How to Reduce PFAS from your Water at Home with Filtration

What is PFAS, and where does it come from?

Also known as 'forever chemicals', PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a collective term for thousands of man-made chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS. These chemicals persist in the environment and can accumulate in the human body. PFAS are commonly found in non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and firefighting foams, and they have been bioaccumulating in the environment since the 1940s.

Although research on their effects on humans is still developing, the World Health Organisation recently classified certain PFAS compounds as carcinogenic to humans.

Can PFAS be filtered out of water?

There are two primary types of home water treatment systems that filter PFAS chemicals:

  • 1. Point-of-Use (POU) Systems:These treat water at a specific location, like an under sink filter, or reverse osmosis unit.

  • 2. Point-of-Entry (POE) Systems:Installed at the main water inlet, these systems treat all water used in the home, including for drinking, bathing, and cleaning.

Puretec offers effective filtration solutions to reduce PFAS levels. Below are our recommended options.

How to filter PFAS from your water with the Puretec range:

1. Best Option:Pair aWhole House Filterand anUnder Sink Reverse Osmosis Unit

Application PFAS Water Filter System FilterWall

FilterWall ™ F5 Whole House Water Filter System

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Application PFAS Water Filter System FilterWall
RO270 Reverse Osmosis Filter System
  • WHERE TO BUY

For optimal protection against PFAS, we recommend combining theFilterWall F5Whole House Filtration System with theRO270Reverse Osmosis Undersink System.

  • FilterWall F5:A 3-stage system featuring sediment filtration and two stages of activated carbon filtration, which effectively absorb PFAS. Installing a whole house system at the point of entry means all water is filtered before entering your home. This reduces your overall chemical exposure beyond drinking water, as it treats water used for bathing, washing clothes, and dishwashing.

  • RO270 Reverse Osmosis System:Provides an ultra-fine filtration process that separates contaminants from water, reducing PFAS and other impurities.

Reverse osmosis is highly effective, removing up to 96% of dissolved contaminants, including heavy metals, salts, viruses, bacteria, cysts, fluoride, nitrates, chlorine, and odours.

Installing a whole house filtration system improves overall health protection, benefits skin and hair, and helps prevent sediment build-up in plumbing.

2. Good Option:Pair aWhole Home Filterand anUnder Sink Filter

Application PFAS Water Filter System FilterWall

FilterWall ™ F5 Whole House Water Filter System

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Application PFAS Water Filter System FilterWall
PureMix Z7 Under Sink Filter         
  • WHERE TO BUY

For a solid level of protection, we recommend pairing theFilterWall F5complete home filtration system with thePureMix Z7 Undersink Filter.

ThePureMix Z7is anundersink filterfeaturing 4 levels of filtration, reducing contaminants down to1 micron(*nominal rating).

The dual filtration approach effectively reduces PFAS with carbon absorption at both the point of entry (whole house) and point of use (undersink drinking water filter), and is our second-best option to minimise PFAS exposure.

3. Essential Option:Whole House Filtration Systemonly

Application PFAS Water Filter System FilterWall

FilterWall ™ F5 Whole House Water Filter System

Choose the FilterWall F5 for a filtration solution that stands strong on its own as an effective PFAS reduction solution. With a multi-stage design featuring sediment reduction and an extra-large activated carbon stage, it captures and reduces chemicals across your entire water supply – protecting you during drinking, cooking, and bathing.

This point-of-entry system doesn’t just target PFAS; it also filters out common impurities like chlorine, improving taste and odour throughout your home.

While a reverse osmosis purifier can be added for those seeking the absolute maximum in drinking water purity, the FilterWall F5 provides reliable protection that meets the needs of most families without any additional add-ons.

Product Links

Here are the PFAS water filters recommended and suitable for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does PFAS stand for?

PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of over 4000 chemicals.

What do studies say about PFAS?

Some types of PFAS have been linked to cancer, liver damage, thyroid and insulin problems, negative changes to the immune system, birth defects, delayed development in children, and other health issues. The latest research (April 2024) is now implying that PFAS chemicals "raise mortality from cardiovascular disease (in particular, heart diseases and ischemic heart disease) and malignant neoplastic diseases, including kidney cancer and testicular cancer."

In April 2024, the US EPA announced new guideline levels for 4 PFAS chemicals. Comparison with the 2017 Australian Guidelines indicate that "safe levels" are 140 times higher than the new US guidelines (and 1,250 times lower than the Australian 2016 guidelines)

Dr. Nicholas Chartres, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney, noted that the U.S. standards for PFAS are "many magnitudes lower than the current level that we have in Australia." While he acknowledged that water filters can help reduce PFAS levels, he also mentioned the potential health risks associated with using bottled water as an alternative.

Dr. Lloyd-Smith also noted that PFAS exposure isn't limited to drinking water; it can also come from food, personal care products, and industrial goods like paints and pesticides. To mitigate risks, Australians are advised to use water filters where possible.

Early studies have suggested that PFOA is dermally absorbed (absorbed through the skin) and that under certain conditions, the skin may be a significant route of exposure (Franko et al., 2012). Unfortunately, most studies have ignored dermal PFOA exposure in their investigations, due to the assumption that it is not well absorbed by the skin.

Is PFAS likely to be affecting my household?

Reports indicate that PFAS have been detected in the drinking water of up to 1.8 million Australians since 2010, including in areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and regional centres across Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory. The Australian PFAS Chemicals Map is a detailed resource offering information on known exposure sites.

Will boiling my water treat PFAS chemicals?

Boiling water is not considered to be an effective method of removing PFAS.

How important is it to regularly change filters?

Regardless of the system chosen, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines to ensure the filters remain effective. Maintenance can include washing cartridges, changing filters, disinfecting the unit, backwashing, or cleaning out mineral build-up (scale). Water treatment units that are not properly maintained will lose their effectiveness over time.

What has the Australian Government said?

Advice from the Australian Government PFAS Taskforce concluded "While we know these chemicals can persist in humans, animals, and the environment, there is currently limited understanding of the human health effects of long-term PFAS exposure. Therefore, as a precaution, governments in Australia recommend that exposure be reduced wherever possible while research into any potential health effects continues".

How do PFAS move through the environment?

Dr. Jessica Ray, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington advises: "Unfortunately, PFAS like to stick to solid surfaces like soils. They can dissolve in water and enter the Earth's atmosphere. And because PFAS can permeate air, water and soil, humans and animals can be exposed to them in a multitude of ways.

Is there PFAS in bottled drinking water?

Unfortunately,researchers have detected PFASin many, many drinking water sources worldwide. Not just surface water and groundwater,but bottled water as well.

Does boiling water remove PFAS?

While this hasn’t been proven, this can be a quick short term aid until proper filtration is installed. PFAS is best treated with filtration.

How can we avoid personal exposure to PFAS?

Dr. Jessica Ray, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington advises: "Finding ways to remove PFAS loads to the environment and to drinking water will be important given the Environmental Protection Agency ruling in April 2024 to regulate several PFAS in drinking water. If you are filtering your water at home using a filtration cartridge, then that can help to remove a wide variety of contaminants. These contaminants can include heavy metals or other dissolved contaminants in water".

References:

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Where to buy

Puretec is the preferred water filtration supplier among the plumbing, building and irrigation stores. To find out more about product stock, we recommend calling your chosen store prior to visiting.

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