Family Owned & Operated Since 1980
Burlington, VT homeowners and well owners throughout Chittenden County are asking about PFAS water treatment - and with good reason. These persistent "forever chemicals" do not break down in the environment or the human body. Clear Water Filtration provides proven PFAS water treatment Burlington VT residents can rely on, backed by 45 years of Vermont water treatment experience and government and municipal PFAS contracts across the state.
Burlington Water Quality
Burlington draws its municipal drinking water from Lake Champlain, treated and distributed by the Champlain Water District (CWD). CWD consistently meets federal and Vermont regulatory standards, and the district actively monitors for a wide range of contaminants - including PFAS compounds.
While CWD-served households benefit from centralized treatment, PFAS can enter the distribution system from multiple sources including stormwater runoff, industrial discharge into Lake Champlain, and aging infrastructure. Some Burlington-area homeowners on older service lines or with plumbing that predates modern material standards face additional risk factors that municipal treatment alone does not address at the tap.
Private well owners in greater Burlington and Chittenden County face a different situation entirely. Groundwater in Vermont has been found to contain PFAS at varying levels, particularly near former industrial sites, military installations, and areas with a history of firefighting foam use. Unlike municipal customers, private well owners receive no centralized treatment - the responsibility for testing and treatment falls entirely on the homeowner.
Whether you are on city water from CWD or a private well in Chittenden County, understanding your PFAS exposure requires a water test from a certified laboratory. Learn about our water testing services - and see the section below on how to get your Burlington water tested for PFAS.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in manufacturing since the 1940s - in non-stick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, and many industrial processes. The carbon-fluorine bonds that make them useful also make them extraordinarily resistant to breakdown.
Because they persist indefinitely in the environment and accumulate in the human body over time, they are commonly called "forever chemicals." Research has linked PFAS exposure to a range of health concerns including impacts on immune function, thyroid health, and developmental outcomes in children. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies PFAS as an emerging contaminant of serious concern.
The two most studied compounds - PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) - have been phased out of U.S. manufacturing, but remain in the environment and in older products. Hundreds of replacement compounds are now also under regulatory scrutiny.
Know the Rules
Vermont has been among the more proactive states on PFAS regulation, and understanding the current standards helps Burlington residents make informed decisions about treatment.
Vermont established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for five PFAS compounds combined: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFHpA. This applies to community public water systems and is one of the stricter state standards in the country. Vermont's MCL predated the federal rule and reflects the state's long-standing concern about PFAS in drinking water.
In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized national MCLs for six PFAS compounds under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The federal rule set enforceable limits for PFOA and PFOS individually, as well as for PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA (GenX), and a mixture provision for multiple compounds. Public water systems - including Vermont utilities - must comply on a phased schedule. For Burlington homeowners on private wells, the federal MCL does not apply, but it provides a useful benchmark for evaluating your well water results.
State and federal MCLs apply only to public water systems - they do not regulate private wells. Chittenden County well owners bear full responsibility for knowing what is in their water and taking action. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has conducted groundwater investigations in areas of known PFAS concern, but not every well in greater Burlington has been tested. The only way to know your well's PFAS status is to test it through a certified laboratory.
Even if your municipal water meets current standards, PFAS levels can vary between the treatment plant and your tap. And if you are on a private well in Chittenden County, no regulation is monitoring your water on your behalf. Clear Water Filtration helps Burlington homeowners understand their actual exposure - and provides effective treatment when it is needed.
Proven Treatment Technologies
Not all water treatment systems remove PFAS. Clear Water Filtration uses technologies that have been validated by the EPA and independent research for PFAS removal - sized and configured for your specific water chemistry and household needs.
Reverse osmosis is among the most effective technologies available for PFAS removal from drinking water. An RO system forces water through a semi-permeable membrane with pores small enough to block PFAS molecules, along with lead, arsenic, nitrates, and many other dissolved contaminants.
RO is highly effective at removing PFAS - the EPA and NSF/ANSI certification data for certified RO systems consistently show strong PFAS reduction, with performance varying by compound and system. We install Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station RO systems at your kitchen sink, providing clean drinking and cooking water directly from the tap.
Granular activated carbon filtration works through adsorption - PFAS molecules bind to the carbon surface as water passes through. GAC is effective for longer-chain PFAS compounds (such as PFOA and PFOS) and is widely used in both municipal treatment plants and residential point-of-entry systems.
For Burlington homes where whole-house PFAS reduction is the goal - such as properties with known well contamination - a properly sized and regularly maintained GAC system installed at the point of entry can treat all water entering the home. GAC media must be replaced on a schedule to maintain performance, which we manage through our service program.
GAC effectiveness varies by PFAS compound length and configuration; we select media specifications based on your specific test results and water chemistry.
Ion exchange resins - particularly single-use anion exchange resins - can target PFAS compounds across a broader molecular-weight range than GAC alone, including some shorter-chain PFAS that GAC handles less efficiently. IX technology is increasingly used in both municipal and residential PFAS treatment where comprehensive removal is needed.
