How to Get PFAS Out of Drinking Water—and Keep It Out
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Summary
Chemours and chemicals giant DuPont manufactured PFAS (forever chemicals), which have been found in tap water in England and the US, in North Carolina, with alarming results.
Drinking water there has been found to contain these carcinogenic chemicals at levels far above permitted limits.
The chemicals are extremely robust and have ended up practically everywhere in the environment, according to Colin Cooke at the University of Alberta.
It is possible to remove these chemicals from water using reverse osmosis, activated carbon filtration, or ion exchange.
Jordan Poler, a chemistry professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has developed a reusable filter that he intends to bring to market soon.
The spent filter can be regenerated and then processed to break down the carbon-fluorine bonds for safe disposal.
Epic Water Filters’ pitcher filters are effective at removing PFAS, according to the Environmental Working Group.
The company is due to launch a new model in about three months’ time that also removes heavy metals and fluoride.
Community-level water facilities need to install large-scale filtration systems to avoid the perpetuation of the toxic cycle, says Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist at EWG.
