PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic compounds that can persist in the environment and drinking water for years. While it’s nearly impossible to eliminate every source of PFAS exposure, homeowners can take meaningful steps to reduce exposure through professional water testing and proven treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration. Understanding what’s in your water is the first step toward protecting your home and family.
Over the past several years, PFAS in drinking water has become one of the most talked-about water quality concerns in the United States. Communities across the country—including parts of Minnesota—have increased testing for these chemicals as researchers continue learning more about their potential effects on people and the environment.
You may have heard PFAS described as “forever chemicals.” The nickname comes from their remarkable ability to resist breaking down naturally. Once released into the environment, many PFAS compounds can remain in soil and water for years or even decades.
While you can’t completely avoid PFAS in modern life, understanding where they come from and how they enter drinking water can help you make informed decisions about protecting your household. The good news is that effective water treatment technologies are available, and professional water testing can help determine whether treatment is appropriate for your home’s water.
Quick Facts About PFAS
What Are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured since the 1940s. Manufacturers developed these chemicals because they resist heat, oil, grease, stains, and water, making them useful in hundreds of commercial and consumer products.
Today, scientists have identified thousands of individual PFAS compounds. Although they all share similar chemical characteristics, not every PFAS behaves exactly the same. Researchers continue studying how different PFAS interact with the environment and what levels of exposure may mean for human health.
Because these chemicals resist breaking down naturally, they can accumulate in soil, groundwater, lakes, rivers, and eventually drinking water supplies. This persistence is why environmental agencies throughout the United States continue expanding monitoring and research efforts.
Why Are They Called “Forever Chemicals”?
Unlike many substances that naturally degrade over time, PFAS contain extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds. These bonds make the chemicals incredibly stable, allowing many of them to remain in the environment for extended periods.
Once PFAS enter groundwater, rivers, or lakes, they may continue moving through the water cycle rather than breaking down quickly. This long lifespan has led scientists, regulators, and the media to commonly refer to them as forever chemicals.
It’s important to understand that “forever chemicals” is a nickname rather than a scientific classification. The term simply describes their persistence in the environment—not that every PFAS behaves identically or presents the same level of concern.
Where Are PFAS Commonly Found?
PFAS have been used in many everyday products for decades. While manufacturing practices continue to evolve, these chemicals have historically been found in products such as:
- Non-stick cookware
- Grease-resistant food packaging
- Water-resistant outdoor clothing
- Stain-resistant carpets and upholstery
- Some cosmetics and personal care products
- Certain firefighting foams used at airports and military facilities
Because PFAS have been so widely used, they can eventually make their way into the environment through manufacturing, disposal, runoff, or historical contamination.
How Do PFAS Get Into Drinking Water?
PFAS can enter drinking water from several different sources. Industrial manufacturing sites, landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and areas where firefighting foam was historically used have all been identified as potential contributors to groundwater contamination.
Once these chemicals reach groundwater or surface water, they may eventually become part of municipal water systems or private wells if left untreated. The likelihood of exposure depends on many factors, including geography, local water sources, historical land use, and ongoing environmental monitoring.
For Minnesota homeowners, this is one reason professional water testing has become increasingly valuable. Rather than guessing about your home’s water quality, testing provides information about what’s actually present so treatment recommendations can be based on real data.
Although you can’t control every source of PFAS exposure in daily life, your home’s drinking water is one area where effective treatment options are available. Modern filtration technologies can significantly reduce many PFAS compounds when properly selected, installed, and maintained.
Do Water Filters Remove PFAS?
The short answer is: some do—but not all.
Not every water filter is designed to reduce PFAS. Basic pitcher filters, sediment filters, and water softeners are generally not intended to remove these contaminants. That’s why choosing the right treatment technology matters.
Research conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations has shown that two of the most effective treatment methods for reducing many PFAS compounds are reverse osmosis (RO) and granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Reverse osmosis systems use a specialized membrane capable of removing extremely small contaminants, while activated carbon adsorbs many PFAS compounds before the water reaches your faucet. Depending on your home’s water quality and treatment goals, one solution—or a combination of technologies—may provide the best results.
Can Boiling Water Remove PFAS?
No. Boiling water does not remove PFAS. In fact, boiling may slightly increase the concentration of PFAS because some of the water evaporates while the chemicals remain behind.
This is one of the most common misconceptions about drinking water treatment. Boiling is an effective way to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, but PFAS are chemical contaminants—not living organisms. Because of their unique chemical structure, they are not destroyed during the boiling process.
If you’re concerned about PFAS in your home’s water, the solution isn’t boiling—it’s using a treatment system that has been shown to reduce these compounds. That’s why professional water testing is such an important first step. Before investing in any filtration system, it’s helpful to understand exactly what is in your water and which treatment technology is most appropriate.
Boiling water may make it safer from bacteria during emergencies, but it does not remove PFAS or other dissolved chemical contaminants. If PFAS are present in your drinking water, boiling should never be considered a treatment solution.
