Water Filter Pitchers That Can Remove Chlorine – NSF Certified


Chlorine is a vital disinfectant that ensures the safety of our drinking water. However, it has some health consequences, and can make water taste like chemicals and leave a foul aftertaste. As a result, many people want to remove chlorine from their water. Water filter pitchers are one method of water purification that may remove chlorine.

Water filter pitchers that use activated carbon filters or ion exchange resins can remove chlorine from water. They include Epic and Waterdrop among other filter pitchers. Each water filter pitcher has different capabilities in the percentage of chlorine it can remove from water.

This post will take you through what chlorine is, explain why you want to remove it from your water, and most importantly, detail the 12 best water filter pitchers that remove chlorine.

Chlorine In Our Water

Chlorine is a chemical element that’s also an effective water disinfectant. It has been used since 1908 to kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses in water all across the U.S. 

According to CDC, chlorine together with chloramine are the principal disinfectants used by most public water supply systems to prevent contaminants, germs, bacteria and viruses from getting into your tap water.

Besides its use as a disinfection agent, chlorine can also be used to make pesticides, solvents or used as bleach.

You can be exposed to chlorine in different ways including via your water, air or food. Although, water is the most common way we are exposed to chlorine. Chlorine typically has a strong smell that you can easily perceive when using your water for drinking, cleaning or washing.

How a water filter pitcher removes chlorine

Filter pitchers are one of the most efficient ways to eliminate or reduce chlorine in water.

Many water filter pitchers can eliminate up to 99.97 percent of pollutants from the water. However, not all water filter pitchers can remove chlorine. In fact, some are specially made, tested and certified to remove other contaminants.

This is partly why NSF/ANSI certifications exist. Water filter pitchers that have been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF-42) can remove chlorine from the water.

A water filter pitcher uses its filter media to trap chlorine and other contaminants while letting pure and contaminant-free water pass through for drinking. As you pour the water into the water filter pitcher, chlorine and chloramine molecules are trapped and attracted to the filter.

While water filter pitchers are one of the most effective methods of chlorine elimination from water, Water Purification Guide also has information available on how reverse osmosis systems can remove chlorine available here.

Our favorite water filter pitchers that remove chlorine

The following are the best water filter pitchers available that can be used to effectively remove chlorine from water. Each carries NSF/ANSI certification 42 for chlorine removal, with many certified to remove a large number of other contaminants, such as:

  • PFAS (NSF-P473)
  • Contaminants with known health effects (NSF-53) e.g., lead, chromium, VOC’s, Cryptosporidium.
  • Emerging compound and incidental contaminants (NSF-401) e.g., pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides.
  • Viruses and bacteria (NSF-P231)

Depending on your needs, you can use one of the following water filter pitcher brands to remove chlorine from your water and enjoy water that tastes great and is free of the nasty chlorine aftertaste.

1. Clearly Filtered water filter pitcher

clearly filtered pitcher

The Clearly Filtered water filter pitcher removes more than 365 harmful and dangerous tap water contaminants, including chlorine.

In fact, it can remove 99.5% of chlorine, dramatically improving the tase and smell of your water.

This water filter pitcher carries NSF-certifications 42, 53, 244, 401 & P473. Meaning it has been tested to remove more than 99% of PFAS, 99.5% of fluoride, 99.99% of viruses, as well as a huge number of heavy metals, pharmaceutical drugs and herbicides.

The 7+ proprietary filtration materials used in this pitcher make it stand out from its competition, enabling it to remove more than the 3 leading brand name pitchers combined.

2. Epic Pure water filter pitcher.

The Epic Pure water filter pitcher can remove 99.99 percent of chlorine and other pollutants from your water.

This water filter pitcher has also been independently tested to remove fluorine, chlorine, Lead, PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, heavy metals, VOCs, other haloacetic acids according to National Standard Foundation NSF/ANSI standards (42, 53, 401, and P473).

It has a patented solid carbon block filter that filters pollutants 2000% better than normal water filters.

With an exemplary capacity of purifying 150 gallons of water, you get to enjoy fresh-tasting water free of contaminants, tastes, and odors.

