Aqua Cat Plumbing
& Water Treatment
Prescott • Sedona • Phoenix, AZ
(480) 228-8282
PFAS — the “forever chemicals” — have been detected in Arizona water supplies including parts of the Phoenix metro and military-adjacent communities. Aqua Cat installs NSF-certified PFAS removal using activated carbon, ion exchange, or reverse osmosis — matched to your test results.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of 12,000+ man-made chemicals used in firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and industrial coatings. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or in the human body — they accumulate.
The EPA finalized enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds in 2024, including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA, with the limit for PFOA and PFOS set at 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt). PFAS have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, decreased immune response, developmental effects in children, and elevated cholesterol. Arizona communities adjacent to military installations or industrial facilities have detected PFAS above the EPA limit, and the state is in the middle of a multi-year sampling program for public water systems.
The EPA recognizes three Best Available Technologies (BAT) for residential PFAS removal:
Aqua Cat designs the system around your water test — some Arizona homes need only an under-sink RO, others need whole-house carbon plus an RO at the kitchen tap. We don’t install a stage you don’t need.
If any of the following applies, get a PFAS-specific test:
Standard $179 Premium WaterEsts do not include PFAS — PFAS testing requires a specialized lab method (EPA 533 or 537.1) and runs $300–$450 per sample. Aqua Cat orders the test on your behalf and interprets the results against the new EPA MCLs.
Aqua Cat installs PFAS removal systems across Prescott, Prescott Valley, Sedona, Flagstaff, and the entire Phoenix metro area, with priority for homes near Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan AFB-adjacent communities, and any home flagged in an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality PFAS notice.
Related: whole-home RO, whole-house water treatment, water testing.
In April 2024, the EPA finalized enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels for six PFAS compounds. The limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) each. PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA each have a 10 ppt limit. Public water systems must comply by 2029. Private well owners are not regulated but face the same health risks above these levels.
The EPA recognizes three Best Available Technologies for residential PFAS removal: granular activated carbon (GAC), PFAS-selective ion-exchange resin, and reverse osmosis. GAC is the most common whole-house solution. Ion exchange handles short-chain PFAS more effectively. Reverse osmosis at a kitchen sink rejects 90–99% of PFAS for drinking and cooking water at the lowest cost.
Point-of-use reverse osmosis runs $1,500–$3,000 installed and protects drinking and cooking water. Whole-house granular activated carbon costs $2,500–$5,000 installed. PFAS-selective ion-exchange systems run $3,500–$8,000 installed but offer the longest service life and broadest spectrum of removal. Aqua Cat sizes systems to your water test rather than upselling capacity you don't need.
Most basic carbon faucet and pitcher filters do not effectively remove PFAS. They are not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 PFOA/PFOS reduction or NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis standards. To verify, check the filter packaging for NSF certification specifically naming PFOA and PFOS. Uncertified filters may reduce PFAS partially but cannot be relied on for compliance with the EPA's 4 ppt limit.
PFAS testing requires a specialized lab method (EPA 533 or 537.1) — it's not part of a standard mineral panel. Aqua Cat orders PFAS-specific lab kits from certified labs at $300–$450 per sample. We collect the sample on a service visit, ship it to the lab, and interpret the results against the EPA MCLs. Results return in 3–4 weeks.
PFAS levels in Prescott municipal water have not been widely flagged in public Arizona Department of Environmental Quality reporting, but ongoing statewide sampling is incomplete. Homes near current or former military airfields, airports, fire training facilities, or on private wells in industrial corridors should test individually. The Aqua Cat homepage llms.txt notes documented arsenic, chromium-6, and PFAS concerns across Arizona; PFAS specifically is concentrated near point sources.
Aqua Cat orders certified PFAS lab testing and installs NSF-rated removal systems matched to your results. Free quote, no upselling.
