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Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Water Filter (AQ-CWM2)

Reader ratings
Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Water Filter (AQ-CWM2)

A plug-in countertop filter that WQA certifies for lead, PFOA/PFOS, chloramine, cysts and microplastics, with no wastewater and a low filter cost per gallon. A reviewer’s lab test found it raised sodium; its flow is slow.

Best for Renters and others who want certified lead and PFAS reduction with no wastewater, and who accept slow flow and a sodium swap for hardness.

Our rating
Good (3.6 of 5)
Price range
Mid-range
Verified marks
WQA Gold Seal: NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401, WQA: NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 (lead-free)
Size
Plug-in countertop filter with a 64 oz tank, rated 0.5 gallons a minute; filter rated 300 gallons or 6 months; colors black, white, gray

approx. $200 (Aquasana’s page showed a $199.99 sale price against a $399.99 list price on 2026-10-23; Consumer Reports lists $180)

See it on Aquasana’s site → (opens in a new tab)

We are not affiliated with Aquasana. This link goes to the maker’s own page, with no tracking code. How we're funded.

Also sold at Amazon ($200), Home Depot ($200), Walmart ($200) .

Reader ratings & reviews

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    Reviews are personal experiences, not research, and they never change our quality ratings. Every review is read by our team before it appears.

    How we evaluated it

    How it scores Our rating, metric by metric Good, 3.6 of 5
    1. Proven reduction 35% of the rating 4 of 5

      WQA lists lead, PFOA/PFOS, chloramine, chlorine, cysts, asbestos, microplastics and VOCs, and CR calls it certified for lead, chlorine and PFAS. No fluoride, nitrate or arsenic claim, and it changes the water’s minerals.

    2. What touches the water 20% of the rating 3 of 5

      BPA-free polypropylene is named and the system is listed lead-free, with no silver. It has a pump and electronics, and the ion-exchange resin changes the water’s sodium and pH.

    3. Independent testing 15% of the rating 3 of 5

      A paid WQA certification, a Consumer Reports test of this model for taste, flow and clogging, and a reviewer’s lab test that confirmed the removals but found sodium up 452%. No independent test of lead or PFAS.

    4. Trust 10% of the rating 3 of 5

      No recall, lawsuit over safety or Prop 65 notice found. But its “retains minerals” claim sits badly with the reviewer’s lab result, the page shows a 3.6 of 5 customer rating, and Aquasana pays affiliates at least 10%.

    5. Running cost & value 20% of the rating 4 of 5

      About $200 now (a sale; list $399.99) plus $73.49 a year for two filters at Aquasana’s 6-month rating: about $570 over five years, or $770 at list price. Consumer Reports puts cartridges at $146 a year, which would make it about $930. Nothing is sent to the drain.

    The rating, 3.6 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank water filters and our standard.

    Where to buy Stores and the prices we saw 3 stores
    • Amazon (opens in a new tab) approx. $200. Black, model AQ-CWM2-B on the listing. Sold and shipped by Amazon.com; in stock on 2026-10-23. Replacement 2-packs are $73.49 there, sold by Aquasana (ASIN B07MJSTRZQ).
    • Home Depot (opens in a new tab) approx. $200. Model AQ-CWM2-B, $199.99. In stock with delivery on Oct 27 to 28 as of 2026-10-23.
    • Walmart (opens in a new tab) approx. $200. Black, model AQ-CWM2-B, $199.99. Sold by Aquasana; add to cart available on 2026-10-23.

    Prices as we saw them on October 23, 2026. They change often. These links carry no tracking code and earn us nothing.

    What it’s made of What touches your food, water, skin or air 4 materials
    1. Housing and 64 oz tank: polypropylene that Aquasana describes as “sturdy, food-grade plastic that is 100% free of BPA” (Aquasana told a reviewer it is polypropylene)
    2. Claryum filter: activated carbon, ion-exchange resin and submicron filtration in one cartridge. The ion exchange appears to swap calcium and magnesium for sodium
    3. A pump and electronics on mains power, with a filter-change light
    4. WQA also evaluated the system as lead-free (NSF/ANSI/CAN 372). No silver or other antimicrobial is mentioned on the data sheet
    Who tested it What each test found, and who paid for it 4 tests
    • Paid certification Water Quality Association (WQA) October 2026

      Lists AQ-CWM2-X-Y with replacement AQ-CWM2-R (300 gallons, 0.5 gpm) under NSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine, chloramine, particulates), 53 (asbestos, cysts, lead, mercury, MTBE, PFOA, PFOS, turbidity, VOCs), 401 (16 drugs and chemicals including microplastics) and 372 (lead-free). Aquasana pays for the listings. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    • Independent Consumer Reports August 2026

      Tested the AQ-CWM2-B: overall 71 of 100, flavor and odor 4, flow rate 2, clogging 5, each out of 5. It calls the unit certified to reduce chlorine, lead and PFAS, with a filter-life indicator, and notes the $146 cartridge cost as the highest among countertop filters it rated. CR does not test lead or PFAS removal. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    • Independent Water Filter Guru (earns affiliate income; lab kits from Tap Score by SimpleLab) August 2026

