How to Remove Arsenic From Water: The 3 Methods That Work — and the 7 Best Filters Ranked

Compare all 7 picks

Every pick side by side — tap a name to jump to the full review, or check today's price.

Pick	Rating	Why it wins
Best OverallAquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Purifier	★★★★★ 4.7out of 5	Reverse osmosisTested for arsenic · no plumbing	Check price →
Best PitcherClearly Filtered Water Pitcher	★★★★☆ 4.1out of 5	Affinity® multi-mediaLab-tested ~98% arsenic	Check price →
Best Under-Sink ROWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System	★★★★★ 4.8out of 5	NSF/ANSI 58 (RO)600 GPD tankless	Check price →
Best Total RemovalMegahome Countertop Water Distiller (Glass)	★★★★½ 4.6out of 5	DistillationRemoves As(III) + As(V) fully	Check price →
Best Value ROAPEC Water ROES-50 Under-Sink 5-Stage RO	★★★★★ 4.7out of 5	WQA Gold Seal (RO)5-Stage RO	Check price →
Best Budget PitcherEpic Pure Water Filter Pitcher	★★★★★ 4.9out of 5	Solid carbon blockPublished lab: ~94% arsenic	Check price →
Best Ion-ExchangeZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher with TDS Meter	★★★★★ 4.5out of 5	5-stage ion-exchangeStudy: arsenic below EPA limit	Check price →

What Is the Best Water Filter for Arsenic?

The best water filter for arsenic in 2026 is the AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Purifier, because its reverse-osmosis membrane physically rejects the arsenic ion and it is independently tested for arsenic reduction — all with no plumbing at all. For the most complete removal of both forms of arsenic, a countertop distiller like the Megahome is unbeatable: arsenic cannot evaporate, so distillation leaves it behind entirely. For a no-install pitcher, the Clearly Filtered (lab-tested at roughly 98% arsenic) or the ZeroWater, whose ion-exchange resin was the only pitcher a peer-reviewed study found reduced arsenic below the EPA limit.

For a permanent under-sink RO, the tankless Waterdrop G3P600; on value, the APEC ROES-50 under-sink RO; on a budget, the Epic Pure carbon-block pitcher. What every real arsenic filter here has in common is a proven mechanism — a reverse-osmosis membrane, distillation, or a resin tested against arsenic — and third-party data that names arsenic, not marketing copy. A plain carbon filter is not on that list, and the science below explains why.

Why Is Arsenic in My Water — and Why Filter It?

Unlike lead, arsenic usually has nothing to do with your plumbing. It is a naturally occurring element that dissolves out of arsenic-bearing bedrock and sediment into groundwater, so it enters your home from the aquifer itself. That makes it overwhelmingly a private-well problem: public water systems are tested and treated to meet the EPA's legal limit, but a private well is the owner's responsibility and is almost never tested unless the owner pays for it.

Arsenic shows up in two chemical forms, and the difference matters for filtering. Pentavalent arsenic (arsenate, As V) carries a charge and is the easier form to remove; it dominates in oxygen-rich, chlorinated city water. Trivalent arsenic (arsenite, As III) is uncharged, more toxic, and harder to capture; it dominates in oxygen-poor well water. Distillation removes both completely, while reverse osmosis and ion-exchange handle the pentavalent form best — which is why a well test should report the form, not just the total.

The reason to take it seriously: arsenic is a known human carcinogen. The EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for arsenic is 0, and long-term exposure — even at low levels — is linked by the WHO to skin, bladder and lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and skin lesions. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless, so no one notices it in a glass of water. If you are on a well or mix infant formula, test first; our best water filter for baby formula guide ranks picks specifically for infant water.

The EPA's enforceable limit for public systems is 10 parts per billion (10 µg/L), lowered from 50 ppb in 2006 because the old limit still carried real cancer risk. Roughly 2 million-plus U.S. private wells are estimated to exceed 10 ppb, concentrated in parts of New England, the Upper Midwest, the Southwest and the Rocky Mountains. If a lab test puts your water anywhere near that line, the filters below bring it down to essentially undetectable — a certified test (about $30–$50) tells you your exact number and form first.

Which Filter Types Actually Remove Arsenic?

First, reverse osmosis: the semipermeable membrane physically rejects the arsenic ion by size and charge, and the EPA lists RO among its best-available technologies for arsenic. A well-designed RO system (AquaTru, Waterdrop G3P600, APEC ROES-50) typically removes well over 90% of arsenic. The caveat worth knowing: RO is most effective on pentavalent arsenic; trivalent arsenite is removed less efficiently unless it is first oxidized, which is why a well with high or trivalent arsenic is the classic case for a distiller.

