You may have heard the term "forever chemicals" in the news lately — and for good reason. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and related PFAS compounds have been detected in drinking water supplies across the United States, including right here in the Houston area. These substances don't break down in the environment or in the human body, which is exactly why they've earned the nickname "forever chemicals."

If you're concerned about what's coming out of your tap, this article will explain what PFOA and PFAS are, what the science says about their health effects, and — most importantly — what you can do to protect your family.

What Are PFOA and PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. It's a broad category of more than 12,000 man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. PFOA is one of the most well-known and widely studied members of this family.

These chemicals were used in:

• Non-stick cookware coatings (like Teflon)
• Water-resistant clothing and carpets
• Food packaging (like microwave popcorn bags and fast food wrappers)
• Firefighting foam (AFFF), widely used at military bases and airports
• Stain-resistant treatments for furniture and upholstery

Because PFAS are so chemically stable — that's what makes them useful in products — they persist in the environment essentially forever. They leach into groundwater, accumulate in soil, and eventually make their way into municipal water supplies and private wells.

Why Are They Dangerous?

The scientific and regulatory community has been studying PFAS for decades, and the findings are concerning. The EPA, the National Toxicology Program, and numerous independent researchers have linked PFAS exposure to a range of serious health effects:

Cancer Risk

PFOA has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. Studies have found associations between PFOA exposure and kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and other malignancies.

Thyroid Disease

PFAS compounds can interfere with thyroid hormone function, which regulates metabolism, energy levels, and development. Disrupted thyroid function has wide-ranging effects on overall health.

Immune System Suppression

Research suggests that PFAS exposure can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines and weaken the immune system's response to infections — a particularly concerning finding for children.

Developmental Effects in Children

Children are especially vulnerable to PFAS exposure. Studies have linked prenatal and early childhood exposure to lower birth weight, delayed development, and behavioral issues.

Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Effects

Elevated PFAS levels in the blood have been associated with higher cholesterol levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Regulatory Response

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standard for PFAS, setting maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS. The new limits are set at 4 parts per trillion — an extremely low threshold that reflects just how potent these chemicals are.

Many municipal water systems are still working to meet these new standards. In the meantime, the most reliable way to protect your household is to treat your water at the point of use.

How Reverse Osmosis Removes PFOA

Not all water filters are created equal when it comes to PFAS. Standard carbon filters and pitcher filters may reduce some PFAS, but they're not consistently effective at the low concentrations that matter.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is different. An RO system forces water through a semi-permeable membrane with pores so small that individual molecules are blocked. Studies have shown that reverse osmosis removes 90–99% of PFOA and other PFAS compounds from drinking water — making it one of the most effective residential treatment options available.

Here's how the process works:

1. Pre-filtration — Sediment and larger particles are removed first to protect the RO membrane.
2. Carbon filtration — Chlorine and other chemicals that could damage the membrane are reduced.
3. RO membrane — Water is pushed through the membrane under pressure. Contaminants, including PFOA, are rejected and flushed away.
4. Post-filtration — A final carbon filter polishes the water before it reaches your tap.
5. Storage tank — Treated water is stored and ready on demand.

The result is water that's dramatically cleaner than what comes straight from the municipal supply — and far more affordable than buying bottled water long-term.

What About Alkaline RO Systems?

One concern some people have about reverse osmosis is that it removes beneficial minerals along with the harmful contaminants. If that's a concern for you, an alkaline RO system is worth considering.

R&S Water Service offers the AlkaLion RO + Alkaline system, which adds a remineralization stage after the RO membrane. This restores beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium to the water, raises the pH to a slightly alkaline level, and improves the taste. You get the contaminant removal of RO with the mineral content of natural spring water.

Is Your Water Safe? Here's How to Find Out

The only way to know for certain whether PFAS are present in your water — and at what levels — is to test it. R&S Water Service can help you understand your water quality and recommend the right treatment solution.

If you're on a municipal supply, you can also check your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which water utilities are required to publish each year. However, keep in mind that testing requirements are still evolving, and not all utilities test for all PFAS compounds.

Protect Your Family Starting Today

PFOA and PFAS are a real and documented threat to drinking water safety. The good news is that proven technology exists to remove these chemicals from your home's water supply — and it's more accessible and affordable than most people realize.

A reverse osmosis system installed under your kitchen sink provides clean, safe drinking water for your entire family at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. And with R&S Water Service, you get a system that's properly sized, professionally installed, and backed by our team's decades of experience in the Houston area.

Call us at (281) 416-9353 to learn more about our HydroLine Plus and AlkaLion RO systems, or to schedule a water quality consultation. Your family deserves water you can trust.