What are PFAS, PFOA, PFOS and What’s The Difference Between Them?

In a nutshell, PFAS stands for per- and polyflouralkyl substances, which are synthetic chemicals used to make everyday products we all use (your cell phone, your non-stick pans, some food packaging, most things that used to be made at 3M are made of PFAS). PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, also referred to as C8) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) are simply two types of PFAS, and the difference between the two is the number of carbon atoms in the chain of polyflouralkyl. GenX is also considered a PFAS contaminant.

These chemicals have been around for almost 80 years when they started being manufactured in the 1940s. Unfortunately, a lot of chemical waste ends up being dumped in the water supply we drink from. Imagine 80 years of chemical waste contaminating the water we use every day.

The Water Quality Association (WQA.org) tells us exposure to PFAS can happen when we eat food grown in soil contaminated by PFAS or drink water that has been contaminated and not properly filtered out. It can also be released through the household products we use to clean our homes.

Some potential health risks of PFAS exposure are cancer, a weakened immune system, fertility issues, low birth weight for infants, abnormal levels for cholesterol and thyroid hormones, and inflammation of the liver. Other health-related issues are still under research.

How Can I Know I Have Safe Drinking Water?

If you want to know if the water in your area is affected by PFAS contamination, check out the EWG PFAS map below of known areas affected in the United States click here to see the map of known areas affected in the United States.

Clean Water of Virginia also offers free water tests to homeowners in the Winchester area. Call (540) 888-8044 to schedule your free water test now!

Our Solution:

PFOA and PFOS chemicals are bio-permanent, resistant to direct oxidation, and do not break down naturally in the environment or the human body. Clean Water of Virginia provides a unique system, to successfully remove these chemicals and is installed where the water line enters your home or business.

Our systems have been tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 by NSF International, and not only removes sediments and PFAS contaminants but also eliminates odors and improves taste – giving you bottled quality (or better) water right at your tap.

Local VA Reviews

Clean Water of VA - Winchester

5.0

Based on 273 reviews

See all reviewsWrite a review

Amanda C

14:32 06 Dec 23

Clean Water of VA was very responsive and informative at my initial appointment. Water Specialist James, answered any and all of my questions and... provided a solution to give my home a softer/cleaner water. Very pleased with Clean Water of VA and have already recommended to neighbors and will continue to recommend.read more

Dewey Noland

17:05 07 Nov 23

They installed water softener this morning. Everything went super smooth. The tech did a great job!Very satisfied..

Robin Markay

15:48 02 Nov 23

Quick response and even installed the replacement filter. Thank you

Tjenk3452

16:41 01 Nov 23

Clean Water Of VA, LLC was a “POSITIVE” experience! It’s family & local.The entire staff is great at Clean Water of VA, LLC. Pam in the office is... very personable and easy to talk to. They treat you like family.DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME GETTING ESTIMATES WITH OTHER COMPETITORS IN THE AREA!Michael did the install first thing in the morning, today October 30th. I was not home and left the door open at the beginning. You can trust the staff. They are supportive of Military, Health Care Workers & First Responders (Fire & PD)Michael went above and beyond today. I had some plumbing issues that I was working on because I had to re-do some valves and pipes behind the wall for new appliances that arrived to get them connected to water.Michael took some time to give me some tips and showed me how to resolve the matters quickly so they could get the house water turned on for the treatment system.Within hours, I have noticed the difference with the water. I’m excited to see the results progress as I am on well water that’s very hard.Stick with Clean Water Of VA, LLC, I’d put my life on the line for the company, promising that you can trust them.read more

Robbin Pearson

14:59 30 Oct 23

They showed up on time, were extremely pleasant and professional. Great experience. Thank you

Katia Nemes

14:14 30 Oct 23

As always, top service from Clean Water of Virginia! The technician was on time and very respectful. He serviced my system with care and also... provided useful tips. Thank you!read more

David Karr

13:45 27 Oct 23

I would give 6 stars if possible! Clean Water is professional, communicative, and very reasonably priced for the high quality of service they... provide. On top of those accolades, both their front office and on-site technician are friendly and informative, guiding me through their process and giving me useful information on how to optimize my water system. My water never tasted so good! Thank you Clean Water!read more