Second, distillation: the water is boiled to steam and recondensed, and because arsenic cannot evaporate it is left behind in the boiling chamber — this removes both arsenic forms essentially completely, which is why a countertop distiller is the belt-and-suspenders choice. Third, ion-exchange and adsorptive resins: ZeroWater's 5-stage cartridge finishes with an ion-exchange resin, and a 2017 peer-reviewed study found it was the only tabletop pitcher that reduced arsenic below the EPA's 10 ppb limit. For the chemistry behind RO versus distillation, see our distiller vs. reverse osmosis comparison and our water distiller guide.

What Does NOT Remove Arsenic

This is where money is wasted. A standard white-cartridge Brita, a PUR faucet filter, or a refrigerator filter uses granular activated carbon built for chlorine taste and odor — carbon has very little affinity for the arsenic ion. In a 2017 peer-reviewed study of tabletop pitcher filters (Barnaby et al., Environmental Research), the carbon pitchers removed only about 18 to 35 percent of arsenic, leaving roughly 65–72 µg/L from a 100 µg/L test — far above the 10 ppb limit. Carbon is the wrong tool for this job.

Boiling makes arsenic worse: arsenic does not evaporate, so as water boils off, the arsenic left behind is more concentrated per liter — the same trap as with lead. Water softeners swap calcium and magnesium for sodium and do nothing for arsenic. Letting water sit, freezing, or running it through a plain sediment or whole-house carbon filter will not fix an arsenic problem either. If arsenic is your reason, you need RO, distillation, or a resin proven against it — nothing else counts. (For a related surprise about what basic filters miss, see does Brita remove microplastics?).

Quick Comparison: All 7 Arsenic Filters

Reverse osmosis and distillation remove the most arsenic; the lab-tested pitchers reduce it without an install, but ordinary carbon filters do not. Tap any pick below for today's Amazon price.

1. AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Purifier — Best Overall for Arsenic

Best Overall

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Purifier

The most practical arsenic filter you can buy: a 4-stage countertop reverse-osmosis purifier whose membrane rejects the arsenic ion — independently tested for arsenic, with no plumber and no under-sink real estate.

★★★★★ 4.7 / 5 — verified buyer rating

Reverse osmosis Tested for arsenic NSF 42, 53, 58, 401 No plumbing

Verdict: If arsenic is your reason and you don't want to modify plumbing, this is the pick. Reverse osmosis is an EPA best-available technology for arsenic, AquaTru's own performance data lists arsenic among the contaminants it reduces, and the same 4-stage system also holds NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58 and 401 — so it doubles as a complete filter for chlorine, PFAS, lead, chromium and microplastics.

Reverse osmosis is the most practical complete home method for arsenic: the semipermeable membrane physically rejects the arsenic ion by size and charge, and AquaTru sandwiches it between pre-carbon and post-carbon stages. RO is strongest against pentavalent arsenic (arsenate) — the form that dominates in oxygen-rich, chlorinated water — and AquaTru's published testing lists arsenic among the contaminants reduced to very low levels. If your water is from a well with high or trivalent arsenic, pair RO with a test for the arsenic form, or step up to a distiller. To see how six full RO systems compare on removal, cost and hassle, read our reverse osmosis reviews.

The honest trade-offs of any RO system apply here: it sends some water to drain (AquaTru's recovery ratio is better than most under-sink RO, but it isn't zero), it strips beneficial minerals along with the arsenic, and the finished water sits in a plastic dispense tank — decant into a glass carafe if that matters to you. Filters are a recurring cost. But for a renter, an apartment, or anyone who wants the RO result without cutting into a water line, nothing else on this list matches AquaTru's all-round certification depth or how effortless it is to set up.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

AquaTru owners talk like converts — one common line is "I am now a complete water snob. All water is inferior," and the buying pattern backs it up: people get one, then buy more for family. Owners on wells with a home water-test kit report their dissolved-solids reading dropping from a scary starting point to essentially nothing, and many keep a second glass carafe cold in the fridge. The honest downsides from reviews: hard water is its weak point (descale on schedule; damage from skipping is not covered), the included dispense tank is plastic, and a thirsty household refills the tap-water tank daily.

The most practical thorough arsenic reduction available with zero installation — 4-stage countertop reverse osmosis, independently tested for arsenic, no plumbing.

