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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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

28

states detected

928

utilities detected

28 million

people served

27

states over health guideline

646

utilities over health guideline

19 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for PFOS

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 PFOS 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 PFOS in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California845,484,4891218,175,377
North Carolina1132,142,5152305,590,825
New Jersey1643,223,4412023,603,498
Florida263,179,461263,179,461
New York231,425,905421,829,617
Kentucky28168,917611,746,482
Massachusetts21360,18427563,453
Ohio8349,9318349,931
Rhode Island13208,40519337,851
New Hampshire79195,16793336,388
Delaware2307,0002307,000
Alabama22299,28022299,280
Wisconsin153,0006291,297
Arizona6271,7616271,761
Michigan9241,1629241,162
Pennsylvania7215,4847215,484
Texas17178,16815176,965
Alaska429,34911144,398
Minnesota243,7773115,777
Georgia375,208375,208
Colorado370,414370,414
Maine448,587448,587
Washington132,603132,603
Illinois226,598226,598
Indiana116,800116,800
West Virginia115,652115,652
South Carolina0016,623
Tennessee23,35223,352
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce PFOS

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of PFOS, 2013-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Eielson - Air Force BaseEielson Afb, AK2 of 4762.5 ppt8,193
Hoosick FallsHoosick Falls, NY12 of 27356.5 ppt4,925
Carle Place Water DistrictCarle Place, NY1 of 7300.0 ppt9,005
Pawling Village*Pawling, NY4 of 16270.8 ppt2,200
Pawling Water District #1Pawling, NY4 of 16270.8 ppt100
Oatman Water CompanyScottsdale, AZ2 of 2265.0 ppt280
Horsham Water&sewer AuthorityHorsham, PA123 of 180208.8 ppt25,000
Delilah Terrace Mobile Home ParkPittsford, NJ5 of 5208.0 ppt210
Sussex County Hlth-the HomestedNewton Town, NJ4 of 4170.0 ppt100
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO35 of 38169.7 ppt19,000
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL2 of 2160.0 ppt19,000
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 9158.8 ppt32,603
Newburgh CityNewburgh, NY4 of 4150.0 ppt28,000
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN56 of 119115.8 ppt28,315
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 495.0 ppt45,586
Wright-Patterson AFB Area A PWSWright Patterson Afb, OH4 of 885.0 ppt16,551
Oakland Association Inc.Oakland, RI3 of 381.5 ppt175
Warminster Municipal Authority*Warminster, PA10 of 3872.8 ppt40,000
Houlton Mobile Home ParkHoulton, ME1 of 170.6 ppt140
Passaic Valley Water Commission-postbrookClifton, NJ24 of 2454.3 ppt458
New Lisbon Development CenterNew Lisbon, NJ5 of 552.5 ppt2,014
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA28 of 4450.6 ppt35,000
Ocala Palms (consec.)Ocala, FL2 of 250.5 ppt2,015
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 250.5 ppt57,665
City of North Miami*North Miami, FL3 of 350.3 ppt88,349
Artesian Water Company*Newark, DE5 of 6149.9 ppt301,000
FKAA J. Robert Dean Water Treatment PlantFlorida City, FL2 of 248.5 ppt86,000
Warrington Twp Water&sew DeptWarrington, PA3 of 1748.4 ppt21,588
Town Creek Water SystemTown Creek, AL2 of 445.0 ppt1,635
West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority*Decatur, AL2 of 445.0 ppt30,000
Montebello Land & Water CompanyMontebello, CA32 of 3442.6 ppt32,219
United Water PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA1 of 940.3 ppt110,000
Addison Water WorksAddision, AL4 of 840.0 ppt2,553
V.A.W. Water System, Inc*Holly Pond, AL4 of 840.0 ppt15,582
Cal-water Service Company-orovilleChico, CA15 of 1739.3 ppt9,427
Commerce-city, Water DepartmentSan Jose, CA2 of 238.5 ppt3,828
La Habra Heights County Water District*La Habra Heights, CA15 of 1536.6 ppt5,379
Barrow Utilities & Elec. Co-op Inc. (bu*Barrow, AK8 of 1636.4 ppt4,850
The Water ServiceBarrow, AK8 of 1636.4 ppt438
Northeast Etowah County Water Co-opGadsden, AL3 of 435.0 ppt4,164
Highland Water AuthorityGadsden, AL3 of 435.0 ppt3,852
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board*Gadsden, AL3 of 435.0 ppt44,637
Whorton Bend Water AuthorityGadsden, AL3 of 435.0 ppt2,301
Yorba Linda Water DistrictYorba Linda, CA99 of 10334.7 ppt77,513
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO6 of 1734.6 ppt22,414
Liberty Water Lpsco*Avondale, AZ2 of 1234.2 ppt50,045
Sanford Water DistrictSanford, ME2 of 1633.8 ppt14,025
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA93 of 27433.4 ppt39,400
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - NorwalkDowney, CA14 of 2233.1 ppt72,884
Montebello-city, Water DepartmentEl Monte, CA4 of 433.0 ppt6,962

