Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOA 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.
2012-2017:
29
states detected
256
utilities detected
8.1 million
people served
29
states over health guideline
240
utilities over health guideline
7.7 million
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for PFOA
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 PFOA 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 PFOA in drinking water
UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
New Jersey | 25 | 1,620,414 | 24 | 1,620,206 | |||
California | 22 | 1,558,124 | 22 | 1,558,124 | |||
Kentucky | 3 | 773,257 | 3 | 773,257 | |||
Delaware | 2 | 398,310 | 2 | 398,310 | |||
Florida | 4 | 386,100 | 4 | 386,100 | |||
Alabama | 28 | 391,146 | 27 | 383,274 | |||
New York | 14 | 199,609 | 27 | 313,497 | |||
North Carolina | 27 | 281,496 | 25 | 299,219 | |||
Wisconsin | 1 | 31,500 | 6 | 269,797 | |||
Pennsylvania | 15 | 258,614 | 15 | 258,614 | |||
Arizona | 5 | 238,817 | 5 | 238,817 | |||
Massachusetts | 9 | 189,256 | 9 | 189,256 | |||
Tennessee | 3 | 175,927 | 3 | 175,927 | |||
Minnesota | 5 | 153,412 | 5 | 153,412 | |||
Illinois | 18 | 153,012 | 18 | 153,012 | |||
Georgia | 7 | 142,574 | 7 | 142,574 | |||
Maryland | 4 | 116,538 | 4 | 116,538 | |||
Alaska | 7 | 115,049 | 7 | 115,049 | |||
New Hampshire | 11 | 88,982 | 13 | 105,820 | |||
Ohio | 4 | 84,927 | 4 | 84,927 | |||
Rhode Island | 7 | 62,018 | 7 | 62,018 | |||
Washington | 3 | 60,471 | 3 | 60,471 | |||
Colorado | 3 | 59,000 | 3 | 59,000 | |||
West Virginia | 3 | 48,176 | 3 | 48,176 | |||
Virginia | 3 | 47,863 | 3 | 47,863 | |||
Michigan | 1 | 40,891 | 1 | 40,891 | |||
South Carolina | 2 | 32,521 | 2 | 32,521 | |||
Oklahoma | 2 | 20,403 | 2 | 20,403 | |||
Texas | 2 | 16,730 | 2 | 16,730 |
Filtering technologies that reduce PFOA

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of PFOA, 2012-2017
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Devens Massdevelopment* | Devens, MA | 9 of 9 | 18,333.3 ppt | 6,500 |
Ayer DPW Water Division | Ayer, MA | 6 of 6 | 12,666.7 ppt | 7,427 |
Hudson Water Supply | Hudson, MA | 3 of 7 | 3,441.4 ppt | 18,954 |
Mashpee Water District* | Mashpee, MA | 3 of 17 | 3,294.1 ppt | 34,257 |
Danvers Water Department* | Middleton, MA | 4 of 10 | 1,884.7 ppt | 35,480 |
Middleton Water Department | Middleton, MA | 4 of 10 | 1,884.7 ppt | 6,138 |
Hyannis Water System | Hyannis, MA | 7 of 20 | 1,866.1 ppt | 35,000 |
Pawling Water District #1 | Pawling, NY | 12 of 16 | 660.2 ppt | 100 |
Pawling Village* | Pawling, NY | 12 of 16 | 660.2 ppt | 2,200 |
Millerton Village | Millerton, NY | 4 of 4 | 529.2 ppt | 2,000 |
Hoosick Falls | Hoosick Falls, NY | 3 of 12 | 148.2 ppt | 4,925 |
Oakdale* | Oakdale, MN | 98 of 146 | 132.7 ppt | 27,378 |
Central Boaz Psd | Clifton, WV | 6 of 6 | 95.0 ppt | 1,418 |
City of Vienna* | Vienna, WV | 6 of 6 | 95.0 ppt | 12,507 |
Rome* | Rome, GA | 4 of 4 | 55.0 ppt | 45,586 |
Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 34 of 38 | 47.1 ppt | 19,000 |
Parkersburg Water Department | Palestine, WV | 3 of 3 | 41.2 ppt | 34,251 |
Petersburgh Water District | Petersburgh, NY | 11 of 29 | 36.6 ppt | 240 |
South Orange Water Department | South Orange, NJ | 3 of 7 | 33.7 ppt | 16,964 |
