How You Can Help Protect Your Family from PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Area leaders have been grappling with PFAS "forever chemicals" for a few years now, but many residents still have questions about them. They wonder if there's anything they should do to protect their families.

A Harvard study showed more than 16 million Americans drink water with PFAS, with high concentrations of them in California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Georgia, and Minnesota, according to PBS News.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade chemicals that are now banned in the United States but might be used in products imported into our country, according to Kinetico. They have been used in consumer products, industrial settings, and firefighting foam. Non-stick cooking tools, stain guards, and some paper and cardboard products could contain them, but we also can be exposed to them:

• Through food from contaminated packaging or soil
• Household products like non-stick cookware
• Through our water supply

If you are curious about the local government's response, St. Cloud leaders have a storymap, last updated in May, about their approach, and Sauk Rapids has a FAQ page on the city website.

But what about your family? Schultz Soft Water, an authorized Kinetico dealer, offers home filtration systems certified to remove and reduce PFAS in drinking water. This locally owned and operated company has been offering central Minnesota the best water treatment equipment available for more than 30 years. You can trust them to suggest the best solutions for your family's water treatment goals.

The EPA offers a Fact Sheet on how to learn about water testing levels and how to confirm water filters are certified for PFAS. The EPA also emphasizes that equipment only works effectively if you follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.

To learn more or request a free, no-obligation quote, visit schultzsoftwater.com or call (800) 289-2807.