Understanding 'Forever Chemicals': Addressing PFAS in Water Supplies

The dialogue about water quality continues to change. Hardness, chlorine, and iron have long worried homeowners. Today, a new invisible threat has made its way into the public consciousness: PFAS, better known as 'forever chemicals'. Those compounds are appearing in water supplies nationwide, raising grave concerns about long-term health and water safety. The first step to peace of mind is knowing that these chemicals are, their sources, and the risks they present.

The good news is that while the problem is complicated, there are already proven, reliable processes to help ensure the safety of your family's drinking water. This guide will walk you through the key facts about PFAS and what you ultimately want to do to keep the water from your tap clean and safe.

What are PFAS and why are They Called 'Forever Chemicals'?

PFAS is an acronym for a huge family of thousands of man-made compounds: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. First developed in the 1940s, they became a wonder of modern chemistry. They had the ability to repel water and oil effectively and thus proved incredibly useful in a large number of industrial and consumer products. PFAS are in:

• Non-stick cookware (such as Teflon).
• Stainproof carpet and upholstery.
• Water-resistant clothing and outdoor equipment.
• Food packaging, such as pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags.
• Airport and military bases where firefighting foam is used.

Their power comes from their chemical framework, which consists of an outstanding carbon-fluorine bond. This bond is one of the most stable in organic chemistry, which makes the products last, but it also means the chemicals do not decay naturally in the environment. They persist for decades, building up in soil, water, wildlife and even our own bodies. It is precisely this extreme persistence that got them the sinister moniker 'forever chemicals.'

Sources of PFAS Contamination in Local Waterways

Since PFAS have been used for more than 70 years, they have penetrated our groundwater, rivers, and lakes as a source for many municipal and well water systems, posing a threat to many others in the environment. Contamination is by no means restricted to one part of the country; it is a widespread national problem. The main sources of contamination are:

• Industrial Sites: Factories that made PFAS and which employed PFAS in manufacturing frequently discharged polluted, untreated or treated industrial waste effluent back into the environment.
• Military Bases and Airports: These facilities for decades employed Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), which contained high concentrations of PFAS, as a means of extinguishing fuel fires. Runoff from training exercises and emergencies has resulted in heavy groundwater contamination in surrounding communities.
• Landfills: When consumer products with PFAS are thrown away, the chemical can slowly seep out of landfills and into soil and groundwater beneath them; eventually, it contaminates those supplies too.
• Wastewater Treatment Plans: These plants are created to deal with waste from living things – biological and other conventional as well as non-biological pollution sources – not artificial chemicals like PFAS.

The Health Concerns Associated With PFAS Exposure

The residual occurrence of PFAS is worrying because PFAS also accumulate in our bodies. Decades of study have offered scientists a greater sense of the health dangers of prolonged exposure. It has been established that PFAS exposure is linked to a variety of health problems. Major organizations – the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – have confirmed this link:

• Higher risk of certain cancers, such as kidney or testicular cancer.
• Elevated cholesterol levels.
• Reduced vaccine responses of children and their immune system effects.
• Endocrine effects and disruption of thyroid hormone.
• Higher risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women.
• Developmental consequences in infants include low birth weight and accelerated puberty.

Because these chemicals accumulate over time, the risk stems from chronic, long-term exposure. As such, limiting your daily consumption by making sure that your drinking water doesn't contain PFAS is one of the most effective ways of reducing your family's general exposure to and health risk from this substance.

The Gold Standard Solutions: Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) vs. Reverse Osmosis (RO)

The PFAS problem does not look great, but homeowners still have access to powerful water treatment technology at their disposal – the world-class method of extracting the most effective water is now being utilized when it comes to removing PFAS. Most basic pitcher filters or refrigerator filters are not certified to remove PFAS. For proper protection, you have to have a heavier system.

• Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filtration: This is used as a whole-house water filtration system, where each drop of water brought into your home is treated. GAC works by the process of adsorption. The carbon media is highly porous and has a wide internal surface area. PFAS molecules adhere to this surface when water moves through the tank and are therefore effectively trapped, eliminating them from your water.
• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: Viewed as the ultimate barrier to contaminants, RO gives maximum protection. Often installed under the kitchen sink as a point-of-use system, they offer ultra-purified water for drinking and cooking. RO uses pressure from household water to guide water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane comprises microscopic pores and prevents PFAS, lead, arsenic, nitrates, viruses, and nearly every other dissolved solid from penetrating the membrane, letting pure water molecules through.

The decision between GAC and RO will depend on whether you want to treat all the water in your house or only the water that is consumed.

The New Regulations: What Homeowners Need to Know About EPA Health Advisories

In April 2024, the U.S. EPA signed the first-ever legally binding national drinking water standard for six of the most researched PFAS chemicals. This new rule establishes MCLs that are extremely low, measured in parts per trillion. As a result, public water utilities will now need to test for these PFAS, and if the levels exceed the new standards, take action to treat the water.

This is a huge advance for public health, but implementation will take years. In addition, these regulations only address six of the thousands of PFAS chemicals on the market. The only responsibility for testing and treatment is still theirs, for homeowners with their wells.

This is precisely why, after all, taking an active approach to improving the quality of your home's water is the most dependable way to prevent your own water from falling below the highest standards.

You don't have to wait until the authorities catch up or worry about what could be in your own water. We're ready to help. We do full water testing and can design a GAC or Reverse Osmosis system so you can be confident that forever chemicals are gone from your water. Contact a trusted water treatment specialist for a consultation and take that first step to pure, safe water for your home.