On arsenic: reverse osmosis is an EPA best-available technology for arsenic; AquaTru's RO membrane physically rejects the arsenic ion, and its published performance data lists arsenic among the contaminants reduced. It is strongest on pentavalent arsenic.

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2. Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher — Best Pitcher for Arsenic

Best Pitcher

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

The no-install pitcher with real arsenic lab data — Affinity® multi-media independently tested at roughly 98% arsenic reduction, with the water's minerals kept in.

★★★★☆ 4.1 / 5 — verified buyer rating

Affinity® multi-media 3rd-party lab: ~98% arsenic Tested vs 365+ contaminants No install

Verdict: If a whole RO system is overkill (or you rent), a pitcher whose media has actually been lab-tested for arsenic is the answer — and Clearly Filtered is one of the very few that publishes third-party arsenic data, at roughly 98% reduction. For a well with very high arsenic, still step up to RO or a distiller.

Most pitchers do almost nothing for arsenic. Clearly Filtered's Affinity® filtration is different: rather than the loose granular carbon in a basic Brita, it layers multiple filter media — including catalytic carbon and ion-exchange resin — tested by accredited third-party labs against a 365-plus contaminant list including arsenic, with published results in the region of 98% reduction. That documentation is what separates it from a generic carbon pitcher: you can read that arsenic was tested and how far it dropped, rather than trust a vague claim.

The trade-offs are those of any dense multi-media filter: flow is much slower than a basic Brita — a full pitcher takes 15 to 25 minutes to filter — and the filter costs more and needs replacing on schedule to keep performing. It sits in a plastic pitcher body, so decant to glass if you prefer. Unlike RO, it leaves the water's beneficial minerals in place, which most tasters prefer. As a no-tools, no-plumbing way to get lab-documented arsenic reduction, this is the pitcher to beat, and it doubles as a strong microplastics and PFAS filter — see our best water-filter pitcher guide.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

The recurring result owners report is "no more bottled water for us" — the classic story is a family in an older home whose Brita could not fix a metallic tap taste and this pitcher did. Owners also like that it keeps the natural minerals, so the water tastes "clean without being empty" the way reverse-osmosis water can. The honest gripes: new filters need a priming step owners genuinely dislike, a full pitcher can take 30 to 40 minutes to filter through, replacement filters are pricey and bought several times a year, and the loose lid is a running joke even among fans.

One of the few pitchers with real arsenic lab data — third-party testing shows roughly 98% arsenic reduction, no install, natural minerals kept.

On arsenic: Clearly Filtered's Affinity® media is independently lab-tested for arsenic at about 98% reduction — insist on that class of documentation from any pitcher, because ordinary carbon pitchers reduce very little.

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3. Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System — Best Under-Sink RO

Best Under-Sink RO

Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse Osmosis System

A permanent under-sink RO with a high 600-gallon-per-day flow — an NSF/ANSI 58 certified system whose membrane rejects arsenic invisibly at the kitchen sink.

★★★★★ 4.8 / 5 — verified buyer rating

NSF/ANSI 58 (RO) 600 GPD tankless 9-stage RO Smart filter monitor

Verdict: If you want reverse-osmosis arsenic reduction built into the kitchen rather than sitting on the counter, the G3P600 is the pick. Its tankless design means fast on-demand filtered water from a dedicated faucet, and the 600 GPD flow is high enough that a family of five never runs a tank dry.

The G3P600 carries NSF/ANSI 58 certification — the standard specifically written for reverse-osmosis systems and the marker to look for on any RO — and its RO membrane rejects the arsenic ion the same physical way AquaTru's does: by size and charge at the membrane, plus dual carbon stages. Reverse osmosis is one of the EPA's best-available technologies for arsenic and is strongest on the pentavalent form; the tankless architecture also avoids the stagnant pressure tank of older RO units, and the front-panel display tells you exactly when each filter stage needs changing, so performance never quietly degrades.

You'll need a little under-sink space and a basic install (a competent DIYer, or a plumber for an hour). Like all RO it sends some water to drain and remineralizes nothing on its own — some owners add an inline remineralization cartridge for taste. For a household on a well or city line with a known arsenic problem that wants it handled permanently and out of sight, this is the upgrade from a countertop unit. It's also our top pick in the best under-sink water filters guide.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

Owners frequently call an under-sink reverse-osmosis system the best upgrade they have made to the house, and they love this one's live purity readout on the faucet — reports of tap water dropping from a 450 TDS reading to around 12 are typical. People upgrading from older tank systems say filter changes are easier and the tankless design frees up cabinet space. The honest warnings: it needs a power outlet under the sink, a minority of owners report drip leaks or an automatic rinse cycle that would not stop (replacements were sent, but it happens), and hard-water homes see shorter filter life than advertised.

