From PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to pharmaceuticals, personal care products to microplastics, emerging contaminants (ECs) pose a significant risk to water quality. For this feature, Refreshment's Bryony Andrews asked a number of experts in the water filtration sector to share their insights on the most prevalent ECs in our water today, and the technologies and solutions that could help to manage them.

Emerging contaminants (also known as ‘contaminants of emerging concern’) are synthetic or natural substances found in water or the environment at low levels. These could be pharmaceuticals, personal care products, PFAS, pesticides or microplastics, among others. While their effects on human, animal and plant matter are so far uncertain, studies have suggested that they could have potentially harmful results – and in recent years, this has prompted growing concern about the long term effects that ECs in water could have on human health and the environment.

ECs are considered particularly hazardous due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity in water and the environment. They often bypass conventional treatment, requiring instead advanced monitoring and treatment technologies. Many of these treatments are performed by public water treatment infrastructure, but point-of-use systems offer further treatment and refinement to ensure the highest quality of drinking water for users. For facilities and buildings managers, a knowledgeable water dispense partner with a comprehensive plan for EC removal means peace-of-mind for clients, employees and residents.

Which ECs pose the greatest risk to water quality?

PFAS, pharmaceutical residues and microplastics are considered the most concerning ECs, with PFAS generally agreed to be the biggest threat to water quality.

PFAS is the collective term for a large group of over 10,000 synthetic “forever chemicals” used for decades for their water, grease and stain-resistant properties in products like non-stick cookware and food packaging. It is only in recent years that scientists have discovered that PFAS are highly persistent in the environment, bioaccumulating in humans and wildlife thanks to their presence in food and water. Linked to cancer, immune system suppression and developmental issues, PFAS requires specialist filtration technology to remove it from water. Furthermore, no single filtration method is 100% effective for all 10,000 types of PFAS, making certified filters and regular maintenance a must.

Pharmaceutical residues, meanwhile, often bypass conventional water treatment once they have entered the water system, and microplastics – originating from the degradation of larger plastic items such as car tyres, synthetic clothing fibres from washing machines and fragmented plastic litter – have been linked to cardiovascular issues, reproductive problems and cancer.

Shifting priorities

While manufacturers of water filtration solutions have historically focused on matters of taste and odour, the growing health concerns associated with ECs mean that the consistency and performance of filtration technology is now taking top billing.

According to Anna Jones, brand manager at provider of eco-friendly water solutions Hydrofast, “consumers now expect filtration systems to provide verified protection against tough contaminants, not just improve taste. They want clear performance data, smarter monitoring and less maintenance.”

For Hydrofast, this means water filters with capabilities that directly address customer concerns around ECs. Jones recommends models with features including real-time monitoring, so users always know the current water quality; multi-stage reverse osmosis (RO) systems for complete purification; and automated features like auto-flush, leak detection and UV sterilisation to maintain safety with minimal user effort. Jones further highlights the importance of offering numerous filtration options – ie. desktop, under -sink, portable – allowing users to access safe, high quality water from their location of choice.

Antonio Zerilli, managing director at Zerica, an expert in water cooling and water purification technologies, similarly told Refreshment that “expectations are clearly shifting away from purely aesthetic parameters such as taste and odour towards greater transparency, control and consistency of performance over time”.

According to Zerilli, the challenge is less about addressing individual ECs and more about “managing a complex and evolving mixture of contaminants in a responsible, data-driven way”.

He suggested that end users and professional operators are not necessarily looking for absolute guarantees around ECs, but for systems that are appropriate for the specific characteristics of the incoming water, supported by clear technical documentation and designed to be maintained and monitored effectively. Rather than new filtration methods, Zerilli instead highlighted “interconnected and digitally-enabled systems, continuous or remote performance monitoring and improved use of data” as some of the most promising developments in water treatment.

With this in mind, Zerica’s YouRO solution was designed to offer a modular reverse osmosis unit that can either be combined with a Zerica water dispenser or used independently, with the major advantage of being interconnected. “This allows operational status and system behaviour to be monitored remotely and with confidence – without making unrealistic claims, but by providing transparency and control,” Zerilli explained.

“When it comes to emerging contaminants, there are no shortcuts,” Zerilli emphasised. “Sound decisions are based on data, appropriate technology and ongoing control. Our focus is on delivering reliable, well-managed solutions that perform as intended over time.”

New technologies for a cleaner future

While traditional filtration technologies, such as carbon filters, may have sufficed in previous years, they are no longer sufficient for the high quality drinking water demanded by today’s consumers. Filtration solutions like ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, reverse osmosis and multi-stage systems offer much better protection against contaminants.

