OWASA detected 9 PFAS compounds in Chapel Hill's finished water after standard treatment. Here's what the data shows, what OWASA plans to do, and what you can do today.
Get a Free Water AssessmentData drawn from OWASA monitoring reports. Sources: Cane Creek Reservoir and University Lake.
These PFAS compounds were identified in Cane Creek and University Lake source water. Nine persist into finished treated water.
Plus additional compounds at trace levels.
OWASA uses conventional treatment — the same process most utilities use — which is not designed for PFAS removal.
| Treatment Method | PFAS Removal | OWASA Uses This |
|---|---|---|
| Coagulation / sedimentation | None | ✓ |
| Sand filtration | None | ✓ |
| Chlorine disinfection | None | ✓ |
| Granular activated carbon (GAC) | Partial | Planned |
| Ion exchange | High | Planned |
| Reverse osmosis (point-of-use) | 95–99% | Planned |
OWASA has committed to adding advanced treatment (GAC or ion exchange) — but implementation is 3–5 years out.
An under-sink RO system with NSF/ANSI 58 and NSF P473 certification removes 95–99% of PFAS compounds from your drinking and cooking water — bringing levels well below the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Activated carbon reduces some PFAS but is inconsistent across compounds. Not certified for all PFAS types.
May reduce some PFAS but are not NSF P473 certified. Partial reduction is not enough for health-protective levels.
Has no effect on PFAS. Boiling concentrates PFAS rather than removing them.
OWASA draws from Cane Creek Reservoir and University Lake, both fed by surface water in the upper Haw River watershed. PFAS compounds — sometimes called "forever chemicals" — come from decades of industrial and consumer product use: non-stick coatings, firefighting foam, food packaging, and manufacturing. Once PFAS enter a watershed, they don't break down, which is how they persist in treated finished water.
OWASA water currently meets all federal legal standards, including the newly set EPA MCL for PFOA and PFOS at 4 ppt. However, compliance deadlines extend to 2027, and several PFAS compounds detected in OWASA water don't yet have regulatory limits. For households with pregnant women, infants, or members with underlying health conditions, point-of-use RO provides an additional layer of protection beyond what municipal treatment currently offers.
OWASA has announced plans to upgrade treatment with granular activated carbon, ion exchange, or membrane filtration — solutions that cost tens of millions of dollars and have a 3–5 year implementation timeline. Until those upgrades are complete, point-of-use reverse osmosis is the most practical and cost-effective way for Chapel Hill households to reduce PFAS at the tap.
Standard pitcher filters with activated carbon reduce some PFAS compounds but are inconsistent and don't address all compounds. Reverse osmosis with an NSF/ANSI 58 and NSF P473 certified membrane is the only residential technology proven to remove 95–99% of PFAS. Verify the certification — not all RO systems are rated for PFAS.
Annual pre-filter replacement runs $80–100. The RO membrane itself lasts 2–3 years before replacement. A properly maintained system continuously removes 95–99% of PFAS compounds and also handles chlorine, sediment, and other dissolved contaminants that affect taste and odor.
We install NSF-certified RO systems that remove 95–99% of PFAS from your drinking water. Free assessment, lifetime warranty.
Get a Free Water Assessment