Does Boiling Water Remove PFAS?

Why boiling water doesn’t remove PFAS

Boiling water is great for many things (like killing bacteria, viruses, and parasites). But it won’t remove PFAS.

That’s because PFAS are not biological contaminants. They’re synthetic chemicals engineered to withstand heat, water and oil. Those same qualities are exactly why they’re used in products like non-stick cookware and firefighting foam.

Here’s why the answer to “Does boiling water remove PFAS?” is an unequivocal no.

1. PFAS don’t evaporate

Boiling works by heating water until it turns to steam. But PFAS are non-volatile. They have very high boiling points – well beyond what your kettle or stovetop can reach. So rather than evaporating, they stay put.

2. They’re built to resist breakdown.

PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because of their chemical structure: long carbon-fluorine chains that are incredibly difficult to break. Heat doesn’t degrade them. They’re stable at temperatures far higher than boiling point.

It’s worse than boiling water not removing PFAS – it can actually increase the concentration level. When water boils, you lose volume through evaporation but the PFAS remain. So there’s less water for the same amount of PFAS.

So, if you can’t boil PFAS out of the water, what can you do? To understand that, we need to look more closely at what PFAS actually are and how they end up in our water in the first place.

What are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – a large group of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in manufacturing and consumer products. You’ll find them in items designed to resist heat, water, and oil, like:

• Non-stick cookware
• Stain-resistant carpets
• Waterproof clothing
• Fast-food packaging
• Firefighting foam

They’re sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily in the environment or the human body. Their chemical structure makes them incredibly durable, and that’s good for product performance. But not so good when these chemicals end up where they don’t belong.

There are more than 4,000 known PFAS compounds and new ones are still being identified. While some (like PFOA and PFOS) have been phased out in many countries, others are still in use, often in imported products.

So how do they end up in your water? Through decades of use and disposal, PFAS chemicals have entered the soil, groundwater, rivers, and reservoirs – and because they’re highly mobile, they don’t stay in one place. Even trace amounts can persist for years, travelling long distances from their original source.

That’s why PFAS are no longer just a manufacturing issue. They’re now a water quality concern, and public health experts and government bodies in Australia and around the world are taking them seriously.

Where PFAS are found in drinking water

PFAS have become a national concern because they’ve been found in places we rely on most (especially our drinking water sources). And the reason is simple: they’re highly mobile in soil and water. They can travel from the original source site into rivers, groundwater, and eventually household taps.

The Australian Government found that in Australia, PFAS contamination has been linked to:

• Firefighting foam use at military bases and airports (such as RAAF Base Williamtown and Army Aviation Centre Oakey)
• Landfills, where PFAS-containing products slowly leach chemicals into surrounding soil and groundwater
• Wastewater treatment plants, where PFAS from household products and industrial runoff may pass through into recycled water
• Stormwater runoff, especially from urban or industrial areas
• Rainwater tanks located near high-use areas, like airports or fire stations

Even in areas not considered "hotspots," PFAS can still show up in trace amounts. A national environmental management plan developed by the Australian Government confirms that these compounds are now detected in both surface water and groundwater across the country.

While the levels vary, the persistence of PFAS means that even low concentrations matter – especially when exposure is long-term. That’s why drinking water has become a key focus for monitoring and management.

Why PFAS in water is a concern

PFAS have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down naturally, they persist in water and soil, and they build up in our bodies over time.

Unlike many everyday chemicals that your body can flush out, some PFAS compounds can linger for a long time. Repeated exposure, even in small amounts, can lead to higher concentrations in your system over time.

So what does that mean for your health?

While research is ongoing, early studies have linked long-term PFAS exposure to a range of health concerns. According to the Australian Government’s Expert Health Panel and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potential effects include:

• Changes to liver function
• Disruption to hormones (especially thyroid and reproductive hormones)
• Reduced immune response
• Increased cholesterol
• Developmental issues during pregnancy
• Certain types of cancer (notably kidney and testicular cancers)

The Australian Department of Health is clear that there is no consistent evidence of widespread health issues in communities with PFAS exposure, but they also support taking a precautionary approach – particularly when it comes to drinking water.