Under-sink reverse osmosis with a fast 600 GPD tankless flow — NSF/ANSI 58 certified, out of sight, and built for daily volume.

On arsenic: as a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse-osmosis system, the membrane physically rejects the arsenic ion — the same EPA-recognized RO route used by the countertop AquaTru, just plumbed in and running at higher volume.

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4. Megahome Countertop Water Distiller — Best for Total Arsenic Removal

Best Total Removal

Megahome Countertop Water Distiller (Stainless, Glass Collection)

The most complete arsenic removal you can get on a countertop — distillation leaves both forms of arsenic behind in the boiling chamber, no membrane or cartridge to out-run.

★★★★½ 4.6 / 5 — verified buyer rating

Distillation Removes As(III) & As(V) 316L stainless boiler + glass carafe ~1 gal / 5.5 hr

Verdict: If you are on a well with high arsenic — especially the hard-to-remove trivalent form — distillation is the surest home method, and the Megahome is the reference-standard countertop distiller. Because arsenic cannot evaporate, it is left behind in the boiling chamber entirely, so you are not relying on a membrane's rejection rate or a cartridge's remaining capacity.

Distillation boils the water to steam and recondenses it, leaving every non-volatile contaminant — arsenic, lead, nitrate, fluoride, dissolved salts — in the boiling pot. Unlike reverse osmosis, which is strongest on pentavalent arsenic, distillation removes both pentavalent and trivalent arsenic completely, which is exactly why it is the safest choice for an oxygen-poor well where the trivalent form dominates. The Megahome uses a 316L medical-grade stainless-steel boiling chamber and a real glass collection carafe, so the chemically-aggressive distilled water never sits against plastic.

The honest trade-offs: distillation is slow (about 5.5 hours for a gallon) and uses electricity, so it is a batch process you run on the counter rather than instant water from a tap. It strips minerals as thoroughly as RO, so the water tastes flat to some — many owners add a pinch of mineral drops. And the included activated-carbon post-filter is a small ongoing cost. For a well household that wants arsenic gone with no doubt about the form, it is the most foolproof option here. See our full water distiller guide for six more distillers compared.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

Long-time owners praise the Megahome's simplicity — "no electronics to break." Owners with hard or well water report the boiler pot showing chalky mineral deposits after every cycle (that's the point — it's the contaminants you would have drunk) and appreciate that a monthly citric-acid rinse restores it to like-new. The honest gripes that repeat: the fan is audibly noisier than premium units, the plastic top-cap latch feels less premium than the price, and the porcelain nozzle liner can chip if the boiler pot is dropped during cleaning. Replacement glass carafes are readily available.

The most complete countertop arsenic removal — distillation leaves both arsenic forms behind in a 316L stainless boiler, collected in real glass.

On arsenic: distillation is recognized by the EPA as effective for arsenic and removes both pentavalent and trivalent forms completely, because arsenic cannot evaporate — the surest method for a well with high or trivalent arsenic.

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5. APEC Water ROES-50 Under-Sink 5-Stage RO — Best Value RO

Best Value RO

APEC Water ROES-50 Under-Sink 5-Stage RO

The lowest-priced way into real reverse-osmosis arsenic reduction — a US-built, WQA Gold Seal-certified 5-stage system backed by lifetime tech support.

★★★★½ 4.7 / 5 — verified buyer rating

WQA Gold Seal (RO) 5-Stage RO Made in USA 50 GPD

Verdict: If you want the arsenic-removing power of reverse osmosis at the lowest sticker price on this list, the ROES-50 is the value standout — a no-frills, US-built 5-stage RO with a WQA Gold Seal, a 2-year warranty, and lifetime technical support.

APEC is a California manufacturer that builds its systems domestically. The ROES-50 is a straightforward 5-stage RO carrying the WQA Gold Seal — the independent equivalent of NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse-osmosis performance, awarded only after audited testing and a factory inspection. Its RO membrane rejects the arsenic ion the same physical way every certified RO on this list does, and reverse osmosis is one of the EPA's best-available technologies for arsenic. The paired carbon pre-filter and post-filter capture residual chlorine and organics that would otherwise shorten membrane life. There is no smart display, no remineralization, no app — just the dependable RO mechanism, at roughly the price of a good pitcher plus its first year of filters.

