The Environmental Working Group estimates PFAS chemicals have been detected in drinking water serving over 200 million Americans. Most don't know it. Most water quality reports don't mention it. And until April 2024, there was no federal limit on any of them.
What PFAS Actually Are
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They're a group of over 12,000 man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in industries across the globe since the 1940s.
They're called "forever chemicals" for one reason: the carbon-fluorine bond they're built on is one of the strongest in chemistry. It doesn't break down in the environment. It doesn't break down in your body. Once it's in, it stays in — accumulating over time with every glass of water, every shower, every bite of food prepared with contaminated water.
You've encountered PFAS your whole life without knowing it. They're used in:
- Nonstick cookware (Teflon)
- Food packaging — pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers
- Firefighting foam (AFFF) used at military bases and airports
- Stain-resistant carpet and fabric treatments (Scotchgard)
- Waterproof clothing and outdoor gear
- Dental floss coatings
- Hundreds of industrial manufacturing processes
All of those products shed PFAS into the environment — into soil, into groundwater, into rivers, and eventually into the treatment plants that supply your tap water.
How PFAS Get Into Your Drinking Water
PFAS enter water supplies through several pathways — and once they're in, standard water treatment does almost nothing to remove them.
Military bases and airports
The single largest source of PFAS contamination in US drinking water is AFFF — aqueous film-forming foam — used for decades to fight fuel fires at military installations and airports. This foam is saturated with PFAS, and it soaks into the ground and migrates into groundwater. There are over 700 known contamination sites near military bases across the US.
Industrial discharge
Manufacturing facilities that produce or use PFAS chemicals discharge them into waterways — legally, for decades. The Ohio River, which supplies drinking water to millions across Kentucky and Indiana, has been a documented recipient of industrial PFAS discharge for years.
Landfill leachate
Products containing PFAS end up in landfills. Rain water filters through that waste, picks up PFAS, and that leachate migrates into groundwater. Virtually every landfill in the country is a potential PFAS source.
Agricultural land application
Sewage sludge — spread on farmland as fertilizer — has been found to contain high concentrations of PFAS. Those chemicals then leach into groundwater and runoff into surface water used for drinking.
Is PFAS in your water?
We test your water on the spot at no charge. Know your levels before you decide anything.
The Health Effects — What the Science Shows
PFAS exposure has been studied for decades — largely because the manufacturers knew about the risks long before the public did. Internal documents from 3M and DuPont revealed they had evidence of harm as early as the 1970s and chose not to disclose it.
Here's what the science currently shows at levels being detected in US tap water:
Cancer
Kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and bladder cancer have all been linked to PFAS exposure in epidemiological studies. The EPA classifies PFOA and PFOS as likely carcinogenic to humans.
Thyroid Disease
PFAS disrupts thyroid hormone production. Thyroid dysfunction affects metabolism, energy, mood, and weight — and is significantly more common in high-PFAS exposure areas.
Immune System Suppression
PFAS reduces vaccine effectiveness and weakens immune response. Children with higher PFAS exposure show measurably lower antibody levels after vaccination.
Developmental Harm in Children
PFAS crosses the placenta and is found in breast milk. Prenatal exposure is linked to lower birth weight, developmental delays, and behavioral issues in children.
High Cholesterol
PFAS exposure is consistently associated with elevated total cholesterol and LDL levels — a direct cardiovascular risk factor that increases heart disease and stroke risk.
Pregnancy Complications
Studies link PFAS exposure to preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and reduced fertility in both men and women. The EPA's 2024 ruling specifically cited risks to pregnant women.
Unlike most toxins, PFAS don't have a half-life in your body measured in days or weeks. PFOA has a half-life in humans of approximately 3.5 years. Every day you drink contaminated water, the level in your blood goes up. There is no "safe" threshold — the EPA's new limit of 4 parts per trillion reflects that even trace amounts carry risk.
The 2024 EPA Ruling — What Changed
On April 10, 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking water limits for PFAS chemicals. This was a landmark moment — for decades, there were no enforceable federal limits at all.
