How to remove PFAS or Forever Chemicals in Water in the UK

We’re very lucky in the UK!

You may not believe it, but we have probably the best public water supply in the world.

However, it’s not perfect, and one of the things that detracts from that good record is PFAS in water. In this article you are going to find out what are PFAs in water, also known as forever chemicals, and how to remove pfas chemicals from drinking water.

Let’s dive in!

PFAS in water

The initials PFAS stand for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, difficult just to say which is why they are more memorably referred to as “forever chemicals”.

It also gives a clue as to one of the reasons there’s concern about ensuring they are controlled, reduced, and removed from both the environment and drinking water supplies – PFAS in water don’t break down over time.

There are thousands of chemical substances that are in the group PFAS and they are incredibly useful in everyday life.

This group of chemicals can be found in non-stick coatings, batteries, medical devices, stain resistant fabrics, food packaging, plastic bottles, and lubricants for the equipment that makes them – the list is endless.

But as useful and effective as they are in making our modern lives so much better and easier, PFAs chemicals can also have serious effects on human and animal health.

The UK government is being lobbied to reduce the permitted levels of forever chemicals or PFAs in water courses (streams and rivers, etc) as well as in the public water supply. Change is certainly on its way due to the results of recent research and the efforts of scientists.

But the purpose of this article is not to create a health scare, panic people, or go into all the technical complexities of what PFAS are and what they’re used for.

The objective of this article is to provide some practical guidance on what to do about PFAS or forever chemicals in the water supply to your home.

Are there PFAs in tap water?

Tap water is tightly regulated in the UK, but there probably is a small amount of PFAS or forever chemicals in the water.

The water regulations in the UK state that the maximum allowed in water courses is 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). One nanogram per litre is one billionth of a gram in a litre (1000 grams) of water.

Water companies filter and dilute the water they supply to make that dilution even lower – 10 ng/L at most, which is classed as low risk in the UK, EU, and US for the majority of PFAS in water.

There are lower levels permitted or for certain PFAS known as PFOA and PFOS.

PFAS in plastic water bottles

So, you are wondering how to get rid of forever chemicals in water. First, let’s look at the scale of the issue.

The ambition is to reduce the amount of PFAS chemicals in drinking water to as low as is practicable.

Why is it “as low as is practicable” and not “remove all” the PFAS chemicals from water?

The aim is to reduce the levels of forever chemicals to be well within safe limits. Taking it further is where the law of diminishing returns applies, you can spend vast amounts of money and only make small further gains.

The term “practicable” can also be interpreted as “affordable but effective”.

The concentrations of PFAS in your drinking water are smaller than miniscule.

Can forever chemicals be filtered out of water?

Water filters can certainly help reduce or remove the levels of PFAS and other things you may not want in your water.

Stephanie Metzger, Policy Advisor at the Royal Society of Chemistry says in this article, "We know that PFAS can be filtered from drinking water – the technology exists, so increasing the level of filtration is just a matter of expense and political will."

But why wait for politicians to recognise the need when you can take action yourself, now?

Particle or sediment filters are unlikely to be of much use, the physical size of the PFAS chemicals means that they will just flow straight through even the finest sub-micron filter medium.

On the other hand adsorption, where the molecules of the contaminant are attracted to and “stick” to the molecules of the filter medium in the cartridge, is the most effective and low cost method of filtering out substances like PFAS.

Activated carbon is used for this purpose to remove all sorts of contaminants from drinking water.

Best water filters to remove PFAS

Given that adsorption is likely to be the best water filters to remove PFAS from your water at a reasonable cost it’s worth considering what sort of water filter system is going to suit you.

There are three types ofactivated carbon water filters that are suitable to remove forever chemicals in water, two of which are easy to obtain, and another that only a few manufacturers can supply.

Granular Activated Carbon

Also known as GAC, granular activated carbon filters contain a granulated carbon media, in a filter canister, or sometime loose inside larger vessels.

GAC is an effective filter medium, although it can become inefficient if water creates channels in the media which reduces the surface area that is in contact with the water to be filtered.

Carbon Block

Carbon block water filter cartridges are more efficient at removing contaminants such as PFAS than GAC, though they are very similar in many respects.

