PFAS In Commercial Ice Machine Descaling Solutions

Water Contamination Lawsuit News

New testing suggests some commercial ice machine descaling products may contain PFAS that enter wastewater during routine cleaning in food service settings

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - Ice machines are a quiet workhorse in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and convenience stores, running nonstop to keep drinks cold and food safe. To work properly, these machines must be descaled on a regular schedule to remove mineral buildup caused by hard water. Recent environmental testing has raised concerns that some descaling solutions used in commercial ice machines may contain PFAS or PFAS-related surfactants. These chemicals help cleaning solutions spread evenly, break down scale, and cling to metal surfaces during cleaning cycles. When the descaling process is finished, the machine is flushed with water, sending the used solution straight into floor drains or mop sinks. For communities already reading about a PFAS water contamination cancer lawsuit or searching for a PFAS water contamination attorney to understand local contamination, the idea that ice machine maintenance could add to water pollution is alarming. Large kitchens may descale multiple machines several times per month, creating a steady flow of chemical-laced wastewater. Because PFAS do not break down naturally, even diluted rinse water can contribute to long-term accumulation in sewer systems. In dense commercial areas where many businesses operate ice machines, these routine cleanings may quietly add to PFAS levels downstream without anyone realizing it.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS are often used in industrial and commercial cleaning products because they resist heat, repel residue, and remain stable during aggressive cleaning processes. The EPA has documented PFAS in wastewater streams linked to food service and equipment maintenance, noting that cleaning agents can be a significant source of contamination when discharged frequently. Ice machine descaling is typically performed with hot water to improve effectiveness, a condition that can increase chemical mobility. Once PFAS enter municipal sewer systems, treatment plants are not equipped to fully remove them. As a result, the chemicals can pass into surface water, groundwater, or concentrate in sewage sludge. Environmental sampling near restaurant districts has shown PFAS patterns consistent with repeated small discharges rather than single industrial events. Regulators now recognize that these everyday maintenance practices, repeated thousands of times across a city, can create a meaningful pollution load. As PFAS monitoring expands, commercial kitchens and food service operations are being examined alongside more traditional industrial sources.

Increased awareness of PFAS in ice machine descaling solutions may change how businesses approach routine maintenance. Some manufacturers are already reformulating descalers using non-fluorinated acids and surfactants that still remove scale effectively without leaving behind persistent chemicals. Clearer product labeling could help operators make informed choices about what they flush into drains. Health departments and environmental agencies may also update guidance for food service equipment maintenance, encouraging PFAS-free cleaning products and improved wastewater handling. In some settings, businesses could collect and properly dispose of spent descaling solutions instead of rinsing them directly into plumbing. Consumers rarely think about the ice in their drinks, but the systems that produce it are connected to the same water infrastructure everyone relies on. Reducing PFAS from ice machine maintenance is a practical step that does not disrupt food safety or daily operations.

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