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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Total PFOS and PFOA

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOS, 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.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

2

states detected

109

utilities detected

1.6 million

people served

2

states over health guideline

109

utilities over health guideline

1.6 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for total PFOS and 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 0.007 ppt

EWG applied the health guideline of 0.007 ppt, defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal for PFOA, to PFOS and PFOA combined. This health guideline protects against cancer

EPA Proposed Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppt

The proposed legal limits for PFOA and PFOS are 4 ppt for each chemical, based on studies on people, including children, showing cancer risk.

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting total PFOS and PFOA in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Michigan861,117,599861,117,599
Rhode Island23455,43923455,439
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce total PFOS and PFOA

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of total PFOS and PFOA, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
ParchmentParchment, MI6 of 6151.2 ppt3,174
Oakland Association Inc.Oakland, RI3 of 390.3 ppt175
Andrews Mobile Home ParkWayland, MI1 of 129.0 ppt90
Countryside Mobile CourtQuincy, MI1 of 120.0 ppt60
Egelcraft Mobile Home ParkSouthfield, MI2 of 219.5 ppt1,120
Exeter Job Corps CenterProvidence, RI3 of 319.2 ppt300
Ladd Center Water System*North Kingstown, RI3 of 319.2 ppt129
Scituate CommonsNorth Scituate, RI1 of 115.0 ppt38
Quonochontaug East Beach Water AssociationCharlestown, RI2 of 214.0 ppt300
Spring Valley Mobile Home ParkDrummond Island, MI2 of 213.0 ppt172
Gun Plain TownshipPlainwell, MI1 of 211.5 ppt1
Plainwell*Cement City, MI1 of 211.5 ppt3,328
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI3 of 310.3 ppt19,354
Greenlawn Mobile Home CourtPierson, MI3 of 59.80 ppt100
Central Beach Fire DistrictRidgefield, RI2 of 29.44 ppt470
Plainfield TownshipMcbain, MI1 of 18.00 ppt42,271
Ann Arbor TownshipAnn Arbor, MI2 of 27.50 ppt1,338
Scio TownshipSaint Clair, MI2 of 27.50 ppt8,500
Tallmadge MeadowsDecatur, MI1 of 27.50 ppt268
Ann Arbor*Merrill, MI2 of 27.50 ppt118,017
Port of Call - WestGaylord, MI1 of 17.00 ppt152
Centre of New England BoulevardRumford, RI3 of 56.58 ppt9,999
Warwick-potowomutWarwick, RI3 of 56.58 ppt2,357
Kent County Water Authority*West Warwick, RI3 of 56.58 ppt88,780
Centre of New England Hopkins Hill Rd.Rumford, RI3 of 56.58 ppt317
Pawtucket*Pawtucket, RI6 of 96.23 ppt99,200
Haring Charter TownshipCadillac, MI1 of 16.00 ppt839
Whispering PinesBrighton, MI1 of 16.00 ppt125
Long Lake Mobile Home EstatesAda, MI2 of 26.00 ppt68
The Village On Chopmist HillMiddletown, RI2 of 35.62 ppt250
King Nursing & Rehabilitation CommunityHoughton Lake, MI1 of 15.00 ppt61
City of Newport*Newport, RI3 of 104.67 ppt42,000
Naval Station, NewportNewport, RI3 of 104.67 ppt7,871
United States Navy -fort AdamsNewport, RI3 of 104.67 ppt318
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI3 of 104.67 ppt16,864
Main Street ApartmentsBrighton, MI1 of 24.50 ppt48
North Kingstown*North Kingstown, RI5 of 114.21 ppt23,568
Hidden Shores WestBrighton, MI1 of 14.00 ppt75
Clare, City ofClare, MI1 of 14.00 ppt3,118
Timberline EstatesCaro, MI2 of 24.00 ppt755
HesperiaWyoming, MI1 of 23.50 ppt954
Hi-way Mobile HavenCharlotte, MI1 of 13.00 ppt168
Charlevoix, City ofCharlevoix, MI3 of 33.00 ppt3,124
Chocolay Shores ApartmentsRosebush, MI1 of 13.00 ppt50
Maple Island EstatesPetoskey, MI3 of 33.00 ppt320
Eaton Green Estates SubdivisionFenton, MI1 of 13.00 ppt363
Arlington WoodsMuskegon, MI3 of 52.80 ppt1,650
Westerly Water DepartmentWesterly, RI4 of 102.63 ppt38,000
Kalamazoo*Kalamazoo, MI3 of 162.44 ppt192,992
Algoma EstatesFarmington Hills, MI1 of 12.00 ppt580

* 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 Total PFOS and PFOA, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI3 of 310.3 ppt19,354
Plainfield TownshipMcbain, MI1 of 18.00 ppt42,271
Ann Arbor*Merrill, MI2 of 27.50 ppt118,017
Kent County Water Authority*West Warwick, RI3 of 56.58 ppt88,780
Pawtucket*Pawtucket, RI6 of 96.23 ppt99,200
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI3 of 104.67 ppt16,864
City of Newport*Newport, RI3 of 104.67 ppt42,000
North Kingstown*North Kingstown, RI5 of 114.21 ppt23,568
Westerly Water DepartmentWesterly, RI4 of 102.63 ppt38,000
Kalamazoo*Kalamazoo, MI3 of 162.44 ppt192,992
Union TownshipDexter, MI1 of 32.00 ppt12,927
Monroe*Monroe, MI2 of 31.67 ppt48,664
East Grand RapidsEast Grand Rapids, MI2 of 31.33 ppt11,637
Allendale TownshipAllendale, MI2 of 31.33 ppt19,725
EscanabaLapeer, MI2 of 31.33 ppt13,659
Muskegon HeightsMuskegon, MI1 of 31.33 ppt10,856
Muskegon*Stanton, MI2 of 31.33 ppt37,213
Grand Rapids*Grand Rapids, MI2 of 31.33 ppt258,416
Wyoming*Wyoming, MI1 of 31.000 ppt72,125
KentwoodOvid, MI1 of 31.000 ppt36,072
Holland Township ConsolidatedHolland, MI1 of 31.000 ppt34,344
GrandvilleVulcan, MI1 of 31.000 ppt15,378
Georgetown TownshipJenison, MI1 of 31.000 ppt36,964

* 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 Total PFOS and PFOA, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.