How to Limit PFAS in Your Water
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly dubbed “forever chemicals,” have become a major concern for drinking water in Berkeley, California and beyond. These compounds are persistent, bioaccumulative, and linked to serious health risks — making how to limit PFAS in your water a priority. As a seasoned expert with over 40 years of experience, Bonneau Dickson, PE offers practical and reliable solutions for detecting and reducing PFAS in water systems.
What Are PFAS and Why They Matter
Understanding PFAS: The Basics
What Is PFAS?
PFAS are a large family of synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, oil, and water.
Common PFAS include PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and GenX.
They’re called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment.
Why PFAS Contaminate Water
PFAS enter water from industrial sites, landfills, firefighting foam, and wastewater.
They can accumulate in groundwater and surface water over time.
Because they’re water- and heat-resistant, they resist most natural degradation.
Health Impacts of PFAS
Long-term PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, immune dysfunction, liver damage, and developmental effects.
Regulatory bodies take PFAS seriously due to these health risks.
Regulatory Landscape: PFAS in California & Berkeley
California’s PFAS Regulations
Notification and Response Levels
In California, the State Water Resources Control Board has established Notification Levels (NLs) and Response Levels (RLs) for PFAS like PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFHxA.
As of October 2025, for example:
- PFOA: NL = 4 ng/L, RL = 10 ng/L
- PFOS: NL = 4 ng/L, RL = 40 ng/L
Monitoring and Compliance Timeline
Under the U.S. EPA’s UCMR-5 rule, public water systems must begin monitoring for 29 PFAS (plus lithium) between 2023–2025.
California systems are also required to detect PFAS and, if levels exceed RLs, either treat, cease use of the source, or notify the public.
By 2029, public water systems must comply with enforceable PFAS MCLs.
Berkeley / East Bay Context
Local water utilities, like East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), recognize PFAS risk.
EBMUD notes PFAS can originate from landfills, industrial sites, and firefighting training areas.
They will sample and treat if levels exceed new standards set by regulation.
Challenges of Dealing With PFAS
Why PFAS Removal Is Not Easy
Chemical Resistance
PFAS are designed to resist degradation. Traditional filtration or disinfection methods often do not remove them effectively.
Complex Mixtures
Drinking water can contain a mixture of multiple PFAS compounds. Regulations in California account for this via a “hazard index” for some PFAS mixtures.
Effectively removing a mixed suite of PFAS is more challenging than targeting a single compound.
Cost & Infrastructure
Treating water for PFAS typically requires specialized technologies like activated carbon or reverse osmosis, which can be costly to implement.
Older water systems may not have been designed for this level of water quality treatment.
Evolving Regulations
With PFAS regulations tightening (especially in states like California), water providers face shifting standards — making long-term planning difficult.
Proven Strategies for PFAS Detection and Removal
How to Limit PFAS in Your Water: Expert-Backed Solutions
Given the challenges, you need a knowledgeable engineer to guide you — someone like Bonneau Dickson, PE, at Bonneau Dickson, PE.
Comprehensive Water Testing
- Select a certified lab: Use labs accredited for methods such as EPA Method 533 or 537.1 for PFAS analysis.
- Baseline sampling: Begin with your water source — well, distribution point, or treatment plant — to identify PFAS presence and levels.
- Forensic analysis: A sanitary engineer like Mr. Dickson can design targeted sampling to trace PFAS sources (industrial, landfill, fire sites). This approach mirrors his expert-witness work in potable water contamination cases. (Bonneau Dickson)
Engineering Design for PFAS Removal
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): One of the most used options — GAC filters adsorb long-chain PFAS.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO): Highly effective at reducing a broad range of PFAS, especially in point-of-use systems.
- Ion exchange resins: Designed for specific PFAS, good for targeted removal in treatment plants.
- Advanced oxidation / plasma treatment: Emerging technologies (like plasma oxidation) show promise in breaking down PFAS. (Though not yet widespread, scientific research is advancing rapidly.)
- Hybrid treatments: For water systems with multiple PFAS, combining GAC with ion exchange or RO can offer robust removal.
