You tested. You read your report. Now you want the fix. Here’s the honest map: each contaminant points to the treatment type that actually removes it, and the guide section where iPhilter’s vetted picks live.
| Contaminant | Treatment type | Guide section | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium-6 | NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis | Reverse Osmosis Systems | Chromium-6 in Tap Water |
| Lead | NSF/ANSI 53 carbon block, or NSF/ANSI 58 RO for broader coverage | Pitchers & Dispensers / Reverse Osmosis Systems | Lead in Drinking Water |
| PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) | NSF/ANSI 58 RO (safest bet), or NSF/ANSI 53 carbon / anion exchange | Reverse Osmosis Systems / Carbon Filtration | PFAS in Drinking Water |
| Fluoride | Alumina or ion-exchange pitcher / under-sink media, or RO | Pitchers & Dispensers / Reverse Osmosis Systems | Fluoride Removal Pitchers |
| Chloroform / TTHMs | Activated carbon block or GAC (under-sink, or whole-house for showers) | Carbon Filtration | Chloroform in Tap Water |
| Radon (well water) | Well-water aeration system (gold standard), or whole-house GAC for moderate levels | Whole-Home Conditioning | Radon in Well Water |
| Brackish / salty well water | Well-sized RO membrane setup, sized to lab numbers | Reverse Osmosis Systems / Whole-Home Conditioning | Brackish Well Water |
| Legionella (shower/inhalation risk) | UV disinfection (whole-house or point-of-use at the shower), sized for your flow rate | Whole-Home Conditioning / Shower Filters | Legionella in Drinking Water |
| Chlorine taste & odor | Carbon block / GAC (pitcher, faucet-mount, or whole-house) | Carbon Filtration / Pitchers & Dispensers | (see Carbon Filtration guide) |
| Chloramine | Whole-house catalytic carbon (NSF or WQA listed); under-sink RO for drinking water | Whole-Home Conditioning | Chloramine in Drinking Water |
| Hard water (calcium/magnesium) | Water softener — NOT a drinking-water filter | Whole-Home Conditioning | Shower Filter & Hair Loss • The Only Thing That Actually Softens Shower Water |
| Iron / copper (staining, pools) | Ferrous (dissolved, clear-water) iron: oxidize first (aeration or chlorination), then filter. Ferric (red-water) iron: filterable directly. Iron-oxide media (greensand/Birm) handles both — test first to know which you have. | Whole-Home Conditioning | Hose Filter for Filling a Pool |
| Bacteria / coliform / E. coli | Chlorination, UV disinfection (with sediment pre-filter), boiling, or distillation — NOT carbon alone, NOT softener | Whole-Home Conditioning | E. coli & Coliform in Drinking Water |
| Hydrogen sulfide (rotten-egg smell) | Oxidation + carbon filtration, or aeration | Carbon Filtration / Whole-Home Conditioning | Hydrogen Sulfide in Drinking Water |
| Nitrates | RO, anion exchange, or distillation — NOT carbon, NOT softener, NOT boiling (concentrates it), NOT UV | Reverse Osmosis Systems | Nitrates in Drinking Water |
| Arsenic | Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) for drinking water; iron-oxide adsorptive media for whole-house | Filtration Systems | Arsenic in Drinking Water |
| Radium-226/228 | Cation exchange softener for whole-house; NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis for drinking water | Whole-Home Conditioning / Reverse Osmosis Systems | Radium in Drinking Water |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Whole-house granular activated carbon filter (NSF or WQA listed); point-of-entry aeration ahead of carbon for high well readings | Whole-Home Conditioning | Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Drinking Water |
| Benzene (petroleum / gasoline VOC) | Whole-house granular activated carbon filter (NSF or WQA listed); point-of-entry aeration ahead of carbon for serious contamination | Whole-Home Conditioning | Benzene in Drinking Water |
| Fluoride (excess) | Under-sink reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58); distillation or activated alumina as alternatives | Reverse Osmosis Systems | Fluoride in Drinking Water: When There’s Too Much |
| Portable / camping / emergency | Squeeze-style hollow-fiber membrane filter; straw-style backup | Pitchers & Dispensers / Countertop Units | Sawyer Squeeze vs. LifeStraw |
| RV / travel | Inline hose filter → dual canisters → canisters + softener (by usage tier) | Countertop Units / Whole-Home Conditioning | RV Water Filtration for Full-Time Travel |
| Pool fills | Inline hose filter → pool-specific carbon pre-filter → metal eliminator | (guide cross-link) | Hose Filter for Filling a Pool |
| Shower (skin/hair) | Chlorine-reduction shower filter (KDF/carbon) | Shower Filters | Shower Filter & Hair Loss |
| TDS / performance tracking | TDS meter (diagnostic, not a safety verdict) | (guide cross-link) | Good TDS Reading for Drinking Water |
| Unknowns / starting point | Test first: strips for quick checks, certified lab for bacteria/nitrates | (guide cross-link) | Well Water Test Kits |
| pH (acidic / alkaline water) | Calcite neutralizer filter for acidic water (below 6.5); acid injection for extreme alkaline cases | Whole-Home Conditioning | pH in Drinking Water: The 0–14 Scale, Explained |
Still not sure what you’re dealing with? Start here: What’s In Your Water? — how to test and read your report before you buy anything.