There’s good news for consumers when it comes to clean drinking water: Water filter manufacturers are producing products that remove impurities, not just improve taste and appearance. Plus, there are filters that cost as little as $30 that can provide cleaner, better-tasting water, according to Consumer Reports’ latest water filter tests.

For its tests, CR spiked water with lead and chloroform (a surrogate for organic compounds like atrazine; and benzene and for bad taste) to test 38 models. While many filters did the job, some removed less of each contaminant than promised, and even the best can be overwhelmed by surges in contaminants. Here are the details:

• New filters catch more and clog less. In CR’s last test, carafes that filtered best also clogged most quickly, but this time around, top-rated models removed contaminants effectively without sacrificing cartridge life or flow rate.

• Pricier doesn’t mean better. CR found that the $415 Everpure undersink filter was outperformed by models that cost half as much, because of its clogging and inferior flow rate. The cost of replacement filters must be factored in your purchasing decision.

• Refrigerators with water dispensers with built-in filtration are fine at improving taste, but past tests have shown some systems are so-so at removing impurities. Replacement cartridges are costly.

Filtering the options

All water filters are better for the environment than bottled water because they reduce shipping and packaging. CR outlined the five main types:

• Carafe: Carafes tend to be inexpensive and don’t require installation; however they are not suited for households requiring more than a couple of gallons of water a day. Filter life is relatively short. Carafe models cost $20 to $40 plus $40 to $100 per year for additional filters. The Clear2O CWS100A ($30) carafe filter is a CR Best Buy and is excellent at removing lead and chloroform, while the Brita Smart Pitcher 0B39/42632 ($32) offers superior clog resistance but isn’t claimed to remove organics.

• Faucet-mounted: These filters can be easily installed and make it easy to switch between filtered and unfiltered water. But they can’t be used with most pull-down or spray faucets and they tend to have a slow flow rate. Cost ranges from $15 to $35, plus $30 to $100 per year in replacement filters. CR Recommends the Culligan FM-15A ($15) and the Pur Vertical FM-3700 ($25), which has a filter-life indicator.

• Countertop: Countertop models are good at filtering large volumes of water without any plumbing work, however they can add to countertop clutter and can’t be used with most spray or pull-down faucets. Prices vary from $50 up to $300, plus $50 to $100 per year in replacement filters. The Crystal Quest CQE-CT-00109 ($140) has fast flow but doesn’t catch impurities as well as other countertop models. The Aquasana AQ-4000 ($100) is excellent at removing lead and chloroform.

• Undersink: Undersink models require plumbing, sink, or countertop changes but can filter large volumes of water without cluttering the countertop. Price ranges from $100 to $550, plus $50 to $150 per year in replacement filters. CR Recommends the Omni CBF-3 ($115), an inexpensive model that is fast-flowing, but replacement filters are pricey. The Culligan Preferred Series 350 ($145) has one of the longest-lasting filters, and the Whirlpool Gold WHED20 (Lowe’s, $130), a CR Best Buy, offers top value and very good clog resistance.

• Reverse-osmosis: These filters remove the widest range of contaminants, including arsenic, but they require plumbing modifications and periodic sanitizing with bleach. These models also waste 3 to 5 gallons of water for every gallon filtered and some are slow. Consumers should expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $900, plus $100 to $200 per year in filters or professional servicing. The Kenmore Elite 38556 ($300) costs more than other models CR tested, but has a 4-gallon storage tank — more than double the size of the Whirlpool Gold WHER25 (Lowe’s, $150), a CR Best Buy.