System Design & Expert Engineering
- Mr. Dickson’s decades of water treatment design experience make him a strong choice to architect a PFAS removal plan. (Bonneau Dickson)
- He can oversee construction, pilot testing, and commissioning of treatment systems.
- He can assist in blending strategies—mixing contaminated and cleaner water to dilute PFAS below response levels if immediate full treatment isn’t feasible.
Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance
- Regular sampling: After treatment, periodic PFAS testing ensures the system remains effective.
- Regulatory compliance: With Mr. Dickson’s expert witness and consulting background, his guidance can ensure your water system meets state and federal requirements.
- Optimization: Adjust treatment media replacement schedules, flow rates, or treatment train as PFAS levels or regulatory limits change.
Why Expertise Matters
Imagine a Berkeley mobile home community discovers PFAS contamination in its groundwater. They reach out to Bonneau Dickson, PE, who has deep forensic-engineering expertise:
- He reviews previous contamination data (e.g., sewage overflows, leach fields) — building on his work in similar North Bay mobile-park cases.
- He leads a targeted sampling effort to identify PFAS sources.
- He designs a treatment system (e.g., GAC filters + RO) scaled for their water needs.
- He helps integrate this with the owner’s existing water infrastructure and secures regulatory compliance.
- He sets up long-term monitoring so residents can trust their water is safe.
Because of his practical, reliable solutions, the community not only improves water quality but also gains confidence in their safety.
FAQs About PFAS in Drinking Water
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my tap water in Berkeley already have PFAS?
Yes — PFAS have been found in groundwater and public water systems in California.
Local water agencies like EBMUD are monitoring and preparing to treat if levels exceed regulatory standards.
What PFAS limits apply in California?
As of October 2025:
- PFOA: NL = 4 ng/L, RL = 10 ng/L
- PFOS: NL = 4 ng/L, RL = 40 ng/L
Systems exceeding RLs must take action (treat, stop use, or disclose).
How do I test for PFAS in my home water?
Hire a licensed sanitary engineer or environmental consultant (such as Bonneau Dickson, PE) to design a sampling plan.
Send samples to an EPA-approved lab using Method 533 or 537.1.
What treatment works best for PFAS?
- GAC (Granular Activated Carbon): Effective for many PFAS
- Reverse Osmosis: Very effective for a broad suite of PFAS
- Ion Exchange, Advanced Oxidation, hybrid systems: for complex or high-level PFAS
Is there a permanent “fix” for PFAS?
Because PFAS persist, treatment systems must be maintained.
Ongoing monitoring and expert engineering are critical. With proper design and operation — like what’s offered by Bonneau Dickson, PE — PFAS risks can be managed effectively.
Why Partner With Bonneau Dickson, PE to Limit PFAS
- Expertise: Over 40 years of experience in water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. (Bonneau Dickson)
- Forensic Engineering: Proven track record as an expert witness in contamination cases, including potable water and septic-system failure. (Bonneau Dickson)
- Local Presence: Based in Berkeley, CA — familiar with California’s PFAS regulatory landscape.
- Integrated Solutions: Can lead sampling, design, construction, and maintenance of PFAS treatment systems.
- Trusted Advisor: Combines scientific rigor, regulatory insight, and practical design for real-world, actionable solutions.
If you’re concerned about PFAS in your water — whether you’re a homeowner, community, or agency — working with an expert like Bonneau Dickson, PE means getting thoughtful, proven strategies tailored to your situation.
PFAS contamination is a growing threat — but it’s one we can address. With regulatory pressure rising and the health impacts becoming clearer, limiting PFAS in your water is more important than ever. By partnering with a seasoned expert like Bonneau Dickson, PE, you get:
- Customized sampling and detection
- Expert-led treatment system design
- Long-term monitoring for safety and compliance
👉 Ready to protect your water from forever chemicals? Contact Bonneau Dickson, PE for a consultation and take proactive steps to ensure your water is safer, cleaner, and built for the future.
- Call: (510) 845-8625
Email: dickson.bonneau@gmail.com