These filter cartridges are made from GAC by compressing and extruding it into solid blocks (hence the name) which are then wrapped in a protective covering.

Channelling is not an issue with a carbon block, and the high-pressure compression used creates a denser filter medium with increased surface are in the same dimensions as a GAC cartridge.

This makes carbon block more efficient at removing contaminants than GAC can achieve.

NanoCeram PAC

NanoCeram PAC filter cartridges are made by Argonide, a highly innovative company from the USA.

NanoCeram PAC and PACB are pleated filter cartridges that remove a plethora of particles, microorganisms, and chemicals from water.

Using an electropositive technology, and carbon coating, plus carbon block in the larger cartridges the NanoCeram PAC cover all bases.

They offer a high flow rate with a 0.2 micron rating, and the carbon coating (plus carbon block) gives a high contact time for the removal of PFAS, chlorine, and other chemicals.

Having established that an activated carbon filter is what you need, the next step is to choose the water filter system.

Whole House Filters

When it comes to whole house water filters, the options here are fairly simple…

If you want to filter all the water in your home, then you need to have a filter system big enough to cope with the flow rate demands placed on it.

For a single bathroom flat system containing a 4.5’’ x 10’’ carbon block cartridge is a good choice. That will provide water flowing at around 10 litres per minute – enough for most showers.

A system with a NanoCeram PACB will give a higher flow rate should you want it.

For bigger properties the system you require will contain at least a 4.5’’ x 20’’ carbon filter cartridge, or NanoCeram PACB.

These will give you at least 20 litres per minute and will make your water taste and smell much nicer, as well as giving you the peace of mind that you’ve removed most of the unpleasant things from the water that might be there.

There are even bigger systems available for very large houses or commercial premises, such as Watts Big Bubba with an activated carbon cartridge. This will provide up to 56 litres per minute of lovely, filtered water. They even offer a 15 litre per minute option to remove the most harmful type of PFAS (PFOS/PFOA).

Drinking Water Filters

Drinking water filters are another choice to remove forever chemicals from water.

You have to consider two options here. Do you want to filter all the water to your kitchen tap or install a dedicated drinking water filter tap?

If it’s the first of those then we’re back to that 4.5’’ x 10’’ system mentioned previously. If you want a water filter tap, this

is a much smaller filter system that easily fits under the sink and doesn’t take up much room – for example the Oyster Taste and Chemicals Under Sink Water Filter.

Or an affordable Pearl T Drinking Water Filter makes removing PFAS very accessible.

Other Ways to Get Rid of Forever Chemicals in Water

You may have heard that Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the best or only way of removing forever chemicals from water.

It’s true that reverse osmosis systems will get rid of PFOS but they do that using multiple stages of carbon block and/or GAC filter cartridges – just the same as the non-RO filter systems. They also strip out good minerals, and then some put minerals back in with a final stage.

This makes them cumbersome and expensive, as well as slow to produce the water desires.

If you really do want to filter your water for as much as you can then one of our Water Purifiers is a very good option – for whole house, single tap, or just a small drinking water filter.

As you can see there’s a lot you can do to reduce your consumption of and exposure to PFAS chemicals – and it needn’t be expensive!

Some useful further reading and information for you:

BBC News

RSC interactive map

When it comes to water filtration, everyone has different needs, requirements, and expectations so we really encourage you to contact us here on our helpdesk or call 01352 838281 to talk to us about your individual circumstances.

FAQ

What are forever chemicals?

Forever chemicals are substances found in items such as non-stick coatings on pans, stain resistant fabrics, food packaging, plastic bottles, to name but a few. You may also see them being referred to as PFAS which stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Forever chemicals do not break down over time which is why they are of such concern.

Can PFAS be filtered out of water?

Yes, PFAS can be filtered out of water, and you don't have to wait for someone else to do it. You can do it yourself. A water filter system containing an activated carbon water filter cartridge is the most effective and low cost way to remove PFAS from water.

How to avoid forever chemicals in the UK?

One of the best ways to avoid PFAS and reduce your consumption of forever chemicals in the UK is to install a low cost water purifier from Fountain Filters.