PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals", have been in the news a lot, and one question keeps coming up: does a water filter actually remove them? The short answer is that some do and some don't. Reverse osmosis and certain carbon and ion-exchange systems can reduce PFAS meaningfully; a basic jug filter or boiling the kettle won't.

Here's the honest, practical picture: what PFAS are, whether they're a concern in Australian tap water, which filters work, and how to decide if you need one.

What PFAS are

PFAS stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a family of thousands of human-made chemicals used since the mid-20th century to make products resistant to heat, water, grease and stains. They're in everything from non-stick cookware to waterproof fabrics and firefighting foams. They're called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily and can persist in the environment, including in water.

The health research is ongoing and taken seriously by regulators worldwide, which is why guidelines keep being reviewed. What's worth keeping in perspective is that, for most people, drinking water is only a small slice of total PFAS exposure. Australian assessments estimate the majority of exposure comes from food and household products rather than tap water, especially in areas with low contamination.

Is PFAS in Melbourne's tap water?

For most Australian drinking water, levels are low. Australia tightened its drinking-water guideline values for key PFAS in 2025, and even under the stricter limits, most public water supplies either have no detectable PFAS or sit below the new values. Higher readings tend to be found in groundwater near specific contamination sites, such as old firefighting-foam training grounds, which are generally not used as drinking water sources.

Melbourne is relatively well placed here, because much of its supply comes from protected mountain catchments with limited industrial activity. So for most Melbourne homes on mains water, PFAS is not a crisis. Where it becomes a more active question is if you're on tank or bore water, live near a known contamination site, or you simply want the reassurance of reducing it as far as practical. That's a legitimate reason on its own, and it's the honest place to start rather than fear.

Which filters actually remove PFAS?

Not all filtration is equal when it comes to PFAS. Three approaches have real evidence behind them.

Reverse osmosis (RO). This is the most thorough option for the home. RO forces water through an extremely fine membrane that blocks the vast majority of PFAS along with many other contaminants. If you want the strongest practical PFAS reduction at your drinking tap, RO is the benchmark, which is why our reverse osmosis system is the option we point most people to for PFAS at the kitchen.

Activated carbon (the right kind). Good-quality activated carbon, particularly granular activated carbon in a properly sized system, can reduce PFAS, and tends to work best on the longer-chain compounds like PFOS and PFOA. Performance depends heavily on the amount and quality of carbon and how well the system is maintained, so a small carbon cartridge is not the same as a purpose-built carbon stage.

Ion exchange. Specialised anion-exchange resins are increasingly used to target PFAS, including some of the shorter-chain compounds that carbon handles less well. They're often used alongside other stages rather than on their own.

What doesn't work

It's just as useful to know what won't help, so you don't waste money on the wrong thing.

• Boiling. Boiling water does nothing to remove PFAS. Because water evaporates and PFAS don't, boiling can actually concentrate them slightly.
• Basic sediment filters. These catch dirt and particles, not dissolved chemicals like PFAS.
• Most cheap jug and fridge filters. Some have limited PFAS reduction, many have little to none, and claims vary widely. They're not a reliable PFAS solution.

The theme is simple: PFAS are dissolved at a molecular level, so only filtration designed to capture them at that level, RO, proper carbon, or ion exchange, does the job.

How to decide if you need PFAS filtration

You don't need to panic-buy anything. A sensible way to think about it:

• On Melbourne mains water and generally happy? Your PFAS risk is low. If you want the cleanest possible drinking water anyway, RO at the kitchen covers PFAS along with fluoride, chlorine and more, so you get the reassurance as part of a broader upgrade.
• On tank or bore water, or near a known contamination site? This is where testing genuinely matters. Get the water assessed before deciding, because the right answer depends on what's actually there.

The one thing we'd steer you away from is buying a cheap filter that claims to handle PFAS without the technology to back it up. Reducing PFAS properly means using a method that actually works.

Our approach to PFAS

We'll be straight about where we stand. Our reverse osmosis system is known to reduce PFAS at the kitchen tap today, as part of its broader contaminant reduction, so if PFAS is on your mind, that's the option available now. We're also developing a dedicated whole-home PFAS reduction system, which is coming soon; you can join the waitlist on our PFAS water filter page to hear when it's ready.

What we won't do is make big numerical promises about a product before it's certified, or use fear to sell you something. If PFAS matters to you, the right first step is understanding what's actually in your water.

The honest take

Do water filters remove PFAS? The good ones do. Reverse osmosis is the most thorough option for the home, quality carbon and ion exchange can help, and boiling or a basic jug filter won't. For most Melbourne homes on mains water, PFAS levels are low, so this is more about peace of mind and going further than fixing a crisis. If you're on tank or bore water, testing first is the smart move.

We're a Melbourne team, and we start every job with a free in-home water test. We'll test your water, explain what's in it in plain English, and tell you honestly whether PFAS filtration is worth it for your situation, or whether you're already in good shape.

Book your free water test and get a clear answer.