💧 Your Tap Water is Probably Contaminated
A 2023 USGS study found PFAS "forever chemicals" in 45% of US tap water samples. These synthetic compounds never break down in the environment or your body, accumulating over time and linked to cancer, immune suppression, and developmental problems.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called "forever chemicals" because they don't degrade naturally. Created in the 1940s for nonstick and water-resistant products, they've contaminated water supplies worldwide. This guide explains what PFAS are, why they're dangerous, and how to remove them from your drinking water.
What Are PFAS?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in countless consumer products since the 1940s. The most studied are PFOA and PFOS, which were phased out in the US but persist in the environment.
Common sources of PFAS contamination:
- Military bases and airports - Firefighting foam used for decades
- Industrial sites - Manufacturing facilities released PFAS into water
- Landfills - PFAS-containing products leach into groundwater
- Wastewater treatment plants - Can't filter PFAS, so it passes through
- Agricultural runoff - Biosolids (treated sewage used as fertilizer) spread contamination
Where You Encounter PFAS Daily:
- • Nonstick cookware (Teflon)
- • Fast food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags
- • Stain-resistant carpets and furniture
- • Water-resistant outdoor gear
- • Cosmetics and dental floss
- • Food packaging
Even if you avoid these products, PFAS in drinking water is unavoidable without filtration.
Health Risks of PFAS Exposure
PFAS accumulate in your body over time. They've been detected in the blood of 97% of Americans. The EPA now considers ANY detectable level of PFAS in drinking water potentially harmful.
Proven Health Effects:
Cancer
Kidney and testicular cancer strongly linked to PFOA/PFOS exposure
Immune Suppression
Reduces vaccine effectiveness, increases infection risk
Thyroid Disease
Disrupts thyroid hormones, causing weight and energy problems
Reproductive Problems
Pregnancy complications, low birth weight, fertility issues
Liver Damage
Elevated liver enzymes, fatty liver disease
Developmental Issues
Children exposed in utero show learning delays, behavioral problems
The EPA's 2024 drinking water standards set limits at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS. To put that in perspective: 4 ppt is equivalent to 4 drops of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Even trace amounts are harmful.
Check PFAS levels in your city's water →
Is Your Water Contaminated?
45% of US tap water contains detectable PFAS. High-risk areas include:
- Near military bases - Decades of firefighting foam use
- Industrial areas - Chemical plants, manufacturing facilities
- Midwest and Northeast - Heavy agricultural biosolid use
- Cities with old infrastructure - Contamination accumulates over time
⚠️ Municipal Water Reports Don't Tell the Full Story
Your city may test for PFAS but report "compliance" based on outdated limits. The EPA's new 4 ppt standard is far stricter than what most cities currently enforce. Private well users have no testing requirements at all.
How to Test Your Water
The only way to know your PFAS exposure is testing. Two options:
Option 1: Tap Score Water Test ($200-300)
Mail-in lab test that checks for 30+ PFAS compounds plus hundreds of other contaminants. Most comprehensive option. Results in 2 weeks with detailed report.
Option 2: State-Certified Lab ($100-150)
Search "PFAS water testing [your state]" to find certified labs. They provide sample bottles, you mail back, results in 1-2 weeks. Less expensive but may test fewer PFAS compounds.
Note: Home test strips for PFAS don't exist yet. Lab testing is the only reliable method.
How to Remove PFAS From Drinking Water
Standard pitcher filters (like Brita) DO NOT remove PFAS. You need specialized filtration. Here are the methods that actually work:
Reverse Osmosis (Most Effective)
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems remove 90-99% of PFAS. Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks PFAS molecules. This is the gold standard.
AquaTru Countertop Water Purifier
4-stage reverse osmosis
No installation required - plugs into wall outlet. Removes 99.9% of PFAS, lead, chromium-6, arsenic, nitrates, and 80+ other contaminants. Perfect for renters or anyone who doesn't want under-sink installation.
Why it works for PFAS:
- ✓ 4-stage filtration including RO membrane
- ✓ NSF-certified for contaminant removal
- ✓ Filters last 2 years (RO membrane 1 year)
- ✓ Purifies 1 gallon in 15 minutes
Activated Carbon (Good, Not Great)
High-quality activated carbon filters remove 60-90% of PFAS, depending on the specific compounds and filter quality. They're more affordable than RO but less effective.
Big Berkey Gravity Water Filter
Activated carbon + ion exchange
Gravity-fed system removes 99.9% of PFAS through a combination of activated carbon and proprietary filtration media. No electricity or plumbing required. Filters last 6,000 gallons (3-5 years for a family of 4).
Advantages over RO:
- ✓ No water waste (RO wastes 3-4 gallons per gallon filtered)
- ✓ No electricity needed
- ✓ Retains beneficial minerals (RO removes everything)
- ✓ Lower long-term cost
What Doesn't Work
❌ Filters That DON'T Remove PFAS:
- • Standard Brita/PUR pitcher filters
- • Refrigerator water filters (most models)
- • Faucet-mounted filters without activated carbon
- • UV purifiers (kill bacteria but don't filter chemicals)
- • Boiling water (concentrates PFAS, makes it worse)
Whole-House vs. Point-of-Use Filtration
You have two filtration approaches:
Point-of-Use (Recommended for Most People)
Filter only drinking and cooking water (countertop or under-sink system). More affordable, easier maintenance, sufficient protection since you don't absorb significant PFAS through showering.
Cost: $200-500 upfront, $50-150/year filters
Whole-House (For Severe Contamination)
Filters all water entering your home. Necessary if PFAS levels are extremely high (100+ ppt) or you have well water. Requires professional installation.
Cost: $3,000-6,000 upfront, $300-600/year filters
Should You Be Worried?
Here's the honest answer: if you drink unfiltered tap water in the US, you're almost certainly consuming PFAS. The long-term effects of low-level exposure (under 10 ppt) are still being studied, but mounting evidence shows even trace amounts accumulate and cause harm over decades.
You should filter your water if:
- You live near a military base, airport, or industrial area
- You're pregnant or have young children (developing systems are most vulnerable)
- Your city has reported detectable PFAS (check your water quality report)
- You have a private well (no testing requirements, high contamination risk)
- You want to minimize cumulative exposure over your lifetime
Final Thoughts
PFAS contamination is a nationwide crisis. Water utilities are slowly upgrading treatment, but it will take decades and billions of dollars. In the meantime, home filtration is your only guaranteed protection.
The good news: reverse osmosis and high-quality carbon filters work. Invest in one system, maintain it properly, and you eliminate 90%+ of your PFAS exposure from drinking water.
Check Your City's Water Quality
Get instant access to PFAS contamination levels, lead pipe percentages, detected contaminants, and EPA violations for your area.
View Your City Report →📋 Affiliate Disclosure
Home Hazards Report is reader-supported. When you purchase water filters through our Amazon affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend filters certified to remove PFAS by independent testing labs. Our water quality data and health information are independent.