Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of man-made chemicals that contain carbon, fluorine, and other elements. These chemicals have been in use since the 1940s and are found in a variety of products including firefighting foams, household products such as non-stick cookware, food packaging, and stain and water repellants.
The two most widely studied PFAS chemicals are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Luckily, both PFOA and PFOS chemicals have been gradually phased out in the United States with guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
However, as many as 3,000 other PFAS chemicals still are used in a wide variety of applications. These “forever chemicals“ are persistent and resist degradation, meaning they accumulate in the environment and in your body over time. Decades of use have already allowed forever chemicals to penetrate the soil and air, making them practically ubiquitous in water sources across the country.
While tougher laws and regulations are being enacted, it is also important to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones from dangerous PFAS. One of the best things to do at home is to filter your water with an ULTRA-6® reverse osmosis system. EPA agrees that “high-pressure membranes, such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, have been extremely effective at removing PFAS. Research shows that these types of membranes are typically more than 90 percent effective at removing a wide range of PFAS, including shorter chain PFAS.”
To have your water tested by UDI, please fill out a contact form on our website or call toll free 1-800-741-4426.
How does reverse osmosis remove PFAS from drinking water?
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a water treatment process that removes contaminants and impurities from water by forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane. The process is called “reverse” osmosis because it reverses the natural osmotic process, which occurs when water flows from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated one through a semi-permeable membrane. In reverse osmosis, the water flows through a membrane in the opposite direction – from a more concentrated solution to a less concentrated one.
During the reverse osmosis process, water is pressurized and forced through the semi-permeable membrane, which acts as a filter. The pores in the membrane are small enough to remove contaminants and impurities, such as bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and chemicals, from the water. The purified water is collected on the other side of the membrane, while the contaminants and impurities are retained on the side of the membrane where the water was initially forced through.
What are the potential health effects of PFAS?
The risks associated with many PFAS chemicals are largely unknown; however, there is evidence that exposure to low levels of PFOA and PFOS can lead to health impacts in humans. The likelihood of potential adverse effects depends on factors such as the concentration of PFAS ingested as well as the time span of exposure.
Research has shown potential health impacts of PFOA/PFOS exposure include low infant birth weight, decreased fertility, elevated cholesterol, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation, weakening of the immune system, and testicular and kidney cancer.
Scientists are conducting research to better understand the health impacts from other PFAS chemicals.
Are PFAS regulated federally?
Aggressively addressing PFAS has been an active and ongoing priority for EPA over the past decade. On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS. EPA expects that over many years the final rule will prevent PFAS exposure in drinking water for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.
The final rule requires:
Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of these PFAS in their drinking water beginning in 2027.
Public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs.
Beginning in five years (2029), public water systems that have PFAS in drinking water which violates one or more of these MCLs must take action to reduce levels of these PFAS in their drinking water and must provide notification to the public of the violation.
More information can be found on EPA’s website. These regulations affect public water systems only and do not apply to private well waters.
Get Your Water Tested with UDI
If you’d like to learn exactly what’s in your tap water, we invite you to schedule a free water test. Call 1-800-741-4426 or fill out a contact form on our website. Our demos are completely free with no obligation!
