PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a large family of synthetic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. They appear in nonstick cookware coatings, water-resistant clothing, firefighting foam, food packaging, and many other products. The nickname \"forever chemicals\" reflects their extraordinary persistence — they don't break down naturally in the environment or in the human body.
Why PFAS Are a Concern in NC Water
North Carolina's history with specific PFAS compounds — particularly GenX chemicals released from an industrial facility on the Cape Fear River — brought national attention to the state. But PFAS contamination isn't limited to the Cape Fear basin. These chemicals are found in water supplies across the country, including in central North Carolina, from a combination of industrial activity, military installation firefighting foam, and the widespread dispersion of PFAS-containing products over decades.
In 2024, the EPA finalized maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for several PFAS compounds in public drinking water — the first such federal standards ever established. This is pushing utilities to test and, in some cases, treat for PFAS.
What About Raleigh\'s Municipal Water?
The City of Raleigh and other Wake County utilities have been conducting PFAS monitoring. Results from these utilities have generally shown PFAS concentrations below the new EPA limits, but the situation continues to evolve as testing becomes more sensitive and standards are refined. Staying informed through your utility's annual water quality report is the best way to track current levels.
What About Private Well Users?
Private well users in central NC counties have no required PFAS monitoring. If your home is within a certain distance of an industrial site, military installation, or airport (where PFAS-containing firefighting foam has historically been used), testing for PFAS specifically is strongly advisable.
How to Remove PFAS from Your Water
The two most effective residential treatment technologies for PFAS removal are:
- Reverse osmosis (RO) --- highly effective at reducing a broad range
of PFAS compounds at the point of use
- Activated carbon filtration --- effective for many PFAS types,
particularly in whole-home applications with appropriately sized media and contact time
Not all filters remove PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and basic faucet attachments may have limited effectiveness. An RO system under the kitchen sink is currently the most practical, well-documented solution for drinking and cooking water.
Taking Action
Even if current testing shows your water meets standards, many homeowners in the Raleigh area are choosing to install PFAS filtration as a precautionary measure — particularly given that standards are still evolving and new PFAS compounds are continuously being discovered and regulated.