We have developed an objective for PFAS in drinking water. Learn about PFAS and how to reduce your exposure if it is present in your drinking water.

On this page

• PFAS in drinking water
• Health effects of PFAS
• How to reduce your exposure to PFAS in drinking water
• Limits for PFAS in drinking water in Canada
• Limits for PFAS in drinking water in other countries
• For more information

PFAS in drinking water

PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a large family of synthetic chemicals, the most common being perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

PFAS are used in many industrial and consumer products such as adhesives, cosmetics and cleaning products. They're also used in specialized chemical applications, such as fire-fighting foams, and in water-, stain- and oil-repellent coatings for fabrics and paper.

PFAS do not break down easily and remain (persist) in the environment for long periods of time. Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, some PFAS are found in people, fish and wildlife all over the world. People can be exposed to PFAS through food, drinking water, air, house dust and everyday consumer products.

The current data we have on PFAS in Canadian freshwater sources and drinking water are limited. The data we do have suggest that PFAS are present across Canada at levels generally below the objective. The concentrations of PFAS in freshwater and drinking water may be higher near:

• facilities that use large amounts of these chemicals
• locations where fire-fighting foams containing PFAS were used to put out a fire
• landfills and wastewater treatment plants

PFAS can travel long distances through soil, water and air. As a result, PFAS can be found in freshwater and drinking water in areas that are far away from where they entered the environment.

Health effects of PFAS

Health information exists for only a small number of PFAS. What we do know is that some PFAS may affect many systems and organs, such as:

• the liver, kidney and thyroid
• the immune and nervous systems
• development and the reproductive system
• metabolism and bodyweight

The potential health risks from exposure depend on how much and how many of the PFAS you are exposed to and for how long. Each person's specific attributes including their age, habits, and overall health can impact how their body will react to chemical exposures.

How to reduce your exposure to PFAS in drinking water

If you're concerned about PFAS in your drinking water, contact your municipality, local drinking water authority or local public health authority for advice and help.

If you do have PFAS in your drinking water, you can remove them by treating your water with a treatment unit or system. You can install:

• an activated carbon filter directly at the tap or where the water enters the house
• a reverse osmosis system at the tap
• an ion exchange system designed for PFAS removal

Make sure that any unit or system you buy is:

• certified to NSF International standards, NSF/ANSI Standard 53 (activated carbon) or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 (reverse osmosis) for PFAS removal
  • these standards ensure the safety and performance of the device

Note that reverse osmosis systems should only be installed at the tap. If it is installed upstream of the tap, the treated water may corrode the plumbing and cause other contaminants, like lead, to leach into the water.

There are currently no certified ion exchange systems for removing PFAS from drinking water in your home. However, these systems can be effective when using an ion exchange resin that is specific for PFAS removal. Make sure you check the manufacturer's information carefully before buying a system.

Health Canada strongly recommends that any system meets NSF/ANSI standard 61 for drinking water materials.

It's important to make sure treatment devices are installed, replaced and/or maintained according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. To avoid releasing PFAS back into the environment, check with your local authority about available options for the disposal of used filters and media that may contain PFAS.

Bathing, showering, washing dishes, brushing teeth and doing laundry with water containing PFAS are unlikely to significantly increase your health risk. PFAS tend to stay in the water, which means that you can't readily breathe them in, and only a very small amount may be absorbed through the skin.

Boiling water will not remove PFAS from drinking water.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding

If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing infant formula and are concerned about exposure to PFAS in your drinking water, you may wish to:

• use another source of drinking water, such as bottled water, or
• install a treatment unit certified as meeting NSF/ANSI standards for PFAS removal

Limits for PFAS in drinking water in Canada

We worked with provinces, territories and other federal departments to develop an objective of 30 nanograms per litre (ng/L) for a sum of 25 specific PFAS measured in drinking water. The intent of this objective is to reduce exposure to PFAS through drinking water. The lower the levels of PFAS present in the drinking water, the lower the risk of potential health effects. This objective replaces the existing drinking water guidelines for PFOS and PFOA, and nine screening values derived for individual PFAS.

The objective of 30 ng/L is based on a precautionary approach and on concentrations that can be reliably measured by available methods and achieved by drinking water treatment.

To develop this objective, we considered:

• the levels of PFAS found in Canadian waters
• the technology available to remove PFAS from drinking water
• the lowest levels of PFAS that can be measured in water using validated methods
• the concentration that can be consistently achieved from a technical treatment standpoint for a larger number of PFAS

Limits for PFAS in drinking water in other countries

Other places such as the European Union (EU), Sweden, Denmark and some states in the United States (US) have also established single guideline limits for PFAS in drinking water. For example, the EU has limits of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS and 500 ng/L for the sum of all PFAS in drinking water. The US Environmental Protection Agency has established individual maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA.

For more information

If you have questions about the objective or PFAS in drinking water, you may contact us by:

• phone: 1-833-223-1014 (toll free)
• email: water-eau@hc-sc.gc.ca

Health Canada does not recommend specific brands of drinking water treatment units but strongly recommends units that have been certified as meeting NSF/ANSI standards for PFAS removal.

Health Canada does not give advice on individual situations, including medical and health concerns.

For medical problems, questions or concerns, contact your health care provider (your family doctor or a health clinic).

Health Canada does not provide testing nor interpretation of the results of water quality tests. For water quality concerns, testing and interpreting results, contact your municipal service provider, local drinking water or health authority.