Know Your Water: The 2026 American Homeowner's Guide to PFAS, Fluoride, Hard Water and Arsenic

2026 edition | Published October 30, 2026 | Last updated October 30, 2026 | Freedom Water Systems

Freedom Water Systems is an American-made whole house water filter company that ships direct to homeowners across the contiguous United States. This free report covers four common water concerns for American homeowners: PFAS "forever chemicals," changing fluoride policies, hard water and arsenic in private wells. It uses public data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state policy trackers, and it shows you how to find out what's in your own water. No email sign-up is required.

Download the PDF Jump to the 3-Step Water Check

"Every week we hear from homeowners from Maine to California with the same question: what's actually in my water, and should I be worried? The answers exist, but they're scattered across federal research papers, state legislative trackers and utility reports most people never read. We put that public information in one place, in plain English, and we're giving it away." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

1. Does reverse osmosis remove PFAS from tap water?

Reverse osmosis can reduce PFAS at the kitchen tap, but performance varies by system and contaminant. Look for documented PFAS reduction testing for the specific model. EPA has proposed allowing eligible water systems to request two extra years, until 2031, to meet the federal limits for PFOA and PFOS.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in nonstick, stain-resistant and firefighting products. They're called "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. A U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that at least 45% of the nation's tap water could contain one or more types of PFAS.

On May 18, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced two proposed rules related to PFAS in drinking water. One would retain the 4-parts-per-trillion limits for PFOA and PFOS while allowing eligible water systems to request a two-year compliance extension, from 2029 to 2031. A separate proposal would rescind regulations for certain other PFAS and mixtures. The public comment periods closed July 20, 2026. These are proposed changes, rather than an automatic extension for every utility.

What to do

Find your utility's Consumer Confidence Report and look for PFAS results, or use the USGS interactive PFAS tap water map. To reduce PFAS at home, compare reverse osmosis drinking water systems and look for documented PFAS reduction testing.

"People hear 'forever chemicals' on the news, then hear the deadlines are moving, and they don't know what to make of it. We're not trying to scare anyone. We show people how to look up their own utility's data so they can make their own decision." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

2. Which states have banned fluoride, and how do you remove it?

Utah and Florida enacted statewide bans on community water fluoridation in 2025, and other states considered similar proposals in 2026. To reduce fluoride at home, homeowners use reverse osmosis for drinking water or a whole house fluoride filter for every tap.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reported that at least 21 states introduced bills during the 2025 legislative sessions to prohibit or repeal provisions related to adding fluoride to drinking water. Many fluoridation decisions are made by individual cities and counties, so neighbors in the same state can have different water. Fluoride also occurs naturally in some groundwater, so well owners should test too.

Freedom Water Systems takes no position on fluoridation policy. Our goal is to help you find the fluoride level in your own water and understand the treatment options available to you.

What to do

Check your utility's website or Consumer Confidence Report for its current fluoridation status and level. Well owners should test through a certified lab. To reduce fluoride, compare point-of-use reverse osmosis with a whole house fluoride filter.

"We get calls from both sides of this debate. Some families want fluoride out, and some just want to know whether their city stopped adding it. Either way, the first step is the same: find out your actual number." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

3. How common is hard water in the United States?

Hard water is a common household water problem in the U.S. The USGS classifies water from 121 to 180 mg/L of hardness as hard and above 180 mg/L as very hard. Hardness is not generally a health concern, but mineral scale can affect water heaters, fixtures and appliances.

The USGS national hardness map shows hard and very hard water across large parts of the Midwest, the Great Plains, Texas, Florida and the Southwest. Calcium and magnesium scale builds up inside water heaters, tankless units, dishwashers and fixtures, cutting efficiency and shortening appliance life. Traditional softeners exchange hardness minerals for sodium. Salt-free conditioners, which Freedom Water Systems manufactures, are designed to reduce scale buildup without adding salt or producing brine discharge.

What to do

Find "hardness" in your utility's water quality report (divide mg/L by 17.1 to get grains per gallon), or use an inexpensive test strip. Then compare a salt-free whole house water filter and conditioner with a traditional softener.

"Most people don't connect a failed water heater to their water until it's too late. Hardness is one of the easiest numbers to look up and one of the most predictable problems to manage." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

4. How do I know if my well water has arsenic?

Only a laboratory test can tell you. Arsenic has no taste, color or odor, and private wells aren't regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Use a state-certified lab. The EPA limit for public water systems is 10 parts per billion.