That’s why PFAS are now included in Australia’s Drinking Water Guidelines, with specific health-based limits for compounds like PFOS and PFOA. It’s also why many Australians are choosing to filter their tap water (and not just in areas where PFAS contamination has been confirmed or suspected).

What is Australia's position on PFAS in water?

Australia recognises PFAS as a serious and emerging contaminant. Government agencies across health, defence, and environmental sectors have spent more than a decade assessing the risks and updating their response as science evolves.

We were one of the first countries to establish health-based guideline values for PFAS in drinking water. The Government also maintains an in-depth and highly useful resource about PFAS, tracking contaminated sites, updated national standards, ongoing scientific reviews and health resources.

Australia is also aligned with global best practices, drawing on research from agencies such as the US EPA and World Health Organisation. In fact, Australia's drinking water guidelines are generally more conservative than many international benchmarks.

Based on all of this, two forms of filtration are recommended because they’re proven to reduce total PFAS: activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis.

Let’s look closer at these filtration methods and explore what does (and doesn’t) remove PFAS from drinking water.

So what does remove PFAS?

While boiling water won’t remove PFAS from your drinking water, two filtration technologies have been proven to reduce them effectively.

1. Activated carbon filtration

Activated carbon filters work by adsorbing PFAS – meaning the molecules stick to the surface of the filter media rather than passing through. These filters have a porous structure and a large surface area, which allows them to trap many chemical contaminants, including PFAS like PFOA and PFOS.

The key here is quality. Not all activated carbon filters are the same. Only systems that have been independently tested and certified for PFAS removal provide genuine protection.

2. Reverse osmosis (RO)

Reverse osmosis is a more intensive treatment method. It pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane that physically blocks contaminants based on size. RO membranes are incredibly fine and are able to remove molecules much smaller than PFAS.

This process is highly effective but comes with trade-offs. RO systems tend to be large, slow, and can produce a significant amount of wastewater, which may not suit every home or household setup.

Why certification matters

Whether you choose activated carbon or reverse osmosis, independent testing is essential. Look for filters certified under NSF/ANSI standards. These ensure the system has been tested specifically for PFAS reduction in real-world conditions.
,br> Now, let’s look closer at Zip Water’s MicroPurity filtration system – an option designed to reduce total PFAS alongside other contaminants, with the independent certification to back it up.

How Zip Water helps remove PFAS

Our MicroPurity filters 93701 and 93702 are independently tested and certified to reduce 99.4% of total PFAS, including the most studied compounds like PFOS and PFOA.* This means you’re not just improving taste or clarity – you’re actively reducing exposure to one of the most persistent emerging contaminants in Australian water.

Certified performance, real-world reliability

The filters used in Zip’s HydroTap range are tested to NSF/ANSI Standards (the international benchmark for health-based contaminant removal). Tests were conducted under realistic Australian usage conditions, so you can trust the results in your home.

But PFAS is only part of the story. Zip’s MicroPurity system is also engineered to reduce:

• Microplastics
• Lead and asbestos fibres
• Chlorine and sediment
• Cryptosporidium and Giardia
• Odours and unwanted taste

All filtered down to 0.2 microns, a size fine enough to catch what most household filters miss.

Made for daily use

We designed every detail of the award-winning HydroTap to make clean water easier (and better). That means no bottled water, benchtop clutter, or waiting for the kettle.

And because we know performance depends on upkeep, we make filter maintenance easy. You’ll get automatic alerts and simple replacement options.

Curious about how it works in your home?

Learn more about how Zip’s MicroPurity filters reduce PFAS. You can also explore the full HydroTap range or use our Selector Tool to match the right model to your needs.

When it comes to drinking water, confidence matters. And that starts with knowing what’s really in your glass.

* Zip MicroPurity filters sizes 1 and 1.5 (93701 and 93702) are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 to reduce 99.4% of Total PFAS (average reduction).