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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluoroheptanoic 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

28

states detected

478

utilities detected

17 million

people served

25

states over health guideline

319

utilities over health guideline

8.6 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for perfluoroheptanoic 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 perfluoroheptanoic 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 applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting perfluoroheptanoic acid in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California311,225,618714,605,414
North Carolina1161,786,9011793,792,956
Florida142,706,515162,730,187
New York16289,630251,738,480
New Jersey5249,7298868,794
Massachusetts12191,10622454,386
Delaware3407,4953407,495
Alabama26352,05628371,811
Georgia9361,4418360,872
Pennsylvania11226,35113259,252
Kentucky843,59919253,745
New Hampshire2879,59435242,386
Wisconsin005238,297
Arizona361,0334226,033
Texas17178,16815176,965
Rhode Island43,4648168,657
Virginia1153,0001153,000
Colorado370,414370,414
Washington132,603253,491
Minnesota351,193351,193
Michigan00142,271
New Mexico138,936138,936
South Carolina233,325233,325
Tennessee00124,403
Ohio116,551116,551
West Virginia213,925213,925
Maine16,15016,150
Maryland13,50013,500
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce perfluoroheptanoic acid

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

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

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Carle Place Water DistrictCarle Place, NY2 of 7328.9 ppt9,005
Chapel Ridge S/dCary, NC1 of 1233.7 ppt798
Pittsboro, Town of*Pittsboro, NC1 of 1233.7 ppt4,401
Port Washington WDPort Washington, NY2 of 2592.9 ppt34,000
Linden, Town ofLinden, NC4 of 529.6 ppt1,973
Angier, Town ofAngier, NC4 of 529.6 ppt7,612
Coats, Town ofCoats, NC4 of 529.6 ppt2,692
Lillington Water System-riverbluffLillington, NC4 of 529.6 ppt93
Lillington Water SystemLillington, NC4 of 529.6 ppt3,883
Woodlake Water & Sewer Inc.Hampstead, NC4 of 529.6 ppt1,945
Woodland Run Mobile Home S/dHampstead, NC4 of 529.6 ppt108
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC4 of 529.6 ppt101,389
Moore County Public Utilities-hidden Lakes S/dCarthage, NC4 of 529.6 ppt165
Graystone S/dFuquay-varina, NC4 of 529.6 ppt50
Lillington Water System - VandercroftLillington, NC4 of 529.6 ppt718
Bragg Communities/ntaFort Bragg, NC4 of 529.6 ppt3,733
East Moore Water District*Carthage, NC4 of 529.6 ppt6,436
Suez Water Delaware*Wilmington, DE4 of 428.8 ppt100,495
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 427.5 ppt45,586
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO34 of 3826.8 ppt19,000
City of Dunn*Dunn, NC2 of 520.0 ppt12,334
Eastover Sanitary DistrictEastover, NC2 of 520.0 ppt6,705
Sampson Co. Water District Ii - PlainviewClinton, NC2 of 520.0 ppt2,994
Falcon Water System*Falcon, NC2 of 520.0 ppt714
Newburgh CityNewburgh, NY4 of 418.5 ppt28,000
Northeast Etowah County Water Co-opGadsden, AL4 of 417.5 ppt4,164
Highland Water AuthorityGadsden, AL4 of 417.5 ppt3,852
Whorton Bend Water AuthorityGadsden, AL4 of 417.5 ppt2,301
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board*Gadsden, AL4 of 417.5 ppt44,637
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC3 of 416.6 ppt28,488
Ayer DPW Water DivisionAyer, MA97 of 11315.5 ppt7,427
Town of Fuquay-Varina*Fuquay-varina, NC3 of 815.0 ppt30,424
Pear Meadows S/dCary, NC3 of 815.0 ppt178
Oatman Water CompanyScottsdale, AZ2 of 214.5 ppt280
Bladen Bluffs Water SystemTarheel, NC1 of 114.1 ppt4,589
Oakland Association Inc.Oakland, RI3 of 312.9 ppt175
City of Miami BeachMiami Beach, FL1 of 212.0 ppt92,307
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN5 of 1211.6 ppt28,315
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC4 of 711.6 ppt100,694
Southport, City ofCity Of Southport, NC4 of 711.6 ppt6,447
Shallotte, Town ofShallotte, NC4 of 711.6 ppt5,862
Ocean Isle Beach, Town of*Ocean Isle Beach, NC4 of 711.6 ppt7,216
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC4 of 711.6 ppt23,635
Town of Navassa - PhoenixNavassa, NC4 of 711.6 ppt71
Navassa, Town ofNavassa, NC4 of 711.6 ppt747
Holden Beach, Town ofHolden Beach, NC4 of 711.6 ppt6,212
Navassa, Town of-cedar Hill AnnexNavassa, NC4 of 711.6 ppt25
Leland, Town ofLeland, NC4 of 711.6 ppt5,662
Chandler TerracePlaistow, NH2 of 511.2 ppt30
Aquarion Water Company, MillburyMillbury, MA3 of 811.0 ppt8,803