      One before-and-after test on a Colorado home’s tap water: uranium, barium, copper, nitrate, zinc, strontium and phosphorus fell to 0, sulfate by 42%, chlorine by 100% and fluoride by only 14%. Calcium fell 95%, magnesium 70% and sodium rose 452% to 59.1 mg/L, with pH rising from 7.6 to 8.9. Its water had no lead or PFAS to test. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    • Independent North Carolina DHHS filter list, mostly from Duke University’s 2020 home study June 2022

      Lists an Aquasana “Clear Water Machine” among pitcher-type filters with lower PFAS removal (averages from 36% to 71% by compound). That study sampled homes years before this “all-new” model, so it describes an earlier unit, not the AQ-CWM2. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    Who paid, and why it matters
    • Independent The tester took no money from the maker for it: a consumer group, a journalist, a university or a regulator.
    • Paid certification An outside lab or certifier tested or listed it, and the maker paid for that.
    • Maker’s own test A lab report or certificate of analysis the maker commissioned and published.

    A certification is a floor, not a verdict: it checks what its program checks and nothing else. We weigh tests by someone with no stake in the result most.

    What people ask Worries raised online and elsewhere, and what we found 7 questions
    Does it keep the good minerals, as Aquasana says?
    Not in the one lab test we found. Aquasana says the filter retains minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium, but the reviewer measured calcium down 95%, magnesium down 70%, sodium up from 10.7 to 59.1 mg/L and pH up to 8.9 (review (opens in a new tab)). That fits ion exchange swapping hardness for sodium. It matters mainly if you restrict sodium.
    Does the pump fail, and does it drip?
    Some owners say so. A summary of Amazon reviews reports pump failures or rising pump noise and dripping after dispensing (TapWaterData (opens in a new tab)). Aquasana’s own page shows 3.6 out of 5 for the unit and its FAQ says a few drips after a cycle are normal (Aquasana (opens in a new tab)).
    Was the old Clean Water Machine weak on PFAS?
    A North Carolina list built mostly from Duke’s 2020 home study puts an earlier “Clear Water Machine” among pitcher-type filters with lower PFAS removal (NC DHHS (opens in a new tab)). This AQ-CWM2 is a different, “all-new” unit with WQA PFOA/PFOS listings, and we found no independent PFAS test of it.
    What does it really cost?
    Aquasana’s page showed a $199.99 sale price against a $399.99 list price on 2026-10-23, and Amazon also showed $199.99. Consumer Reports lists it at $180 and a reviewer at $200, so the list price is rarely what people pay. The sale may end, so check before buying.
    Any recalls, lawsuits or Prop 65 notices?
    None about safety or labeling. The federal recall database has no Aquasana entry and California’s Prop 65 notice search shows no notice naming Aquasana (checked 2026-10-23). TapWaterData records a 2024 patent-infringement complaint by MiBev Creations against A. O. Smith that names the Clean Water Machine as the accused product; it is an allegation about patents, not safety (Bloomberg Law via TapWaterData (opens in a new tab)).
    Who gets paid when people recommend it?
    Aquasana’s affiliate program pays commissions starting at 10% (Aquasana (opens in a new tab)). The reviewer we cite also earns commissions on its links.
    Do any of its parts contain PTFE or other PFAS-type plastics?
    We could not tell. Aquasana names no fluoropolymer, but it also does not list the materials of its pump, tubing or seals, so we cannot rule it out. The certification listings name what the filter removes, not what its parts are made of. If you want to avoid these plastics, ask Aquasana for a materials list before you buy.
    Why we chose it What put it on our list 4 points
    • WQA lists the AQ-CWM2 as a countertop point-of-use system under NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and 372, rated 0.5 gallons a minute and 300 gallons. The 53 claims are asbestos, cysts, lead, mercury, MTBE, PFOA, PFOS, turbidity and VOCs; the 42 claims include chloramine; the 401 claims include microplastics and 15 drugs and chemicals.
    • Aquasana’s data sheet gives lead reduced above 99.6%, PFOA and PFOS 99.7%, cysts 99.995%, microplastics 99.6% and chloramine 91%.
    • Consumer Reports tested this exact model (AQ-CWM2-B) and scored it 71 of 100, with 5 of 5 for clogging and 4 of 5 for flavor and odor.
    • Filters are cheap per gallon: $73.49 for two, each rated 300 gallons or 6 months, about $0.12 a gallon. It plugs into an outlet and does not attach to the faucet.
    Trade-offs What to weigh before you buy 4 points
    • A reviewer’s lab test found it swapped hardness for salt: calcium fell 95%, magnesium 70% and sodium rose from 10.7 to 59.1 mg/L, with pH going from 7.6 to 8.9. Aquasana says the filter retains beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.
    • Flow is slow. Consumer Reports gave it 2 of 5 for flow rate and put its cartridge cost at $146 a year, the highest among countertop filters it rated; Aquasana’s own 2-pack is $73.49.
    • Aquasana’s page shows a 3.6 out of 5 customer rating for the unit. Reviews report pump failures and noise, and dripping after dispensing. It is a powered unit with a 1-year limited warranty.
    • It does not reduce fluoride, nitrate or dissolved minerals. For well water, Aquasana says a UV filter must be added to handle bacteria and viruses.
    What to know Details worth knowing first

    The Clean Water Machine is a middle path between a pitcher and a reverse osmosis unit. It is a powered filter that sits on the counter, produces no wastewater, and has a WQA listing that names lead, PFOA, PFOS, chloramine, cysts and microplastics. Our guide to choosing a filter explains where it fits.

