An Essential Guide to PFAS (Forever Chemicals) in Your Company’s Drinking Water
November 27, 2023
Recent studies indicated that PFASs, or “Forever Chemicals,” exist in roughly 45% of the nation's tap water and 60% of tested well water in 16 states. In this guide, we will explain what PFASs are, their negative impact on your health, and how to protect your employees and customers from them.
What are PFAS?
PFAS stands for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFASs are man-made chemicals made with carbon-fluorine bonds, which make them highly stable and resistant to heat, water, and oil. They are often called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body.
PFASs can be found all around us, and we can be exposed to them in various ways. These include but are not limited to:
Drinking water
Some types of extinguisher foam
Contaminated food and food packaging
Contaminated soils and biosolids
PFASs Are Harmful to Your Health And Business
The most common way you will be exposed to PFASs is through eating or drinking contaminated products. These chemicals are tasteless, odorless, and can enter the bloodstream through your intestinal tract. From there, they linger in your blood, fat cells, proteins, and liver. Studies have shown that this carries a wide range of health risks, like
Hormonal imbalances
Increased cholesterol levels and risks of obesity
Impaired immunity and reduced vaccine responses
Developmental issues in the young
Increased risks of cancer, including in the kidneys and prostate
These risks also have an effect on your business, as reduced immunity can lead to more sick days and increased numbers of your employees becoming sick at the same time during peak contagion seasons. This also affects the costs of healthcare as employees struggle with long-term ailments. Industries may also face legal battles and regulatory fines as government regulations continue to crack down on exposing employees and consumers to these chemicals.
How to Remove PFASs From Your Drinking Water
The best way to remove PFASs from your water supply is based on the kind of PFAS you are dealing with. This will require an EPA methodized lab test based on what you are trying to regulate.
Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filters and carbon block filters work well for older and longer PFAS chain molecules like Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), but they become less efficient on shorter chains.
Reverse Osmosis (OS) works very well against short chains, and their efficiency can be increased with an activated charcoal stage. However, they use more water than other water treatment methods.
Anion exchange works well against short chains of PFAS by attracting and holding the compounds as they pass through the filter.
Distillation removes all PFAS compounds, but it also removes all the beneficial minerals at the same time.
Common methods like boiling, water softeners, and most standard pitcher or fridge water filters are not efficient in removing PFAS. Some pitcher filters may remove some, but they are not currently certified to do so.
When you look for an ideal filtration solution, make sure it meets NSF/ANSI standards for PFAS removal.
Sparkling Clear is Dedicated to Keeping Your Water Free of Forever Chemicals
Since 1985, our mission is and will continue to be doing right by you. As knowledge and science expand on forever chemicals, we will also evolve to help you maintain a standard of health and excellence in your water. Contact us today to learn more.
