As Earth Day approaches, this global observance serves as a reminder that protecting the environment also means paying closer attention to the conditions that shape daily life at home, including the quality of the water we use.
One issue drawing increasing attention in that conversation is forever chemicals, or PFAS, which have been found in everything from food packaging to drinking water. Scientists are still working to better understand the risks, while new regulations and advances in household filtration are making it easier to reduce everyday exposure.
What are forever chemicals?
Forever chemicals, or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic chemicals. Their strong carbon-fluorine bonds are among the toughest single bonds in organic chemistry. That durability explains why they’ve been used since the 1940s in products designed to resist water, oil and heat.
Chemists and product developers have utilised these bonds for their strength. Environmental scientists, however, tend to view them with less enthusiasm.
In fact, you’ve almost certainly encountered them in everyday life. Products like non-stick cookware, waterproof textiles and food packaging have all relied on PFAS chemistry. But that same durability comes with a downside. Because carbon-fluorine bonds are so difficult to break, these chemicals are extremely persistent in the environment, hence the nickname ‘forever chemicals’.
PFAS are also water-soluble and highly mobile. Once released into the environment, they can travel easily through groundwater and rivers, accumulating in soil, wildlife and ultimately, people. Today, studies suggest that over 99 per cent of people worldwide have detectable PFAS in their blood.
Scientists are still working to understand exactly what this widespread exposure means for long-term health. Research has linked certain PFAS to a range of potential effects, including impacts on the immune system, cholesterol levels, reproductive health, liver damage, thyroid problems and increased risk of some cancers.
But the good news is that PFAS are no longer an obscure environmental concern. They are now a well-recognised issue that regulators, researchers, water utilities and households are increasingly addressing.
In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced new U.S. drinking water standards for two of the best-studied PFAS chemicals: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The limit is just four parts per trillion (ppt), an extraordinarily small amount. To picture it, that’s roughly the equivalent of one drop in five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Are PFAS in my drinking water?
Possibly – but it depends where you live. A 2023 survey by the United States Geological Survey estimated that around 45 per cent of US drinking water sources may contain at least one PFAS compound. Contamination was noted in both public supplies and private wells, particularly in urban areas and locations close to known sources.
Unfortunately, it’s relatively easy for PFAS to find their way into drinking water. When PFAS-treated items are thrown away, they often end up in landfills. Over time, as these items age and break down, small amounts of PFAS can leach out. Rainwater filtering though the waste creates ‘landfill leachate’, which can carry the chemicals into nearby soil and groundwater.
But PFAS can also escape earlier in a product’s life. Washing waterproof or stain-resistant fabric, for example, can release tiny amounts of PFAS into wastewater. Because most wastewater treatment plants were never designed to remove these highly persistent chemicals, they often pass slip through treatment systems into rivers and lakes.
Once in the environment, PFAS can travel long distances through groundwater and rivers, ending up in the water supplies that feed household faucets.
PFAS contamination varies widely across the U.S, meaning exposure often depends on geography. Communities near historical manufacturing sites, military bases or airports are more at risk due to years of industrial activity and firefighting foam use. As a result, well-studied hotspots include parts of New Jersey, North Carolina and California.
In contrast, some of the cleanest water supplies are found in less industrialised regions, particularly in Hawaii, Vermont and the US Virgin Islands. Forested watersheds and protected mountain catchments in states such as Maine, Vermont and Minnesota help naturally filter water before it reaches reservoirs and aquifers.
While many public water utilities already meet federal safety standards, PFAS monitoring is evolving. In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency introduced the first national drinking water limits for several PFAS compounds, requiring utilities to test their supplies and, where necessary, install treatment systems to reduce levels over the coming years.
If you’re curious about what’s in your own faucet water, one of the most widely used tools is the interactive tap water database from the Environmental Working Group. It allows you to enter your zip code and see what contaminants have been detected in local water supplies.
How can I reduce my exposure?
So, what can we do about it? The good news is that exposure doesn’t have to feel inevitable, and you can filter out most of the remaining PFAS at home. Which is where Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology comes in. Unlike natural osmosis, which allows water to move across a membrane to balance concentrations, RO forces water the opposite way. Think of it like a precision sieve: water molecules (under pressure) pass through a membrane, but larger contaminants (including PFOS, PFOA, heavy metals and organic pollutants) are filtered out and left behind.
Waterdrop filters use this technology. Testing shows that their systems can reduce PFOS and PFOA by up to 98 per cent. Their tankless systems also have practical advantages: they take up less space and tend to waste less water than traditional tank-based systems.
If you’re thinking about filtration, the key question is not just whether the tech works, but how easily it fits into everyday life. Different homes and lifestyles require different solutions.
For example, the ‘Balanced Reverse Osmosis System’ (G3P800) is a high-capacity system that sits neatly under your sink and is designed to be installed without specialist plumbing skills.
It’s fast, too, filling a 6oz cup of purified water in around five seconds. The system is certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 58 and 372, and is capable of reducing PFOA levels by up to 98% and PFOS by up to 99%.
For those seeking higher performance, the ‘Flagship RO System’ (X16) offers an upgraded version with ultra-fast flow, filling the same 6oz cup in just two seconds.
Designed for busier kitchens and heavier water use, it provides a higher-capacity system suitable for cooking, drinking and other everyday tasks. The system is certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 58 and 372, and is capable of reducing PFOA levels by up to 98.88% and PFOS by up to 98.97%.
And for renters or anyone with a more mobile lifestyle, Waterdrop’s smaller under-sink unit (DLG-P) provides a lightweight, space-saving solution. It’s relatively inexpensive, simple to install, and designed to work without any permanent plumbing changes. Additionally, it achieves 99.7% PFOA and 99.6% PFOS reduction, and is certified to NSF/ANSI standard 372.
Whether you’re aiming to reduce exposure in a permanent home or a rental apartment, RO systems show how scientifically validated filtration technology can translate into practical solutions for everyday households.
You can get the products listed here for a limited time. The G3P800 will be available for $759 (from $999), the X16 will be reduced to $1499 (from $1999) and the DLG-P is on sale for $99.99 (from $109.99). Offer ends 22 April.
Check your local water quality via the EWG map and enter your zip code, know what’s in your tap water and discover which Waterdrop Filter’s RO system fits your home’s specific needs. Take the first step toward a 98 per cent reduction in PFOS/PFOA today. Find the RO system that fits your home and your zip code.
