NLWC News

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

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.

MassDEP Casts Doubt on 'Sconset Beach Geotube Expansion

September 10, 2026
On August 31st, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a letter rebuking the efforts of Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF) to expand the geotube project on Sconset Beach. Nantucket Land & Water Council (NLWC) along with over a dozen Nantucket residents, including members of the Nantucket Coastal Conservancy (collectively “Appellants”), appealed the Conservation Commission’s March 2025 approval of an Order of Conditions for the geotube expansion. Now seventeen months later, DEP’s letter dated August 31, 2026, casts grave doubt on whether the expansion project will be approved by the state agency. This setback follows the denial of a license for the project at Town Meeting last spring.

Letter from the Nantucket Waterkeeper

September 1, 2026
To the Editor,  This letter is about the water situation on the island. As the Nantucket Waterkeeper, I measure the water levels in our aquifer every month (a half-century tradition of the Nantucket Land & Water Council) at ten wells across the island from ’Sconset to Madaket. These wells are simply metal or pvc pipes installed just far enough below the surface to reach and measure the ups and downs of our aquifer. This data is used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Mass Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It's also available to the public on USGS’s website- The exact well used to determine if we’re in a drought or not is well #228 . You’ll notice that it continues to trend downward. With the exception of two very shallow wells in Madaket which have shown some recovery from recent rain, the other seven wells across the island continue to trend downward.

Eelgrass-Friendly Moorings Installations Begin!

July 16, 2026
On Monday, June 29th, 2026 , the Nantucket Land & Water Council (NLWC) in collaboration with Nantucket Harbormaster Sheila Lucey , Anderson’s Stillwater Moorings , & Nantucket Mooring s, officially began installing eelgrass-friendly moorings along our testing site in Nantucket Harbor. Installation has moved forward thanks to a generous grant from the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation to support eelgrass-friendly moorings in Nantucket Harbor. Eelgrass is paramount to maintaining the health and fragile ecosystems within our harbor . Eelgrass meadows aid our water quality by filtering out runoff contaminants , removing excess nutrients , providing necessary habitats for wild bay scallops and juvenile fish species , and helping to combat environmental events like coastal erosion and storm surge . Traditional moorings utilize a mushroom anchor and a heavy chain that digs into the harbor floor. As wind, tides, and currents move boats and moorings, the chain drags on the harbor floor creating a circular scour – a place where eelgrass cannot grow. Eelgrass-friendly moorings are a type of mooring that protects eelgrass meadows while allowing us to continue using and enjoying our boats as we always have. The eelgrass-friendly moorings use a pyramid style Dormor anchor and an ecorode elastic rope replacing traditional chain and mushroom anchors. The elastic does not scour, allowing eelgrass to grow sustainably in our harbors.
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