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In recent years, concerns about water contamination have increasingly centered around a group of chemicals known as PFAS, PFOS, and PFOA. These substances, collectively called per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are often called “forever chemicals” because they are nearly indestructible in the environment and the human body. Your concerns about PFAS may also leave you wondering about PFAS water filtration and how to effectively remove PFAS from your drinking water.
PFAS (Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances): PFAS refers to a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in various industrial and consumer products since the 1940s for their water and grease-resistant properties. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are thousands of PFAS chemicals found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products, making it challenging to study and assess the potential human health and environmental risks.
These chemicals are characterized by their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which make them highly resistant to breakdown in the environment. As a result, PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally for extremely long periods of time. The EPA says that PFAS have been released into the environment through industrial manufacturing and the use and disposal of PFAS-containing products contaminating soil, water supplies, and consequently our drinking water.
PFOA and PFOS are two types of PFAS that have been produced in the largest amounts in North America.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid): PFOA is one specific type of PFAS. Its chemical structure includes an eight-carbon chain fully fluorinated, with a carboxylate group at the end. This structure gives PFOA its unique properties, such as resistance to water, oil, and heat. PFOA has been widely used in manufacturing non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foams. Despite its beneficial properties in manufacturing, PFOA is persistent in the environment and the human body, raising significant health concerns. When PFOA contaminates water supplies, it can lead to long-term exposure through drinking water, posing serious health risks.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate): PFOS is another prominent member of the PFAS family. Similar to PFOA, it features a fully fluorinated eight-carbon chain but with a sulfonate group at the end. PFOS has been used extensively in products like stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, and some pesticides. Its chemical stability and resistance to degradation make it a persistent environmental pollutant, posing risks to human health and ecosystems. When PFOS contaminates drinking water sources, it can lead to chronic exposure, significantly impacting human health.
Differences and Common Uses: While PFOA and PFOS are both part of the broader PFAS category and share similar chemical characteristics, their specific functional groups (carboxylate for PFOA and sulfonate for PFOS) influence their applications and environmental behavior. PFOA is primarily associated with products requiring high heat resistance, such as non-stick cookware, while PFOS has been used more in stain repellents and firefighting foams due to its surfactant properties.
Both PFOA and PFOS are persistent and bioaccumulative, meaning they can accumulate in the human body over time and are resistant to natural breakdown processes. This persistence underlines the importance of targeted mitigation strategies to reduce exposure and safeguard public health, especially in residential water supplies.
Contaminant Disposal and Environmental Persistence
PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA, have entered the environment and water supplies through multiple pathways due to their widespread use. Improper disposal practices, such as releasing industrial waste or improperly disposing of consumer products containing PFAS, contribute significantly to contamination. Since these chemicals do not break down easily, once PFAS enter water sources, whether from industrial discharge or leaching from landfill sites, they can persist for extended periods, continually posing risks to water quality unless intentional action is taken.
Impact on Residential and Well Water
In residential areas, PFAS contamination can occur when these chemicals leach into groundwater from nearby industrial facilities, landfills, or through runoff from contaminated soil. For households relying on well water, the risk of PFAS contamination is particularly concerning, as wells can directly draw from aquifers or shallow groundwater sources where PFAS may have accumulated over time. Trace amounts of PFAS in drinking water can even accumulate in the human body over time, potentially leading to adverse health effects.
Knowing how PFAS has entered the environment outlines the importance of taking a proactive approach to mitigate contamination risks and protect residential drinking water sources. Effective filtration is one essential step that can help safeguard your water supply and minimize exposure to these persistent contaminants.
The EPA recently finalized a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) establishing legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six different PFAS in drinking water. Those include PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA. However, public water systems have until 2027 to start monitoring for these contaminants and until 2029 to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS chemicals. We’ll discuss below ways that you can safeguard your family now.
Research gathered by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, suggests associations between increases in exposure to (specific) PFAS and certain health effects. These include but may not be limited to:
According to the Water Quality Association (WQA) Some of the known hotspots for PFAS contamination are industrial areas where items containing PFAS are made, landfills, airports, military bases, and farmland where biosolids are recycled for fertilizer.
They also state that recent studies show that PFAS issues in drinking water are widespread across the entire country. Testing has found PFAS chemicals in water in many locations across the world. It is estimated the drinking water supply for at least 19 million people in 43 states in the U.S. alone is contaminated with PFAS.
The only way to know without a doubt if PFAS is in your water is to have your drinking water tested. The WQA recommends if you are going to test that it be done through a certified laboratory. You can find certified labs on the EPA’s website or by contacting the agency responsible for drinking water regulation in your state. This testing can be expensive and may require considerable time for sample collection and analysis.
At-home kits have limitations in detecting lower concentrations of PFAS or providing detailed analyses. You can also easily contaminate water samples with PFAS found in other areas of your home.
Interpreting these results can also be complex, and consulting with a water treatment professional like Quality Home Products of Texas can help you understand the results and decide on the best course of action. If PFAS levels in your water exceed the recommended safety thresholds, it’s crucial to consider effective filtration solutions to mitigate exposure and ensure your water is safe to drink.
Given the widespread presence of PFAS in drinking water and the expense and time required for thorough testing, it may be advantageous to proactively safeguard your family with a water treatment system designed to effectively reduce these contaminants. This approach can ensure ongoing protection for your family against potential PFAS exposure.
The WQA says that activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), and anion exchange water treatment technologies can reduce PFAS in water. You should look for products certified to standards NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 for PFAS reduction. The effectiveness of each technology depends on multiple factors and a professional can help you explore your options and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method. In most cases, a point-of-use device like a reverse osmosis system will be sufficient to treat PFAS, but not always.
Activated carbon filtration uses carbon to trap chemicals as water passes through the filter. This method is effective at reducing a variety of organic contaminants as well as PFAS and is generally more affordable and easier to maintain than complete RO systems. However, its effectiveness depends on multiple factors and a professional should be consulted to ensure your filtration system is installed and functioning appropriately. Activated carbon filtration is generally suitable as part of a whole-house water system versus being used on its own.
RO systems use a semipermeable membrane to reduce contaminants in water. Under pressure, water is forced through the membrane, allowing clean water to pass through while blocking PFAS and other impurities. This method is highly effective at reducing a wide range of contaminants and provides a high level of water filtration. They are best suited for households seeking the best quality of drinking and cooking water at specific faucets, such as the kitchen sink. Whole home reverse osmosis systems can also be installed to filter the water for every faucet in the home.
Anion exchange water treatment technologies use resins, which are tiny beads, that act like powerful magnets that attract and hold the contaminated materials from passing through the water system. Benefits include high reduction efficiency and compatibility with existing systems. Long-term effectiveness and operational costs are still being evaluated.
These technologies each offer unique advantages and can be selected based on your specific household needs and preferences, water quality and usage, and budget considerations. Consulting with a water treatment professional can help determine the best solution for effectively reducing PFAS and providing cleaner, safer water to your family. A professional can also help you take into account or even test for other known contaminants in your area.