Which Water Treatment Systems Can Reduce PFAS?
Not every filtration system is designed to reduce PFAS. While many products improve taste or remove sediment, only certain treatment technologies have demonstrated effectiveness for reducing many PFAS compounds.
Two of the most widely recognized treatment methods are:
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Reverse osmosis systems force water through an extremely fine membrane that can reduce many dissolved contaminants, including numerous PFAS compounds. Because of its high level of filtration, reverse osmosis is often installed at the kitchen sink to provide cleaner drinking and cooking water.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
Activated carbon filters work by adsorbing contaminants onto the surface of specially treated carbon media. Properly designed and maintained carbon filtration systems have been shown to reduce many PFAS compounds while also improving the taste and odor of drinking water.
The effectiveness of either system depends on several factors, including which PFAS compounds are present, their concentration, the condition of the filtration media, and proper system maintenance. This is why professional testing and system selection are important instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
What About Water Softeners?
Many homeowners assume that because a water softener improves water quality, it also removes every contaminant. That’s a common misunderstanding.
A traditional water softener is designed to remove hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium. It is not intended to remove PFAS, bacteria, nitrates, or many other dissolved contaminants.
That doesn’t mean a water softener isn’t valuable. Softened water helps protect plumbing, appliances, fixtures, and water-using equipment from mineral buildup. However, if PFAS reduction is your goal, additional treatment technologies are typically recommended.
How to Reduce PFAS Exposure at Home
While drinking water is one of the easiest sources of exposure to address, it’s only one piece of the bigger picture. Consider these practical steps:
- Use drinking water treatment systems designed to reduce PFAS.
- Schedule professional water testing if you’re concerned about your home’s water quality.
- Replace filter cartridges according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Choose stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic cookware instead of older non-stick products when appropriate.
- Be mindful of products marketed as stain-resistant or water-repellent, as some may contain PFAS.
- Avoid heating food in grease-resistant packaging when possible.
While it’s difficult to eliminate PFAS exposure entirely, reducing exposure where you have control—especially your drinking water—can be a meaningful step toward improving your home’s overall water quality.
Why Professional Water Testing Matters
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is purchasing a filtration system before understanding what’s actually in their water.
Water quality varies from one home to another. Municipal water supplies, private wells, neighborhood infrastructure, and local geology can all influence which contaminants are present and at what levels.
Professional water testing removes the guesswork. Instead of selecting equipment based on advertising claims alone, testing helps identify your home’s actual water conditions so treatment recommendations are based on facts rather than assumptions.
For many homeowners, this approach results in a treatment system that is both more effective and better suited to their family’s needs.
The best water treatment system isn’t necessarily the most expensive one—it’s the one that’s designed to address your home’s specific water conditions. Professional testing helps ensure you invest in the right solution the first time.
Local Water Treatment Solutions for Minnesota Homeowners
Minnesota homeowners face a variety of water quality challenges depending on where they live and whether they receive municipal water or rely on a private well. While not every water source contains PFAS, awareness and testing have increased significantly as research and monitoring continue across the country.
Commers helps homeowners throughout Blaine, Golden Valley, Burnsville, and surrounding Twin Cities communities better understand their water through professional testing and customized treatment recommendations. Rather than recommending the same equipment for every home, the team evaluates each water supply individually to determine the most appropriate solution.
For homeowners interested in reducing PFAS and other drinking water contaminants, systems such as reverse osmosis, activated carbon filtration, and the Home Shield water treatment solution may provide an effective combination of technologies based on the results of your water test.
Frequently Asked Questions About PFAS in Drinking Water
What are PFAS?
Why are PFAS called forever chemicals?
Can PFAS get into my home’s drinking water?
Does boiling water remove PFAS?
Do all water filters remove PFAS?
Should Minnesota homeowners test their water for PFAS?
Protect Your Drinking Water with Confidence
PFAS have become one of the most important water quality topics in recent years—and for good reason. While these chemicals have been used in everyday products for decades, scientists and regulatory agencies continue learning more about how they move through the environment and how exposure can be reduced.
The encouraging news is that homeowners are not powerless. Although it’s impossible to eliminate every source of PFAS exposure, your drinking water is one area where proven treatment technologies can make a meaningful difference. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration have become trusted options for reducing many PFAS compounds when they’re properly selected, installed, and maintained.
The most important step is understanding your water before choosing a treatment system. Professional testing provides the information needed to identify potential contaminants and recommend a solution that’s tailored to your home’s unique water conditions—not a generic, one-size-fits-all approach.
If you’re concerned about PFAS in your drinking water, Commers can help you better understand your water quality and recommend treatment options that fit your family’s needs. From professional water testing to advanced filtration solutions like the Home Shield system, our team is committed to helping Minnesota homeowners enjoy cleaner, better water with confidence.
