PFAS in the groundwater - purify your water with iWater filters

In Denmark, we are increasingly experiencing problems with harmful substances such as PFAS in the groundwater. Consequently, there has been a much greater focus on the quality of clean water, and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has just lowered the limit value. Brand new tests of iWater filters show that all our filters will purify your water to well below the new limit value, making it healthy and good to drink again.

Purify your drinking water completely from PFAS with iWater’s products

When we turn on the tap at home, drinking water comes out. But do you know your drinking water? There is more and more talk about the quality of our drinking water, and for a very good reason. Our groundwater, and thus drinking water, is no longer so clean and good. This is due, among other things, to an increased amount of chemicals, so-called PFAS. You may have heard about the cows in Korsør, which truly put the debate about drinking water and PFAS on the agenda. Recently, we have heard more about PFAS in our rainwater – rainwater that becomes groundwater, which becomes drinking water. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that we begin to think more about how we purify our drinking water. You can ensure that your water is healthy and clean with iWater filters.

What actually is PFAS?

PFAS is a collective term for a large group of chemicals. These chemicals are used in surface treatments, cosmetics, dental floss, and much more. Previously, they were also used in, for example, firefighting foam. PFAS compounds are non-degradable and therefore cannot disappear again. Because we have used PFAS in so many places over the years, it is now everywhere in the environment – including in our groundwater. PFAS has proven to be dangerous to nature, animals, and humans. Among other things, they are suspected of contributing to chronic diseases, cancer, and a weakened immune system.

All iWater filters bring the level of PFAS far below the new limit value

In 2021, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency decided to significantly reduce the limit value for four PFAS substances. They reduced the limit value from 100 nanograms per litre to 2 nanograms per litre (0.002 μg/L (micrograms per litre). This specifically concerns the sum of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS. Therefore, we at iWater have just had all our filters tested.

We have tested for a total of 22 different PFAS compounds, including the four tightened and particularly problematic ones. All our filters brought the level down to 1.1 ng/l and below. That is to say, down to a maximum of 55% of the limit value. The filters were tested on water from Hedehusene with a PFAS level of 4.2 ng/l. The filters that were tested include our Cone filter, Mosel pitcher, Chanson ionization machines, and PF-207. Both our Mosel pitcher and PF-207 brought the level even further down – all the way to less than measurable. Our documentation:

Overall PFAS analysis report for iWater's filters

PFAS Analysis Report of P-7000

PFAS Analysis Report for iWater Mosel Filter Pitcher

PFAS Analysis Report for iWater Cone Filter

PFAS Analysis Report for PJ-8000

Why is it important to drink clean water?

There are several reasons why it is important to drink clean water. In short, you minimize the contamination of your own body. The many different substances found in water all contribute to contaminating your body – and can therefore potentially lead to a wide range of diseases and ailments. PFAS is not broken down in the body but is slowly excreted. The half-life is estimated to be 2.5 to 3.5 years, which means it can take between 7 and 18 years to reach a low level of PFAS. However, there is great individual variation. It is therefore very difficult to get these contaminants out of the body again. Therefore, the focus should be on avoiding getting them in in the first place. One should therefore make sure to drink clean water every day. You can read much more about the importance of clean drinking water here.

Who is responsible for the quality of our drinking water?

Our groundwater consists of purified rainwater. Once raindrops have seeped into the ground, it is called groundwater. As the water seeps through the soil layers, it is naturally both filtered and purified. In addition, the water is treated at a water treatment plant so that it is ready to drink. Unfortunately, the quality of the treated drinking water is no longer always good, and it is within this water, among other things, that greater or lesser amounts of PFAS are found.

If we want healthier and better water, it is the waterworks on a larger scale that need to start purifying the water. Reorganizing this is highly resource intensive. But can we expect the waterworks to purify our water, or do we have to take responsibility ourselves? Could one imagine a certification for water being created in the future? Perhaps we will start talking about organic water just as we talk about organic foods – an organic waterworks where you pay more for the water to be completely healthy and clean. Before we potentially reach that point, it appears that we must take matters into our own hands. This can be done by having your own filters at home. You can install several of iWater's filters directly onto your tap, so that good, clean water comes straight out of the faucet.

Healthy, clean water with activated carbon

All iWater filters are based on activated carbon. They purify the water so that all the good, important minerals remain in the water, while the majority of the harmful substances are filtered out. Activated carbon is 100% natural and most often consists of burned coconut shells or bamboo. Carbon has been used for water purification for centuries, but in recent years, the use of carbon has grown alongside our increasing need for drinking water purification and our desire to reduce the use of plastic bottles.

Purification with carbon and activated carbon is based on the natural phenomenon known as adsorption - i.e., a particle's ability to hold a molecule trapped on its internal or external surface. All iWater filters ensure clean water with significantly reduced amounts of PFAS, microplastics, limescale, lead, copper, chlorine, and other substances that affect the taste of the water. Read much more about activated carbon here.

Clean water gives more energy – and tastes better

Clean water is incredibly important for your health. Our bodies consist mainly of water, which plays a crucial role in all the body's processes. When we purify our water, we avoid getting all the harmful substances into the body – this gives more energy and makes us want to drink much more water. Read about Thomas, who has experienced how clean water gives him much more energy. In addition to the water being healthier for your body, you will also find that it tastes significantly better. You will therefore find it easier to ensure that you give your body all the water it needs to function optimally and increase your quality of life.

You find our filters here

The filters are tested on PFAS-contaminated water from a borehole in Hedehusene that has been closed.