For Burlington homeowners with complex PFAS profiles (multiple compounds, including shorter-chain variants identified by lab testing), a combined approach using GAC and ion exchange, or IX with RO, provides the most complete treatment.
Clear Water Filtration designs multi-barrier treatment plans based on your actual water test results - not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Standard pitcher filters, refrigerator filters, and basic carbon block cartridges are generally not certified to remove PFAS and should not be relied upon for PFAS treatment. Boiling water does not remove PFAS - it may concentrate them. UV disinfection and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF/ANSI certification (Standard 58 for RO, Standard 53 for GAC) before purchasing a PFAS treatment system.
Start Here
Clear Water Filtration's free in-home water test is the right first step for any Burlington homeowner concerned about their water quality. A trained specialist comes to your home, evaluates your water at the tap, and tests for the parameters most commonly affecting Vermont homes.
PFAS compounds cannot be detected with field test equipment - they require laboratory analysis using EPA Method 533 or Method 537.1. Our free in-home test does not include PFAS analysis. If PFAS is your concern, we refer Burlington residents to a certified laboratory partner who can conduct a proper PFAS screen on a collected water sample. We help you understand the results and design treatment accordingly. Learn more about water testing options in Burlington.
For well owners in areas of known PFAS concern - including near former industrial or military sites in Chittenden County - we strongly recommend certified-lab PFAS testing before investing in any treatment system.
When our specialist completes your in-home test, you'll get a clear explanation of results - no pressure, no technical jargon. If your results indicate a water quality concern, we provide honest recommendations for treatment options and transparent estimates. We never recommend a system you don't need.
If your in-home results suggest PFAS could be a concern, we'll walk you through the certified-lab sampling process and connect you with our laboratory partner. Once PFAS results are in hand, we can design a treatment system matched to your specific contaminant profile.
Clear Water Filtration has a Class III Water Operator on staff - Jen Fleckenstein (CWS) - and holds government and municipal PFAS treatment contracts in Vermont. When it comes to PFAS in Burlington water, this is not new territory for us.
Institutional-Grade Expertise
Clear Water Filtration holds active government and municipal PFAS treatment contracts in Vermont. These contracts require a level of technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and documentation that goes well beyond standard residential service - and that same rigor comes to every job we do, including PFAS treatment for Burlington homeowners.
What does this mean practically for a Burlington resident? When you hire Clear Water Filtration for PFAS treatment, you are working with a company that has been vetted and trusted by institutional customers with strict compliance requirements. Our team understands PFAS chemistry at a level that allows us to design treatment systems for complex scenarios - not just straightforward municipal water polishing.
Our qualifications that underpin this work include:
We do not name the specific government and municipal customers we serve under PFAS contracts - those relationships include confidentiality provisions. What we can say is that this experience gives us capabilities and insights that directly benefit Burlington homeowners facing PFAS concerns.
The institutions and businesses that rely on Clear Water Filtration include Cabot Creamery, UVM Medical Center, Sugarbush Resort, Switchback Brewing, Burlington Beer Company, Citizen Cider, Alchemist Brewery, GlobalFoundries, and Green Mountain Power, among others.
These organizations demand consistent, verifiable water treatment performance. Burlington homeowners deserve the same standard.
802-496-5544Hear From Your Neighbors
Bill Cherry
Switchback Brewing
Lindsay Kurrle
Community Relations Coordinator
Win Smith
President
Ken Bisceglio
Regional Manager
Common Questions
Explore Related Services
PFAS treatment is one part of a complete water quality picture. Burlington homeowners often benefit from addressing multiple water quality concerns together.
Our parent service page covers PFAS treatment across Vermont with full technical detail on treatment technologies, health context, and CWF's government contract experience.
Learn MoreThe Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station is our primary point-of-use PFAS treatment recommendation. Learn how RO works, what it removes, and how it's installed.
Learn MoreUnderstanding what's in your Burlington water is the essential first step. Our free in-home test covers six key parameters, and we can facilitate certified-lab PFAS testing.
Learn MoreOur Burlington city page covers the full range of water treatment services we provide throughout Chittenden County - softening, filtration, UV, RO, and well water treatment.
Learn MoreReady to Get Started?
Clear Water Filtration | 264 Mad River Park, Waitsfield, VT 05673 | 802-496-5544
Whether you have PFAS test results in hand and need a treatment system designed, or you're just starting to research your options, we are here to help. Our team knows Vermont water - the geology, the regulatory environment, and the specific concerns that Burlington homeowners face. We'll give you straight answers and honest recommendations.
Call us at 802-496-5544. Emergency water treatment service is available seven days a week.
Where We Serve
From our home base in Waitsfield, VT, we provide water treatment services throughout the Green Mountain State. Each community has its own water quality characteristics based on local geology and water sources - and after 45 years, we've tested thousands of wells across Vermont and understand the regional variations that affect which treatment approaches work best.
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