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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOS and other 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

16

states detected

356

utilities detected

12 million

people served

15

states over health guideline

228

utilities over health guideline

4.4 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for perfluorobutane 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 perfluorobutane 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 perfluorobutane sulfonate in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California482,439,452946,692,114
North Carolina711,110,8001072,413,349
Kentucky1246,70919541,642
Massachusetts11100,10823468,285
New York318,57513324,225
Wisconsin005238,297
Georgia7203,3927203,392
Rhode Island620,29610185,489
New Hampshire54129,58962160,939
Pennsylvania4111,8084111,808
Alabama666,153666,153
Michigan142,271142,271
Minnesota136,900136,900
Washington132,603132,603
Colorado119,000119,000
Maine26,29026,290
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce perfluorobutane sulfonate

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

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

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Littlestown BoroughLittlestown, PA1 of 12,200,000.0 ppt7,300
Williamsport Mun Water AuthorityWilliamsport, PA1 of 5400,000.0 ppt51,000
Paw Penn DistrictBirdsboro, PA1 of 17129,411.8 ppt28,508
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 4240.0 ppt45,586
Calhoun*Calhoun, GA4 of 8135.0 ppt49,088
Talking Rock Creek PropertiesChatsworth, GA4 of 8135.0 ppt270
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN19 of 8525.8 ppt36,900
Rainbow City Utilities Board*Rainbow City, AL1 of 425.0 ppt11,889
Higuera ApartmentsSan Luis Obispo, CA3 of 323.0 ppt30
College View Mobile Home ParkWilmington, NC4 of 420.5 ppt90
Hi and Lo EstatesMerrimack, NH1 of 116.9 ppt140
Houlton Mobile Home ParkHoulton, ME1 of 116.2 ppt140
Scituate CommonsNorth Scituate, RI1 of 114.5 ppt38
Serrano Water District*Villa Park, CA8 of 814.0 ppt6,641
Chapel Ridge S/dCary, NC1 of 113.1 ppt798
Pittsboro, Town of*Pittsboro, NC1 of 113.1 ppt4,401
Buena Vista Migrant CenterCapitola, CA3 of 313.0 ppt455
Yorba Linda Water DistrictYorba Linda, CA48 of 5412.9 ppt77,513
East Orange County Water District - RzOrange, CA8 of 812.7 ppt3,000
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO4 of 3811.6 ppt19,000
Cedar Bluff Utilities BoardCedar Bluff, AL2 of 2610.8 ppt3,753
Northeast Alabama Water System*Fort Payne, AL2 of 2610.8 ppt42,609
San Juan Basin Authority*San Juan Capistrano, CA10 of 1110.6 ppt0
Cal-water Service Company-orovilleChico, CA14 of 1710.6 ppt9,427
Dalton Utilities*Dalton, GA1 of 1210.00 ppt99,315
City Of South Shore Water WorksSouth Shore, KY1 of 18.55 ppt6,798
Century Village CondosMerrimack, NH1 of 18.34 ppt875
Windham TerraceMerrimack, NH3 of 38.17 ppt110
Taylor River EstatesMerrimack, NH1 of 17.71 ppt90
Santa Clarita Water Division*Santa Clarita, CA30 of 567.28 ppt120,900
Orchard Dale Water DistrictWhittier, CA13 of 157.18 ppt22,492
La Habra Heights County Water District*La Habra Heights, CA13 of 157.18 ppt5,379
Bladen Bluffs Water SystemTarheel, NC1 of 17.10 ppt4,589
Dunnigan Water WorksPaso Robles, CA2 of 36.73 ppt400
Pitarys Mobile Home Park/eastNashua, NH1 of 16.61 ppt90
Pine Grove Trailer ParkEugene, CA1 of 16.60 ppt100
Freedom PondNew Ipswich, NH1 of 16.28 ppt112
Valencia Water Company*Valencia, CA37 of 856.22 ppt117,251
Commerce-city, Water DepartmentSan Jose, CA2 of 26.00 ppt3,828
Villages On The LampreyEpping, NH1 of 15.90 ppt113
Home Gardens County Water DistrictCorona, CA44 of 1085.86 ppt3,033
City of Corona*Corona, CA44 of 1085.86 ppt155,896
Chino Basin Desalter Authority - Desalter 2*Ontario, CA8 of 125.65 ppt0
Runnells LandingMerrimack, NH1 of 15.64 ppt74
City of LathropLathrop, CA11 of 245.38 ppt12,427
Cross Ridge EstatesMerrimack, NH1 of 15.35 ppt73
Hudson Mobile Home EstatesMerrimack, NH1 of 15.18 ppt220
Peu/castle ReachMerrimack, NH1 of 14.94 ppt100
Rubidoux Community SDRubidoux, CA11 of 174.89 ppt26,150
Newhall Cwd-pinetreeSanta Clarita, CA6 of 74.80 ppt9,148

