PFAS — "forever chemicals" — have been detected in municipal water systems across Illinois, including Peoria. The contamination is real, the regulatory picture keeps shifting, but the household treatment answer is clear.
PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a family of several thousand synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured and used since the 1940s. They show up in nonstick cookware coatings, water-resistant clothing and fabrics, grease-resistant food packaging, and the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used for decades at military bases, airports, and fire training facilities.
The nickname "forever chemicals" reflects a real property: the carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS is among the strongest in organic chemistry. These compounds don't break down under normal environmental conditions. They persist in soil, water, and living tissue, accumulating over time. PFOA and PFOS — two of the most widely studied PFAS compounds — have been phased out of production in the U.S. but remain in the environment and in the bodies of most Americans at detectable levels.
Health research on PFAS is ongoing. Prolonged exposure to certain PFAS has been associated with effects on thyroid function, immune response, cholesterol levels, and increased risk of some cancers. The EPA set its enforceable drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion — a level that reflects the conclusion that no concentration is without some risk.
This isn't a distant problem. Federal and state monitoring has documented PFAS in Illinois water systems, and the contamination sources are well established.
The Illinois EPA has an active PFAS monitoring program. Federal UCMR 5 testing — the EPA's unregulated contaminant monitoring program — required public water systems to test for PFAS between 2023 and 2025, and the results are publicly available. Peoria is among the Illinois communities where detections have been reported.
The primary contamination sources in Illinois follow a familiar pattern statewide: military installations where firefighting foam was used for training drills, commercial airports under FAA requirements to carry AFFF, and industrial sites. The Illinois Attorney General has filed multiple lawsuits related to PFAS contamination from these sources.
Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) disclosing test results including PFAS detected under UCMR 5 monitoring. You can request a copy from your utility or find it on the EPA's Consumer Confidence Report website. If PFAS were detected, the report will list the compound and the measured level.
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking water limits for PFAS in April 2024. The rule set legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds. Since then, the regulatory picture has shifted somewhat, and it's worth understanding what's actually in force versus what's under review.
The MCLs for PFOA and PFOS — both set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) — remain in effect. In May 2025, EPA confirmed these limits will be upheld. Public water systems have until 2031 to achieve compliance (extended from the original 2029 deadline).
In May 2025, EPA announced its intent to rescind the separate MCLs for four other PFAS compounds: PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and the Hazard Index mixture standard. As of mid-2026, proposed rescission rules are in the public comment period. These four compounds may lose their federal MCLs pending final action. The PFOA and PFOS limits are not affected by this reconsideration.
The practical takeaway for households: PFOA and PFOS are the two compounds with the most health research behind them and the longest history of contamination. They're the ones that matter most for drinking water concerns, and their federal limits remain in place regardless of what happens to the other four.
Illinois may also set its own state-level PFAS standards independently of the federal picture — state rules aren't affected by EPA reconsideration of federal MCLs.
Municipal utilities are required to test and report. Private well owners have no such requirement — and PFAS testing is not part of a standard well water panel. If your well hasn't been specifically tested for PFAS, you don't know whether it's present.
PFAS has no taste, odor, or color. There is no way to detect it without a lab test. The standard in-home water analysis we do — which covers hardness, iron, TDS, pH, ammonia, and chlorine — does not include PFAS. Our lab panel (tannin, arsenic, lead, manganese, fluoride, nitrate/nitrite) also does not include PFAS by default.
For private well owners, PFAS testing is worth considering if your property is:
We work with a partner accredited lab for specialized testing including PFAS. There will be a cost for that analysis. If you want to discuss PFAS testing for your well, mention it when you call and we'll walk you through what's involved. (309) 258-2582
Not every water treatment technology removes PFAS. Here's how the main options compare.
| Treatment Type | Removes PFAS? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse osmosis (RO) | Yes | Most effective point-of-use option. Identified by the EPA as a proven treatment technology in the 2024 PFAS rule. |
| Activated carbon (GAC) | Partial | Can reduce some PFAS compounds depending on contact time and specific contaminants. Less consistent than RO and more dependent on system design. |
| Water softener | No | Ion exchange for hardness only. Does not remove PFAS. A softener is the wrong tool for this problem. |
| Standard pitcher or tap filter | No | Basic carbon block filters (Brita, Pur, etc.) are not rated for PFAS removal. |
| Sediment filter | No | Removes particulates only. Has no effect on dissolved PFAS. |
For most households concerned about PFAS, a quality reverse osmosis system for drinking and cooking water is the right starting point. RO membranes force water through a semi-permeable barrier that blocks PFAS molecules along with a wide range of other contaminants — nitrates, arsenic, lead, fluoride, and most dissolved solids. The EPA's 2024 PFAS drinking water rule specifically named reverse osmosis as a proven treatment technology alongside granular activated carbon and ion exchange.
The practical question is point-of-use vs. whole-house. A whole-house RO system treats every drop of water entering the home — thorough, but expensive, and it wastes a large volume of water per gallon produced. For most households, the real concern is PFAS in drinking and cooking water — the water you and your family actually consume. A quality point-of-use RO system addresses that effectively at a fraction of the cost. We can walk you through the options for your situation.
We install Hydrotech and Aqua Flo reverse osmosis systems sized for residential and light commercial applications. These are the same brands we've built our service business around — not box-store units.
If you already have a water softener — or are considering one for hardness — an RO system handles the drinking water side of the equation independently. The two systems work together without conflict.
An RO system needs periodic membrane and filter replacement to continue performing. We service most makes and models — not just systems we installed.
We can discuss what testing options exist for your situation and walk you through RO systems that address PFAS at the tap. No pressure — just a straight conversation about your water.
Mon–Fri 9am–4pm · 173 Thunderbird Lane, East Peoria, IL