We may get a commission if you purchase through links. When you think about threats to your health, does water straight from your kitchen sink pop up? Most Americans use filters on their tap water to get rid of the usual suspects—stuff like lead and chlorine. But now there’s a new troublemaker on the block: “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS. These nasty compounds have started showing up in drinking water, making that thing flowing from your tap something to worry about even more than before. The good news? You’ve got options. You can reach out to your water company and get yourself a solid water filter to keep these forever chemicals out. If you haven’t heard about PFAS yet, here’s what you need to know: they’re human-made chemicals that scientists have linked to some pretty serious health stuff—we’re talking certain types of cancer, problems with reproduction, and issues with your metabolism. They earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they stick around in both the environment and our bodies for, well, basically forever. Nonstick cookware, like that Teflon stuff you’ve got in your kitchen, is probably the most famous source of these chemicals. But that’s just scratching the surface—you’ll also find them in grease-resistant food packaging, dental floss, and stain-resistant or waterproof gear. These compounds end up in our water through everyday household use and manufacturing, so pretty much everyone could be exposed through their tap water.
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Two simple steps to keep PFAS out of your water
PeopleImages/Shutterstock Ready to tackle the forever chemicals problem? Start by checking in with your local water utility. Ask them if they’re keeping tabs on PFAS and if they’re filtering it out. If they’re not doing either, don’t panic—you can filter your water at home to be safe. Have a well on your property? Your water probably isn’t affected, but running a quick test never hurts. Companies like offer water testing kits that’ll tell you whether your drinking water has a PFAS problem or if you’re in the clear.
Once you discover your water does have PFAS lurking in it, grab either a reverse osmosis filter or a granular activated carbon filter—these are your best bets for actually removing those forever chemicals. You’ve got flexible choices here, from portable countertop filters like ones that labs have confirmed eliminate 100% of tested PFAS, to complete whole-home systems that’ll clean up your shower and bath water too. Just make sure whatever system you pick has been tested by an independent lab or comes with PFAS reduction certification. Hunt for the labels NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58.
