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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorohexane sulfonate is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. Perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.

2013-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

27

states detected

443

utilities detected

17 million

people served

27

states over health guideline

294

utilities over health guideline

9.6 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for perfluorohexane sulfonate

Cancer

Harm to the immune system

Hormone disruption

Harm to fetal growth and child development

Harm to the liver

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for perfluorohexane sulfonate was defined by EWG based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water. This health guideline applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting perfluorohexane sulfonate in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California754,668,0771178,291,791
North Carolina591,433,6381242,889,834
New York15226,025231,598,480
New Jersey4771,4804771,480
Massachusetts16258,45124529,966
Florida10367,20410367,204
Delaware2307,0002307,000
Wisconsin7298,7247298,724
Arizona4226,0334226,033
New Hampshire4398,23263221,505
Pennsylvania5196,6835196,683
Minnesota5180,5305180,530
Texas17178,16815176,965
Kentucky521,1077133,147
Alaska7115,0497115,049
Michigan1526571,036
Colorado370,414370,414
Rhode Island2215457,569
Washington132,603132,603
West Virginia329,577329,577
Illinois225,945225,945
Maine320,315320,315
Oklahoma120,307120,307
Indiana116,800116,800
Ohio116,551116,551
Kansas115,170115,170
South Dakota113,646113,646
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce perfluorohexane sulfonate

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of perfluorohexane sulfonate, 2013-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Oatman Water CompanyScottsdale, AZ2 of 2710.0 ppt280
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO36 of 38229.7 ppt19,000
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO11 of 17103.6 ppt22,414
Wright-Patterson AFB Area A PWSWright Patterson Afb, OH5 of 876.6 ppt16,551
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL2 of 271.5 ppt19,000
Atlantic City Municipal Utilities AuthorityAtlantic City, NJ7 of 767.7 ppt152,415
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 964.4 ppt32,603
Newburgh CityNewburgh, NY4 of 462.8 ppt28,000
Houlton Mobile Home ParkHoulton, ME1 of 162.0 ppt140
City of FountainFountain, CO10 of 1259.2 ppt29,000
Ocala Palms (consec.)Ocala, FL2 of 249.0 ppt2,015
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 249.0 ppt57,665
Cal-water Service Company-orovilleChico, CA15 of 1740.8 ppt9,427
Rhinelander Water & WastewaterRhinelander, WI2 of 636.2 ppt7,427
Horsham Water&sewer AuthorityHorsham, PA7 of 3436.0 ppt25,000
Artesian Water Company*Newark, DE4 of 3635.0 ppt301,000
BemidjiBemidji, MN6 of 1931.4 ppt15,462
Warminster Municipal Authority*Warminster, PA9 of 3830.1 ppt40,000
Oakland Association Inc.Oakland, RI3 of 329.5 ppt175
BethanyBethany, OK2 of 427.8 ppt20,307
Dunnigan Water WorksPaso Robles, CA2 of 327.3 ppt400
Ayer Road Properties LLCHarvard, MA4 of 426.5 ppt150
City of Martinsburg*Martinsburg, WV3 of 825.7 ppt15,652
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA22 of 4325.7 ppt35,000
Fort Drum*Fort Drum, NY2 of 625.0 ppt34,400
Champion Water District 1 (great Bend)Carthage, NY2 of 625.0 ppt400
Lochmere Village DistrictLochmere, NH1 of 124.2 ppt345
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA14 of 2224.0 ppt73,067
United Water PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA1 of 923.2 ppt110,000
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA36 of 4622.6 ppt27,000
Zone 7 Water Agency*Livermore, CA36 of 4622.6 ppt40
Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictDublin, CA36 of 4622.6 ppt75,924
Liberty Water Lpsco*Avondale, AZ4 of 1222.5 ppt50,045
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA205 of 26821.6 ppt39,400
Sierra Army DepotHerlong, CA6 of 821.5 ppt1,500
Central Boaz PsdClifton, WV2 of 620.7 ppt1,418
City of Vienna*Vienna, WV2 of 620.7 ppt12,507
Camp Pendleton (North)Camp Pendleton, CA89 of 9820.4 ppt15,600
Warrington Twp Water&sew DeptWarrington, PA3 of 1719.8 ppt21,588
East Orange County Water District - RzOrange, CA8 of 817.3 ppt3,000
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN22 of 8516.7 ppt36,900
Dyer Water DepartmentDyer, IN1 of 416.4 ppt16,800
Stratham Green CondosStratham, NH3 of 316.2 ppt150
Pcud-florida Estates (east Pasco)New Port Richey, FL2 of 1713.5 ppt575
City of Zephyrhills*Zephyrhills, FL2 of 1713.5 ppt23,097
Devens Massdevelopment*Devens, MA27 of 4613.2 ppt6,500
Serrano Water District*Villa Park, CA8 of 812.9 ppt6,641
Chandler TerracePlaistow, NH2 of 512.7 ppt30
Westfield Water Department*Westfield, MA7 of 3112.5 ppt42,000
Liberty Manor Inc.Westfield, MA7 of 3112.5 ppt500

