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PFAS in tap water in French-speaking Switzerland: what we know, what you can do
They are called “forever chemicals”. PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, form a family of several thousand synthetic compounds used since the 1950s for their non-stick, waterproofing and heat-resistant properties: frying pans, technical textiles, firefighting foams, packaging. Their strength is also their flaw: the carbon-fluorine bond that makes them so stable makes them practically indestructible in the environment. Once released, they migrate into soils, groundwater, and, at the end of the line, into tap water.
The Swiss picture: widespread traces
Switzerland is no exception to the general finding. According to the FOEN (the Federal Office for the Environment), PFAS are detected at a significant share of the country’s groundwater monitoring stations, at concentrations that are generally low but measurable. The subject now occupies federal and cantonal authorities alike: reinforced monitoring, sampling campaigns, and an ongoing debate about the limit values applicable to drinking water, several neighbouring countries have already lowered their thresholds, and Switzerland is reviewing its own. That debate reflects a science that keeps advancing: we measure better, we understand better, and the real extent of PFAS presence becomes clearer every year.
What about Geneva and Vaud?
Let’s be clear: the water supplied in Geneva and the canton of Vaud is monitored and compliant with legal requirements. Distributors publish their test results, and Lake Geneva is a resource of high quality. So the question is not “can I drink tap water?”, the answer is yes, but “what should I do about the traces?”. It is a matter of the precautionary principle: concentrations considered acceptable today could be reassessed tomorrow, as the recent history of limit values elsewhere in Europe has shown.
What actually filters PFAS
Two home technologies have proven themselves against PFAS.
- Specific activated carbon. Not all carbons are equal: you need a medium sized for these molecules. The EMMO filter retains PFOA and PFHpA up to 20,000 litres per cartridge, on top of chlorine and more than 98% of the pesticide average. Installed under the sink, it treats drinking water as it flows.
- Reverse osmosis. This is the broadest retention: the membrane of the E400 reverse osmosis unit rejects 96% of dissolved salts and particles, PFAS included. Tankless and direct-flow, it produces ultra-pure water on demand.
A measured conclusion
Your water is good, that is a fact, verified by regular controls. If you want to go further, for taste or precaution, solutions exist: they are fitted in about two hours, without building work, and EGBT SA installs and maintains them in Geneva and across the canton of Vaud. Filtering at home is not distrusting your water, it is finishing the job properly.
Frequently asked questions
Are PFAS banned in Switzerland?
Certain PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, are banned or strictly limited under Swiss chemicals legislation. But their persistence means they are still found in the environment decades after use.
Is tap water still safe to drink in Geneva and Vaud?
Yes. The water supplied is monitored and meets legal requirements. The scientific debate concerns PFAS traces and the future lowering of limit values, not current potability.
Which home equipment retains PFAS?
A specific activated-carbon filter such as the EMMO filter retains PFOA and PFHpA up to 20,000 litres. Reverse osmosis, such as the E400, offers the broadest retention across dissolved substances.