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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) 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

5

states detected

263

utilities detected

5.6 million

people served

0

states over health guideline

0

utilities over health guideline

0

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for perfluorobutanoic 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 perfluorobutanoic 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 perfluorobutanoic acid in drinking water

UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served
North Carolina2124,720,248
New Hampshire29310,640
Wisconsin5238,297
Rhode Island8207,306
Minnesota9172,903
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce perfluorobutanoic acid

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

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

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Saint Paul ParkSt. Paul Park, MN6 of 61,110.0 ppt5,392
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN94 of 1071,007.5 ppt28,315
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN62 of 78639.9 ppt36,900
NewportNewport, MN2 of 2370.0 ppt3,678
WoodburyWoodbury, MN25 of 25250.0 ppt72,000
Eagle's Watch DevelopmentHastings, MN1 of 1230.0 ppt140
South Saint PaulSouth St. Paul, MN1 of 1220.0 ppt20,400
Cimarron ParkLake Elmo, MN2 of 2102.5 ppt1,200
Chapel Ridge S/dCary, NC1 of 170.5 ppt798
Pittsboro, Town of*Pittsboro, NC1 of 170.5 ppt4,401
Aurora Water SystemAurora, NC1 of 130.6 ppt502
Lake ElmoLake Elmo, MN1 of 325.3 ppt4,878
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC1 of 120.4 ppt101,389
Lillington Water System - VandercroftLillington, NC1 of 120.4 ppt718
Moore County Public Utilities-hidden Lakes S/dCarthage, NC1 of 120.4 ppt165
Coats, Town ofCoats, NC1 of 120.4 ppt2,692
Woodlake Water & Sewer Inc.Hampstead, NC1 of 120.4 ppt1,945
Linden, Town ofLinden, NC1 of 120.4 ppt1,973
East Moore Water District*Carthage, NC1 of 120.4 ppt6,436
Woodland Run Mobile Home S/dHampstead, NC1 of 120.4 ppt108
Bragg Communities/ntaFort Bragg, NC1 of 120.4 ppt3,733
Graystone S/dFuquay-varina, NC1 of 120.4 ppt50
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 120.4 ppt38,500
Angier, Town ofAngier, NC1 of 120.4 ppt7,612
Lillington Water System-riverbluffLillington, NC1 of 120.4 ppt93
Lillington Water SystemLillington, NC1 of 120.4 ppt3,883
Town of Smithfield*Smithfield, NC1 of 119.0 ppt12,400
ClaytonClayton, NC1 of 117.9 ppt19,822
White Oak PlantationCharlotte, NC1 of 117.9 ppt526
Winston PlantationCharlotte, NC1 of 117.9 ppt229
Winston Pointe S/dCharlotte, NC1 of 117.9 ppt737
South Plantation S/dCary, NC1 of 117.9 ppt357
Sun Ridge Farm S/dCary, NC1 of 117.9 ppt272
Southgate S/dCary, NC1 of 117.9 ppt160
Creekside Place S/dCary, NC1 of 117.9 ppt361
Johnston County - West*Smithfield, NC1 of 117.9 ppt58,354
Willowbrook DevelopmentCharlotte, NC1 of 117.9 ppt435
Bladen Bluffs Water SystemTarheel, NC1 of 116.6 ppt4,589
Cole Park PlazaCary, NC1 of 113.6 ppt224
Chatham S/dCary, NC1 of 113.6 ppt363
Chatham Co-North*Pittsboro, NC1 of 113.6 ppt18,752
Beechwood Cove/polks LandingCary, NC1 of 113.6 ppt406
City of Raleigh*Raleigh, NC1 of 112.9 ppt603,000
City of Statesville*Statesville, NC2 of 212.7 ppt25,712
Watercrest Estates Mobile Home ParkBarium Spring, NC2 of 212.7 ppt244
Goldston-Gulf Sanitary DistrictGoldston, NC1 of 112.2 ppt1,250
City of Sanford*Sanford, NC1 of 112.2 ppt45,649
Chatham Co-asbury*Pittsboro, NC1 of 112.2 ppt1,112
Broadway, Town ofBroadway, NC1 of 112.2 ppt1,503
Carolina Trace Water SystemCharlotte, NC1 of 112.2 ppt4,160

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

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN94 of 1071,007.5 ppt28,315
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN62 of 78639.9 ppt36,900
WoodburyWoodbury, MN25 of 25250.0 ppt72,000
South Saint PaulSouth St. Paul, MN1 of 1220.0 ppt20,400
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 120.4 ppt38,500
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC1 of 120.4 ppt101,389
Town of Smithfield*Smithfield, NC1 of 119.0 ppt12,400
ClaytonClayton, NC1 of 117.9 ppt19,822
Johnston County - West*Smithfield, NC1 of 117.9 ppt58,354
Chatham Co-North*Pittsboro, NC1 of 113.6 ppt18,752
City of Raleigh*Raleigh, NC1 of 112.9 ppt603,000
City of Statesville*Statesville, NC2 of 212.7 ppt25,712
City of Sanford*Sanford, NC1 of 112.2 ppt45,649
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC2 of 211.7 ppt217,948
City of High Point*High Point, NC2 of 210.7 ppt114,183
Cary*Apex, NC1 of 110.00 ppt192,250
Town of Apex*Apex, NC1 of 110.00 ppt60,000
Robeson County Water System*Lumberton, NC1 of 19.90 ppt64,295
City of MonroeMonroe, NC1 of 19.10 ppt31,438
City of Asheboro*Asheboro, NC2 of 28.80 ppt25,791
City of ThomasvilleThomasville, NC1 of 18.40 ppt25,872
Energy United Water Corp*Hiddenite, NC1 of 28.40 ppt12,764
City of Newton*Newton, NC1 of 28.40 ppt16,504
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 18.10 ppt12,700
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 18.10 ppt367,681
Anson County Water System*Wadesboro, NC1 of 17.90 ppt13,380
Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District*Roanoke Rapdis, NC2 of 27.70 ppt16,312
Richmond County Water System*Rockingham, NC1 of 17.60 ppt21,755
City of Wilson*Wilson, NC2 of 26.75 ppt50,866
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority*La Grange, NC1 of 16.30 ppt93,238
City of Goldsboro*Goldsboro, NC1 of 16.30 ppt34,959
Town of Tarboro*Tarboro, NC1 of 15.30 ppt11,310
Madison Water Utility*Madison, WI7 of 124.99 ppt235,000
City of LumbertonLumberton, NC1 of 24.90 ppt25,803
Greenville Utilities Comm.*Greenville, NC1 of 24.40 ppt103,140
City of Rocky Mount*Rocky Mount, NC1 of 14.30 ppt54,886
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC1 of 13.50 ppt23,635
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC1 of 13.50 ppt100,694
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC1 of 13.50 ppt28,488
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC1 of 13.30 ppt24,236
Wayne Water Districts*Goldsboro, NC1 of 33.27 ppt32,426
City of Winston-Salem*Pfafftown, NC3 of 32.93 ppt371,063
Davidson Water Inc.*Welcome, NC1 of 12.70 ppt147,455
Pennichuck Water WorksMerrimack, NH13 of 172.68 ppt87,682
City of Graham*Graham, NC1 of 12.60 ppt14,308
City of MebaneMebane, NC1 of 12.60 ppt15,284
Martin County Regional WASA*Williamston, NC1 of 12.60 ppt10,162
City of LexingtonLexington, NC1 of 12.50 ppt18,931
Merrimack Village District*Merrimack, NH45 of 1541.91 ppt25,000
City of Lincolnton*Lincolnton, NC1 of 11.90 ppt12,352

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