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO36 of 38229.7 ppt19,000
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO11 of 17103.6 ppt22,414
Wright-Patterson AFB Area A PWSWright Patterson Afb, OH5 of 876.6 ppt16,551
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL2 of 271.5 ppt19,000
Atlantic City Municipal Utilities AuthorityAtlantic City, NJ7 of 767.7 ppt152,415
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 964.4 ppt32,603
Newburgh CityNewburgh, NY4 of 462.8 ppt28,000
City of FountainFountain, CO10 of 1259.2 ppt29,000
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 249.0 ppt57,665
Horsham Water&sewer AuthorityHorsham, PA7 of 3436.0 ppt25,000
Artesian Water Company*Newark, DE4 of 3635.0 ppt301,000
BemidjiBemidji, MN6 of 1931.4 ppt15,462
Warminster Municipal Authority*Warminster, PA9 of 3830.1 ppt40,000
BethanyBethany, OK2 of 427.8 ppt20,307
City of Martinsburg*Martinsburg, WV3 of 825.7 ppt15,652
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA22 of 4325.7 ppt35,000
Fort Drum*Fort Drum, NY2 of 625.0 ppt34,400
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA14 of 2224.0 ppt73,067
United Water PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA1 of 923.2 ppt110,000
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA36 of 4622.6 ppt27,000
Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictDublin, CA36 of 4622.6 ppt75,924
Liberty Water Lpsco*Avondale, AZ4 of 1222.5 ppt50,045
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA205 of 26821.6 ppt39,400
City of Vienna*Vienna, WV2 of 620.7 ppt12,507
Camp Pendleton (North)Camp Pendleton, CA89 of 9820.4 ppt15,600
Warrington Twp Water&sew DeptWarrington, PA3 of 1719.8 ppt21,588
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN22 of 8516.7 ppt36,900
Dyer Water DepartmentDyer, IN1 of 416.4 ppt16,800
City of Zephyrhills*Zephyrhills, FL2 of 1713.5 ppt23,097
Westfield Water Department*Westfield, MA7 of 3112.5 ppt42,000
Yorba Linda Water DistrictYorba Linda, CA48 of 5411.7 ppt77,513
Sanford Water DistrictSanford, ME2 of 1611.3 ppt14,025
FridleyFridley, MN1 of 711.1 ppt27,853
City of Garden GroveGarden Grove, CA32 of 5711.0 ppt170,883
Mashpee Water District*Mashpee, MA7 of 2010.9 ppt34,681
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority*Pensacola, FL6 of 5210.7 ppt255,884
City of TempeTempe, AZ4 of 2410.4 ppt165,000
California American Water Company - SuburbanSacramento, CA40 of 1129.40 ppt111,768
City of AnaheimAnaheim, CA76 of 1189.10 ppt450,000
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN20 of 1198.41 ppt28,315
City of Abilene*Abilene, TX2 of 128.21 ppt123,886
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 17.10 ppt12,700
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 17.10 ppt367,681
Newhall CWD-NewhallSanta Clarita, CA4 of 106.77 ppt12,487
City of AdelantoAdelanto, CA1 of 76.71 ppt31,765
City of Corona*Corona, CA42 of 1086.71 ppt155,896
Atascadero Mutual Water CompanyAtascadero, CA14 of 246.29 ppt30,332
Rubidoux Community SDRubidoux, CA11 of 176.10 ppt26,150
City of OrangeOrange, CA22 of 596.06 ppt138,640
City of Greensboro*Greensboro, NC3 of 105.56 ppt290,201

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.