You might say PFAS just won’t go away.

Used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, water-resistant clothing, food packaging, and even cosmetics, PFAS (shorthand for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) include more than 14,000 chemicals that persist in the environment and the human body for a very long time. It’s this characteristic that has led to PFAS being described as “forever chemicals.”

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They’ve been implicated in health concerns, including cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, fertility problems, and immune system disorders, as well as increased cholesterol levels, obesity, and hormonal disorders.

“Health professionals understand that PFAS are toxic at even the smallest levels,” says Milagros Elia, program manager of climate and clean energy for the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), a global nursing organization focused on the intersection of human health and planetary health.

PFAS are so pervasive that they can be detected today in air, soil, human blood, and water around the world. In fact, at least 45 percent of the nation’s tap water is estimated to have some type of PFAS, according to a 2023 study by the United States Geological Survey. That means nearly half of us might be consuming PFAS through our drinking water every day.

So, how can you keep yourself safe from PFAS?

The Environmental Protection Agency established the first nationwide limits for PFAS in drinking water in 2024, along with requirements that public water systems monitor six PFAS compounds and take action if levels rise above prescribed limits. The EPA estimated that between 6 percent and 10 percent of the 66,000 public drinking water systems in the U.S. would find PFAS once they started testing, and it gave utilities five years to comply with the new rule.

But in May 2025, the EPA announced that it would rescind and reconsider the new limits on four of those compounds, and delay enforcement of limits on the two most concerning ones, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate). 

Until federal regulations are resolved, consumers will need to rely on individual state action and their own awareness of PFAS levels in their water. Currently, 11 states (Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin) have established standards for the level of PFAS in drinking water, according to the environmental coalition SaferStates.

If your water test report indicates the presence of PFAS, or if you just want some peace of mind, a home water filter can be worth considering. 

Most water filters CR tests are designed to improve taste and reduce odors (two of the biggest consumer complaints) by removing common contaminants in tap water. Many also claim to reduce contaminants of concern, such as lead and PFAS. 

The only way to be sure a water filter will reduce these contaminants, however, is to make sure it is certified to remove them. This means the product is independently tested and found to comply with an accepted standard specific to that contaminant. Certified products are monitored and subject to follow-up testing by the certifying agency to ensure that the product the consumer purchases will perform the same as the product that was tested. 

“To remove a specific contaminant like PFAS from drinking water, consumers should choose a water filtration device that is independently certified to remove that contaminant by a recognized lab,” says John Galeotafiore, associate director of Healthy Living at CR.

Reputable third-party testing organizations include the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), Water Quality Association (WQA), International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), UL Solutions, CSA Group, and Intertek (ETL). NSF, WQA, and IAPMO enable you to search for certified products on their websites. Certified products will also bear a seal from the testing organization that identifies which contaminants it’s certified to reduce. For a filter that can remove PFAS, look for one with the code NSF/ANSI 53 (or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse osmosis systems), followed by the manufacturer’s claim that the product can remove PFAS.

In our ratings, CR indicates which water filters are certified to NSF standards for reduction of lead, chlorine, and PFAS. Be wary of filters that make bold claims without evidence of certification, Galeotafiore says.

“Some products may make unsubstantiated claims,” Galeotafiore says. “Some may even show a test report that suggests it supports their claim. But was that a legitimate test, from a legitimate lab, of an actual sample of the product? And even if it was, that report is a onetime occurrence, not the continual monitoring that would occur if a product were certified.”

Below are the highest-scoring water filters from CR’s performance tests that are certified for the removal of PFAS. They include a faucet-mounted filter, a water filter pitcher, and three highly rated under-the-sink models.

For details on specific water filters, including which filters reduce chlorine or lead, see our water filter ratings. For general advice on choosing a filter, consult our water filter buying guide. CR will publish new lab tests and ratings for under-sink water filters and water filter pitchers this summer.