It also has an LED timer built into the lid of the water filtration pitcher that is programmed to illuminate to mean it is clogged and requires you to change the filter. Normally, these water filters last anywhere from 4-6 months for light users or 2-3 months for heavy users, depending on your water usage or household population.

3. Waterdrop Water Filter Pitcher

Waterdrop has an NSF 42 and NSF 372 certified 10-cup water filter pitcher that reduces chlorine, lead, taste, and odor in water.

This filter has a rapid flow rate of up to 0.5 gpm and a filter life of up to 3 months or 200 gallons of filtered water.

The brand also has a filter life indicator that turns from blue to red to alert you that the filters are clogged and require replacement. 

Water Purification Guide also has a complete guide to brands of bottled water with no (or low) chlorine available here.

Why it’s important to remove chlorine and chloramine

The severity of chlorine poisoning is determined by

  • How much chlorine a person has been exposed to
  • How the person is exposed (e.g., inhaled, ingested)
  • How long the person was exposed

This is because chlorine is not actually harmful on a lower consuming level.

According to CDC, chlorine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter are safe in drinking water. However, anything exceeding 4 milligrams is considered harmful.

Here are some other reasons to remove chlorine from their water:

1. Existing health conditions

Pre-existing health conditions mean some people need to completely avoid consumption of chlorine from their drinking water.

For example, people that suffer from kidney diseases. Many kidney disease patients undergo dialysis, and during the dialysis period, are required to avoid high chlorine ingestion.

During dialysis, patients should ensure they use clean and safe water free of chemicals or contaminants.

Because dialysis removes waste materials and excess fluid from the blood, drinking high levels of chlorine-containing water is advised against as it will reintroduce pollutants into the bloodstream.

People with pre-existing heart or lung disease can also be particularly sensitive to chlorine, especially when it is inhaled.

2. Effects on skin, hair and nails.

Chlorine has also been linked to problems with the skin, nails, and hair. This is especially common if you use chlorine water to shower in or frequent swim in chlorinated pools.

The following consequences can be caused by regular or chronic exposure to chlorine in the water, even if it is at low levels.

Chlorine effects:

  • Dry or brittle hair.
  • Altered hair color and split ends.
  • Premature aging
  • Dry and brittle nails
  • Irritated and dry skin
  • Red or inflamed skin
  • Skin rashes.

Chloramine effects:

  • Skin rashes and irritation.
  • Itchy and dry scalp.
  • Brittle and altered hair.
  • Burning, red and dry eyes.
  • Lip bleeding.
  • Induces eczema and psoriasis.
  • Dry throat and mouth.
  • Causes dandruff.

High level of chronic exposure can also lead to nausea, vomiting and even loss of consciousness. Obviously, this sort of exposure tends to occur in industrial accidents and not from your drinking water at home. However, there are reports of this level of toxic exposure from chemicals kept around the home for cleaning supplies or for disinfecting swimming pools.

How to test your water for chlorine at home

Tap water in the home can be tested using specific chlorine test kits. According to the CDC, pool test kits, colour-wheel test kits, or digital colourimeters can help measure chlorine content. These tests rely on a simple color shift to signal the presence of chlorine. The color intensity is then used to determine the approximate concentration of chlorine.

You can purchase these types of test kits in stores or order them online, from amazon for example. The test kits come with user manuals that you can follow step-by-step to complete the test.

How to use most chlorine test kit strips

  • Take a strip. Dip it in the water for five to ten seconds and hold it there.
  • Allow fifteen seconds to pass. Then check if the test strips have changed color.
  • Check the strip test box for the test kit instructions or user manual.
  • Compare colors of the test strip to the chart to determine the amount of chlorine in the water.

Other ways to remove chlorine

There are other ways to remove chlorine from your water, even shower filters!

Not all shower filters are able to remove chlorine and chloramines from water. Only showers that use activated carbon filters can remove chlorine from water. Chloramine, on the other hand, is more difficult to remove and requires catalytic carbon filters.

Water Purification Guide has a detailed post with more information on shower filters that remove chlorine and chloramine available here.

Theresa Orr

Theresa Orr is an Earth Scientist who specializes in determining past climates from rocks using geochemistry. Her passion for clean water drives her to breakdown the science to provide easy to understand information that everyone can read.

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