PFAS: The 'Forever Chemicals' in Drinking Water
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in nonstick coatings, firefighting foam, and countless consumer products. They are called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment and accumulate in the human body, with links to cancer and other health effects.
In 2024 the EPA finalized the first national, legally enforceable drinking-water limits for several PFAS compounds. Utilities across the country now face the costly task of testing for and removing PFAS, often using granular activated carbon, ion exchange, or reverse osmosis.
Because advanced reuse treatment trains already include reverse osmosis, recycled-water projects are sometimes better positioned to handle PFAS than conventional supplies — turning a contamination challenge into an argument for purification infrastructure.
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New Jersey
North Carolina
Massachusetts
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