Are “Forever Chemicals” in Your Tap Water? What Bryan/College Station Homeowners Should Know

If you've heard the term “forever chemicals” lately, you may have wondered what it means for the water coming out of your own faucet.

Can PFAS be in tap water? Can you see, smell or taste them? Does your refrigerator filter remove them? What about a water softener? And if you're concerned about PFAS, what kind of filtration should you actually be looking for?

These are important questions, especially because choosing a water-treatment system shouldn't start with a product.

It should start with understanding what you want to remove from your water.

At American Plumbing Company, we're seeing homeowners become much more interested in what is actually in their water and what different filtration systems are designed to do. Here's what homeowners in Bryan/College Station should know.

What Are PFAS, PFOA and PFOS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for decades.

Two PFAS compounds you may hear about frequently are PFOA and PFOS.

PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because many of them break down extremely slowly and can persist in the environment for long periods of time.

One of the difficult things about PFAS is that you can't simply look at a glass of water and know whether they're present.

Water can look perfectly clear and still contain substances you can't see, smell or taste.

That leads to one of the questions we think homeowners should ask more often:

What is my water filter actually designed to remove?

Does a Regular Water Filter Remove PFAS?

Not necessarily.

“Filtered water” is a broad term, and different filtration technologies are designed to address different things.

A basic filter may improve taste or reduce certain contaminants, while another filtration system may be specifically tested or certified for particular substances.

That's why we encourage homeowners to look beyond the word filter on the box.

Instead, look for specific information about what the product has been tested or certified to reduce.

If PFAS is your concern, for example, you want to know whether the particular system you're considering is designed and tested for PFAS reduction.

Does a Water Softener Remove PFAS?

A traditional water softener and a water filtration system aren't the same thing.

Water softeners are primarily designed to address hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium. That's helpful for problems such as scale buildup, but it doesn't mean the system is designed to remove every contaminant a homeowner may be concerned about.

This is one reason we don't like a one-size-fits-all approach to water treatment.

If your primary concern is hardness, your solution may look different from someone whose primary concern is PFAS, lead, chlorine, taste, odor or another water-quality issue.

What About the Filter in My Refrigerator?

Again, it depends on the specific filter.

Refrigerator filters can be great for improving drinking water, particularly taste and odor, but their capabilities vary significantly.

There's also an important difference between point-of-use and whole-home filtration.

A refrigerator or under-sink system treats water at a particular location. A whole-home filtration system is installed where water enters the home, allowing it to treat water before it travels to faucets and fixtures throughout the house.

Neither approach is automatically “better.”

The right choice depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

Can a Whole-House Water Filter Reduce PFAS?

Some whole-home systems are specifically designed and tested to reduce PFAS compounds.

That's why we're excited about a new option available through HALO Water Systems: the HALO Defender II Whole House Filtration System.

According to HALO's product information, the Defender II is certified to remove:

97.9% of PFOA/PFOS

and

99.62% of lead.

Those are very specific claims, and that's important.

When evaluating water-treatment equipment, we recommend looking for specific performance information rather than broad promises about “clean” or “healthy” water.

What Is the HALO Defender II?

The HALO Defender II is a whole-house filtration system designed for homeowners particularly concerned about contaminants including PFOA/PFOS and lead.

Because it's installed as a whole-home system, filtration occurs before water is distributed throughout the home rather than treating only one drinking-water faucet.

HALO also designed the system with a high-capacity replaceable cartridge, bypass valve, flow meter and a monitoring system that helps indicate remaining filter life.

American Plumbing Company is a HALO Certified Partner, so this is one of the professional water-treatment options we can now offer homeowners in Bryan/College Station.

But there's an important point we want homeowners to understand:

We don't believe every house automatically needs the same system.

What We Look at Before Recommending Water Filtration

This is where having a conversation with a plumber can be helpful.

Before choosing a system, think about the problem you're actually trying to solve.

Are you concerned about:

Hard water and scale buildup?

The taste or smell of your water?

Lead?

PFAS or “forever chemicals”?

Chlorine?

Drinking-water quality?

Protecting plumbing fixtures and appliances?

Or are you simply trying to understand what's in your water?

These aren't necessarily the same problems, and they don't always require the same solution.

At American Plumbing Company, we would rather help a homeowner understand what they're trying to solve than simply sell them a piece of equipment.

Some families are mainly frustrated by hard water. Others don't like the taste or smell of their water. And increasingly, homeowners are asking questions about contaminants such as lead and PFAS.

The right water-treatment system depends on the problem you're trying to solve.

How Do I Know What's Actually in My Water?

This is one of our favorite questions because it gets to the heart of the issue.

Don't guess.

If you're seriously concerned about a particular contaminant, start by looking at reliable information about your water supply and, when appropriate, consider having your water tested.

Knowing what you're dealing with makes it much easier to evaluate filtration options.

It also helps you avoid spending money on equipment designed to solve a problem you don't actually have.

Whole-Home Filtration vs. Reverse Osmosis: Which Do I Need?

This is another question we hear when homeowners start researching water quality.

Reverse osmosis systems are commonly installed at a specific point of use, such as the kitchen sink, to provide highly filtered drinking and cooking water.

Whole-home systems treat water before it's distributed throughout the house.

And in some homes, using different types of water treatment together may make sense.

Again, it comes back to the same question:

What are you trying to accomplish with your water?

That's the conversation we believe should happen before choosing equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see or taste PFAS in drinking water?

Generally, you can't determine whether PFAS are present simply by looking at, smelling or tasting the water. If you're concerned about PFAS, rely on water-quality information or appropriate testing rather than appearance.

Will a water softener remove PFAS?

Traditional water softeners are primarily designed to address hardness minerals. Homeowners specifically concerned about PFAS should look for filtration equipment designed and tested for PFAS reduction.

Does reverse osmosis remove PFAS?

Certain reverse-osmosis systems can reduce PFAS, but performance depends on the particular system. Look at the manufacturer's testing or certification for the specific contaminants you're concerned about.

Can I filter PFAS from my entire house?

Whole-home filtration systems designed and tested for PFAS reduction are available. The HALO Defender II, for example, is a whole-house filtration system that HALO states is certified to remove 97.9% of PFOA/PFOS.

Does the HALO Defender II remove lead?

According to HALO Water Systems' product information, the Defender II is certified to remove 99.62% of lead.

Do all Bryan/College Station homes need whole-house water filtration?

No. Every homeowner's priorities are different. The appropriate system depends on your water, your home's plumbing and what you're specifically trying to address.

Concerned About What's in Your Water?

You don't have to become a water-treatment expert to start asking better questions.

If you're concerned about PFAS, lead, hardness, taste, odor or overall water quality, start by identifying what you actually want to change about your water.

American Plumbing Company helps homeowners throughout Bryan/College Station and surrounding areas understand their water-treatment options and determine which solutions make sense for their homes.

As a HALO Certified Partner, we can also help homeowners determine whether a whole-home system such as the new HALO Defender II fits what they're trying to accomplish.

Because when it comes to your home's water, the goal shouldn't be to buy the most equipment. Click here to learn more about our water filtration services and book an in-home visit.

It should be to choose the right solution for your water and your family.