PFAS chemicals introduced
3M and DuPont begin manufacturing PFAS chemicals for industrial and consumer use. No safety testing on humans.
Internal evidence of harm — suppressed
Internal documents show 3M had evidence PFAS accumulated in human blood and caused harm. Not disclosed to the public or regulators.
First public contamination cases
Residents near a DuPont plant in West Virginia discover PFAS in their water supply. A class action lawsuit follows.
EPA issues a health advisory — not enforceable
The EPA sets a health advisory of 70 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS combined. Advisory only — utilities not required to comply.
First federal enforceable limits set
EPA sets Maximum Contaminant Levels: 4 ppt for PFOA, 4 ppt for PFOS, 10 ppt for PFNA and PFHxS. Water utilities have 5 years to comply.
The critical detail: water utilities have until 2029 to comply. That means your water supply may currently exceed the new EPA limits — legally — for the next several years. The limit exists. The compliance deadline does not.
Your utility's water report may show PFAS levels that exceed the new EPA standard — and that's currently legal until 2029. The only way to know your actual exposure and protect your family before 2029 is a point-of-use filtration system installed at your home.
PFAS in Kentucky & Southern Indiana
The Ohio River corridor — which supplies drinking water to millions of residents across Kentucky and Indiana — has been consistently identified as a high-PFAS risk area. Here's why:
- Industrial discharge: Manufacturing facilities along the Ohio River have been documented PFAS sources for decades
- Military installations: Multiple military bases in the region used AFFF firefighting foam for years, with confirmed groundwater contamination
- Agricultural runoff: Sewage sludge application on farmland throughout both states has contributed to groundwater contamination
- Aging treatment infrastructure: Most treatment plants in the region were not designed to remove PFAS — and standard treatment methods don't
The EWG Tap Water Database shows PFAS detections in water systems serving Evansville, Clarksville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, and surrounding communities — in several cases above the new EPA limits.
🔍 Check PFAS Levels in Your Zip Code
The EWG Tap Water Database shows PFAS detections for water systems across Kentucky and Indiana. Enter your zip code to see your local levels.
Check Your Zip Code →Opens EWG.org · Free · No account required
What Actually Removes PFAS — And What Doesn't
This is where most people get misled. The filtration market is full of products that claim to handle PFAS but don't — or only partially remove certain compounds. Here's the honest breakdown:
❌ Does NOT remove PFAS
- Boiling water — concentrates PFAS, makes it worse
- Standard pitcher filters (Brita, etc.) — not rated for PFAS removal
- Refrigerator filters — not designed for PFAS
- Standard sediment filters — removes particles only
- Municipal treatment — conventional treatment (coagulation, flocculation, chlorination) does not remove PFAS
✓ Does remove PFAS
- Reverse osmosis (RO) — the most effective method. Removes 90–99%+ of PFAS depending on the system. The Westinghouse D-Series under-counter RO system removes PFAS at the tap.
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) — effective for longer-chain PFAS. Less effective for shorter-chain compounds. Best used as a pre-filter alongside RO.
- Whole-home filtration systems with certified media — the Westinghouse Dynamic Series includes filtration media rated for PFAS reduction at the whole-home level.
When evaluating any filter for PFAS, look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification (for RO systems) or NSF/ANSI 53 (for carbon filters). These certifications mean an independent lab verified the removal claims — not just the manufacturer. All Westinghouse systems we install carry NSF/ANSI certification.
What to Do Next
The facts are clear. PFAS are in water supplies across our region. Standard filters don't remove them. The health effects are serious — especially for children and pregnant women. And your utility has until 2029 to comply with the new limits.
Here's the practical path forward:
- Check your water supply using the EWG database above
- Book a free in-home water test — we test for PFAS and show you your exact levels
- Choose a certified RO system — the Westinghouse D-Series removes 99%+ of PFAS at the tap
- Consider whole-home protection — the Total Home Bundle covers both drinking water and shower/bath exposure
- Don't wait for 2029 — your family is drinking this water right now
Find out your PFAS levels. Free.
We test your water on the spot, show you the results, and recommend the right system. No obligation.