Kids and “Forever Chemicals”: Total PFAS Filtration Brings Peace of Mind

In recent years, the dangers of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water have come to the attention of the scientific community and the public. PFAS include thousands of synthetic chemicals that have been used in various industries and consumer products since the 1940s due to their abilities to resist heat and repel water and oil.   

Many municipalities have taken steps to filter PFAS from their drinking water. But all filtration is not the same—many filters only reduce the two most common PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS, leaving thousands of compounds unfiltered.

Sloan takes a more comprehensive approach. The filters in our DropSpot™ Bottle Fillers and Water Coolers reduce all individual PFAS compounds, not just the most common ones, to make healthier water available to schools and other public facilities.

Here’s a closer look.

Health Risks Associated with PFAS

PFAS can be found in a surprisingly wide range of everyday sources, including non-stick cookware, fabrics, outdoor gear, carpets, upholstery, food packaging, cosmetics, and personal care items. They’re often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment or the human body, so they can accumulate over time.

Exposure to PFAS has been associated with several adverse health outcomes, including immune system effects, liver damage, increased cholesterol levels, thyroid disease, and the increased risk of certain cancers.1

PFAS have also been linked to fertility issues and pregnancy disorders,2 along with developmental effects including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, and skeletal variations.3

Considering these risks, schools and other public facilities are wise to mandate PFAS filtration in their drinking water—but not all PFAS filtering is as comprehensive as possible.

The Total PFAS Approach to Water Filtration

When it comes to healthy drinking water, Sloan doesn’t believe in halfway measures. For instance, many of our faucets meet NFS 61 standards from which they’re exempt. Why? Because those standards ensure healthier water.

Sloan’s Total PFAS filtration is another example. Instead of filtering just the two most common PFAS compounds, Sloan’s 3,000-gallon, IAPMO-certified filters reduce all individual PFAS compounds, as well as lead, microplastics, cysts, Class 1 Particulates, chlorine, and other contaminants. They also comply with NSF-42, 53 and 401 standards — and they help water taste better, too.

By reducing the overall burden of PFAS in drinking water, Sloan’s Total PFAS filters can help minimize the potential for long-term accumulation in people’s bodies and lower the risk of associated health problems. They help municipalities comply with the EPA’s national PFAS drinking water standards while removing an even wider array of unregulated contaminants.

Sloan’s Total PFAS filters give schools and other public facilities the peace of mind of knowing that their drinking water is being filtered for the most comprehensive group of potentially harmful chemicals.

Michigan Filter First and Other State Models for Safe Drinking Water

Michigan’s Filter First laws, which went into effect October 2023, require schools and childcare centers in Michigan to develop a Drinking Water Management Plan (DWMP), and install lead reducing filters on all consumptive fixtures, and test filtered water.4

Sloan has provided numerous Michigan schools with DropSpot™ Bottle Fillers and Water Coolers that meet and exceed Filter First standards.

In addition to Michigan, other states are passing new laws and offering grants that focus on safe and clean drinking water in schools, daycare facilities, and other locations. 

• New Jersey is offering more than $94 million in grants through the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act administered by the state’s Department of Education.5 That equates to $6,000 per water outlet in a school that has any level of water contamination to be used toward purchasing bottle fillers and water coolers with enhanced filtration and associated installation expenses.
• Maryland law House Bill 277 goes into effect October 1, 2025, and requires that new buildings, or buildings undergoing renovation where water coolers are already needed, must include at least one water bottle filling station or a combined bottle filler and water cooler.6 This law is designed to make it easier to access clean drinking water and to fill reusable water bottles instead of using single-use cups or plastic water bottles.

Sloan’s convenient solutions do more than simply provide cleaner drinking water. By letting students, staff, and visitors fill their own water bottles, they also reduce the use of environmentally problematic single-use bottles and reduce the clean-up burden for school maintenance crews.

When schools and other public facilities—throughout the world—make clean drinking water a top priority, they trust Sloan for solutions that meet and exceed the strictest standards.

For more ideas and solutions about making drinking water safer for everyone, contact Sloan! 

1—Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “How PFAS Impacts Your Health,” July 2025

2 — Environment International, “Seminal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and sperm quality impairment: from toxic target to rescue,” June 2025

3 — Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, “The relationship between prenatal perfluorine and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and infant neurodevelopment,” September 2025

4 — Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

5 — New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

6 — Maryland General Assembly, Environment - Water Bottle Filling Stations - Requirement