Sierra Army Depot | Herlong, CA | 2 of 6 | 33.0 ppt | 1,500 |
Warminster Municipal Authority* | Warminster, PA | 13 of 38 | 31.0 ppt | 40,000 |
Oatman Water Company | Scottsdale, AZ | 2 of 2 | 31.0 ppt | 129 |
Rainbow City Utilities Board* | Rainbow City, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 11,748 |
Whorton Bend Water and Fire Pro Authority | Gadsden, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 1,890 |
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board* | Gadsden, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 44,637 |
Northeast Etowah County Water Co-op | Gadsden, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 4,176 |
Highland Water Authority | Gadsden, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 5,271 |
Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 179 of 395 | 29.4 ppt | 25,000 |
City of Fountain | Fountain, CO | 9 of 12 | 26.7 ppt | 21,000 |
Glen Ridge Water Department | Glen Ridge, NJ | 6 of 10 | 25.9 ppt | 7,681 |
Montclair Water Bureau* | Montclair, NJ | 6 of 10 | 25.9 ppt | 37,669 |
United Water Rahway | Highland Lakes, NJ | 4 of 4 | 25.8 ppt | 27,300 |
Town Creek Water System | Town Creek, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 1,635 |
West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority* | Decatur, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 26,130 |
Trinity Water Works System | Trinity, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 2,475 |
Cabot Preserve | Merrimack, NH | 233 of 240 | 24.3 ppt | 955 |
Merrimack Village District* | Merrimack, NH | 233 of 240 | 24.3 ppt | 25,000 |
Saint Paul Park | St. Paul Park, MN | 3 of 6 | 21.0 ppt | 5,419 |
Suez Water Delaware* | Wilmington, DE | 2 of 4 | 19.1 ppt | 97,310 |
Stonetown Council Road Mobile Home Park LLC | Oklahoma City, OK | 2 of 4 | 18.5 ppt | 96 |
Bethany* | Bethany, OK | 2 of 4 | 18.5 ppt | 20,307 |
Widefield WSD* | Colorado Springs, CO | 9 of 17 | 18.1 ppt | 19,000 |
Yorba Linda Water District | Yorba Linda, CA | 14 of 18 | 17.7 ppt | 77,513 |
Cumberland | Cumberland, RI | 7 of 13 | 16.7 ppt | 22,864 |
Addison Water Works* | Addison, AL | 3 of 8 | 16.3 ppt | 2,544 |
Talking Rock Creek Properties | Chatsworth, GA | 5 of 8 | 16.3 ppt | 270 |
Calhoun* | Calhoun, GA | 5 of 8 | 16.3 ppt | 49,088 |
V.A.W. Water System, Inc* | Vinemont, AL | 3 of 8 | 16.3 ppt | 29,985 |
Artesian Water Company* | Newark, DE | 10 of 39 | 15.6 ppt | 301,000 |
Southside Water Works* | Southside, AL | 4 of 8 | 15.0 ppt | 10,998 |
* 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 Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hudson Water Supply | Hudson, MA | 3 of 7 | 3,441.4 ppt | 18,954 |
Mashpee Water District* | Mashpee, MA | 3 of 17 | 3,294.1 ppt | 34,257 |
Danvers Water Department* | Middleton, MA | 4 of 10 | 1,884.7 ppt | 35,480 |
Hyannis Water System | Hyannis, MA | 7 of 20 | 1,866.1 ppt | 35,000 |
Oakdale* | Oakdale, MN | 98 of 146 | 132.7 ppt | 27,378 |
City of Vienna* | Vienna, WV | 6 of 6 | 95.0 ppt | 12,507 |
Rome* | Rome, GA | 4 of 4 | 55.0 ppt | 45,586 |
Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 34 of 38 | 47.1 ppt | 19,000 |
Parkersburg Water Department | Palestine, WV | 3 of 3 | 41.2 ppt | 34,251 |
