PFAS
PFAS in East Metro Drinking Water: The Complete Twin Cities Guide
What PFAS is, which Twin Cities cities are affected, what the Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed, and how to actually filter it out of your home water.
PFAS contamination affects more than 150 square miles and over 140,000 Minnesotans across the East Metro Twin Cities, per Minnesota Department of Health public records. The contamination originated from 3M industrial discharge in Washington County dating to the 1950s through 1970s. Affected cities include Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Hugo, Hastings, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, and New Brighton. Removing PFAS from your home water requires NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certified filtration, not a standard pitcher filter.
What PFAS is
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of synthetic chemicals first developed in the 1940s. The two most studied are PFOA (used in non-stick cookware) and PFOS (used in firefighting foam and stain repellents). They are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment, accumulate in soil and water, and persist in human bodies for years.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized federal drinking water limits in April 2024 of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOA and PFOS, plus limits on three other PFAS compounds. The Minnesota Department of Health has issued state health-based values, some of which are more protective than federal limits.
The East Metro contamination story
3M operated facilities in Cottage Grove and elsewhere in Washington County beginning in the 1940s. PFAS-containing waste was disposed of in landfills and industrial sites across the East Metro. Over decades, the chemicals migrated through soil into the regional groundwater aquifer that serves municipal and private wells.
A 2007 lawsuit by the State of Minnesota against 3M resulted in an $850 million settlement in 2018, dedicated to East Metro water cleanup, infrastructure upgrades, and natural resource damages. That settlement has funded municipal granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment systems in several affected cities.
Per Minnesota Department of Health public records, the documented contamination plume covers:
- Cottage Grove (8 of 11 wells non-compliant at peak)
- Oakdale
- Lake Elmo
- Woodbury
- Hugo
- Hastings
- Mahtomedi
- White Bear Lake
- New Brighton
- Bayport, Lakeland, St. Paul Park, Newport, Afton
What municipal treatment does and does not solve
Several affected cities have installed GAC systems funded by the settlement. Where active, these treatment systems significantly reduce PFAS in delivered municipal water.
However:
- EPA standards were tightened in 2024. Some municipal systems designed to older standards may not consistently meet the new 4 ppt PFOA/PFOS limits.
- Bathing and showering exposure is unaffected by tap-only treatment.
- Older homes with aging service lines may have additional contamination concerns from solder, fittings, and corrosion.
- Wells on private property are entirely outside municipal treatment.
This is why many East Metro homeowners want a verified in-home filtration barrier, regardless of municipal status.
What does and does not remove PFAS
Effective:
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration sized and certified for PFAS
- Reverse osmosis systems with NSF/ANSI 58 certification
- Ion exchange systems specifically designed for PFAS
Verify the certification. Look for “NSF/ANSI 53 reduction claims include PFOA/PFOS” or “NSF/ANSI 58 reduction claims include PFOA/PFOS.” Without these specific certifications, the filter is not verified for PFAS.
Not effective:
- Standard pitcher filters (Brita, PUR basic models)
- Standard refrigerator filters (most are activated carbon for taste/odor only)
- Boiling water (concentrates PFAS rather than removing it)
- Standard whole-home sediment filters
- UV systems (do nothing for PFAS)
- Water softeners (do not remove PFAS)
The two standard home solutions
Under-sink RO at the kitchen tap. Effective for drinking and cooking water. Lower upfront cost. Does not address shower or laundry exposure. Typical installed cost: $800 to $1,500.
Whole-home certified filtration. Addresses every fixture in the home including shower, bath, and laundry. Higher upfront cost. Required for homes where bathing exposure is a documented concern. Typical installed cost: $3,500 to $7,500 depending on home size and configuration.
The right choice depends on your specific water test, your municipality’s treatment status, household members at higher risk (children, pregnant individuals), and budget.
What to do next
- Find your city’s current status on the Minnesota Department of Health PFAS dashboard
- Test your specific home water. Even within a treated city, individual home concentrations can vary based on service line and plumbing.
- Decide on protection level based on test results.
- Choose certified equipment. Check NSF/ANSI certification language before purchase.
A.J. Alberts offers free in-home water testing across the East Metro PFAS zone. We carry NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 certified PFAS systems and install hundreds per year.
Call 651-738-0580 or schedule a free water test. See our PFAS filtration page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Twin Cities cities are affected by PFAS contamination?
Does a standard pitcher filter (like Brita) remove PFAS?
Is my city water safe to drink if my municipality has PFAS treatment?
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