More than 43 million people, about 15% of the U.S. population, rely on private wells, according to the USGS. Testing and treatment are the homeowner's responsibility. The USGS estimates about 2.1 million people may be drinking domestic well water high in arsenic, and its researchers have found that drought can increase the number of people exposed to unhealthy arsenic levels.

What to do

Contact your state health department for a list of certified labs. Test when you buy a home, after floods or drought, and on a regular schedule. If results come back high, compare options for an arsenic water filter for well water.

"City customers get a water report every year. Well owners get nothing unless they go looking. From rural New England to the Plains to the Mountain West, testing is affordable, and it's the only way to really know." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

5. What is the 3-Step Water Check?

The 3-Step Water Check is a simple method from Freedom Water Systems that any household in the contiguous United States can use before buying water treatment: read your report, test what it can't tell you, and match treatment to the problem.

1. Read your water quality report. Every community water system publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report listing detected contaminants. Most are online and searchable by city.
2. Test what the report can't tell you. A utility report summarizes the public water supply but may not identify issues specific to your home's plumbing. Well owners have no utility report and should use a state-certified laboratory for accuracy.
3. Match treatment to the problem. PFAS, fluoride, hardness, arsenic and sediment each call for specific technologies. Buying treatment before testing is one of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make.

"Our name says what we believe: Americans should be free to decide what's in the water their family drinks. That freedom starts with information. The 3-Step Water Check takes about an hour, and it can save a family from buying the wrong system." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

You can begin the check in about an hour. Laboratory results and treatment decisions take longer.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my tap water cloudy?

Cloudy water that clears from the bottom of the glass up is usually harmless air bubbles. Cloudiness that settles or persists may be sediment or turbidity, which is more common in well water after heavy rain or flooding and should be tested.

What is a tankless reverse osmosis system?

A tankless reverse osmosis system uses a high-flow membrane and an electric pump to make filtered water on demand instead of storing it in a pressure tank. It saves under-sink space and delivers faster flow, but needs an electrical outlet. See our reverse osmosis systems.

Do I need a whole house filter or just a drinking water filter?

It depends on the problem. Hardness, chlorine and sediment affect every tap, appliance and shower, so whole house treatment makes sense. Contaminants you mainly want out of drinking and cooking water, such as PFAS, are often handled with reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink. Many homes use both.

Who is Freedom Water Systems?

Freedom Water Systems is an American-made whole house water filter company that ships direct to homeowners in all 48 contiguous states. It designs and builds whole house water filters, salt-free water conditioners, well water treatment systems, whole house fluoride filters and under-sink as well as whole house reverse osmosis drinking water systems. Learn more about us.

What's next in the series

This report will be updated as federal PFAS rules and state fluoride policies change.

"This is a starting point, not a one-time project. Water rules are changing fast, and homeowners deserve a source that keeps up." Mike Kaplan, CEO, Freedom Water Systems

About Freedom Water Systems

Freedom Water Systems is an American-made whole house water filter company that sells direct to homeowners across the contiguous United States. Led by CEO Mike Kaplan, the company designs and builds whole house water filters, salt-free water conditioners, well water treatment systems, whole house fluoride filters and under-sink as well as whole house reverse osmosis drinking water systems for households on city and well water. Headquarters: 5502 S Fort Apache Rd. #100, Las Vegas, NV 89148.

How to cite this report

Freedom Water Systems. "Know Your Water: The 2027 American Homeowner's Guide to PFAS, Fluoride, Hard Water and Arsenic." October 30, 2026. https://freedomwatersystems.com/pages/know-your-water

Media contact

Sources

1. U.S. Geological Survey, "Tap water study detects PFAS 'forever chemicals' across the US": usgs.gov
2. U.S. EPA, "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)": epa.gov
3. U.S. EPA, "Proposed PFAS Rescission Rule": epa.gov
4. U.S. EPA, Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule
5. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, "2026 Community Water Fluoridation Policy Map": carequest.org
6. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State of the Tap: Policy Actions on Fluoride in Drinking Water": ncsl.org
7. U.S. Geological Survey, "Hardness of Water": usgs.gov
8. U.S. Geological Survey, "Map of water hardness in the United States": usgs.gov
9. U.S. Geological Survey, "Domestic (Private) Supply Wells": usgs.gov
10. U.S. EPA, "Private Drinking Water Wells": epa.gov
11. U.S. Geological Survey, "Study Estimates about 2.1 Million People using Wells High in Arsenic": usgs.gov
12. U.S. Geological Survey, "Drought May Lead to Elevated Levels of Naturally Occurring Arsenic in Private Wells": usgs.gov