1 — “Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS”, epa.gov. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas
Elkay Water Filters – Trusted, Industry-Leading Filtration
We are in the business of delivering filtered drinking water wherever you need it. Enhance your experience by providing improved water quality, cleaner, and safer water when you choose an Elkay filtered drinking water solution. Engineered for performance, our water filters are made with activated carbon to improve taste and odor. They are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 for the reduction of harmful contaminants. This is important because it addresses chlorine, chloramine, particulates, cysts, and lead, ensuring comprehensive water purification. These contaminants, such as lead, PFOA/PFOS, microplastics, cysts, and Class I particulates, can’t be detected through sight, smell or taste. Elkay water filters give you the confidence of knowing what's NOT in your drinking water. Learn More about the harmful contaminants that Elkay filters reduce.
Reduce PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) with Elkay's Industry-First 71300C WaterSentry Filter
Elkay's 71300C filter is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53 for the reduction of PFOA and PFOS, two prevalent PFAS chemicals that can cause negative health impacts in both adults and children.
PFAS chemicals affect children and adults. Exposure to PFAS chemicals has been linked to:
- Immune disfunction, including reduced vaccine response
- Kidney, liver and thyroid problems
- Reproductive problems and birth defects
- Interference with the body’s natural hormones
We test and certify all Elkay filters to NSF standards to reduce harmful contaminants. Each of our filters reduce different contaminants (see individual product pages for details). Here’s a look at what our various filters reduce and why it’s important.
Literature Downloads
- Filter Installation Troubleshooting: ezH2O Enhanced Bottle Fillers
- How to Replace and Reset Filter Status on Elkay ezH2O
- How to Replace Filter on Elkay Liv Pro
- How to Reset Filter Status Light
- How to Replace Filter on Elkay ezH2O
- EZ Filter Maintenance Kit Installation and Filter Replacement EZFMK
Easy Installation and Replacement
Elkay water filter Replacement and Retrofit Conversion Kits are point-of-use filtration solutions, meaning they can be easily installed anywhere your Elkay drinking water product is installed.
Water delivery products which have a filter status indicator light let you know when it’s time to replace your water filter. The duration between filter replacements can vary and is dependent upon product type, filter gallon capacity and usage.
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Replacements
Retrofit
Why NSF/ANSI Standards Matter
Engineered to meet the high-quality standards written by NSF International, Elkay water filters are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 for the reduction of chlorine taste and odor, as well as contaminants such as lead , cyst, particulates and microplastics. Elkay's 71300C filter is also certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for the reduction of PFOA and PFOS - two prevalent PFAS chemicals.
The NSF/ANSI certifications ensure that each sip of water — whether from Elkay’s ezH2O® bottle filling stations, water coolers, drinking fountains, filtered faucets or water dispensers — is not only refreshing but also cleaner and safer.
*Certifier varies; check individual product page for more information.
What are PFAS? Where does it come from?
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), are two of the most widely used and studied chemicals in the PFAS group. One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. Due to widespread production and use, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveys show that most people in the United States have been exposed to some PFAS.*
Source: *epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas
Lead
Lead often enters water when plumbing materials corrode. It’s undetectable by taste, sight or smell. In children, lead exposure has been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
Adults exposed to lead can suffer from cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension, decreased kidney function and reproductive problems in both men and women.
Source: EPA.gov
Cysts
Two types of common types of cysts are Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium. They enter drinking water from human and animal waste, and can lead to gastrointestinal illness such as dysentery, vomiting and cramps. They are not life threatening if treated.
Source: EPA.gov
Chlorine
Water comes from many sources, including lakes and wells. It can be contaminated at the source. It can also be contaminated with germs as it travels through miles of piping. To prevent contamination, water companies add a disinfectant — usually either chlorine or chloramine — that kills disease-causing germs such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and norovirus. Though chlorine is used as a disinfectant, it can leave an undesirable taste and smell.
Source: CDC.gov
Sediment and Particulate
Sediments are naturally occurring particles that develop as earth materials. They break down through weathering and erosion. Sediment comes from sand, rocks and minerals, or may consist of organic particles of plants and microbes. They can take on a cloudy and unappealing look in water.
Source: Water Systems Council
What are microplastics? Where are they found?
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters in size (smaller than a pencil-top eraser), that are weathered or broken from larger pieces of plastic or fractured from sunlight and microbes. They can look like spherical beads and thread-like fibers and are irregularly shaped and flexible like food wrappers. Microplastics are often found in drinking water as “solid polymeric materials to which chemical additives or other substances may have been added.” Due to the environmental pollution caused by plastic, microplastics end up everywhere — in waterways, the seafood we eat, milk, chicken, and more.1
How to minimize microplastic consumption?
Although it’s almost impossible to avoid microplastics because they’re in the air that we breathe, there are ways to minimize exposure. Instead of plastic shopping bags and single-use plastic bottles, opt for tote bags and reusable water bottles. Fill reusable bottles with filtered water — Elkay filters are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 to reduce microplastics. Heat food in glass containers instead of plastic ones, which can release millions of microplastic particle in your food.
How do microplastics affect me?
A study by the University of Newcastle, Australia suggests the average person could be ingesting enough plastic equivalent to a whole credit card — that’s about five grams.2 This is the result of consuming common food and beverage, meaning, our regular meals may contain this amount of plastic.
1 - Beittel, Chloe. “The Macros Issues of Microplastics,” ewg.org. ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/08/macro-issues-microplastics
2 – de Wit, Wijnand; Bigaud, Nathan. “No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion From Nature to People.” 2019. WWF. https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/plastic_ingestion_web_spreads.pdf
How do I know what replacement filter to order for my Elkay bottle filling station, cooler or fountain?
