Forever Chemicals in Water? Here’s What PFAS in Drinking Water Actually Means
- tattie9
- Nov 25
- 4 min read
If you’ve been hearing more about “forever chemicals” in drinking water lately, there’s a reason. PFAS — a group of man-made chemicals used for decades — don’t break down, don’t disappear, and can travel through soil and water in ways most people don’t realize.
And because they’ve been used in everything from cookware to cosmetics to firefighting foam…they’re showing up in water systems across Canada — even in places nowhere near industrial sites.
In this blog, we’re cutting through the noise to explain what PFAS actually are, how they end up in your water, and what you can realistically do to reduce them at home.
What Are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a massive family of chemicals designed to resist heat, water, and oil. That’s why they’re used in products like:
non-stick pans
waterproof jackets
stain-proof carpets
makeup
cleaning products
fast-food wrappers
industrial coatings
fire-fighting foams (a major environmental source)
They’re called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down. Once they enter the environment, they tend to stay there — moving through soil, lakes, groundwater, and rivers.
Health Canada reports that PFAS can be found in people, fish, wildlife, and freshwater across the country.
How PFAS End Up in Drinking Water
PFAS don’t need a direct pipeline to your water source. They can get there from:
industrial manufacturing
old firefighting training sites
landfill runoff
wastewater treatment
breakdown of consumer products
long-distance environmental travel
The surprising part? PFAS have been detected even in regions far from where they were originally used.
Why? Because PFAS move. Through soil. Through water. Through air.
Once released, they travel — often for years.
What PFAS Can Do to the Body
Here’s what the science says: some PFAS that have been studied show potential long-term impacts on several body systems.
According to Health Canada, PFAS exposure may affect:
liver + kidney function
thyroid balance
immune response
nervous system health
reproductive health
childhood development
metabolism + body weight regulation
Not everyone is affected the same way — it depends on how much, how often, and how long someone is exposed, along with age, lifestyle, and overall health.
The key takeaway? It’s not about instant symptoms. It’s about accumulation over time.
PFAS in Canadian Water: What We Know
Canada is still building a full picture of how PFAS show up in our lakes, rivers, and drinking water systems, but what we do know is pretty straightforward:
PFAS have been detected across Canada
Levels are generally low, but vary depending on the community
Higher levels are more likely near airports, industrial sites, landfills, and areas where fire-fighting foam was historically used
Because PFAS travel easily through soil and water, they can appear even in places far from where they were originally released.
To protect Canadians, Health Canada updated its drinking water guidance in 2023. Instead of separate limits for individual PFAS chemicals, they set one combined limit:
30 ng/L — for the total of 25 specific PFAS compounds.
Here’s what that means in simple terms:
“ng/L” means nanograms per litre (extremely tiny amounts — one-billionth of a gram)
The guideline looks at the total amount of 25 PFAS combined
The number is based on what Canadian labs can accurately measure and what modern treatment systems (like RO) can reliably remove
It replaces older, individual PFOS/PFOA guidelines with a more protective, whole-family approach
This gives Canadian families a clear, practical benchmark for what safe, treatable PFAS levels look like.
(Full Health Canada reference:https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/water-talk-per-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-drinking-water.html)
How to Reduce PFAS at Home
Let’s get this out of the way first:
❌ Boiling water does not remove PFAS
❌ Basic pitcher filters do not remove PFAS
❌ Bathing or showering in PFAS-contaminated water is not a major exposure route (PFAS don’t absorb easily through skin)
According to Health Canada, the two most reliable ways to reduce PFAS in household drinking water are reverse osmosis and high-quality activated carbon.
1. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Reverse osmosis is the most complete and predictable way to remove PFAS at home. It forces water through an ultra-fine membrane that screens out contaminants at a molecular level.
Our RO system is designed specifically for Canadian water:
Made in Canada
NSF/ANSI/CAN 58, 61, and 372 certified
Removes up to 99% of contaminants, including PFAS
Lifetime warranty
Professional installation included
Built-in remineralization for clean, balanced taste
It fits neatly under the sink and provides purified, great-tasting water straight from its own dedicated faucet. For most families, this becomes their main drinking and cooking water source.
2. Activated Carbon (NSF/ANSI 53 certified)
Activated carbon can also reduce certain PFAS — but only when the filter is properly certified and maintained on schedule.
Our main-line catalytic carbon system offers:
NSF/ANSI/CAN 42, 61, and 372 certifications
Reduction of chlorine, chloramine, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and more
Lifetime warranty
Installation included
Because carbon performance depends heavily on timely media replacement, this is exactly where our Lifetime Care Package shines.
We track your filter schedule, handle replacements, and keep everything performing the way it should — so you never need to worry about forgetting maintenance or losing effectiveness over time.
Why RO Becomes the “No-Brainer” Option
Once you actually see what’s in your water, the choice becomes obvious.
RO gives you the cleanest water in the house, instantly improves taste, removes a wide range of contaminants, and requires almost no work. It’s the easiest, most predictable way to upgrade your family’s drinking water — without changing your routine.
A Final Word
PFAS is a complex topic — but the solution doesn’t need to be. Understanding what’s in your water is the first step toward choosing filtration that actually works for your home.
You don’t need to become a chemist. You just need clarity, clean information, and practical options.
That’s where we come in.
Book a Free Water Test
Think of this like a water “health check” for your home. We run a quick test, show you the results right in front of you, answer your questions, and help you understand exactly what’s happening inside your plumbing, your appliances, and your drinking water.
It’s educational, interactive, and surprisingly eye-opening.
Book your free water test: serenitywater.ca/freewaterqualitytest
Comments