With so-called forever chemicals showing up in municipal water supplies across Clark County, many residents worried about the safety of their water are looking to install water filters. Unfortunately, local water purveyors have little advice for customers.
Although local governments often have educational programs, financial incentives and technical assistance available for solar panels, electric vehicles or heat pumps, The Columbian’s survey of local agencies found similar programs for water filters simply don’t exist.
Much of the recent concern about drinking water safety comes from the detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in municipal water supplies, including in Vancouver, Camas, Washougal and Clark Public Utilities which supplies Clark County and some small cities.
The 15,000 synthetic chemicals known as PFAS are used to make a variety of products and first came into use in the 1940s and ’50s. Their chemical structure makes them impervious to breaking down, which is where the nickname “forever chemicals” originated.
Along with hundreds of household products, PFAS are commonly used in firefighting foam. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS has been linked to kidney, prostate and testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease and developmental issues in children.
It is possible to remove PFAS with a home water filter. Most household water filters are either point-of-use or point-of-entry systems. Point-of-use systems include under the sink, water pitchers or faucet-mounted systems. These filter water at a single faucet. Point-of-entry or whole house systems filter all the water coming into the home.
Water pitchers and faucet mounted systems are the easiest and least expensive options, averaging $30 to $100 per unit. A good under the sink system can run $200 to $300 and may require installation assistance, depending on your plumbing skills. Prices for a whole house system can vary from a few hundred dollars to $5,000 or more.
Filters that use granulated activated carbon or reverse osmosis are your best options for removing PFAS, according to the EPA and businesses that sell water filters. Reverse osmosis systems have a semipermeable membrane. As water is pushed through the membrane, the water molecules are separated from other substances. With an activated carbon system, impurities are filtered out by the carbon layer.
According to Consumer Reports, those who want a water filter that removes PFAS should look for certified products tested by a reputable testing facility such as the National Sanitation Foundation, Water Quality Association, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, Underwriters Laboratories or CSA Group.
What and how much you want filtered out also has to be considered. Removing taste and odor requires less filtration than removing heavy metals, chemicals, bacteria or other substances. Check the National Sanitation Foundation standard on the water filter’s label to see what it removes. You can also look up products on the foundation’s database at info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU.
Not everyone in Clark County gets their drinking water from a public utility or city municipality.
“Lots of people in rural areas have well water, but that’s not subject to the same required tests as municipal water. It’s up to the homeowner to test and treat for it, if they want to or can afford to,” said Dameon Pesanti, spokesman for Clark Public Utilities.
For more information on drinking water standards, Pesanti recommended the American National Standards Institute and National Sanitation Foundation.
“These are two good places to start on this road. They set the standard for water treatment systems,” Pesanti said.
The EPA also provides guidance on its website. The agency cautions that filters are only effective if they are maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