Click here to use our Filter Selection Tool to find your filter.
What kind of water filter is used in Elkay bottle filling stations?
Our WaterSentry® filters are carbon block filters with a polypropylene prefilter that is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for lead, chlorine taste and odor. We offer a 3,000-gallon filter (51300C) for all our original bottle filling stations and a 6,000-gallon high-capacity filter (51600C) specifically for our enhanced bottle filling stations. We also offer a 2,250-gallon filter (71300C) for our enhanced bottle filling stations that reduces PFAS (PFOA/PFOS), two prevalent PFAS chemicals.
What do Elkay WaterSentry Filters reduce from water?
Both the WaterSentry 51300C and the 51600C reduce lead, Class 1 particulates, cysts microplastics, and chlorine taste and odor. The 71300C reduces PFAS (PFOA/PFOS), lead, Class 1 particulates, cysts and chlorine taste and odor.
How long does a filter last?
The 51300C filter is rated for 3,000 gallons which is approximately 19,200 20-oz. bottles.
The 51600C filter is rated for 6,000 gallons which is approximately 38,400 20-oz. bottles.
The 71300C filter is rated for 2,250 gallons which is approximately 1,400 20-oz. bottles.
Actual filter life depends on usage. We recommend changing the filter at least once a year.
What do the lights mean on the bottle filling station? How do I know if the water is safe to drink?
Green LED: Your filter is working.
Yellow LED: Your filter should be changed.
Red LED: Filter has reached end of life and may no longer be effective.
Flashing Red: Only applies to P-SKU’s.
How do I reset the visual filter monitor light?
Enhanced bottle filling stations include FillSafe™ recognition, a feature that detects when a new Elkay filter is installed and automatically resets the filter monitor light from red back to green. Original bottle filling stations require just a few easy steps. Click here to watch our instructional video.
How easy is it to change the filter?
Replacing your filter is as easy.
1. Turn off the water supply; dispense water to relieve pressure.
2. Turn used filter counterclockwise 1/4 turn to remove from filter head.
3. Remove cap from new filter and use to seal used filter.
4. Write the date of filter installation on the label. Insert new filter into existing filter head and turn fully clockwise so the label with date is clearly visible.
5. Turn on water supply and run water for 10 minutes to purge air and fine carbon particles from filter.
6. Reset the filter monitor, if necessary. See the Use Manual for your specific drinking water unit for instructions.
Enhanced models feature our FillSafe filter recognition that automatically identifies when a new filter is present and updates the LED light back to green. Click here to watch the video tutorial.
Do I have to buy the filter from Elkay?
We recommend using a genuine Elkay filter. Our filters are designed and manufactured to work within Elkay units and provide optimum performance. To purchase filters, click here or call 800-834-4816.
I ordered a replacement Elkay filter for my Elkay unit, and it is shorter than the original filter? Will it still work?
Yes. Our filters were redesigned from 12" to 9" to be more compact. They will still fit your Elkay unit and maintain current filter performance and compliance.
Can I add a filter to a non-filtered Elkay bottle filling station, cooler or fountain?
Yes. Elkay offers filter retrofit kits that can be added to many existing Elkay water delivery products. The EWF3000 Filter System Kit converts a non-filtered bottle filler into a filtered unit. The EWF172 Filter System Kit converts a non-filtered cooler or fountain into a filtered unit. See table below for all retrofit options.
| Type of Unit | Elkay Retrofit Filtration System Kit | Retrofit Type* | Replacement Filter Part Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle Filling Stations - Enhanced | N/A | Internal/External |
|
| Bottle Filling Stations - All | EWF3000 | Internal/External |
51300C |
| Coolers & Fountains | LF2 | Internal/External |
56192C |
| EWF172 | Internal/External |
51299C | |
| EF1500VRBC (Vandal-resistant box) | External | ||
| EF1500VRBMC (Comes with filter monitor) | External |
Can I update a non-filtered cooler to a filtered bottle filling station all at once?
Yes, refer to our Retrofit Bottle Filling Stations Compatibility Guide to find the right product for you.
What is lead? Where does it come from?
For centuries, lead has been widely used in plumbing systems that transport water. Despite changes in plumbing codes making it illegal to use lead pipes or solder, lead is still found in older pipes, solder and brass fittings in existing plumbing systems. Lead is toxic and continuous exposure can cause a variety of health problems, especially in infants and children. Please visit epa.gov/lead to learn more.
Do your products reduce lead?
Select WaterSentry® filtration systems reduce lead to meet the requirements necessary to achieve our NSF/ANSI 53 certification, making the water cleaner and healthier.
Water delivery product examples include:
- Elkay Filtered Bottle Filling Stations.
- Elkay Filtered Water Coolers.
Our filters are also sold separately and can be retrofitted onto any existing Elkay or non-Elkay branded water cooler, fountain or bottle filling station with Elkay’s vandal-resistant retrofit filtration kit. Kits are available with and without a filter status monitor and alert.
Do your products contain lead?
No. Our drinking water products have been lead free for more than two decades. They are certified to NSF/ANSI 372 as lead free by the Water Quality Association.
How does Elkay test its filters?
Elkay tests and certifies our filters to NSF/ANSI Standard 53."NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for Drinking Water Treatment Units is the nationally recognized standard for evaluating and certifying drinking water treatment systems for the reduction of contaminants from drinking water. Water filters are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 53 to ensure they reduce contaminants, including lead, per the requirements of the standard" (Certified Product Listing, NSF).