Do Berkey Water Filters Remove PFAS and Forever Chemicals?

Do Berkey Water Filters Remove PFAS?

Yes. Both Berkey filter element lines have been independently tested for PFAS reduction. The Berkey Phoenix is tested by NABL-accredited, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified laboratories. Black Berkey elements are tested by independent, EPA and NSF-accredited third-party labs. The Berkey Phoenix is the currently available element; Black Berkey elements are temporarily unavailable due to an ongoing EPA regulatory matter.

To put these results in context: the EPA's enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PFOA and PFOS is 4 parts per trillion (finalized April 2024). Both Berkey filter element lines have been independently tested to reduce PFOA and PFOS well below this federal limit. Full downloadable lab reports are available here. Berkey's PFAS test results have also been recognized by third-party publications including EWG and CBS News - see our media coverage page for verified sources.

How Widespread Is PFAS Contamination in the U.S.?

PFAS contamination in American drinking water is far more widespread than earlier estimates suggested. Updated EPA data published in February 2026 shows the scale of the problem has grown significantly:

Contamination is particularly elevated in states with histories of industrial manufacturing and military base activity. New Jersey, Minnesota, and Connecticut have adopted stricter PFAS limits than the federal standard. The EWG maintains a real-time PFAS contamination map where you can check your specific water system.

Private well users face an additional challenge: the EPA's enforceable MCLs apply only to regulated public water systems. Homeowners on private wells have no federal requirement compelling testing or treatment, making point-of-use filtration the primary line of defense.

What Does the EPA Say About PFAS in Drinking Water?

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water, replacing the previous non-enforceable 70 ppt health advisory. The new limits:

• PFOA and PFOS: 4 parts per trillion (ppt) - individually
• PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX: 10 ppt - individually

The EPA also set a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of zero for both PFOA and PFOS - meaning the agency's own science concludes there is no exposure level without risk of health impact. The 4 ppt MCL reflects the lowest level feasible for public water system treatment, not a safe threshold.

The Environmental Working Group recommends an even more cautious limit of 1 ppt for individual PFAS compounds - four times lower than the EPA's enforceable MCL - to account for cumulative exposure from food, packaging, and other non-water sources.

What Are PFAS and Forever Chemicals?

PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances - a group of more than 15,000 synthetic chemicals built around an exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bond. That bond is what makes them so durable in manufacturing applications and so persistent in the environment: PFAS do not break down under normal conditions, which is why they are called "forever chemicals."

PFAS are used in the manufacture of hundreds of common household and industrial products: non-stick cookware (Teflon), food packaging, water- and stain-resistant fabrics (Scotchguard), firefighting foam, wax, paint, and polish. Firefighting foam used in training exercises at military bases and airports has been one of the most significant sources of groundwater contamination across the U.S.

What Are PFOA and PFOS?

PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) are two of the most extensively studied and regulated chemicals in the PFAS group. Both have been produced in the United States and internationally since the 1940s and were used widely until phase-outs began in the early 2000s. They are both C8 fluorinated compounds - meaning they contain 8 carbon atoms in their molecular structure - and are resistant to both water and lipids. That resistance makes them valuable industrially but means they accumulate in the environment and in human and animal body tissue over time.

How Does PFAS Get Into Drinking Water?

PFAS enters drinking water through several pathways. Legacy contamination from firefighting foam at military bases and airports has leached into soils and groundwater for decades. Because PFAS do not break down, groundwater contamination persists long after the original source has been removed or banned.

Industrial discharge is another major route - factory emissions can release PFAS in airborne particles that settle into surface water and soils. Contaminated sewage sludge spread on agricultural land has also been identified as a significant source in multiple states. The DuPont case in Parkersburg, West Virginia - where PFOA manufacturing contaminated the local water supply for decades - is one of the most well-documented examples, resulting in a $671 million settlement with approximately 3,500 affected residents.

What Are the Health Risks of PFAS Exposure?

Research has linked PFAS exposure to a range of health effects, with the strongest evidence concentrated around PFOA and PFOS. Documented associations include:

• Increased cholesterol levels
• Immune system suppression, including reduced vaccine efficacy in children
• Thyroid hormone disruption
• Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer (PFOA)
• Low infant birth weight and developmental effects
• Liver and kidney effects in animal studies

The EWG considers the broader PFAS class - more than 15,000 chemicals - an issue of concern as a group, because even low-level exposure to certain compounds can affect the endocrine and immune systems. The EPA's decision to set an MCLG of zero for PFOA and PFOS reflects the scientific consensus that there is no safe exposure threshold for these two compounds.

How Long Do PFAS Stay in the Body?

PFAS chemicals do not metabolize once ingested. They persist in body tissue essentially unchanged. For PFOA and PFOS specifically, the biological half-life is approximately 4 years - meaning it takes roughly 4 years for levels in the body to drop by half after exposure stops. With ongoing daily ingestion through contaminated water, PFAS accumulate over time. Reducing PFAS intake through filtration at the point of use is one of the most direct ways to limit ongoing accumulation.

Does Boiling Water Remove PFAS?

No. PFAS chemicals are water-resistant and thermally stable - boiling does not break them down or remove them. Boiling water that contains PFAS will actually concentrate the contamination as water evaporates, increasing the parts-per-trillion level in what remains. Effective PFAS reduction requires filtration technologies proven to remove these compounds.

How Does Berkey Compare to Other PFAS Removal Methods?

Several filtration technologies can reduce PFAS in drinking water. The primary options available for home use, and how they compare:

→ Scroll to see full table

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a legitimate alternative for PFAS reduction and performs well. The primary trade-offs are cost (installation runs $200–$600+), demineralization of filtered water, and ongoing electricity use. Gravity filtration's core advantages are mineral retention, zero electricity dependence, portability, and cost per gallon.

What About GenX and Newer PFAS Compounds?

GenX (HFPO-DA) is a synthetic chemical developed as a replacement for PFOA in non-stick and industrial manufacturing. It has been detected in drinking water in several U.S. regions, most notably the Cape Fear River basin in North Carolina, and is regulated by the EPA at a 10 ppt MCL under the April 2024 final rule.

The Berkey Phoenix filter elements have been independently tested for GenX (HFPO-DA) removal as part of their 2025 testing program - making them one of very few gravity filter elements to include this compound in published lab data. Results are available in the Phoenix lab results.

For Black Berkey elements, GenX has not been specifically tested as a named compound. Because GenX shares structural characteristics with PFOA, the expectation is that performance would be consistent - but until dedicated testing is completed, no confirmed removal claim can be made for that element line.

How Can You Reduce PFAS Exposure?

PFAS exposure is not limited to drinking water. Common non-water sources include fast food wrappers and takeout containers (typically PFAS-coated), microwave popcorn bags, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabric treatments, and some personal care products. Reducing overall exposure means addressing both water and non-water sources.

For drinking water specifically:

• Check your water system's PFAS status using the EWG PFAS contamination map
• If your system shows detectable PFAS, point-of-use filtration with independently tested, lab-documented elements is the most reliable at-home solution
• Replace filter elements on schedule - filter capacity is finite, and PFAS reduction performance degrades over time with heavy use

The EWG's guide to avoiding PFAS covers non-water exposure sources in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions About Berkey and PFAS