NewWays · Pitcher Water Filters & Cartridges
New Wave Enviro Alkaline Pitcher Filter
Lower-concern filter design, but silence on PFAS raises questions, demand transparency.
Alkaline pitcher filters typically use carbon and resin media, which carry lower inherent PFAS risk than treated textiles or nonstick coatings. However, NewWays does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or commitments, and no third-party certification (MADE SAFE, NSF, WQA) is evident.
Shop NewWays on Amazon →Material
alkaline pitcher filter, likely activated carbon, ion-exchange resin, and plastic housing
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Alkaline pitcher filters typically combine activated carbon (adsorbs chlorine, some VOCs, odors), ion-exchange resin (removes hardness minerals and some heavy metals), and alkalizing media (often calcium/magnesium compounds to raise pH). The plastic housing is usually polypropylene or similar. Activated carbon is inert when wet, but the resin and plastic are the potential leaching vectors if water chemistry or housing integrity degrades over time.
The brand's record and disclosure
NewWays does not publish third-party test results, NSF certification status, or explicit PFAS testing on this model based on available public information. The brand's website lacks detailed material sourcing or manufacturing transparency. No significant safety recalls are recorded for this specific pitcher, and no independent testing complaints have emerged in consumer databases.
How it compares in its category
Alkaline pitchers occupy the mid-range of water filter safety. They are less regulated than pitcher systems bearing NSF 42/53 marks (which verify bacterial reduction and contaminant removal); Brita, PUR, and ZeroWater publish third-party certifications, while NewWaves does not. Alkaline models carry slightly higher uncertainty about resin batch quality and cartridge lifespan claims compared to transparent competitors.
If you buy it
Replace cartridges every 2-3 months or 40-50 gallons (whichever comes first) to prevent resin saturation and bacterial biofilm. Do not expose the pitcher to direct sunlight or heat above 40C, as polypropylene can soften and allow leaching. Rinse the housing before first use and after each cartridge swap. Discard the pitcher if the plastic shows clouding, cracks, or odor changes, which signal material degradation.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Ion-exchange resin leaching (barium, sodium)
Exhausted or low-quality ion-exchange resins can shed barium or excess sodium into water if not replaced on schedule. NewWaves provides no data on resin source or QA protocols, making batch variability hard to assess.
Plastic housing leachables (BPA/BPS, unknown additives)
Polypropylene is generally BPA-free, but NewWays does not disclose whether the housing or cartridge casing contains undisclosed plasticizers or stabilizers. No leaching incidents are reported for this brand.
Bacterial/mold growth in cartridge or housing
Pitcher filters provide only mechanical filtration and pH adjustment; they do not sterilize. If cartridges are not replaced regularly or if the pitcher is left sitting with stagnant water, biofilm can form. This is a use-and-maintenance issue rather than a manufacturing defect.
Activated carbon saturation and contaminant rebound
Once activated carbon is exhausted, it stops adsorbing contaminants and may release trapped volatile organic compounds back into water. NewWays does not provide saturation warnings or filter-life indicators on this model.
Lack of pathogen removal claims
Alkaline pitchers are not designed to remove bacteria, viruses, or cysts. If your water source is microbiologically unsafe, this pitcher alone is insufficient; boiling or a certified UV/reverse-osmosis system is required.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 65% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Pitcher Water Filters & Cartridges
ZeroWater
12 Cup Ready Read Water Filtration Pitcher
polystyrene pitcher, activated carbon filter cartridge
Lower concern, but no third-party PFAS testing publicly confirmed, brand's claim unverified.
✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)
Aqua Flask
AquaTru AT100 Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier with pitcher
Plastic housing, reverse osmosis membrane, activated carbon filters, stainless steel components
Lower concern; RO filters and carbon are standard PFAS-removal technology, but brand makes no explicit PFAS claims.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Clearly Filtered
Aarke Purifier Large Water Filter Pitcher
activated carbon and ion-exchange resin filter media; plastic pitcher body
Lower-concern water filter with credible PFAS removal claims; MADE SAFE cert adds confidence, though direct lab PFAS detection data unavailable.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More pitcher water filters & cartridges grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.