. No PFAS claim on the U.S. data sheet. Stream pitchers need Stream filters.

Not medical or legal advice. This guide summarizes public documents so you can ask better questions of your utility, your health department or a certified lab. For health concerns, talk to a clinician; for compliance questions, to your state drinking water program. Pages on this site that name products may earn a commission, as disclosed on the affiliate disclosure page.