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Whole-Home Water Filtration & PFAS Removal

The Twin Cities East Metro sits on one of the most documented PFAS groundwater contamination zones in the United States, covering more than 150 square miles and affecting over 140,000 Minnesotans per the Minnesota Department of Health. A.J. Alberts installs certified whole-home PFAS filtration for affected East Metro households. Free in-home water test tells you exactly what your home needs.

Call 651-738-0580

Quick Summary

A.J. Alberts installs whole-home water filtration across the Twin Cities, with East Metro PFAS-affected cities as the primary specialty. We install GAC (granular activated carbon), reverse osmosis, sediment, and iron filtration systems sized to your specific water chemistry — certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction where applicable. Free on-site water test, written upfront pricing, lifetime craftsmanship warranty. Call 651-738-0580.

Why PFAS Matters for Your East Metro Home

PFAS contamination spans more than 150 square miles in Washington County and surrounding East Metro communities, affecting more than 140,000 Minnesotans. The contamination originates primarily from 3M industrial discharge dating to the 1970s. Per the EPA, certain PFAS compounds including PFOA are likely human carcinogens with documented effects on immune system, cholesterol, fetal development, and certain cancers.

Municipal water treatment in the affected East Metro cities is bringing PFAS within current EPA limits, but EPA standards have tightened multiple times and continue to. Household-level certified filtration adds protection that does not depend on regulatory thresholds — protection that covers showering, bathing, and laundry where PFAS exposure also happens, not just drinking.

For full background, see our Twin Cities water quality map showing PFAS status, hardness, and treatment recommendations for every East Metro city we serve.

PFAS-Affected East Metro Cities

Per Minnesota Department of Health documentation, these communities are within the 3M PFAS contamination zone. Click any city for local context and our recommended treatment.

Woodbury
13.5 gpg · high severity
Cottage Grove
17 gpg · severe severity
Lake Elmo
16 gpg · high severity
Bayport
15 gpg · moderate severity
Lakeland
16 gpg · moderate severity
St. Paul Park
17 gpg · moderate severity
Newport
16 gpg · moderate severity
Afton
15 gpg · moderate severity
Hugo
18 gpg · high severity
Mahtomedi
14 gpg · moderate severity
White Bear Lake
14 gpg · moderate severity
New Brighton
15 gpg · high severity
Hastings
18 gpg · high severity
Oakdale
15 gpg · high severity

How PFAS Filtration Works

Two technologies reliably remove PFAS at the household level. We install both depending on your situation.

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) — certified for PFAS

GAC adsorbs PFAS molecules onto highly porous carbon media. For PFAS specifically, look for systems certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 with PFAS reduction in the certification scope. Not all carbon filters are PFAS-rated. We install only certified systems.

Best for: whole-home protection in PFAS-affected homes. Treats all water entering the house including showers, baths, and laundry.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO pushes water through a microscopic membrane that removes nearly all dissolved contaminants including PFAS, fluoride, dissolved metals, and chlorine byproducts. Highly effective for drinking water but more expensive and slower than GAC for whole-home use.

Best for: drinking and cooking water (under-sink point-of-use). Combine with whole-home GAC in PFAS-affected homes.

What Does NOT Remove PFAS

This part matters because the standard household water filters most people already own do not actually address PFAS.

  • ×Standard Brita pitcher filters — designed for chlorine and taste, not PFAS
  • ×Most refrigerator filters — chlorine/taste only unless specifically certified for PFAS
  • ×Standard faucet-mount filters — chlorine/taste only
  • ×Water softeners — softeners remove hardness (calcium, magnesium), not PFAS. You need both.
  • ×Boiling water — does not remove PFAS. May actually concentrate them as water evaporates.

Whole-Home vs Point-of-Use: Which Do You Need?

PFAS exposure happens through more than just drinking. Showering, bathing, and laundry all expose your skin and lungs to PFAS in the water. For affected East Metro homes, whole-home filtration is the recommended baseline. For non-PFAS communities, under-sink RO usually does the job.

