A.J. Alberts Plumbing service van at a Twin Cities home, locally owned and operated since 1989

Whole-House Water Filtration Systems in Woodbury and the East Metro

A.J. Alberts installs whole-house carbon, sediment, and iron filtration and drinking-water reverse osmosis from our Woodbury showroom across the East Metro, selected from a free basic water test and the exact model's certified performance. PFAS treatment is covered below: the free test does not measure PFAS, and separate paid laboratory testing is available.

Call 651-738-0580

Quick Summary

Whole-house carbon, sediment, and iron filtration systems and under-sink reverse osmosis, installed by licensed A.J. Alberts plumbers in Woodbury and the East Metro. Start with the free basic water test; choose the filter for the specific issue it finds. PFAS reduction depends on the exact filter model and its certified claim, not simply the type of equipment. Call 651-738-0580.

Filtration Systems We Install

A filter is chosen for what is in the water, which is why the free basic test comes first. These are the systems A.J. Alberts plumbers install and service in East Metro homes.

Whole-house carbon filtration

A carbon tank on the main line treats every tap for chlorine taste and odor and, with a model carrying a certified claim, some other substances. The whole-house choice for households that want treated water at every fixture.

Sediment filtration

A cartridge or backwashing filter that removes sand, silt, and rust particles before they reach fixtures, the water heater, or a softener. Common on private wells and on city water after main breaks.

Iron and manganese filters

Oxidizing or air-injection filters for the orange staining and metallic taste that iron leaves behind. Selected from measured iron, pH, and flow, not stain color. Iron and odor removal

Reverse osmosis at the tap

An under-sink RO system feeds a dedicated drinking-water faucet and, when wanted, the refrigerator. The point-of-use choice for drinking and cooking water, including PFAS reduction with a certified model. Reverse osmosis systems

A water softener is not a filter. It exchanges the calcium and magnesium that cause hardness and does nothing for chlorine, iron in most forms, sediment, or PFAS. Homes often pair a softener with one of the filters above; see water softener installation for when softening makes sense.

Start With the Free Basic Water Test

Our free basic in-home water test checks hardness, iron, chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and total dissolved solids, with nitrate testing for private wells. It does not measure PFAS or certify that water is safe to drink.

Those readings point to the filter. Chlorine taste and odor point to carbon. Iron points to an iron filter, and the pH reading tells us which kind. Particles point to sediment filtration. A high total-dissolved-solids reading is a reason to talk about reverse osmosis at the drinking tap. Hardness points to a softener, which is a separate appliance. What the basic test cannot tell you is whether PFAS is present; that is a laboratory test, described in the sections that follow.

The test is free in your home across the East Metro, or at the Woodbury showroom by appointment. Book it online or call 651-738-0580.

Why PFAS Matters for Your East Metro Home

Regional PFAS information is a reason to check your water source, not a diagnosis of your home. Read current utility results for municipal water and seek well-specific information for a private supply.

A source-well detection and a treated-water result are different measurements. For household water, drinking and cooking are the key PFAS considerations. MDH explains that bathing, showering, and laundry are safe because skin absorption is limited.

For more background, see our Twin Cities water-source directory. Its references help you identify questions to ask about your own supply; it does not rank household health risks or prescribe treatment by city.

PFAS References by City

Start with the utility that actually supplies your address. The references below distinguish treatment updates from water-test results. Inclusion is not a claim that every home has PFAS or needs filtration.

For a private well, use MDH private-well testing guidance instead of assuming a municipal report applies. Reference links checked September 18, 2026; report and sample dates belong to the linked source.

Official water references and treatment context for communities served. This is not a table of household test results.
City and local service	Official reference and period	How to use the information
Woodbury	City PFAS monitoring See dated monitoring tables	The city describes treatment of advisory wells. Source-well samples and treated-water results are different measurements.
Cottage Grove	City treatment-plant update Plant operational since June 2025	The city reports that its Low Zone treatment plant is operating. Use the utility report for results relevant to your supply.
Lake Elmo	City water and PFAS information Page discusses 2024 well results	The page describes earlier well results and treatment plans. Confirm current operations and results with the utility; a planned date is not proof of completion.
Bayport	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Lakeland	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
St. Paul Park	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Newport	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Afton	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Hugo	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Mahtomedi	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
White Bear Lake	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
New Brighton	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Hastings	City PFAS project updates Updates include May 2026	Use the dated city updates for treatment-project progress. Ask the utility for current water results and relevant guidance.
Oakdale	City drinking-water information See linked annual report	The city describes its treatment facility and links its annual drinking-water report. Historical detections do not establish a result at your tap.
Forest Lake	MDH public-water-system lookup See the selected system and sample date	Identify the utility serving your address before using a public-system result. No citywide or household PFAS concentration is asserted here.
Inver Grove Heights	City 2025 water-quality report 2025 annual report	Read the report with its sampling period and utility coverage. A municipal report does not replace testing a private well.

