PFAS are long-lasting manufactured chemicals that the EPA now regulates in drinking water, and Iowa has been testing its public water supplies for them since 2021. This guide covers what PFAS are, where the federal limits stand in 2026, what Iowa's testing has actually found, and the home treatment the EPA recognizes — every fact sourced, zero scare tactics.
PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are, in the EPA's words, "widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time." The EPA notes there are thousands of PFAS chemicals, used in many consumer, commercial, and industrial products, and that they are "found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation." That slow breakdown is why news coverage often calls them "forever chemicals" — and it's also why water utilities and state agencies now test for them. None of this is unique to Iowa; it's a nationwide monitoring effort, and Iowa's part in it is further along than many people realize.
Here's the current picture in one sentence: the enforceable federal limits for the two most-studied PFAS — PFOA and PFOS — are 4.0 parts per trillion each, and they remain in place. The EPA announced the final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation on April 10, 2024, setting the first legally enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS, along with limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals), and a "hazard index" covering mixtures of several PFAS.
In May 2026, the EPA proposed two changes to that rule, and it's worth being precise about what each one does:
| 2026 EPA proposal | What it would do | Status (August 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance-date extension | Gives water systems an option to request two additional years — to 2031 — to comply with the PFOA and PFOS limits. The EPA states the proposal "does not change the PFOA and PFOS MCLs established in the 2024 PFAS NPDWR which remain 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) each." | Proposed rule; public comment closed July 20, 2026 |
| Rescission of four other limits | Would withdraw the 2024 limits for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX chemicals, and the Hazard Index mixture, citing Safe Drinking Water Act procedural requirements. It does not touch the PFOA and PFOS limits. | Proposed rule; public comment closed July 20, 2026 |
Neither proposal is a final rule as of this writing. The practical takeaway for an Iowa homeowner: the 4.0 ppt limits for PFOA and PFOS stand, and public water systems are working toward their compliance dates.
Iowa started looking before the federal rule existed. The Iowa DNR began sampling public water systems in October 2021, prioritizing water sources it considered at higher risk, and by its March 2023 summary had tested 116 drinking water supplies representing "approximately 46% of Iowa's population."
The results, in the DNR's own numbers: "one or more PFAS compounds were found in 52 finished water samples," and "just 15 (12%) of the finished water samples reported PFAS concentrations above the current health advisory levels" — the EPA advisory levels in effect at the time. Where a PFAS chemical with a health advisory was found, the DNR revised that utility's operating permit to require quarterly monitoring; 20 permits had been revised as of that summary. The DNR posts its testing results publicly at iowadnr.gov, and monitoring continues.
Closer to home: our free per-city water reports are built from public data, and they flag PFAS detections where the public record shows them. If you're on city water in Eastern Iowa, start with the Cedar Rapids water report or our overview of city water in Eastern Iowa — you'll see exactly what's been reported for your town, no interpretation required.
If PFAS is on your mind, the EPA's home-filtration guidance is refreshingly plain: "If you choose to use a filter, be sure to get one that is certified to remove or reduce PFAS in drinking water," and check the packaging for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 (carbon filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis). On the technology itself, EPA research calls activated carbon "the most studied treatment for PFAS removal" and reports that high-pressure membranes such as reverse osmosis "have been extremely effective at removing PFAS" — typically more than 90 percent effective across a wide range of PFAS in the EPA's research. One more EPA point worth taping to the fridge: "Filters are only effective if they are maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions."
Here's our honest position. The reverse osmosis drinking water systems we provide — installed by licensed local plumbing professionals we vet, schedule, and stand behind — belong to the certified-technology class the EPA points to: NSF/ANSI 58 is the reverse osmosis standard, and systems certified under it must reduce total dissolved solids by at least 75 percent. What we won't do is promise you a specific PFAS-removal number for your kitchen sink before we've seen your water. The right order of operations is a free water test first, then treatment matched to what your water actually shows. If RO makes sense for your home, an under-sink system runs $800–$900 all-in with installation, and you can get an instant quote in about a minute.
Private wells aren't covered by municipal testing, but Iowa has one of the more generous testing programs around. The state's Private Well Grants Program "provides free water testing to all private well owners and users" through county health departments — the DNR recommends bacteria and nitrate testing every year, with arsenic and manganese every three years. PFAS testing for private wells is available through the same program, though the DNR notes it "requires pre-approval from the DNR," so your county health department is the first call. We keep a plain-English walkthrough in our guide to free well water testing in Iowa, and if your results turn up something you'd like to address — hardness and iron are far more common findings than PFAS — our well water treatment page shows how we approach it. New to well ownership altogether? Start with the basics in our well water guide.
PFAS is a topic where the facts are genuinely more useful than the headlines. A sensible sequence for an Iowa household: first, look up your water — your city's report, or a free in-home test if you're on a well or simply want current numbers from your own tap. Second, read the results against the actual standards above, not against a worst-case news story. Third, if you decide to add treatment, choose from the certified-technology class the EPA recognizes and keep it maintained on schedule. That's the whole playbook. We're a family-owned Iowa company, our water tests are free, and we'll tell you plainly if your water doesn't need anything from us.
The honest answer is to look at your own supply rather than accept a blanket verdict. Iowa's public water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and tested on a state schedule; on PFAS specifically, the Iowa DNR found detections in 52 finished-water samples, with 15 above the EPA advisory levels in effect at the time. Check your own city's numbers in our free water reports.
The enforceable limits are 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS, set by the EPA's April 2024 drinking water rule. In May 2026 the EPA proposed letting water systems request until 2031 to comply, and separately proposed rescinding the 2024 limits for four other PFAS. Both were still proposals — not final rules — after the July 2026 comment period.
No. Boiling addresses microorganisms, not chemicals — the CDC makes the same point about nitrate, noting that boiling does not remove chemical contaminants from water. For PFAS, the EPA's home guidance points to filtration instead: activated carbon or reverse osmosis systems certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58, maintained on the manufacturer's schedule.
No — that's not its job. Water softeners are certified under NSF/ANSI 44 and remove hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium. For PFAS, the EPA's guidance points to activated carbon and reverse osmosis. Many Iowa homes run both: a water softener for the whole house and an RO system at the kitchen sink for drinking water.
Two easy routes. The Iowa DNR publishes its public water supply PFAS testing results at iowadnr.gov, updated as monitoring continues. Or skip the spreadsheet: our free per-city water reports compile the public data for Eastern Iowa towns and flag PFAS detections where the record shows them — start with our city water guide to find your town.
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Serving Marion, Cedar Rapids & surrounding Linn County communities
Kind Water Co is a d/b/a of Zero Cap Investments LLC · 2258 Bison St, Apt B, Marion, IA 52302
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