Laboratory test results for the Ultimate Star Filter® gravity water filter

At Star Water Filter®, we made a simple choice: to precisely document our performance so that it can be independently verified.

The results presented on this page are based exclusively on:

  • analyses conducted by accredited independent laboratories
  • reproducible testing protocols
  • measurements carried out on a total volume of up to 3,200 liters filtered, beyond the recommended service life

The objective is not to provide a single isolated figure, but a realistic assessment of performance over time.

This page presents:

  • the test methodology
  • the categories of contaminants analyzed
  • the summary results by testing stage
  • access to the full reports in PDF format
Star Water Filter® analysis methodology and framework

Methodology and analytical framework

Why 3,200 liters?

Tests were conducted up to 3,200 liters filtered to evaluate the filter’s effectiveness over time, including beyond the recommended service life (3,000 L). This approach provides a realistic view of the filter’s behavior during extended use.

Independent laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025

Analyses are performed by independent testing laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (Wessling certificate — SGS certificate).

This accreditation guarantees:

  • technical competence
  • traceability of methods
  • reliability of measurements
  • reproducibility of results

Measurements at multiple stages

Performance is measured at different filtration volumes.

10 L — 750 L — 1,500 L — 2,250 L — 3,000 L — 3,200 L

This makes it possible to observe:

  • initial efficiency
  • stability over time
  • end-of-life performance changes

Heavy metals and NSF/ANSI 53 standard

For heavy metals, analyses are conducted, where applicable, with reference to the NSF/ANSI 53 standard, at different pH levels (6.5 — 7.5 — 8.5).

Objective: to reproduce realistic water conditions.

Contaminants analyzed

The substances listed below are provided for informational purposes.
The detailed numerical results are presented in the tables and PDF reports.

Heavy metals (NSF/ANSI 53 where applicable)

Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, Zinc.

PFAS

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).

Plastic derivatives

Bisphenol A, Octylphenol, Nonylphenol.

Chlorine and derivatives

Total chlorine, Free chlorine, Combined chlorine (chloramines).

Pharmaceutical residues

Amoxicillin, Ibuprofen, Erythromycin, Gemfibrozil, Naproxen, Paracetamol, Carbamazepine, Diazepam, Diclofenac, Primidone, Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim.

Hormones

17 beta-Estradiol, Ethinylestradiol.

Pesticides / Herbicides

Glyphosate, AMPA, Glufosinate, Aldrin, Atrazine, cis-Chlordane, trans-Chlordane, Chlordecone, Chlorothalonil, DDD, DDE, DDT, Dieldrin, Endosulfan alpha, Endosulfan beta, Endrin, Heptachlor, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Quintozene, Imidacloprid, Metolachlor.

Solvents

Vinyl chloride, Dichloromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Trichloromethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Carbon tetrachloride, Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, Benzene, Toluene.

Microplastics

Analyses specifically dedicated to microplastics.

Water pollutants analysed by Star Water Filter®

Analysis results

The tables below present, for each contaminant category, the reduction measured at different filtered volumes.

The PDF reports detail:

  • initial concentration
  • concentration after filtration
  • analysis method
  • detection limits
  • experimental conditions

How to read the tables

  • 1 row = 1 contaminant
  • 1 column = 1 volume stage
  • The final stage is highlighted
  • “ND” = Not Detected (below the detection limit)

Final stage:

  • 3,000 L for microbiology
  • 3,200 L for chemistry
Very high (≈ ≥ 99%) Lower (≈ < 99%) Not tested / N.A.
⬇️ Microbiology — Bacteria / Salmonella / Viruses (final stage: 3000 L)
Contaminant 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3000 L
Bacteria >99.9999% 99.9999% 99.9048% 99.6590% >99.9999%
Salmonella >99.999% 99.6632% >99.999%
Viruses 99.99% 99.98% 99.99%

Note: “—” = stage not tested / not applicable in this report.

⬇️ Heavy metals — pH 6.5 (final stage: 3200 L)
Metal 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Arsenic (As) 99,4% >99,6% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5%
Barium (Ba) >99,9% >99,9% 99,9% 99,7% 99,9%
Cadmium (Cd) >98,4% >98,4% >98,4% >98,3% >98,4%
Chromium (Cr) >99,7% >99,7% >99,6% >99,7% >99,6%
Copper (Cu) >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Mercury (Hg) >97,7% >97,9% >96,7% 97,0% 95,4%
Lead (Pb) 99,3% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5%
Selenium (Se) ND ND ND ND Not detected

Note: “ND / Not detected” = below the detection limit according to the report. “>” values indicate a minimum reduction.