    Three things count against it. Consumer Reports found its flow below average and its cartridges the priciest of the countertop filters it rated. A reviewer’s lab test found it swaps calcium and magnesium for sodium, which sits badly with Aquasana’s claim that it retains minerals. And its own page shows a customer rating of 3.6 out of 5. The filters are the bright spot: about $0.12 a gallon at Aquasana’s price.

    It does not reduce fluoride or nitrate. For those, see fluoride alternatives and the reverse osmosis options.

    What we checked Each claim, and how sure we are of it 6 checks
    Third-party tested
    Yes
    Tested by
    WQA, paid for by the maker
    How Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Water Filter (AQ-CWM2) measures up against our water filters criteria
    What we checked What we found
    Certified standards Verified WQA lists AQ-CWM2-X-Y (counter top, point-of-use, replacement AQ-CWM2-R, 300 gallons, 0.5 gallons a minute) under NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and 372. We found no IAPMO listing. Checked 2026-10-23.
    Lead, PFAS and fluoride Verified WQA’s 53 listing names lead, PFOA and PFOS. The percentages come from Aquasana’s data sheet: lead above 99.6%, PFOA and PFOS 99.7%. No fluoride claim; a reviewer measured 14% fluoride reduction.
    Independent test Verified Consumer Reports tested this exact model for taste, flow and clogging. A reviewer’s lab sample confirmed chlorine and metals removal but found sodium up 452%. No independent lead or PFAS result.
    Flow and waste Verified No wastewater. 0.5 gallons a minute on the WQA listing, though Consumer Reports rates the flow below average.
    Replacement cost Maker’s claim AQ-CWM2-R filters: $73.49 for two, or $62.47 on the Water for Life plan. Each is rated 300 gallons or 6 months (Aquasana, seen 2026-10-23). Consumer Reports estimates $146 a year.
    Matched to your water Not verified Not something we can check for you. Look up your utility’s water report or get a lab test first.
    What the labels mean
    • Verified We opened an independent record that confirms it: a certifier’s listing, a regulator’s list or a lab report. It is linked under Sources.
    • Maker’s claim The maker says so on its own page or label. We read it but found no independent record.
    • Not verified We looked and could not confirm it, or the maker does not say. Treat it as unknown.
    Sources Where our facts come from 13 sources
    1. Aquasana Clean Water Machine (AQ-CWM2-B): Aquasana product page. Maker’s page. Shows the $199.99 sale price ($399.99 list), specifications, the BPA-free plastic statement and the 3.6 out of 5 customer rating, seen 2026-10-23. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    2. Aquasana Clean Water Machine replacement filter, 2 pack: Aquasana product page. Maker’s page. Shows the $73.49 price. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    3. WQA Gold Seal listing: Aquasana Inc., NSF/ANSI 53. Certifier or regulator listing. AQ-CWM2-X-Y row: 0.5 gallons a minute, 300 gallons, claims include lead, PFOA and PFOS. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    4. WQA Gold Seal listing: Aquasana Inc., NSF/ANSI 401. Certifier or regulator listing. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    5. WQA Gold Seal listing: Aquasana Inc., NSF/ANSI 42. Certifier or regulator listing. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    6. WQA listing: Aquasana Inc., NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 (lead content). Certifier or regulator listing. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    7. Aquasana Clean Water Machine (AQ-CWM2) performance data sheet. Test report. Published by Aquasana; states the system is certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    8. Consumer Reports: Aquasana AQ-CWM2-B. Independent source. CR’s page for the model; the overall score (71) and criteria come from its countertop ratings article. Detailed ratings are members-only. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    9. Consumer Reports: best countertop water filters. Independent source. Public text on the AQ-CWM2-B: flow below average, $146 cartridge cost, $180 price. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    10. Water Filter Guru: Aquasana Clean Water Machine review. Independent source. A reviewer that earns affiliate income. Before-and-after lab test, mineral and pH changes, plastic confirmed as polypropylene. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    11. North Carolina DHHS: PFAS water testing and filtration resources. Test report. State list of filters by PFAS removal, compiled mostly from the Duke University study. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    12. TapWaterData: Aquasana Clean Water Machine. Independent source. An affiliate-funded directory check; summarizes Amazon review complaints. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    13. Aquasana affiliate program. Maker’s page. Commissions starting at 10%. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    Alternatives Other options to compare 2 options
    • AquaTru Carafe About $175 more. Certified for fluoride, arsenic and nitrate as well as lead and PFOA/PFOS, but it wastes water and filters cost more per gallon.
    • PUR PLUS faucet mount A fraction of the price, with lead, total PFAS and microplastics on IAPMO R&T’s listing. It only fits some faucets.

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