NLWC News

Protecting Your Tap: Choosing the Right PFAS Water Filter for Your Home

Anna Day • July 30, 2025

If you're concerned about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in your drinking water, filtering your water is an easy step you can take to reduce exposure. There are effective filtration options that can significantly reduce PFAS levels in your tap water.


Below, we've outlined a few types of filters that are known to reduce PFAS, along with the certification to look out for, to help you choose the right one for your needs and budget.

What to Look for: NSF Certification

When selecting a filter, the Nantucket Land & Water Council recommends using water treatment devices that are NSF certified. NSF International certification provides independent, third-party verification that a filter’s reduction claims have been validated.


Look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 when searching for all drinking water filters and NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for reverse osmosis systems. These standards ensure that certified filters effectively reduce PFAS to below 20 parts per trillion.


NSF-certified filters are available in many formats, including pitchers, under-sink units, and reverse osmosis systems. You can find a searchable list of certified products on the NSF International website.

Pitcher and Countertop Filters

Best for: Renters or those looking for a low-cost, easy-to-use solution.

Pitcher-style and countertop filters are convenient first lines of defense. Many use activated carbon or ion exchange technology to reduce PFAS and other common contaminants like chlorine and lead. While these options may not be as thorough as more complex systems, several models have been tested and certified to reduce PFAS to safe levels.


The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has reviewed and recommended a number of effective pitcher and countertop options. You can explore their top picks here.

Undersink and Reverse Osmosis Systems

Best for: Households looking for a more comprehensive, long-term solution.

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are among the most effective tools for removing PFAS from drinking water. These systems often include several stages of filtration, starting with sediment and activated carbon filters to remove chlorine, VOCs, and other impurities. Then, water passes through a semipermeable membrane that screens out tiny particles, including PFAS, heavy metals like arsenic, and other hard-to-remove contaminants.


When it comes to RO systems to reduce PFAS, the NLWC recommends at least a 5-stage NSF-certified filtration system. Many different systems can be found online and easily installed. It is important to remember to regularly change the filters of whichever RO system you choose regularly and to dispose of used filters properly per manufacturer guidelines.

Bottom Line

By investing in a certified filter that fits your home and budget, you can take meaningful steps to protect your household from these persistent chemicals. As always, if you have any immediate concerns about your water quality, we recommend obtaining a testing kit from the Health Department at 131 Pleasant Street.

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Nantucket Land & Water Council's 2026 Annual Town Meeting Recommendations

April 29, 2026
The Nantucket Land & Water Council has completed our annual reviews of the warrant in advance of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting in order to provide comments and recommendations on articles that impact the health of our island environment . Our review is conducted in the context of our mission to preserve the long term health of Nantucket's environment and community through the protection of our land and water resources.

Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation Awards Generous Grant to Nantucket Land & Water Council to Advance Eelgrass-Friendly Moorings Pilot Project

February 25, 2026
New partnership will transition conventional moorings in Monomoy to protect and restore Nantucket Harbor habitat The Nantucket Land & Water Council (NLWC) has received a generous grant from the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation to support the installation of eelgrass-friendly moorings in Nantucket Harbor, a major step forward in protecting one of the island’s most important marine habitats. Healthy eelgrass is essential to the vitality of Nantucket Harbor. Eelgrass meadows provide critical habitat for wild bay scallops and juvenile fish, improve water quality by filtering polluted runoff, absorb excess nutrients, store carbon, and stabilize shorelines against erosion and storm surge. Yet eelgrass in Nantucket Harbor has declined significantly in recent decades due to nutrient pollution, warming waters, and physical disturbance — including abrasion from traditional boat moorings. Since 2018, NLWC has worked with Harbormaster Sheila Lucey and her team, the Town of Nantucket and island partners on eelgrass restoration initiatives aimed at reversing this decline. One of the most practical and immediate solutions is transitioning conventional chain moorings to eelgrass-friendly systems — a key recommendation of the newly adopted Nantucket Eelgrass Management Plan. In 2022, NLWC partnered with Nantucket Harbormaster Sheila Lucey and Anderson Stillwater Moorings to design and implement an environmentally-sensitive mooring system adapted for Nantucket’s unique needs. The design uses a 300-pound pyramid anchor and an eco-rode that keeps gear suspended above the seabed, preventing the heavy chain “scouring” that destroys eelgrass beds around traditional moorings. The NLWC Waterkeeper vessel has been successfully secured using this mooring system for three consecutive seasons. Thanks to generous funding from the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation, NLWC and the Harbormaster’s Office will now launch a pilot program this spring, in partnership with local mooring companies, to transition up to 25 conventional moorings to eelgrass-friendly systems. Ed Orenstein, GHYC Foundation President, states: “The Foundation prioritizes projects that deliver both immediate and long-term benefits to Nantucket Harbor’s ecosystem and our community at large. These new eelgrass-friendly moorings accomplish both. We couldn’t be happier to team with NLWC on this impactful initiative and applaud Emily Molden’s leadership." NLWC will monitor the pilot sites to measure eelgrass recovery and seabed stability, with the goal of informing future harbor management decisions and expanding the program if successful. “Eelgrass is the foundation of our harbor ecosystem — without it, we lose scallops, water quality, and coastal resilience. The beauty of eelgrass-friendly moorings is that they solve a problem without restricting boating. This project shows conservation and harbor use can work together for the betterment of our environment and to the benefit of our community, and we hope it becomes a model for broader adoption.” – RJ Turcotte, Nantucket Waterkeeper The Nantucket Land & Water Council extends its sincere appreciation to the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation for their foresight, vision, and generous support for innovative solutions that protect the island’s land and water through science, advocacy, and community engagement.

Advocate for the Environment – Join the NLWC's Community Advocates!

February 4, 2026
If you feel aligned with our mission and would like to support our work through advocacy, there are many meaningful ways to get involved. You can attend local regulatory meetings, participate in and speak at Annual Town Meetings, serve as an informed environmental ambassador among friends and neighbors, rally support for articles that protect Nantucket’s natural resources, and oppose those that pose risks to their long-term health. You can also lend your voice by drafting or signing Letters to the Editor. If you’re interested in participating in our advocacy efforts as a Community Advocate, please click H ERE.
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