⬇️ Heavy metals — pH 7.5 (final stage: 3200 L)
Metal 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Antimony (Sb) 99,5% 99,4% 99,2% 99,5% 99,4%
Beryllium (Be) >99,5% >99,4% >99,4% >99,5% >99,4%
Bismuth (Bi) 99,5% >99,4% >99,4% >99,5% 98,5%
Iron (Fe) 98,18% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Manganese (Mn) >99,9% 99,9% 99,9% 99,8% 99,9%
Nickel (Ni) >99,7% 99,7% 99,23% 98,48% 99,4%
Zinc (Zn) >99,9% 99,9% 99,9% 96,5% 97,3%
⬇️ Heavy metals — pH 8.5 (final stage: 3200 L)
Metal 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Arsenic (As) >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5%
Barium (Ba) 99,9% 99,9% 99,9% 99,9% 99,9%
Cadmium (Cd) >98,3% >98,4% >98,4% >98,4% >98,4%
Chromium (Cr) 98,7% >99,7% >99,6% >99,7% >99,7%
Copper (Cu) >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Mercury (Hg) >96,7% >96,6% >97,2% >98,2% >96,9%
Lead (Pb) >99,6% >99,6% >99,62% >99,62% >99,48%
Selenium (Se) ND ND ND ND Not detected
⬇️ PFAS — PFOA / PFOS / PFHxA / TFA (final stage: 3200 L)
PFAS 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
PFOA >98,3% >97,9% >97,6% >97,8% >98,4%
PFOS >98,7% >99% >98,9% >99,2% >99%
PFHxA >99% >99% >99% >99% >99%
TFA >97% >96,9% >97,2% >97,3% >97,1%
⬇️ Plastic derivatives — BPA / Nonylphenol / Octylphenol (final stage: 3200 L)
Substance 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
BPA >99,8% >99,8% >99,8% 99,4% >99,8%
Nonylphenol >99,3% >99,3% >99,3% >99,3% >99,3%
Octylphenol >99,8% 99,3% >99,8% 98,1% 99,1%
⬇️ Chlorine and derivatives — Total chlorine / Free chlorine / Chloramines (final stage: 3200 L)
Parameter 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Total chlorine >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5%
Free chlorine >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5%
Chloramines >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >99,5%
⬇️ Pharmaceutical residues (final stage: 3200 L)
Molecule 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Amoxicillin >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Erythromycin >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Carbamazepine 99,2% 99,2% 99,2% 99,2% 99,2%
Primidone >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Diazepam >98% >98% >98% >98% >98%
Diclofenac >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Ibuprofen 99,3% 99,3% 99,3% 99,3% 99,3%
Naproxen >97,9% >97,9% >97,9% >97,9% >97,9%
Gemfibrozil >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Paracetamol >98% >98% >98% >98% >98%
Sulfamethoxazole >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Trimethoprim >97,9% >97,9% >97,9% >97,9% >97,9%
⬇️ Hormones — Estradiol / Ethinylestradiol (final stage: 3200 L)
Hormone 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Estradiol >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
Ethinylestradiol >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
⬇️ Pesticides / Herbicides — 3200 L summary (readable)

Readability choice: this table shows the reduction at the final stage (3200 L). On mobile, a “by-stage” table would be hard to read. If you want, we can add a detailed by-stage sub-table below.

Substance Reduction at 3200 L
Aldrin >99,5%
Dieldrin >99%
DDD >99%
DDT >99%
DDE >99%
Endosulfan alpha >96%
Endosulfan beta >96%
Endrin >99,1%
Heptachlor >99,5%
Lindane >99,1%
Methoxychlor >98,5%
Quintozene >99%
cis-Chlordane >99,5%
trans-Chlordane >99,5%
Chlorothalonil >99,4%
Atrazine >99,7%
Imidacloprid >99,9%
Metolachlor >99%
Glyphosate >99,9%
AMPA >99,9%
Glufosinate 97,8%
Chlordecone >99,5%
⬇️ VOCs — Benzene / Toluene (final stage: 3200 L)
Substance 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Benzene >96,7% >96,7% >96,7% >96,7% >96,7%
Toluene >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9% >99,9%
⬇️ VOChl — chlorinated solvents (3200 L summary)
Solvent Reduction at 3200 L
Vinyl chloride >99,5%
Dichloromethane >99,9%
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene >99,9%
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene >99,8%
Chloroform >99,6%
1,1,1-Trichloroethane >99,9%
Carbon tetrachloride >99,7%
Trichloroethylene >99,6%
Tetrachloroethylene >97,1%
1,1-Dichloromethane >96,8%
1,1-Dichloroethylene >97,7%

Note: final-stage summary to ensure comfortable reading on mobile. “>” values indicate a minimum reduction.

⬇️ Microplastics (summary at 3200 L)
Parameter 10 L 750 L 1500 L 2250 L 3200 L
Particles 5µm–20µm 99.9% 99.7% 99.9% 99.9% 99.9%

Why publish these results?

In a field where comparisons can be imprecise, our approach is to make performance:

measurable — documented — verifiable

Publishing the full protocols and results makes it possible to:

  • avoid unsupported claims
  • enable comparison on objective grounds
  • provide verifiable transparency

Conclusion

The analyses of the Ultimate Star Filter® were designed to provide information that is:

clear — verifiable — reproducible

They are based on:

  • a rigorous protocol
  • accredited independent laboratories
  • performance monitoring over time
  • results published up to 3,200 liters filtered