* 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 Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Williamsport Mun Water AuthorityWilliamsport, PA1 of 5400,000.0 ppt51,000
Paw Penn DistrictBirdsboro, PA1 of 17129,411.8 ppt28,508
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 4240.0 ppt45,586
Calhoun*Calhoun, GA4 of 8135.0 ppt49,088
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN19 of 8525.8 ppt36,900
Rainbow City Utilities Board*Rainbow City, AL1 of 425.0 ppt11,889
Yorba Linda Water DistrictYorba Linda, CA48 of 5412.9 ppt77,513
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO4 of 3811.6 ppt19,000
Northeast Alabama Water System*Fort Payne, AL2 of 2610.8 ppt42,609
Dalton Utilities*Dalton, GA1 of 1210.00 ppt99,315
Santa Clarita Water Division*Santa Clarita, CA30 of 567.28 ppt120,900
Orchard Dale Water DistrictWhittier, CA13 of 157.18 ppt22,492
Valencia Water Company*Valencia, CA37 of 856.22 ppt117,251
City of Corona*Corona, CA44 of 1085.86 ppt155,896
City of LathropLathrop, CA11 of 245.38 ppt12,427
Rubidoux Community SDRubidoux, CA11 of 174.89 ppt26,150
Montebello Land & Water CompanyMontebello, CA18 of 344.67 ppt32,219
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA36 of 464.52 ppt27,000
Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictDublin, CA36 of 464.52 ppt75,924
Atascadero Mutual Water CompanyAtascadero, CA13 of 244.35 ppt30,332
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI3 of 54.33 ppt19,354
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA22 of 544.24 ppt39,000
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 14.20 ppt12,700
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 14.20 ppt367,681
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA1 of 94.16 ppt32,603
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA12 of 224.02 ppt73,067
City of Garden GroveGarden Grove, CA28 of 574.01 ppt170,883
City of AnaheimAnaheim, CA49 of 1183.53 ppt450,000
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District*Lake Elsinore, CA21 of 543.29 ppt142,264
Pico WDPico Rivera, CA7 of 163.29 ppt24,100
Horsham Water&sewer AuthorityHorsham, PA1 of 343.24 ppt25,000
Downey Water DepartmentDowney, CA9 of 203.17 ppt111,930
Suburban Water Systems - WhittierCovina, CA12 of 163.14 ppt59,169
City of OrangeOrange, CA18 of 592.60 ppt138,640
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA84 of 2682.49 ppt39,400
Randolph Water Department*Randolph, MA2 of 22.44 ppt33,375
Holbrook Public Works DepartmentHolbrook, MA2 of 22.44 ppt10,791
Newhall CWD-NewhallSanta Clarita, CA2 of 102.02 ppt12,487
City of MonroeMonroe, NC1 of 52.00 ppt31,438
Camp Pendleton (North)Camp Pendleton, CA23 of 981.64 ppt15,600
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC1 of 51.46 ppt101,389
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 51.46 ppt38,500
City of Riverside*Riverside, CA3 of 51.40 ppt303,871
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC2 of 101.37 ppt217,948
Hudson Water SupplyHudson, MA16 of 421.27 ppt18,406
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - NorwalkDowney, CA7 of 221.21 ppt72,884
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA9 of 421.18 ppt35,000
City of High Point*High Point, NC2 of 61.17 ppt114,183
City of Goldsboro*Goldsboro, NC1 of 51.16 ppt34,959
Town of Tarboro*Tarboro, NC1 of 21.10 ppt11,310

* 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 Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.