In one aspect, separation media are described herein operable for removing one or more water contaminants, including NOM, fluorinated chemicals, and/or derivatives thereof. Briefly, a separation medium comprises a silica-containing granular support; and an oligomeric stationary phase forming a film on individual grains of the granular support. In some embodiments, the oligomeric stationary phase comprises oligomeric chains covalently bound to the individual grains.