What are PFAS, and what removes them?
PFAS are man-made chemicals used in non-stick, stain-resistant and firefighting products that do not break down naturally. Michigan set enforceable drinking-water limits for seven of them in 2020. A water softener does not remove PFAS; certified activated carbon or reverse osmosis filtration is what reduces them (source: rkin.com).
Last updated 1 October 2026.
Michigan's PFAS limits, compound by compound
| PFAS compound | Michigan limit (ppt) |
|---|---|
| PFOA | 8 |
| PFOS | 16 |
| PFNA | 6 |
| PFHxS | 51 |
| PFBS | 420 |
| GenX (HFPO-DA) | 370 |
| PFHxA | 400,000 |
ppt means parts per trillion. These maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) were set in 2020 and remain in effect, per reporting from Barnes & Thornburg (btlaw.com), Merit Laboratories (meritlabs.com) and Planet Detroit (planetdetroit.org).
What removes PFAS from your water
A water softener does not remove PFAS. PFAS reduction requires specialized certified filtration (e.g., activated carbon or reverse osmosis). That distinction matters because a softener is the system most Michigan homes already have.
- Reverse osmosis at the tap. An under-sink system treating drinking and cooking water. See our reverse osmosis systems.
- Certified activated carbon. Carbon filtration, sized and certified for the job, treating water as it enters the house. See whole-home filtration.
- A softener alone. Softeners exchange hardness minerals. They are not a PFAS treatment and should not be sold as one.
How to find out what is in your own supply
Your water supplier publishes an annual water quality report, and Michigan's EGLE publishes PFAS sampling results for public systems. We read those for your address and tell you what they say, in plain English, at no charge.
Common questions
Does a water softener remove PFAS?
No. A water softener does not remove PFAS. PFAS reduction requires specialized certified filtration (e.g., activated carbon or reverse osmosis). A softener exchanges calcium and magnesium to stop scale; it is not designed for PFAS and does not reduce them.
What are Michigan's PFAS limits?
Michigan enforces maximum contaminant levels for seven PFAS compounds, set in 2020: PFOA 8 ppt, PFOS 16 ppt, PFNA 6 ppt, PFHxS 51 ppt, PFBS 420 ppt, GenX 370 ppt and PFHxA 400,000 ppt.
Is Michigan tap water tested for PFAS?
Public water systems in Michigan are required to monitor for the regulated PFAS compounds, and results are published. Private wells are not covered by that programme, so testing is up to the owner.
Does reverse osmosis remove PFAS?
Certified reverse osmosis is one of the two approaches used to reduce PFAS, along with certified activated carbon (source: rkin.com). Certification for the specific contaminant is what matters.
I am on a private well. What should I do?
Well owners are responsible for their own testing, and PFAS is not part of a standard well panel. Ask your lab for PFAS specifically, then treat based on the result rather than on assumption.
Will you tell me if I do not need a system?
Yes. If your published data looks clean and you have no complaints about your water, we will say so. We would rather lose a sale than sell equipment nobody needs.