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

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Horsham Water&sewer AuthorityHorsham, PA123 of 180208.8 ppt25,000
Security Waster DistrictColorado Springs, CO35 of 38169.7 ppt19,000
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL2 of 2160.0 ppt19,000
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 9158.8 ppt32,603
Newburgh CityNewburgh, NY4 of 4150.0 ppt28,000
Oakdale*Oakdale, MN56 of 119115.8 ppt28,315
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 495.0 ppt45,586
Wright-Patterson AFB Area A PWSWright Patterson Afb, OH4 of 885.0 ppt16,551
Warminster Municipal Authority*Warminster, PA10 of 3872.8 ppt40,000
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA28 of 4450.6 ppt35,000
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 250.5 ppt57,665
City of North Miami*North Miami, FL3 of 350.3 ppt88,349
Artesian Water Company*Newark, DE5 of 6149.9 ppt301,000
FKAA J. Robert Dean Water Treatment PlantFlorida City, FL2 of 248.5 ppt86,000
Warrington Twp Water&sew DeptWarrington, PA3 of 1748.4 ppt21,588
West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority*Decatur, AL2 of 445.0 ppt30,000
Montebello Land & Water CompanyMontebello, CA32 of 3442.6 ppt32,219
United Water PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA1 of 940.3 ppt110,000
V.A.W. Water System, Inc*Holly Pond, AL4 of 840.0 ppt15,582
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board*Gadsden, AL3 of 435.0 ppt44,637
Yorba Linda Water DistrictYorba Linda, CA99 of 10334.7 ppt77,513
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO6 of 1734.6 ppt22,414
Liberty Water Lpsco*Avondale, AZ2 of 1234.2 ppt50,045
Sanford Water DistrictSanford, ME2 of 1633.8 ppt14,025
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA93 of 27433.4 ppt39,400
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - NorwalkDowney, CA14 of 2233.1 ppt72,884
Atlantic City Municipal Utilities AuthorityAtlantic City, NJ5 of 732.9 ppt152,415
City of Martinsburg*Martinsburg, WV16 of 2229.8 ppt15,652
City of Miami BeachMiami Beach, FL1 of 229.0 ppt92,307
City of AnaheimAnaheim, CA87 of 11828.3 ppt450,000
Hicksville WDHicksville, NY38 of 9028.1 ppt48,000
Downey Water DepartmentDowney, CA13 of 2027.4 ppt111,930
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA12 of 2227.3 ppt73,067
FreeportFreeport, IL2 of 726.7 ppt25,648
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA40 of 5026.5 ppt27,000
Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictDublin, CA40 of 5026.5 ppt75,924
City of Garden GroveGarden Grove, CA36 of 5725.2 ppt170,883
City of LauderhillLauderhill, FL1 of 224.5 ppt55,000
California American Water Company - SuburbanSacramento, CA87 of 24524.0 ppt111,768
City of Greensboro*Greensboro, NC5 of 1023.5 ppt290,201
Plainfield TownshipMcbain, MI3 of 522.7 ppt42,271
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA39 of 5422.5 ppt39,000
City of Corona*Corona, CA114 of 27921.2 ppt155,896
City of LathropLathrop, CA17 of 2421.0 ppt12,427
BemidjiBemidji, MN4 of 1920.5 ppt15,462
City of TempeTempe, AZ6 of 2419.7 ppt165,000
Pico WDPico Rivera, CA11 of 1619.6 ppt24,100
Dyer Water DepartmentDyer, IN1 of 419.6 ppt16,800
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority*Pensacola, FL5 of 5219.2 ppt255,884
City of FountainFountain, CO4 of 1218.3 ppt29,000

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