Quality Water Lab is an independent water filtration review publication founded in Boston, MA. Every filter we review gets put through independent lab testing — we use Tap Score (SimpleLab) for water chemistry and EMSL Analytical for microplastics. Manufacturer claims don’t make our list.
Our testing includes dedicated PFAS panels, microplastics analysis, and longitudinal performance data collected over multiple years of real-world use. Every lab report we reference is published on our site and verifiable by anyone.
We’re active members of the Water Quality Association, and our lab testing has been referenced by Yahoo Health, Yahoo Shopping, and Yahoo Local as an independent source.
In The Press
QWL’s independent lab testing has been cited by:
- Yahoo Health — PFAS & Forever Chemicals
- Yahoo Local — Best Home Water Filters
- Yahoo Shopping — Best Water Filters for Microplastics
Meet The Team
Mike Martin
Co Founder
When he’s not testing filters, Mike enjoys hiking in the White Mountains and hitting the gym.
Ava
Co Founder
Ava Martin is the lead author, content creator and researcher for QWL. She has a degree in Environmental Science from UMASS Boston and is an expert in water filtration systems.
When she’s not busy writing about all things water, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, hiking, and kayaking.
Lisa
Content Writer & Researcher
Lisa Diaz is a writer and researcher for QWL. She has a degree in Computer science from the University of Central Florida and is passionate about finding ways to improve our water quality.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, and going on Spartan races.
How We Can Help
Water filtration is a crowded space full of marketing claims and spec-sheet promises. Our job is to cut through that. Every system we recommend has been independently tested or thoroughly researched — we don’t list products just because they’re popular or because a manufacturer asked us to.
We’re members of the Water Quality Association and supporters of CharityWater.org, a nonprofit delivering clean water to communities that need it most.
How We Conduct Our Research
Most of our reviews start with hands-on installation and real-world use. When we test a system in our own home, we send water samples to Tap Score (SimpleLab) before and after install. Real tap water, real results — not a controlled lab setup.
For systems we can’t test directly, we rely on published certification data, third-party test results, and verified owner feedback. We link to every lab report we reference so you can verify it yourself.
Our How We Test page covers the full methodology.
How We Earn Money
QWL uses affiliate links. If you buy through one of our links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This is how we fund the independent lab testing that makes our reviews different from most. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Our Promise to You
At QWL, we’re committed to providing honest, unbiased reviews of water filtration systems. We will never accept free products from manufacturers in exchange for a positive review.
We believe that you should be able to make an informed decision about which system is right for you, and we’ll always give you our honest opinion about the products we’ve reviewed.
Disclaimer
Please be advised that our reviews and the content written on our website is meant for information purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as professional advice.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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