PFAS in Drinking Water: What You Need to Know
8 min read • Updated December 2024
PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—are a class of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals that have been used in manufacturing since the 1940s. They're called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down naturally in the environment or in your body.
What Are PFAS?
PFAS are found in non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, food packaging, firefighting foam, and countless industrial applications. Their chemical structure—a carbon backbone surrounded by fluorine atoms—makes them incredibly stable and resistant to heat, water, and oil.
That stability is also what makes them dangerous. When PFAS enter water supplies through industrial discharge, landfill runoff, or firefighting activities, they persist indefinitely.
Why Should You Care?
Research has linked PFAS exposure to:
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Changes in liver enzymes
- Decreased vaccine response in children
- Increased risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer
- Thyroid disease
The EPA recently set enforceable limits for six PFAS compounds at 4 parts per trillion (ppt)—essentially as close to zero as current technology can reliably measure.
Is PFAS in Your Water?
Probably. The Environmental Working Group estimates that over 200 million Americans have PFAS in their drinking water. Major contamination sites include areas near military bases, airports, and industrial facilities—but PFAS have spread far beyond those locations.
Your local water utility is required to test for PFAS and report results. Check your annual Consumer Confidence Report, or search the EWG's Tap Water Database for your ZIP code.
What Actually Removes PFAS?
Not all filtration is created equal. Here's what works:
Effective Methods:
- Reverse Osmosis (RO): 90-99% removal. Forces water through a membrane that blocks PFAS molecules.
- Activated Carbon (GAC): 70-90% removal. PFAS adsorb to carbon surface. Requires sufficient contact time.
- Ion Exchange: 90-95% removal. Specialized resins attract and bind PFAS.
What Doesn't Work:
- Boiling: PFAS don't evaporate. Boiling actually concentrates them.
- Basic carbon pitchers: Insufficient contact time for meaningful PFAS reduction.
- Most shower filters: Designed for chlorine, not PFAS.
The Bottom Line
PFAS contamination is widespread, persistent, and linked to serious health effects. While regulatory action is progressing, the most reliable protection today is point-of-use filtration using reverse osmosis or high-quality activated carbon systems with adequate contact time.
CUIVEN hydration systems use RO+DI purification that removes 99%+ of PFAS and other contaminants. The Monolith shower filter includes activated alumina and catalytic carbon specifically selected to target PFAS in shower water.
Sources: EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap, Environmental Working Group, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
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