How PFAS Filtration Works

Carbon and reverse osmosis can reduce PFAS. Performance varies by model, water chemistry, capacity, and maintenance.

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

Carbon captures some contaminants on its media. For PFAS, check the exact model for a certified PFAS reduction claim under NSF/ANSI 53. A general carbon or chlorine filter is not evidence of PFAS performance.

Consider when: a suitable model meets your treatment goals, capacity, and maintenance requirements. Whole-home systems treat water entering the house.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO uses a membrane to reduce selected dissolved substances. For PFAS, check the specific reduction claim and model certification under NSF/ANSI 58. Do not assume every RO system removes all contaminants.

Consider when: you want treated water at a designated drinking and cooking tap.

What to Check Before Buying a PFAS Filter

A taste-and-odor claim or general NSF certification is not a PFAS reduction claim. Confirm performance for the actual product and follow its service instructions.

Check the exact filter's certified PFAS reduction claim, including pitcher and refrigerator models.
Water softeners address hardness and are not PFAS treatment.
Boiling does not remove PFAS.
Certification does not necessarily mean a filter meets the latest EPA drinking-water limits.

EPA guidance on choosing PFAS filters

Whole-Home vs Point-of-Use: Which Do You Need?

A point-of-use filter treats water at a selected tap for drinking and cooking. Whole-home filtration treats the incoming supply. Choose based on actual results and goals; whole-home treatment is not automatically necessary because of a regional PFAS history.

Whole-Home Filtration

A GAC system installed on the main water line treats every tap, shower, and appliance in the house.

Best for:

• Homes seeking treatment at all taps
• Households whose water results support the selected treatment
• Homes with suitable space, flow, and maintenance access

Point-of-Use (Under-Sink RO)

An RO unit installed at the kitchen tap treats only drinking and cooking water.

Best for:

• Drinking and cooking water, including PFAS reduction with a suitable certified model
• Targeted treatment at a single tap
• Apartments and condos where whole-home is not possible

Plan Your Installation

Review water results and the exact issue to treat.
Compare the model's performance claims, capacity, and maintenance requirements.
Confirm fit, flow, access, and installation details in a written quote.
Discuss filter replacement and any follow-up testing.

Water Filtration and PFAS FAQs

Which whole-house water filter do I need?

The one matched to what the water test finds: carbon for chlorine taste and odor, an iron filter for staining and metallic taste, sediment filtration for particles, and reverse osmosis at the tap for drinking-water concerns. The free basic test gives the readings; the written quote names the exact model and its certified claims.

Is a water softener a water filter?

No. A softener exchanges the minerals that cause hardness and does not address chlorine, most iron, sediment, or PFAS. Many homes run a softener and a filter together, each doing its own job.

Does A.J. Alberts offer PFAS testing?

A.J. Alberts offers separate paid laboratory PFAS testing for municipal-water and private-well customers. We collect and submit the sample and explain the report. Confirm the test scope, price, and turnaround when scheduling; PFAS is not included in the free basic water test.

What is the difference between a free basic water test and PFAS testing?

Does a pitcher or refrigerator filter reduce PFAS?

Some models carry a certified PFAS reduction claim. Others address taste and odor only. Check the exact model in the certification listing; brand name alone does not establish performance.

Do I need whole-home filtration for PFAS?

Not automatically. An appropriately certified drinking-water filter can address water used for drinking and cooking. Minnesota Department of Health says bathing, showering, and washing clothes in water with PFAS are safe because skin absorption is limited. Discuss your actual water results and goals before choosing point-of-use or whole-home treatment.

How much does filtration cost?

Cost depends on the selected equipment, flow requirements, plumbing, and water chemistry. Ask for a written installation quote. Confirm PFAS testing pricing separately.

How often should filters be replaced?

Follow the exact model's replacement schedule, capacity limits, and instructions. Water use and incoming concentrations matter. Do not assume taste or appearance will tell you when PFAS reduction performance has declined.

Sources & Citations

Filtration Questions or PFAS Concerns?

Ask about PFAS testing, including arrangements and pricing. If hardness, iron, chlorine, pH, or dissolved solids are your concern, schedule our free basic in-home water test.

Schedule Free Water Test Call 651-738-0580