Whole-Home Filtration

A GAC system installed on the main water line treats every tap, shower, and appliance in the house.

Best for:

  • • PFAS-affected East Metro cities
  • • Households with children, pregnancy, or known health concerns
  • • Anyone who wants protection beyond drinking water

Point-of-Use (Under-Sink RO)

An RO unit installed at the kitchen tap treats only drinking and cooking water.

Best for:

  • • Non-PFAS cities where drinking water taste/quality is the concern
  • • Budget-constrained installs
  • • Apartments and condos where whole-home is not possible

What's Included in Every Install

  • →Free on-site water test before any quote — hardness, iron, chlorine, pH, TDS
  • →For PFAS-affected cities: certification verification on every filter system we recommend
  • →System sized to your home's flow rate, household demand, and water chemistry
  • →Professional installation with shut-off, bypass, and pressure verification
  • →Optional maintenance plan: scheduled filter replacement so you do not track it
  • →Lifetime craftsmanship warranty on installation
  • →Written upfront pricing — no hidden fees, no commission upsells

PFAS & Whole-Home Filtration FAQs

Does a Brita pitcher remove PFAS?
No. Standard Brita pitcher filters, basic refrigerator filters, and most low-end faucet filters do not remove PFAS. They are designed primarily for chlorine taste improvement. PFAS removal requires filtration specifically certified for PFAS reduction, typically granular activated carbon (GAC) certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, or reverse osmosis with a quality membrane.
What is the best way to remove PFAS from drinking water?
For drinking and cooking water, an under-sink reverse osmosis system with a certified PFAS-rated pre-filter is the most thorough single-point solution. For households who want protection from PFAS in showers, baths, and laundry too — which is the typical recommendation in East Metro affected cities — a whole-home GAC system certified for PFAS removal is the right answer. A.J. Alberts installs both depending on your specific situation.
How much does whole-home PFAS filtration cost?
Whole-home PFAS filtration installation typically ranges from a few thousand dollars to over ten thousand depending on home size, water chemistry, system capacity, and whether a softener or sediment pre-filter is also needed. A.J. Alberts provides written upfront pricing after a free in-home water test.
How long does PFAS filtration last before service?
Carbon-based PFAS filtration media typically needs replacement every 12 to 24 months depending on water volume, PFAS concentration, and system design. RO membranes typically last 2 to 5 years. A.J. Alberts maintenance plans include scheduled filter replacement so you do not have to track it yourself.
Which East Metro cities are PFAS-affected?
Per Minnesota Department of Health documentation, the most-affected East Metro communities are Cottage Grove, Lake Elmo, Oakdale, Woodbury, Hugo, Hastings, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, New Brighton, Bayport, Lakeland, St. Paul Park, Newport, and Afton. PFAS contamination originates primarily from historical 3M discharge in Washington County.
Do I need PFAS filtration if my city is treating PFAS?
Municipal PFAS treatment in East Metro cities is bringing levels within current EPA limits, but EPA standards have tightened multiple times and continue to. Household-level certified PFAS filtration adds another layer of protection that does not depend on shifting regulatory thresholds, and protects against any treatment failures or unmonitored contaminants.
What does NOT remove PFAS?
Boiling water does not remove PFAS — it can actually concentrate them. Standard pitcher filters, basic faucet filters, and most refrigerator filters do not remove PFAS. Water softeners do not remove PFAS. Only certified PFAS-rated GAC filtration and reverse osmosis are reliable household PFAS removal options.
Will whole-home filtration affect my water pressure?
A properly sized whole-home filtration system has negligible pressure impact in most homes. We size systems to your incoming pressure, flow rate, and household demand. Undersized systems cause pressure drops; correctly sized ones do not.

Sources & Citations

Concerned About PFAS in Your Water?

Start with a free in-home water test. We will tell you exactly what is in your water and whether certified PFAS filtration makes sense for your home.

Schedule Free Water Test Call 651-738-0580