Do Water Filters Remove Fluoride and Other Chemicals from Tap Water?

Introduction

Boston’s water supply is fluoridated, but some homeowners prefer to remove it. Can refrigerator filters do the job?

What Refrigerator Filters Remove

Most standard refrigerator filters, including NSF 42 and 53 certified models, effectively remove:

✔ Chlorine

✔ Lead and heavy metals

✔ PFAS chemicals

✔ Microplastics and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Do They Remove Fluoride?

Most fridge filters do not remove fluoride because it requires reverse osmosis (RO) filtration or activated alumina filters.

Conclusion

If fluoride removal is a priority, consider a dedicated RO system. However, for general water purification, a high-quality refrigerator filter is still essential.