You’ve seen those fancy under-sink filters with tubes and tanks. That’s a reverse osmosis (RO) system. It uses pressure to shove water through a super-tiny membrane—so tiny that only water molecules get through. Everything else gets kicked out.
Think of it as a bouncer at a club. The filter says, “Sorry, PFAS, you’re not on the list.” And it throws them out. But does it really work?
The Good News: Yes, It Works… But Not Perfectly
Studies show that a good RO system can remove up to 99% of PFAS. That’s huge. But here’s the funny part: not all RO systems are created equal. Some cheap ones act like a lazy bouncer who lets a few PFAS sneak in through the back door.
You need a system with a carbon pre-filter before the RO membrane. That combo is like a superhero duo—one catches the big stuff, the other traps the tiny, sneaky forever chemicals.
Also, RO systems waste water. For every gallon of clean water, you might dump three gallons down the drain. Your water bill might cry a little, but your body will thank you.
Figure 9: How reverse osmosis (RO) removes PFAS from sourc… | Flickr