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Businesses and industries face a lot of changes in the coming years. Advanced filtration systems are essential tools that can help meet these evolving standards before they become an issue. Here are a few ways to future-proof your businesses against water quality regulations. Managing PFAS and Emerging Contaminants One of the most pressing challenges is regulating PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals.” PFAS have been linked to significant health risks like cancer, heart disease, and immune system disorders. Advanced filtration technologies defend against PFAS and other emerging contaminants. Three effective options that meet or exceed regulatory standards include: Reverse Osmosis (RO). RO systems use semi-permeable membranes to remove up to 99% of contaminants, including PFAS, heavy metals, and bacteria. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). The right GAC filters can adsorb PFAS molecules, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants. Ion Exchange Systems. These systems target specific contaminants and bind to them during the removal process. By integrating these technologies, businesses can meet or exceed regulatory thresholds for water safety before they go into effect. It also ensures they protect their employees, customers, and reputation as our knowledge of PFAS and other contaminants continues to evolve. Supporting Sustainability Goals Advanced water filtration systems help meet sustainability-focused regulations, including those that could appear in coming years. Reducing Water Waste. Stricter laws are targeting water conservation and waste reduction across industries. New filtration designs and custom filtration services allow for things like closed-loop systems that recycle used water. Lowering Environmental Impact. When the situation allows, advanced filtration processes like UV disinfection or ozone treatment minimize reliance on chemicals, reducing both cost and environmental risk. Compliance with Green Certifications. Compliance with green initiatives often comes with benefits like tax incentives or operational grants. Modern systems designed to meet water efficiency and waste reduction benchmarks help businesses achieve these certifications more easily. Businesses who take a sustainability approach to their water filtration systems will future-proof themselves to rising environmental standards and position themselves as leaders in environmentally responsible practices. Staying Prepared for Water Quality Crises The winter storm of January 2025 showed us that emergency preparedness should be a top priority to avoid or minimize regulatory issues during unexpected events. A few ways advanced systems help mitigate these risks include: Rapid Response Capabilities. Portable filtration units or mobile treatment systems can be deployed to manage emergencies quickly. Real Time Warnings and Automatic Controls. Using filtration and quality controls like real time meters, alarms, and pH regulators can help businesses deal with issues before they build up into regulatory breaches. System Redundancy. Designing systems with backup capabilities ensures uninterrupted compliance even during disruptions like frozen pipes or blockages from storm debris. Businesses can minimize compliance risks and stay prepared for future challenges by adopting filtration systems that can quickly adapt to unplanned situations. This proactive approach will safeguard against fines and penalties, ensure operational continuity, and future-proof your system against sudden regulatory issues. Sparkling Clear Will Help Future-Proof Your Filtration Systems If your business is ready to upgrade its water filtration systems to meet the latest and future regulatory challenges, contact us today. Our team will provide tailored solutions designed to keep your operations compliant and running smoothly.
The Hidden Link Between Water Quality and Energy Efficiency
Self-cleaning strainers offer an efficient and continuous way to remove debris and contaminants from fluid systems without the need for manual intervention. In this blog, we’ll discuss what self-cleaning filters are, how they work, and their various benefits in industrial filtration. What Are Self-Cleaning Filters? Automatic self-cleaning strainers keep industrial process systems free of contaminants and debris as with traditional strainers and filters. What makes self-cleaning strainers unique is how they clean themselves without shutdowns and manual intervention. In most self-cleaning strainer designs, liquid enters the strainer from the bottom, flows upward through a filtering system, and exits as clean fluid. Any debris caught by the filter is pushed to a collection area. When the system detects a buildup of pressure, it opens a flush valve to remove the collected debris. The most common mechanisms you will see in a self-cleaning strainer include: Backwashing . The flow of the liquid is reversed to send a portion back through the filter. This dislodges trapped debris so that it can be directed to the collection area. Mechanical Scraping . Uses blades to physically scrape t he filter surface. Continuous Flushing . A bypass stream continuously dislodges and carries away contaminants while the main fluid passes through the strainer s . Ultrasonic Cleaning . Uses high-frequency vibrations to break apart and dislodge stubborn debris so that it can continue to the collection area. The longer a filter can go without shutdowns for cleaning and repairs, the greater the savings lost production. Benefits of Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainers The advantages of using a self-cleaning strainer are not limited to productivity and reduced downtime. Other benefits include: Consistent performance in flow rate and purity Prevents damage and repairs due to clogs in the filter Protects downstream equipment from damage due to clogs and impurities Is a Self-Cleaning Strainer Right for my Filtration Needs? Every work sight and process is unique, so what works perfectly at one site may not work well at another. This holds true with self-cleaning strainers as well. Before you invest in a self-cleaning strainer, you should discuss your needs with one of SCI’s knowledgeable employees. They will help you navigate factors to consider. This includes factors such as maximum flow rate, pressure, strainer mesh sizing and material compatibility to ensure the strainer will not corrode on contact with the fluid. Let Sparking Clear Help You Find the Best Filtration System For Your process. Contact us today to set up a consultation. We’ve Got You Covered