What is PFAS?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — a family of thousands of human-made chemicals used since the mid-20th century in everything from non-stick coatings to firefighting foam. They earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they barely break down in the environment or the body.
In 2024 the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking-water limits for several PFAS compounds, set at just a few parts per trillion. Minnesota has been ahead of the curve here, partly because of a well-known history in the east metro — the 3M manufacturing legacy left a groundwater plume that communities like Woodbury, Cottage Grove, and Lake Elmo have been actively managing.
The honest picture across the metro is mixed. Many cities show only trace detections well under the limits; a handful sit at or above the new EPA thresholds and are installing treatment. Your city's water report — and your WaterIQ result — will tell you where your system stands.
Why PFAS matters
PFAS are linked in research to a range of health concerns, which is why the new limits are so low. Unlike hardness or chlorine, this isn't a taste-and-comfort issue — it's the kind of thing worth taking seriously if it's elevated in your water.
The important thing is to respond to your actual numbers, not the headlines. A city with trace detections far below the limit is a very different situation from one that exceeds it. We help you read the difference rather than sell you fear.
What to do about PFAS
For drinking water, the proven, practical fix is a reverse-osmosis (RO) system at the kitchen sink. A good RO membrane rejects the vast majority of PFAS, and it sharpens the taste of your water as a bonus. Because you only treat the water you drink and cook with, it's far more economical than trying to treat the whole house.
Whole-home PFAS reduction is possible with the right granular activated carbon or specialized media, and makes sense in specific situations, but for most homes point-of-use RO is the sensible, cost-effective answer.
One caveat we're always straight about: PFAS can't be tested with a strip in your kitchen — it requires a certified laboratory. Our free in-home test covers the everyday water quality; for PFAS specifically we'll point you to your city's published data and the right lab if you want your own number.