* 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 Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Port Washington WDPort Washington, NY2 of 2592.9 ppt34,000
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC4 of 529.6 ppt101,389
Suez Water Delaware*Wilmington, DE4 of 428.8 ppt100,495
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 427.5 ppt45,586
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO34 of 3826.8 ppt19,000
City of Dunn*Dunn, NC2 of 520.0 ppt12,334
Newburgh CityNewburgh, NY4 of 418.5 ppt28,000
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board*Gadsden, AL4 of 417.5 ppt44,637
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC3 of 416.6 ppt28,488
Town of Fuquay-Varina*Fuquay-varina, NC3 of 815.0 ppt30,424
City of Miami BeachMiami Beach, FL1 of 212.0 ppt92,307
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN5 of 1211.6 ppt28,315
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC4 of 711.6 ppt100,694
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC4 of 711.6 ppt23,635
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO9 of 1710.1 ppt22,414
Rainbow City Utilities Board*Rainbow City, AL3 of 410.00 ppt11,889
Fort Drum*Fort Drum, NY2 of 610.00 ppt34,400
Artesian Water Company*Newark, DE11 of 368.06 ppt301,000
West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority*Decatur, AL1 of 47.50 ppt30,000
City of Sanford*Sanford, NC2 of 57.32 ppt45,649
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 96.87 ppt32,603
Albertville Utilities Board*Albertville, AL4 of 86.25 ppt33,060
Old North Utilities Services/Ft. BraggFort Bragg, NC2 of 46.00 ppt65,000
City of FountainFountain, CO5 of 125.83 ppt29,000
Warminster Municipal Authority*Warminster, PA7 of 385.82 ppt40,000
South Orange Water DepartmentSouth Orange, NJ3 of 75.71 ppt16,964
Hudson Water SupplyHudson, MA107 of 1755.54 ppt18,406
Hialeah GardensHialeah Gardens, FL2 of 65.50 ppt24,156
Miami Dade Water and Sewer Authority*Miami, FL2 of 65.50 ppt2,300,000
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA37 of 715.49 ppt35,000
City of Corona*Corona, CA40 of 1085.22 ppt155,896
Liberty Water Lpsco*Avondale, AZ2 of 125.00 ppt50,045
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 45.00 ppt38,500
Southside Water Works*Southside, AL3 of 85.00 ppt11,535
City of Vienna*Vienna, WV2 of 64.92 ppt12,507
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - WilmingtonWilmington, NC7 of 154.90 ppt153,202
Santa Clarita Water Division*Santa Clarita, CA29 of 564.03 ppt120,900
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC4 of 103.88 ppt217,948
Danvers Water Department*Middleton, MA4 of 103.85 ppt26,493
Williston Park*Williston Park, NY1 of 23.50 ppt10,072
Northeast Alabama Water System*Fort Payne, AL6 of 263.46 ppt42,609
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority*Pensacola, FL6 of 523.23 ppt255,884
East End Service Area - Prince William County Service AuthorityWoodbridge, VA1 of 43.11 ppt153,000
Valencia Water Company*Valencia, CA35 of 853.06 ppt117,251
Dover Water DepartmentDover, NH1 of 53.00 ppt28,000
Woodruff Roebuck WD*Woodruff, SC1 of 43.00 ppt25,923
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 13.00 ppt367,681
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 13.00 ppt12,700
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA12 of 222.88 ppt73,067
Rubidoux Community SDRubidoux, CA11 of 172.87 ppt26,150

* 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 Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.