The honest trade-offs: a slower 50 GPD output paired with a small pressure tank (versus the tankless G3P600), roughly three gallons to drain per gallon made, a larger under-sink footprint, and a basic faucet. Like all RO it is strongest on pentavalent arsenic, so a well with trivalent arsenic is better served by a distiller. For buyers who value a domestically built system and real human support over gadgets — and who want RO arsenic reduction without the premium — it's the pick. It's also our value choice in the best reverse-osmosis systems guide.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

Buyers with basic DIY skills say they had the ROES-50 installed in well under a day and noticed cleaner, better-tasting water right away, and APEC's customer service gets repeated praise as polite and responsive. The honest gripes: it sends about three gallons to the drain for every gallon it makes, some owners had to grab a couple of extra plumbing fittings from the hardware store to finish, and the most serious complaint is filter housings cracking where the fittings join — which soaked a few people's under-sink cabinets. Hand-tighten only.

US-built, WQA Gold Seal-certified RO with a 2-year warranty and lifetime support — the cheapest route to genuine reverse-osmosis arsenic reduction.

On arsenic: the WQA Gold Seal independently verifies RO performance to the same bar as NSF/ANSI 58, and an RO membrane physically rejects the arsenic ion — an EPA best-available technology, just at a lower price.

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6. Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher — Best Budget Pitcher

Best Budget Pitcher

Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher

The lowest-priced pitcher with published arsenic data — a solid carbon-block filter Epic's testing puts at about 94% arsenic reduction, at a fraction of the Clearly Filtered price.

★★★★★ 4.9 / 5 — verified buyer rating

Solid carbon block Published data: ~94% arsenic ~150 gal/filter No install

Verdict: If the Clearly Filtered price is a stretch, the Epic Pure is the cheapest pitcher that actually publishes arsenic data — around 94% reduction. It is designed for city tap water; for a well with high arsenic, step up to RO or a distiller (Epic's own Nano model is aimed at well/surface water).

Epic's filter is a solid carbon block rather than loose granules, which gives it far more contact area and a tighter pore path than a standard pitcher cartridge — and, unlike a plain Brita, its multi-media formulation is tested against a long contaminant list. Epic's published third-party data puts the Epic Pure at roughly 94% arsenic reduction (its Nano model, built for surface and well water, reports slightly higher), alongside PFAS, lead, fluoride and microplastics. Each filter treats roughly 150 gallons before replacement, so you can read the proof before you buy rather than trust a vague claim.

As with any dense pitcher filter, flow is slower than a basic model and the cartridge is the ongoing cost. It's a plastic pitcher body, so decant to glass if you prefer. For a household on city water that wants lab-backed arsenic reduction at the lowest entry price on this list — and that also cares about PFAS and microplastics — the Epic Pure is the value pick. If your well tests high for arsenic, prioritize RO or distillation instead.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

Owners choose Epic Pure for its long contaminant list — it is the pitcher people reach for when they want lead, PFAS, and fluoride reduction in one no-install unit — and most say the filtered water tastes clean and noticeably better than the tap. The honest downsides that come up most: it drips through slowly (a "fill it and walk away" pitcher, not instant), the flip-top spout lid can feel sticky or leak if overfilled, and the filters are not cheap and need fairly frequent replacement to keep the flow up.

Documented arsenic reduction (~94%) at the lowest pitcher price here — a solid carbon block also tested for PFAS, lead, microplastics and fluoride.

On arsenic: Epic publishes third-party data naming arsenic and its percent reduction (~94% for the Pure). That is the standard of proof to demand from any pitcher — but for a high-arsenic well, RO or distillation is the safer route.

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7. ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher with TDS Meter — Best Ion-Exchange

Best Ion-Exchange

ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher with TDS Meter

The one pitcher a peer-reviewed study found reduced arsenic below the EPA limit — a 5-stage ion-exchange design with a TDS meter so you know when it is spent.

★★★★½ 4.5 / 5 — verified buyer rating

5-stage ion-exchange Study: arsenic below EPA limit TDS Meter Included Short filter life in hard water

Verdict: The only pitcher with real independent arsenic evidence behind it. In a 2017 peer-reviewed study of five tabletop pitchers, ZeroWater was the only one that cut arsenic below the EPA's 10 ppb limit — reducing a 1,000 µg/L spike to under 3 — where Brita and PUR removed only 18–35%. Its 5-stage ion-exchange resin does the work, and the included TDS meter tells you when it is exhausted.

