PFAS in drinking water

What did the EPA announce?

The EPA just posted the results of water tests for 29 per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, in over 2,000 public water systems that provide tap water to communities. The data show over 430 water systems serving approximately 26 million people have these toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water.

Is my water safe to drink?

Every city and town is different. EWG will soon post the EPA’s new data to our interactive PFAS map. After the data are added to the map, you may see the test results submitted by your community to the agency, as well as health-related PFAS information. This information includes science-based lifetime health advisory levels that have been published by the EPA for some PFAS.

So far, only about one-fourth of all water systems have reported PFAS test results to the EPA as part of its most recent round of required PFAS testing.

Do some cities have more than one PFAS?

Yes, many water systems have reported the presence of multiple PFAS in their drinking water. Four water systems reported 10 different types of PFAS chemicals in their water, including Fresno, Calif., serving 545,466 people; Robeson County Water System, NC.., serving 65,303 people; Suffolk County Water System, N.Y., serving 1,100,000 people; and Yeshiva Farm Settlement, N.Y., serving 300 people. EWG will display all the water systems that reported results as part of the EPA's most recent round of monitoring on our interactive PFAS map.

Why should I be concerned about PFAS in water?

PFAS are known as “forever chemicals,” because they never break down in the environment. The threat to human health they pose is real and potentially catastrophic. Very low doses of PFAS in drinking water have been linked to suppression of the immune system, including reduced vaccine efficacy and an increased risk of certain cancers. PFAS are linked with increased cholesterol, reproductive and developmental problems and other health harms. Their presence in your water means you could be exposed to these risks. 

What can I do if the PFAS in my water are above the EPA health advisory level?

To protect yourself and your family from PFAS, you can consult EWG’s filter guide to identify filters that work best for you. EWG found that several water filters available to consumers are effective in removing PFAS. But a permanent solution is needed. EWG encourages you to contact your water supplier to encourage water treatment for PFAS before they reach your tap.

Who conducted the water tests?

In most cases, community water systems conducted or arranged for water tests following EPA protocols. After the water samples have been analyzed by accredited laboratories, the results are submitted to the EPA and made public through the agency’s National Contaminant Occurrence Database. 

How many water systems submitted data?

EPA released the first round of quarterly results of testing for approximately 2000 water systems, or about one-fourth of all systems that are required to test for PFAS over the period from 2023 to 2025. Additional community water systems will begin testing until tests are complete in 2025. Water systems will be required to perform quarterly tests all year. The data released by the EPA represents the first of four quarterly sampling events required for the systems testing their water in 2023. 

How does the EPA’s data compare with other studies?

Other studies show PFAS are widespread in drinking water supplies.

The U.S. Geological Survey released on July 5, 2023, the results of tap water sampling from 716 locations, which found detections of at least one PFAS chemical in 45 percent of drinking water samples nationwide. 

On July 18, 2023, EWG released a report showing PFAS detections in 18 states based on tap water samples collected by residents in major cities like Austin, Texas, Denver and Los Angeles but also in smaller communities like Glencoe, Ill. and Monroe, N.J. 

EWG had warned in a peer-reviewed study that more than 200 million Americans likely receive water with concentrations of PFOA and PFOS, above 1 part per trillion.

What is the government doing to protect drinking water safety?

There are no drinking water safety standards for PFAS under federal law. 

Sampling water for possible contamination is only the first step toward establishing such standards under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, or SDWA. Every five years, the EPA is required under the SDWA to collect data on potentially harmful contaminants that may be present in drinking water.

The EPA published a rule in December 2021 requiring community water systems to conduct tests for 26 PFAS. The tests started in early 2023 and end in 2025. When the tests are complete, water served to over 90 percent of the people served by public water systems in the U.S. will have been tested for PFAS. The results will help the EPA decide how to use its regulatory and enforcement authority to reduce PFAS-related health risks.