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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorohexanoic acid 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

11

states detected

425

utilities detected

15 million

people served

0

states over health guideline

0

utilities over health guideline

0

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for perfluorohexanoic acid

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 perfluorohexanoic acid 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 protects against applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting perfluorohexanoic acid in drinking water

UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served
California1289,223,710
North Carolina1553,538,589
Massachusetts26496,937
Rhode Island21454,721
New Hampshire69389,271
Wisconsin5238,297
Alaska7115,049
Michigan6113,307
Minnesota265,215
Maine56,575
Virginia1325
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce perfluorohexanoic acid

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of perfluorohexanoic acid, 2013-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Pittsboro, Town of*Pittsboro, NC1 of 1285.4 ppt4,401
Chapel Ridge S/dCary, NC1 of 1285.4 ppt798
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC1 of 160.4 ppt101,389
Lillington Water SystemLillington, NC1 of 160.4 ppt3,883
Coats, Town ofCoats, NC1 of 160.4 ppt2,692
Angier, Town ofAngier, NC1 of 160.4 ppt7,612
Bragg Communities/ntaFort Bragg, NC1 of 160.4 ppt3,733
Moore County Public Utilities-hidden Lakes S/dCarthage, NC1 of 160.4 ppt165
Woodland Run Mobile Home S/dHampstead, NC1 of 160.4 ppt108
Linden, Town ofLinden, NC1 of 160.4 ppt1,973
Woodlake Water & Sewer Inc.Hampstead, NC1 of 160.4 ppt1,945
Lillington Water System-riverbluffLillington, NC1 of 160.4 ppt93
Lillington Water System - VandercroftLillington, NC1 of 160.4 ppt718
East Moore Water District*Carthage, NC1 of 160.4 ppt6,436
Graystone S/dFuquay-varina, NC1 of 160.4 ppt50
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 160.4 ppt38,500
Friendly Acres Mobile Home ParkEl Dorado Hills, CA2 of 256.0 ppt75
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN60 of 10748.3 ppt28,315
Colonial Poplin Nursing HomeFremont, NH1 of 131.0 ppt78
Bladen Bluffs Water SystemTarheel, NC1 of 127.0 ppt4,589
Ayer DPW Water DivisionAyer, MA13 of 1318.1 ppt7,427
Town of Smithfield*Smithfield, NC1 of 118.0 ppt12,400
Chatham S/dCary, NC1 of 117.5 ppt363
Cole Park PlazaCary, NC1 of 117.5 ppt224
Beechwood Cove/polks LandingCary, NC1 of 117.5 ppt406
Chatham Co-North*Pittsboro, NC1 of 117.5 ppt18,752
East Orange County Water District - RzOrange, CA8 of 816.8 ppt3,000
Serrano Water District*Villa Park, CA8 of 816.7 ppt6,641
San Juan Basin Authority*San Juan Capistrano, CA9 of 1115.3 ppt0
Valencia Water Company*Valencia, CA36 of 4514.8 ppt117,251
Oakland Association Inc.Oakland, RI3 of 314.6 ppt175
Houlton Mobile Home ParkHoulton, ME1 of 114.2 ppt140
Eastgate S/d Fayetteville Public Works CommissionCharlotte, NC2 of 214.0 ppt205
Stedman, Town of*Stedman, NC2 of 214.0 ppt1,506
Hoke County Regional--rockfishRaeford, NC2 of 214.0 ppt5,778
Tanglewood South Mobile Home Park/fayetteville Public Works CommissionCharlotte, NC2 of 214.0 ppt259
Rain Tree II Fayetteville Public Works CommissionHampstead, NC2 of 214.0 ppt292
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC2 of 214.0 ppt217,948
Kelly Hill S/dHampstead, NC2 of 214.0 ppt109
Brookwood South/fayetteville Public Works CommissionHampstead, NC2 of 214.0 ppt2,357
Brettonwood Hills S/dHampstead, NC2 of 214.0 ppt187
Century Village CondosMerrimack, NH1 of 113.9 ppt875
Home Gardens County Water DistrictCorona, CA55 of 7813.5 ppt3,033
City of Corona*Corona, CA55 of 7813.5 ppt155,896
Santa Clarita Water Division*Santa Clarita, CA28 of 3013.5 ppt120,900
Selma, Town ofSelma, NC1 of 113.2 ppt6,120
Southgate S/dCary, NC1 of 112.7 ppt160
Sun Ridge Farm S/dCary, NC1 of 112.7 ppt272
Winston Pointe S/dCharlotte, NC1 of 112.7 ppt737
South Plantation S/dCary, NC1 of 112.7 ppt357