South Orange Water Department | South Orange, NJ | 3 of 7 | 33.7 ppt | 16,964 |
Warminster Municipal Authority* | Warminster, PA | 13 of 38 | 31.0 ppt | 40,000 |
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board* | Gadsden, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 44,637 |
Rainbow City Utilities Board* | Rainbow City, AL | 4 of 4 | 30.0 ppt | 11,748 |
Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 179 of 395 | 29.4 ppt | 25,000 |
City of Fountain | Fountain, CO | 9 of 12 | 26.7 ppt | 21,000 |
Montclair Water Bureau* | Montclair, NJ | 6 of 10 | 25.9 ppt | 37,669 |
United Water Rahway | Highland Lakes, NJ | 4 of 4 | 25.8 ppt | 27,300 |
West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority* | Decatur, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 26,130 |
Merrimack Village District* | Merrimack, NH | 233 of 240 | 24.3 ppt | 25,000 |
Suez Water Delaware* | Wilmington, DE | 2 of 4 | 19.1 ppt | 97,310 |
Bethany* | Bethany, OK | 2 of 4 | 18.5 ppt | 20,307 |
Widefield WSD* | Colorado Springs, CO | 9 of 17 | 18.1 ppt | 19,000 |
Yorba Linda Water District | Yorba Linda, CA | 14 of 18 | 17.7 ppt | 77,513 |
Cumberland | Cumberland, RI | 7 of 13 | 16.7 ppt | 22,864 |
Calhoun* | Calhoun, GA | 5 of 8 | 16.3 ppt | 49,088 |
V.A.W. Water System, Inc* | Vinemont, AL | 3 of 8 | 16.3 ppt | 29,985 |
Artesian Water Company* | Newark, DE | 10 of 39 | 15.6 ppt | 301,000 |
Southside Water Works* | Southside, AL | 4 of 8 | 15.0 ppt | 10,998 |
Orange Water Department | Orange, NJ | 1 of 3 | 14.7 ppt | 30,134 |
Garfield Water Department | Garfield, NJ | 4 of 8 | 14.1 ppt | 30,487 |
NJ American Water - Raritan* | Shamong, NJ | 16 of 36 | 13.9 ppt | 615,430 |
Fair Lawn Water Department | Fair Lawn Boro, NJ | 8 of 16 | 13.8 ppt | 31,000 |
Dover Water Department | Dover, NH | 2 of 6 | 12.6 ppt | 28,000 |
City of Dunn* | Erwin, NC | 2 of 4 | 12.5 ppt | 11,747 |
Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority | Atlantic City, NJ | 2 of 7 | 12.0 ppt | 152,415 |
Galesburg* | Galesburg, IL | 1 of 2 | 11.7 ppt | 33,706 |
Fort Drum* | Fort Drum, NY | 2 of 6 | 11.7 ppt | 34,400 |
Gallia CCounty o Rural Water Association* | Gallipolis, OH | 1 of 2 | 10.2 ppt | 20,546 |
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities* | Lillington, NC | 2 of 4 | 10.00 ppt | 90,004 |
Town of Holly Springs | Holly Springs, NC | 2 of 4 | 10.00 ppt | 26,000 |
Bloomington* | Bloomington, IL | 1 of 4 | 10.00 ppt | 75,975 |
Warrington Twp Water&sew Dept | Warrington, PA | 3 of 17 | 9.85 ppt | 18,400 |
City of Corona* | Corona, CA | 15 of 61 | 9.82 ppt | 155,896 |
Ridgewood Water | Ridgewood, NJ | 21 of 52 | 9.23 ppt | 61,700 |
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District* | Lake Elsinore, CA | 4 of 17 | 8.94 ppt | 142,264 |
Freeport | Freeport, IL | 2 of 7 | 8.78 ppt | 26,443 |
Hawthorne Water Department* | Hawthorne Boro, NJ | 3 of 8 | 8.50 ppt | 21,006 |
Liberty Water Lpsco* | Avondale, AZ | 2 of 12 | 8.33 ppt | 45,298 |
Highland Park W Department | Highland Park, NJ | 3 of 10 | 8.02 ppt | 14,000 |
East Brunswick Water Utility* | East Brunswick Twp, NJ | 3 of 10 | 8.02 ppt | 48,474 |
* 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 Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.