Jeff Price, VP of product marketing at Quench USA, a supplier of bottle-free drinking water filtration systems, highlighted reverse osmosis, specialised carbon block filters and ion exchange resins as key technologies for consumer systems.

He said: “The future lies in nanomaterial-based filters – like nanofibre or graphene – for high efficiency in a small footprint, coupled with AI-enabled monitoring to precisely predict when a filter should be changed, ensuring peak performance and reducing waste,” he advised.

Andrea Martinez, applications engineer at Aquisense, believes that UV-C LED technology represents one of the most promising advancements in water disinfection, addressing many of the shortcomings of current water treatment technologies.

“LED-based UV systems offer instant on/off operation, compact and modular designs and mercury-free construction, making them well suited for point-of-use food and beverage applications,” she told Refreshment. “While both conventional and LED UV technologies can achieve effective microbial inactivation when properly designed, UV-C LEDs provide greater flexibility; improved energy efficiency in real-world operating conditions; and easier integration into increasingly complex treatment trains. As regulatory and sustainability pressures grow, UV-C LED disinfection stands out as a key enabling technology for next-generation water treatment systems.”

Meeting changing regulations

In reaction to our growing knowledge of the dangers of PFAS, regulations have been rapidly revised and tightened globally, largely through bans and lower exposure limits.

Quench USA’s Price described the new legal limits for PFAS levels in public drinking water as the single biggest regulatory driver that he’s seen in years. “It will rapidly accelerate the demand for high-performance, validated dispensing systems,” he believes, with customers requiring certified, transparent filtration performance.

Price said: “Consumers no longer just want a filter for chlorine; they demand proof – specifically third-party certifications – that a POU system reliably reduces specific hazards like PFAS and microplastics. Transparency and performance data are the new non-negotiables.”

Emma Redford, marketing director at H2O Direct, a provider of water filtration products for the coffee, vending and POU watercoolers, similarly believes that the new, stricter PFAS regulations will lead to growing demand for certification of filters used with drinking water.

Redford explained: “In the UK, stricter control on PFAS levels is being enforced, while new EU drinking water rules now require monitoring of PFAS levels and enforce limits within water sources… Often filters are now engineered with these specific requirements in mind.”

Redford recommends advanced treatment filters that have been specifically designed to reduce PFAS, such as H2O Direct’s MicroFilter’s FP range, which Redford says is the first filter in the world to be certified by the National Sanitation Foundation.

“MicroFilter products are committed to providing 100% certification, whereas alternative manufacturers either do not have official certification or simply reduce, not remove, contaminants,” said Redford.

Blupura, an Italy-based supplier of watercoolers and dispensers, has responded to the growing attention and concern over emerging contaminants among its customers by developing two complementary solutions based around “reliable and scientifically-grounded technologies”. Debora Screpanti, marketing manager at Blupura, explained that the two solutions are designed to allow customers to improve the water quality of the watercooler installations while fully complying with new EU regulations.

The first of these, Blutron Hero, is based on ultrafiltration and equipped with a Carbon Block filter, enhanced with selective absorbent materials capable of retaining PFAS, heavy metals and microplastics. Blutron Osmo, meanwhile, is a reverse osmosis system that ensures “consistently pure and safe water” by removing unwanted substances such as dissolved salts, nitrates and micro-pollutants.

Microbial concerns

While ECs certainly warrant continued scrutiny, regulation and monitoring, Aquisense’s Martinez argues that from a drinking water safety perspective, microbiological contamination – including biofilms and bacterial regrowth – remains one of the most immediate and consequential risks to water quality. Water treatment solutions designed to address PFAS, which rely primarily on adsorption or membrane technologies, are not approved to provide microbial control.

Martinez explained: “These processes can increase the risk of biofilm formation and bacterial regrowth due to added surface area, longer residence times and downstream piping and storage. As a result, best-practice PFAS treatment architectures typically include a dedicated disinfection step downstream of PFAS removal, ideally at the point of dispense.”

She recommends UV disinfection as well suited for this role, providing a non-chemical, final barrier that inactivates microorganisms and protects distribution and point-of-use systems without impacting water chemistry, taste or formulation.

Conclusion

Despite their persistence in the environment, ECs are not an immediate danger for most communities. Filtration technology today – both public infrastructure and POU – is sufficient for the removal and reduction of ECs. Arguably, the most promising developments in filtration for ECs are not new solutions themselves, but rather new ways of interacting with them: for example, interconnected and digitally-enabled systems, remote performance monitoring and harnessing data to optimise operation.

ECs are a complex and constantly changing topic, and as we understand more about them, solutions will continue to evolve and improve. For manufacturers, addressing consumer concerns with scientifically-supported products, certified solutions and clear educational resources about new regulations will go a long way towards ensuring continued trust and confidence among end users.