Lead-Removal Filters for New York Homes: Model-Level Evidence, Plumbing and Testing

A filter can reduce lead in a New York household's drinking water when the specific model has documented lead-reduction evidence and treats the water the household actually drinks. For a kitchen reverse osmosis (RO) setup, the Viomi M1 is one such model: independent testing by SGS shows lead reduction above 99.87%, and the 1000 GPD tankless system delivers that water through its own touchscreen smart faucet. Among the other models compared below, pitchers and faucet-mount filters document lead reduction through NSF/ANSI 53 listings or published lab results, the direct-connect under-sink filter through an NSF/ANSI 53 listing, and the other under-sink RO systems through NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 listings.

New York City or New York State? Who Says What

Two agencies cover lead in New York drinking water, and they speak to different audiences.

• NYC DEP operates New York City's water supply system. Its annual report describes that system's water quality, and its free residential lead test kits are for New York City households.
• The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) oversees public drinking water systems statewide and provides guidance for private-well owners.

Where Lead Comes From in New York Buildings

DEP's 2025 Drinking Water Supply and Quality Report is direct about the source. The city's water travels through roughly 7,000 miles of aqueducts, tunnels and mains "that do not contain lead. However, lead can enter drinking water through a building's service line or internal plumbing." Homes built before 1961 may have lead service lines, and "some homes, regardless of age, may also have internal plumbing materials or fixtures that contain lead."

The 2025 at-the-tap sampling shows that individual homes can exceed the action level even when the city as a whole does not:

DEP treats the water to limit corrosion, adding food-grade phosphoric acid to form a protective coating inside pipes and sodium hydroxide to raise the pH. It also expanded a free Lead Service Line Replacement Program in 2025 to eligible properties in the Bronx and Queens.

Outside the city, NYS DOH notes that homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder, and that even homes on private wells can have lead if their plumbing contains it.

The federal backdrop is tightening. EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements lower the action level from 15 to 10 µg/L, with water systems expected to start complying in late 2027.

What "Lead Reduction" Means on a Filter

Three kinds of documentation describe a filter and lead, and each covers its own ground.

• Certified to NSF/ANSI 53 (or 58) for lead. A third-party certifier such as NSF, IAPMO R&T or WQA has tested the model against the standard and lists it in its database. NSF/ANSI 53 covers reduction of contaminants with health effects; NSF/ANSI 58 applies to reverse osmosis (RO) systems. Lead has to be listed as a specific claim. The Brita Elite and PUR faucet-filter performance data sheets show what the lead test looks like: a nominal challenge of 150 µg/L (±10%) at pH 6.5 and pH 8.5, with no more than 5 µg/L allowed in the filtered water.
• Tested by an independent laboratory. A laboratory such as SGS runs a challenge test on the specific model and reports the reduction it measured for each named contaminant.
• Certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 372. A lead-free materials certification: the parts that touch drinking water meet a weighted-average lead content of 0.25% or less.

Capacity matters as much as the claim. EPA advises replacing the cartridge on time, because "using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead."

Lead Evidence by Model

The table shows the type and source of each model's lead evidence.

The last column also shows how different the upkeep can be: a 15-gallon pitcher filter and a 784-gallon under-sink cartridge ask for very different routines.

How to Read the Matrix for Your Building

Match the format to how your household uses water.

• One or two people, mostly drinking water. A pitcher with model-level lead evidence works when you replace the cartridge at its stated capacity or time limit, whichever comes first. Low-capacity filters need frequent changes.
• Cooking and drinking from the kitchen tap. A faucet-mount filter or an under-sink filter that feeds your existing faucet covers pots and kettles as well as glasses.
• A family that wants RO water for everything it drinks. An under-sink RO system whose specific model is certified or lab-tested for lead reduction. RO also lowers dissolved solids.

Whatever you choose, follow DEP's habits alongside it: use cold water for drinking, cooking and infant formula, and clean the faucet aerator monthly.

Viomi M1 for New York Kitchens

For New York households that want reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink, the Viomi M1 brings model-level lead evidence together with features that make the routine easy to keep.

Third-party lead testing. In independent testing by SGS, the Viomi M1 reduced lead by more than 99.87%, along with PFOS (>99.67%) and PFOA (>99.42%). SGS ran the PFOS/PFOA reduction testing with reference to NSF/ANSI 58, the RO standard.

What else it does. Beyond lead, the Viomi M1 is rated at 1000 GPD, makes water on demand without a tank, runs it through nine filtration stages at a 3:1 pure-to-drain ratio, and finishes with a remineralization stage that adds selected minerals back, which Viomi describes as giving "a cleaner, smoother taste." Its touchscreen smart faucet shows tap-water and purified-water TDS (total dissolved solids, the overall concentration of dissolved substances) plus filter life, and the Viomi app sends replacement reminders. The TDS reading reflects the overall concentration of dissolved substances, while the lead and PFOS/PFOA reduction figures come from SGS's contaminant-specific testing. The PCB filter lasts up to 2 years and the RO filter up to 4 years, with filter-life tracking on the faucet and replacement reminders in the app.

What a New York kitchen needs for it. A continuously powered outlet on a GFCI-protected circuit under the sink (not a disposer's switched outlet), a 1" to 1.5" hole for the smart faucet, a 1/4" hole in the drain pipe, inlet pressure between 14.5 and 58 psi, about 20" × 12" × 20" of recommended cabinet space, and 2.0 to 3.9 inches behind the unit for tubing. It's built for municipal tap water, which covers buildings on the city supply. It's a fit for owners and for renters whose landlord or co-op board approves the installation; an existing soap-dispenser or sprayer opening that meets the 1" to 1.5" requirement and leaves room to secure the faucet underneath can also work.

FAQ

My building is old and may have lead pipes. Is a filter enough? A filter works at the tap where it's installed. The long-term fix is the pipe itself: DEP calls replacing lead service lines and lead fixtures the surest way to remove lead. Use a filter while you test and plan.

How long should I run the tap before using the water? DEP's guidance is 30 seconds to 2 minutes after water has been sitting for several hours, and its lead page suggests flushing in the morning until the water runs colder, which usually takes 1 to 2 minutes.

What water should I use for baby formula in New York? Use cold water, as DEP advises for drinking, cooking and infant formula. If you use a filter, replace its cartridge on schedule.

Does boiling water remove lead? No. NYS DOH's guidance is direct: "Do not boil water to remove lead." For drinking and cooking, use cold water, run the tap after water has been sitting, and use a filter with model-level lead evidence whose cartridge is in date.

NYC's Free Lead Test Kit and Local Next Steps

New York City offers free residential lead testing. To request a kit, call 311 or use DEP's online form on its lead monitoring page. One kit is provided per household.

A practical sequence:

1. Request the kit and follow DEP's sampling instructions.
2. Use the waiting time to reduce exposure. Flush the tap before drinking or cooking when water has been sitting (timing in the FAQ above), and use cold water.
3. Pick a filter from the matrix whose lead evidence matches the format you'll actually use.
4. Keep the cartridge in date. Mark the install date, or rely on a faucet or app that tracks filter life.
5. Look at the plumbing. DEP calls replacing lead service lines and lead fixtures "the surest way to remove lead" from your drinking water. If you own the building, ask DEP about the replacement program in your borough.

For a wider look at lead testing and treatment, see our guide to lead in tap water. Outside New York City, NYS DOH notes that certified commercial laboratories can test drinking water for lead.