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November 27, 2025
Discover proven filtration methods that remove dangerous PFAS forever chemicals from Indianapolis water and protect your family's health.
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manufactured chemicals historically used in many household products including nonstick cookware, stain repellents, and waterproofing. There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they persist in the environment. That persistence is exactly why they’re called “forever chemicals” – they don’t break down naturally.
In Indiana, these chemicals have been linked to cancer and immune system damage, and they do not break down in nature. They can accumulate and have long-term impacts, with compounds linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis. Indianapolis struggles with failing water systems, and the city’s water contains chromium at levels four times higher than recommended safety limits.
The contamination comes from multiple sources. PFAS were used in industrial applications such as firefighting foams and electronics production, with military bases being a particular concern since firefighting foam is known to contain these contaminants.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management started testing water utilities for PFAS in 2021. Overall, 24 utilities in the state have levels of the chemicals that are above federal health guidelines, with test results available on IDEM’s website. While Indianapolis’s main utilities weren’t among the highest contaminated, ten utilities had detectable levels of PFAS in their treated water, with nine others having PFAS in their drinking water before treatment but not in the finished water delivered to customers.
The reality is that PFAS contamination is widespread and ongoing. Almost everyone in the U.S. has traces of PFAS in their body because the chemicals have contaminated the air, soil, and water – including the drinking water for approximately 200 million people nationwide. Even if your local utility isn’t currently showing high levels, treated water can contain contaminants that impact health over time, and knowing what’s in your water is the first step to protecting yourself.
Testing becomes even more critical when you consider that private wells serve many residents but require individual maintenance and testing, with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management providing resources for well testing, though many owners fail to check their water regularly. Professional water testing reveals the specific contaminants you’re dealing with, which determines the most effective treatment approach.
In April 2024, EPA issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful PFAS. The final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses. This represents a major shift in how PFAS contamination is regulated and treated.
The finalized rule maintains limits of 4 nanograms per liter or parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and PFOA and includes new limits for four compounds. The final rule allows affected public water facilities five years to reduce the presence of PFAS compounds in their water. All public water facilities will be subject to monitoring conditions, requiring monitoring be complete within three years of promulgation and continuing on a biannual or quarterly basis. Public water systems with PFAS contamination exceeding the maximum contaminant levels will be required to take steps to reduce PFAS presence using best available practices within five years.
For homeowners, this means two things. First, your local water utility will be required to monitor and report PFAS levels more extensively. Second, if levels exceed the new standards, utilities must take action – but that action could take up to five years to implement. The EPA found that 6 percent to 10 percent of the 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule are estimated to be out of compliance and will need to take remedial measures. To alleviate compliance costs, the EPA announced nearly $1 billion in newly available funding.
The bottom line: you don’t have to wait for your utility to act. Home water treatment systems can provide immediate protection while regulatory changes are implemented.
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Certain technologies have been found to remove PFAS from drinking water, especially PFOA and PFOS, which are the most studied of these chemicals. Those technologies include activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes. Not all water filters are created equal when it comes to PFAS removal, and understanding the differences can save you from ineffective solutions.
Filters containing activated carbon or reverse osmosis membranes have been shown to be effective at removing PFAS from water supplies. However, the effectiveness varies significantly based on the specific technology, maintenance, and water conditions. Other types of common water treatment systems, such as water softeners or iron filtration systems, are not likely to remove PFAS. Boiling water will not remove PFAS, and sampling data indicate that whole-house water softening or iron filtration systems do NOT remove PFAS.
The key is choosing systems specifically designed and certified for PFAS removal, not generic water treatment products.
High-pressure membranes, such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, have been extremely effective at removing PFAS. Reverse osmosis membranes are tighter than nanofiltration membranes, and research shows that these types of membranes are typically more than 90 percent effective at removing a wide range of PFAS, including shorter chain PFAS. Reverse osmosis is a very effective technology for PFAS removal, capable of removing more than 90% PFAS in the feedwater, including both long-chain and short-chain PFAS.
