Short answer: the EPA lists PFAS among the contaminants reverse osmosis systems can potentially remove. The longer answer is about the word potentially, about which PFAS you mean, and about checking what the system in front of you is actually certified to do.
- 01SedimentCatches sand, rust and grit
- 02CarbonReduces chlorine taste and odor
- 03Carbon blockA second, finer carbon pass
- 04MembraneWater pushed through the RO membrane
- 05Post filterPolishes the taste at the faucet
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What the EPA says about RO and PFAS
On its WaterSense page about point-of-use reverse osmosis systems, the EPA says RO systems can potentially remove water contaminants such as lead, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PFAS, arsenic, bacteria and viruses. PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a family of chemicals, not one. What a system achieves can depend on the system, its upkeep and which PFAS are in the water.
Where the EPA’s PFAS rules stand
These rules apply to public water systems, and they are changing, so dates matter. According to the EPA’s PFAS page:
- The EPA’s final rule set enforceable limits, called maximum contaminant levels, of 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and for PFOS.
- On May 18, 2026, the EPA proposed two rules. One would keep the PFOA and PFOS limits and let water systems request two more years, to 2031, to comply. The other would rescind the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (known as GenX) and the mixture hazard index.
- When this page was last checked, in October 2026, those two were proposals, not final rules.
Check the EPA’s PFAS page for the current status before relying on any of it.
Find out whether PFAS are in your water
On city water, start with your utility’s yearly water quality report and the utility’s own PFAS information. On a private well, nobody tests for you: the EPA says private wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and owners should use laboratories certified to do drinking water testing. Ask the laboratory whether it tests for PFAS and which ones.
Check the certification, not the claim
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s advice is the test to apply: select a unit certified by NSF, Underwriter’s Laboratory or the Water Quality Association to remove the contaminants you are concerned about, and make sure it is certified for that specific contaminant. For PFAS, ask:
- Which PFAS is this system certified to reduce, by name?
- Under which standard? The EPA says to look on product labels for certification under NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 for PFAS reduction; 58 is the one it names for reverse osmosis systems.
- Who certified it, and where can I see the listing?
- What maintenance keeps it working as certified?
The EPA adds a caution on its page about filters certified to reduce PFAS: the certification standards for PFAS filters, as of April 2024, did not yet indicate that a filter will remove PFAS down to the levels the EPA set for its drinking water standard, and the EPA is working with standard-setting bodies to update them. Ask the pro what the current listing for the system you are quoted says.
Want a pro to look at your water report and talk through RO? Send the form.
Keep it working
The EPA notes that RO systems require changing filter cartridges and the RO membrane. Change them and membrane on the maker’s schedule and use the parts the maker specifies. See RO maintenance.
What this page does not say
This page explains what the EPA publishes. It does not tell you whether your water is safe or what PFAS do to health. For health questions, ask your doctor. For what is in your water, read your utility’s report or test your well.
Under-sink or whole-house for PFAS
The EPA’s statement about PFAS is on its page about point-of-use systems: systems connected to a single fixture, such as under the kitchen sink. Those treat the water you drink and cook with. A whole-house RO system is a bigger installation that the installer sizes after a water test. If PFAS are your reason for looking at RO, tell the pro which water in the house you want treated, and ask for the certification that covers that system.
What to bring to the conversation
- Your utility’s yearly water quality report, or your well test, with any PFAS results.
- The names of the PFAS you are concerned about, if the report lists them.
- Any system you already have, with its brand and model.
To understand the system itself, read how reverse osmosis works. To have one fitted, read RO system installation.
Questions people ask
Does reverse osmosis remove PFAS?
The EPA lists PFAS among the contaminants RO systems can potentially remove. Check which PFAS a given system is certified to reduce.
What is the EPA limit for PFAS in drinking water?
The EPA’s final rule set 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and for PFOS. On May 18, 2026 the EPA proposed changes; check its PFAS page for the current status.
Does a well need PFAS testing?
Private wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Ask a certified laboratory whether it tests for PFAS.