D B

12:37 27 Oct 23

I had Bob come out and do a water test because we had some smelly water and it was staining the fixtures and everything it touched. He was able to... walk me through his chemistry kit how exactly he was performing them and what each one was testing. He was very personable and I could tell he really cares about who he is recommending products too. In the end we needed a filter and softener setup. They were able to provide financing which was a huge stress relief because it's a large amount of money. They then came to do the install very quickly. Michael was our installer and he did a fantastic job putting the equipment in the area that worked best for us. When he was done he explained the system one more time and how to use and what the maintenance was like. We could tell a difference immediately on the cold water as he flushed the system before leaving. The hot water was a gradual improvement and Micheal explained this as we needed to work through the water that was already in the water heater. On the second day of using our new system the smell of rusty coins is gone from both the hot and cold water and the water does indeed feel better on your skin when showering. A mighty investment to be sure but a it has been a mighty improvement so I can't recommend them enough.read more

Mark Meroney

15:49 26 Oct 23

Second time I have used these guys and they are great! Prompt and professional.

Tamra McCuiston

02:13 24 Oct 23

Everyone has been great since first contacting Clean Water. We are enjoying clean / clear water after their teams excellent work! Thank you very much... Kevin, Bob, Logan and all the wonderful staff! We highly recommend Clean Water of VA.read more

Joe Dotson

10:20 16 Oct 23

Showed up in time.Courteous and professional.System installed initially keeps having to add more chemicals which is getting very costly.

Kevin Lekas

23:51 09 Oct 23

Michael was very professional and answered all my questions. He quickly identified my problem and found a different issue, which was quickly... resolved. I am highly satisfied with their service.read more

Jessica Sasser

23:21 09 Oct 23

There have been some mishaps but nothing that has caused any harm. All in all has been super helpful curious and kind ..fast and fair. Thank u so... much for all your help ecowaterread more

Mary Dorsey-Lee

23:19 04 Oct 23

Bob was very knowledgeable and did quite a bit of testing on my water. He came back a second time to double check my ph. Logan did the installation.... Texted me when he was on his way and was early. He asked where I wanted things and explained what was being installed. He also made sure the water outlet outside was where I wanted it. Very pleasant and professional!read more

martha miller

12:48 03 Oct 23

EXCELLENT sales and service. Have been a customer since 2008 and always received great service.

Rodger Weigel

00:22 29 Sep 23

Did a great job at install. So glad we went with Clean Water of Virginia for our water softener.

Lindsey K

00:47 27 Sep 23

The water softener install has made such a positive impact on our home life. They scheduled us quickly and got the job done exactly as promised. We... did get to meet James for the follow-up check, and he was wonderfully patient, helpful, and knowledgeable.read more

Ron DeAngelo

14:45 26 Sep 23

After learning about my need for a water treatment system for the new home I purchased I called on a recommendation Clear Water of Virginia. They... scheduled a consultation and quote for the following day. They met me at the time we agreed upon and after testing my water to verify a need, informing me about their company and listening to their proposal I agreed to have them install the EER3700 water refining system. Because the water here is extremely hard I asked them to install it as soon as possible. To my pleasant surprise they were able to install it the next day. Great company. Came right on time. Up front with the work that they would be performing and explained everything I needed to know about the system. Their work was neat and thoughtful. At this point of the transaction I am extremely pleased.read more

Karen Ochsenbine

18:41 20 Sep 23

We had a great experience with Clear Water. We received lots of good information and no pressure. Installation was fast!

D Redman

18:59 18 Sep 23

We had a little hiccup during the beginning with the salesperson. They sent their technician Michael James out and he was perfect. He told me what... was needed for my water needs. He actually suggested a smaller unit then was originally suggested. He went through the why's and hows of the system and why it fits our needs. Michael was also the person who installed our system. It took about 3 hours to install, which I thought was appropriate since it was just him. Again, afterwards he explained the system and which salt pellets we need. I would recommend Michael for your determination of your requirements and installation. You will feel your getting an honest opinion based on your needs and not based on commission which I felt from the salesperson.read more

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