ZeroWater's 5-stage cartridge finishes with an ion-exchange resin that pulls dissolved ions — including both arsenic forms — out of the water, which is how it reaches a 0 ppm TDS reading no ordinary carbon pitcher can match. The study (Barnaby et al., Environmental Research, 2017) found ZeroWater reduced both trivalent and pentavalent arsenic below detection in soft water, and a 2018 North Carolina well pilot measured about 99% arsenic removal in real homes. The included meter is genuinely useful here: because ion-exchange capacity runs out rather than fading, an exhausted filter suddenly stops reducing arsenic, and the meter is the only reliable way to know before your morning glass.

That's also the catch, and we won't hide it: the same study found that higher water hardness shortened how long ZeroWater kept arsenic down, and capacity is short — in hard or high-TDS water a filter can be spent in 25 to 40 gallons, every one to three weeks for a family. Replace on the meter reading, not a calendar, and researchers call it a low-cost, short-term option rather than a permanent well solution. For steady, high-volume arsenic removal the RO systems and the distiller are more economical — but as the cheapest pitcher with genuine arsenic evidence and a proof-of-capacity meter, ZeroWater earns its spot.

“What owners sayfrom real buyer reviews

The signature draw is the included meter reading 000, and owners write "We love it love it" about getting the dissolved-solids count to zero. But stripping minerals has a cost: the water can taste "flat" and slightly acidic, and the filter life is short at roughly 25 to 40 gallons, so a family swaps filters every one to three weeks. The honest downsides: many report a "fishy, sour, metallic or chemical" smell once the meter climbs, that "the filters take much too long to pass the water," and that the lid falls off when pouring — with filter cost the number-one long-term complaint.

The cheapest pitcher with real independent arsenic evidence — paired with a TDS meter that shows, in real time, when the filter is spent.

On arsenic: a 2017 peer-reviewed study found ZeroWater's ion-exchange resin was the only tabletop pitcher to cut arsenic below the EPA limit — but only until the resin is exhausted, and hard water shortens that, so replace on the meter, not the calendar.

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Arsenic Filter Buyer's Guide: How to Choose

Start with a certified water test — and the arsenic form

Before you buy anything, get your water tested. If you are on a public system, your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report lists its arsenic result; it is treated to stay under 10 ppb, but it can still sit just below that line. If you are on a private well, nobody is testing it for you — pay a certified lab (about $30–$50) and specifically ask for total arsenic and the speciation (As III vs. As V). That single number decides everything: a well heavy in trivalent arsenite points you to a distiller, while chlorinated city water is mostly the pentavalent form that RO handles well.

RO vs. distiller vs. pitcher — which fits you

Renters and anyone who can't modify plumbing should look at the countertop AquaTru, the Megahome distiller, a lab-tested pitcher (Clearly Filtered or Epic Pure), or the ZeroWater 10-cup — none touch the sink hardware. Homeowners drinking a lot of water and wanting arsenic handled invisibly should plumb in the Waterdrop G3P600 or the value APEC ROES-50 under-sink RO. On a well with high or trivalent arsenic where you want zero doubt, the distiller is the surest method because it removes both forms completely. A carbon pitcher or faucet filter is not an arsenic option — that is the whole point of this guide.

The real cost is per-gallon, not the sticker price

Reverse-osmosis systems cost more up front and send some water to drain, but their per-gallon arsenic removal is economical over time because an RO membrane is not a consumable media that saturates — the pre- and post-carbon filters are the small ongoing cost. A distiller's ongoing cost is electricity (roughly a gallon every 5.5 hours) plus the carbon post-filter.

Pitchers are cheapest to buy but have the highest per-gallon filter cost and the slowest flow — and an ion-exchange pitcher like ZeroWater burns through cartridges fastest in hard water, which also shortens how long it keeps arsenic down. Whatever you choose, an arsenic filter only works if you maintain it on schedule: a lapsed cartridge or a saturated resin is an unfiltered tap. Budget for replacements the day you buy, and (for ZeroWater) replace on the TDS meter, not the calendar.

Re-test after you install it

Because arsenic is invisible, the only way to know a filter is actually doing the job is to test the filtered water once after installation — especially on a well, where the arsenic level and form can vary. A cheap arsenic field test or a follow-up lab test confirms your system brought the number under 10 ppb. Re-test periodically, and any time the source water changes (a new well pump, a drought, a nearby change in land use).