* 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 Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC1 of 160.4 ppt101,389
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 160.4 ppt38,500
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN60 of 10748.3 ppt28,315
Town of Smithfield*Smithfield, NC1 of 118.0 ppt12,400
Chatham Co-North*Pittsboro, NC1 of 117.5 ppt18,752
Valencia Water Company*Valencia, CA36 of 4514.8 ppt117,251
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC2 of 214.0 ppt217,948
City of Corona*Corona, CA55 of 7813.5 ppt155,896
Santa Clarita Water Division*Santa Clarita, CA28 of 3013.5 ppt120,900
Johnston County - West*Smithfield, NC1 of 112.7 ppt58,354
ClaytonClayton, NC1 of 112.7 ppt19,822
Rubidoux Community SDRubidoux, CA11 of 1111.3 ppt26,150
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC1 of 110.8 ppt24,236
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC1 of 110.3 ppt28,488
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC1 of 110.3 ppt100,694
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC1 of 110.3 ppt23,635
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA23 of 349.44 ppt39,000
City of Sanford*Sanford, NC1 of 19.00 ppt45,649
Downey Water DepartmentDowney, CA9 of 118.49 ppt111,930
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority*La Grange, NC1 of 18.40 ppt93,238
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA12 of 128.38 ppt73,067
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 18.30 ppt367,681
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 18.30 ppt12,700
California American Water Company - SuburbanSacramento, CA15 of 418.22 ppt111,768
City of OrangeOrange, CA18 of 228.07 ppt138,640
Hingham/Hull - Aquarion Water CompanyHingham, MA1 of 18.00 ppt41,082
Cary*Apex, NC1 of 17.70 ppt192,250
Town of Apex*Apex, NC1 of 17.70 ppt60,000
City of Garden GroveGarden Grove, CA30 of 326.97 ppt170,883
City of Lincolnton*Lincolnton, NC1 of 16.30 ppt12,352
City of Goldsboro*Goldsboro, NC1 of 15.80 ppt34,959
Dover Water DepartmentDover, NH1 of 15.30 ppt28,000
Merrimack Village District*Merrimack, NH168 of 2095.15 ppt25,000
City of High Point*High Point, NC1 of 25.00 ppt114,183
City of Santa AnaSanta Ana, CA4 of 45.00 ppt329,815
City of Winston-Salem*Pfafftown, NC2 of 34.97 ppt371,063
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District*Lake Elsinore, CA20 of 374.92 ppt142,264
Irvine Ranch Water District*Irvine, CA4 of 64.72 ppt370,000
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - New Hanover County*Wilmington, NC1 of 14.70 ppt29,052
Orchard Dale Water DistrictWhittier, CA11 of 154.65 ppt22,492
Kent County Water Authority*West Warwick, RI3 of 54.55 ppt88,780
City of FullertonFullerton, CA16 of 204.34 ppt138,251
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Div.*Bellingham, MA1 of 14.23 ppt15,390
Cambridge Water Department (MWRA)Cambridge, MA1 of 14.10 ppt105,162
Braintree Water and Sewer DepartmentBraintree, MA1 of 14.06 ppt37,544
Easton Water Div*Easton, MA5 of 103.94 ppt23,112
Holbrook Public Works DepartmentHolbrook, MA2 of 23.94 ppt10,791
Randolph Water Department*Randolph, MA2 of 23.94 ppt33,375
Davidson Water Inc.*Welcome, NC1 of 13.90 ppt147,455
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA35 of 463.88 ppt27,000

* 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 Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.