In this article
Understand the PFAS, find the information specific to its water and evaluate useful analyses or treatments without concluding from the only proximity of an airport.
Understand the risk and its consequences
Perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances, or PFAS, form a large group of compounds used in different uses. Some fire-fighting foams have been a source of environmental contamination. The presence of a nearby installation alone does not prove the contamination of a well or a network.
Health Canada has set a target of 30 nanograms per litre for 25 PFAS in drinking water. This objective guides the assessment and management by the authorities; it does not constitute an individual diagnosis. The answer depends on the measures, the substances sought and the local context.
Key lessons for households and communities
Lesson 1: Dangers are invisible and silent
The taste, smell and appearance do not detect PFAS. For a well, have the relevant analyses determined by a competent laboratory according to your context; a targeted research is not confused with the usual microbiological controls.
Lesson 2: Checking Local Data
The history of use of foams or other products may justify local investigations. You need to know the flows, the water source and the results of the analysis. The only distance to an airport does not allow to classify an address as contaminated or safe.
Lesson 3: Prevention Begins with Information
Consult information from Health Canada, your water manager and public health. Network or well-specific results are more useful than extrapolation from a nearby facility.
Remember: identify your water source, the results available and the opinions that concern you. Neither the taste, nor a proximity card, nor a generic filter allow to conclude the absence of PFAS.
Reflexes to adopt
- Check the notices with the person in charge of the network or municipality and public health boards. Sign up for the municipal alerting service when it exists. Pre-hospital services do not publish network analyses.
- For a well, ask the accredited laboratory what parameters to analyze according to your context. A common analysis does not necessarily look for PFAS; the sample and containers must follow its instructions. Do not confuse frequency of microbiological testing with targeted chemical research.
- Find out about investigations and official results regarding your water source. A list of nearby facilities does not replace contamination and discharge data.
- Install a suitable filtration system: Standard filters (classic active carbon) do not retain all PFAS. Look for certified systems for PFAS reduction or consult a professional.
- Allow at least 72 hours of reserve adapted to the home: 6 liters per person to drink and 6 extra liters for food and hygiene over three days, plus the needs of the animals. Prepare for refueling if a restriction lasts longer.
Prepare now
Concrete actions:
- Ask the network manager what results are available and what parameters are actually analyzed. The absence of PFAS in a report may mean that they have not been sought; it does not prove their absence.
- Look for the water authority’s canal and municipal notices. Keep contact information and public health guidelines applicable to your area.
- Before a purchase, request a quote from the laboratory and the precise list of parameters included. A “complete” test or a general rate does not guarantee a search for PFAS.
- Note the source of the water, the analyses actually performed, the coordinates of the laboratory and the person in charge of the network, the filters and their maintenance, as well as the available reserve.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a PFAS?
PFAS are synthetic substances, many of which are very persistent in the environment. They do not all have the same behavior or the same effects. The term “eternal pollutants” does not replace the identification of substances and exposure.
Am I at risk if I live in Quebec?
Quebec may be affected by PFAS, but the risk of an address requires data on its water source. Ask the network manager for information or the right analyses for a well. Do not extrapolate an Ontario case to all Quebec networks.
How do I filter PFAS?
It is not possible to remove PFAS by boiling the water. Treatment processes can reduce some PFAS, but their performance depends on substances, water and maintenance. Look for a certification on the reduction sought and have its limits specified by a professional.
What is the health risk?
The effects depend on substances and exposure. For a concern about your health or a particular situation, consult a professional and public health recommendations. A water result alone is not an individual diagnosis.
What if my water is contaminated?
Follow the actions recommended by the Water and Public Health Officer. Another source of drinking water may be indicated depending on the situation. Do not install a device to bypass a non-consumption notice and do not assume that all water uses are affected in the same way.
The useful answer is based on an identified water source, relevant analyses and guidelines. Prepare a reserve and refueling, then evaluate a treatment only based on contaminants and verified performance.
Sources and Updates
Document verification: November 3, 2026. The official instructions in force in your area take precedence in real situations.