Reverse osmosis is the “gold standard” for high PFAS concentrations. A detailed 2020 study investigated drinking water and PFAS in more than 60 US homes and showed near-complete removal by reverse-osmosis, dual filtration systems for all PFAS chemicals. Carbon filters were less efficient, with a maximum of 70% effectiveness in removing these pollutants.
The technology works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane with microscopic pores. Reverse osmosis membranes have openings that are microscopic – you can’t see them and even PFAS are too big to pass through, so there is no accumulation over time or clogging challenges. It continually gets flushed off to the concentrate and the membrane is just as effective after one year as it is after one day.
Reverse osmosis uses energy to push water through a membrane with tiny pores. The membrane stops many contaminants while allowing water to pass through. Reverse osmosis is more practical as a point-of-use treatment option (not at point-of-entry). For Indianapolis homes, this typically means installation under the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking water.
One consideration is that the technology requires a large volume of water, and it discharges PFAS-tainted backwash into sewer or septic systems – potentially reintroducing the contaminants into the environment. However, for home protection, reverse osmosis remains the most reliable option for comprehensive PFAS removal.
Activated carbon treatment is the most studied treatment for PFAS removal. Activated carbon is commonly used to adsorb natural organic compounds, taste and odor compounds, and synthetic organic chemicals in drinking water treatment systems. Granular activated carbon systems, generally the least expensive treatment option, can remove some PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS. They work by binding PFAS to a porous carbon surface.
However, activated carbon performance is inconsistent. On average, activated carbon removed just 73% of PFAS contamination, but the carbon filters performed inconsistently. Sometimes they removed all PFAS, while at other times they had no effect. Carbon filtration only works on longer chain PFAS, and shorter chain PFAS tend to sneak through.
Ion exchange offers better performance for certain PFAS types. Ion exchange resins act like little magnets that capture PFAS molecules. They are generally more effective than activated carbon, especially at snatching short-chain PFAS. Negatively charged ions of PFAS are attracted to the positively charged anion resins. AER has shown to have a high capacity for many PFAS; however, it is typically more expensive than GAC. Like GAC, AER removes 100 percent of the PFAS for a time that is dictated by the choice of resin, bed depth, flow rate, which PFAS need to be removed, and the degree and type of background organic matter and other contaminants.
The critical factor with both technologies is maintenance. Properly maintaining the systems matters. You should replace filters or cartridges according to manufacturer instructions, because PFAS can break through a broken or saturated system. PFAS can even leach from spent carbon filters at higher concentrations than the concentration of PFAS in untreated water. This makes professional installation and maintenance essential for reliable PFAS removal.
When purchasing home water treatment to address PFAS, look for products certified to NSF/ANSI 53 (for filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis). The current certification standards for PFAS filters do not yet indicate that a filter will remove PFAS down to the levels EPA has now set for drinking water standards, but reducing levels of PFAS in your water is an effective way to limit your exposure.
Start with professional water testing – this isn’t optional. Even if your water seems okay, a professional water test often reveals hardness levels, chlorine content, or other issues that affect taste and damage plumbing over time. The simplest way to know for sure is to have your water tested by a local water treatment company. Generic test strips won’t identify specific PFAS compounds or concentrations.
Choose the right filtration technology based on your test results and usage needs. Just one treatment alone is not enough to remove all PFAS – you should always choose an RO system that includes all three types of filtration. For most Indianapolis homes, this means a reverse osmosis system for drinking water combined with whole-house filtration for general water quality improvement.
Work with certified professionals who understand local water conditions. Indiana has no regulations on water treatment, meaning anyone can buy equipment and install it. Look for companies certified through the Water Quality Association who return calls, show up, and do what they say they are going to do. We specialize in salt-free, eco-friendly systems with comprehensive testing, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance support for Hamilton County residents who want reliable PFAS protection and better water quality throughout their homes.
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