Great Value Water Filter Pitcher HS528N
Lower concern water filter; no PFAS risk inherent to activated carbon cartridges, but brand makes no transparency claim.
The HS528N appears to use standard activated carbon filtration without inherent PFAS content. Water filter pitchers are generally lower-risk since filtration media are not treated with water-repellent coatings, though Filtersmart provides no public PFAS verification.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Plastic pitcher with activated carbon/ion-exchange filter cartridge
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Great Value Water Filter Pitcher HS528N is made of, ingredients and materials
The HS528N pitcher body is polypropylene (PP) plastic, which has no hazard of this kind on record and is resistant to leaching under normal cold-water use. The replaceable cartridge contains activated carbon and ion-exchange resin, both of which are non-toxic, inert materials that trap contaminants rather than releasing them. Activated carbon has no known off-gassing or degradation hazards at room temperature. The plastic pitcher itself does not involve coatings, glazes, or adhesives known to release heavy metals or endocrine disruptors.
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Bacterial growth in filter cartridge
All pitcher filters face biofilm accumulation if cartridges are not replaced on schedule. The HS528N has no antimicrobial or self-cleaning mechanism documented; risk depends entirely on user maintenance discipline.
Filter housing durability and seal integrity
Budget pitcher filters may develop cracks or seal degradation over 1-2 years of use, potentially allowing unfiltered water bypass. Regular visual inspection of the pitcher and cartridge seating is recommended to maintain filtration effectiveness.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Polypropylene pitcher housing leaching (cold water)
Polypropylene is chemically stable under cold-water storage and does not release BPA, phthalates, or heavy metals under normal use. No recalls or test failures have been reported for this product or material class in pitcher filters.
Activated carbon and ion-exchange resin safety
Both materials are food-contact approved and inert. They are designed to absorb contaminants, not leach them. No hazard associated with these cartridge materials is documented in water filter literature or regulatory databases.
Manufacturing process transparency (trace contaminants)
The brand does not disclose manufacturing location, quality control, or pre-filtration protocols for cartridge materials. No contamination incidents are on record, but independent verification of cartridge purity is not publicly available.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Filtersmart (the manufacturer of the HS528N, sold under the Great Value label by Walmart) maintains minimal public transparency on third-party testing or material certification. No product recalls or safety violations are on record for this specific model. The brand does not publish voluntary PFAS reduction statements, but this is not unusual for budget pitcher filters and does not indicate a safety failure, since activated carbon cartridges are not a PFAS source. NSF or WQA certification data for this model is not publicly documented.
How it compares in its category
Budget pitcher filters (under $30) typically use polypropylene housings and carbon cartridges, making the HS528N materially representative of its price tier. Unlike premium pitcher brands (Brita, ZeroWater), Filtersmart does not advertise independent lab testing or publication of contaminant reduction percentages. The design is functionally similar to generic competitors; the main trade-off is lower transparency rather than higher chemical hazard. Performance and safety sit at category average.
If you buy it
Replace the cartridge every 2 months or 40 gallons to prevent bacterial biofilm buildup inside spent filters, a known hygiene risk in all pitcher filters. Store the pitcher in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; polypropylene can soften or degrade if exposed to heat above 60-70°C, though normal kitchen use poses no risk. Never fill with hot water, and rinse the pitcher weekly to prevent mold on the housing interior. Keep replacement cartridges sealed until use.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Great Value has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.