PFAS and TFA contamination detected in Swiss drinking water

Traces of PFAS and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) are increasingly being detected in drinking water in Switzerland. These substances are colorless, odorless, and tasteless, yet highly stable, allowing them to enter households through the water network.

Conventional water treatment plants face significant challenges in removing these contaminants. Standard methods, including modern activated carbon or ion exchangers, often prove ineffective because ultra-short variants like TFA are too small, too polar, and highly water-soluble to adhere to traditional filter surfaces. A researcher from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research noted, “We have no means to remove TFA with reasonable effort.”

As a decentralized alternative, Dropvital is utilizing filtration systems designed for use at house connections or under sinks. This technology employs nanoporous adsorbent materials with pore sizes in the nanometer range, specifically intended to capture and bind tiny pollutants like TFA directly at the point of use.