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CONTAMINANT

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

45

serves

104 million

utilities detected

4,486

states detected

42

serves

74 million

utilities detected

3,402

Overview

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.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.3 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.3 ppt for PFOS was defined by EPA's final toxicity value from the Office of Water’s Final Human Health Toxicity Assessment. This health guideline protects againat cardiovascular harm and harm to fetal growth.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 4 ppt

ppt = parts per trillion

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Cancer

  • Harm to the immune system

  • Hormone disruption

  • Harm to fetal growth and child development

  • Harm to the liver

Want to remove
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon, 

Reverse Osmosis, 

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Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
California22714,391,18128822,697,091
Florida1508,275,5821598,814,431
Texas1726,766,4971888,052,281
New Jersey2605,952,8073256,910,712
North Carolina2335,074,2332876,824,588
New York5703,682,4508416,670,617
Massachusetts2733,565,1963966,132,300
Pennsylvania1253,938,4501384,120,703
Alabama1282,819,1351493,616,268
Virginia311,685,655363,022,421
Wisconsin1201,626,8232432,983,002
Michigan801,072,6751642,446,566
Washington1261,720,8921372,363,011
South Carolina1201,919,3851332,226,690
Illinois1411,593,5271612,019,947
Ohio731,946,032731,946,032
Kentucky23311,077481,743,168
Minnesota52696,2971101,722,998
Connecticut331,319,691361,439,484
Colorado77574,4041121,338,889
Georgia291,161,130331,199,145
Arizona19488,11321743,073
Utah524,90616599,689
Rhode Island38449,19549582,554
Tennessee29411,65232566,855
Iowa17437,86820536,334
Nevada243,5154502,515
Delaware769,81712393,983
Louisiana10371,25011378,009
Oklahoma30292,89832372,606
New Hampshire75220,78690350,923
Indiana7147,0227147,022
Maryland10139,36410139,364
Maine57103,38563138,158
Nebraska477,6928103,101
Oregon1797,9151797,915
Kansas571,953678,526
Alaska761,145761,145
West Virginia642,279642,279
Missouri821,701923,752
Idaho522,228522,228
Montana00120,008
New Mexico00117,067
Wyoming00110,330
Vermont11281128

Utilities with the highest amounts of PFOS, 2013-2024

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Hannah Heights Owners AssociationFriday Harbor, WA2 of 4615.6 ppt66
Nikishka BayAnchorage, AK1 of 1450.0 ppt420
Oatman Water CompanyScottsdale, AZ2 of 2265.0 ppt180
Springport Water District #1 - SouthCayuga, NY2 of 8250.3 ppt500
Union Springs Village*Union Springs, NY2 of 8250.3 ppt3,000
Springport Water District #1 - NorthCayuga, NY2 of 8250.3 ppt500
Security Waster District*Colorado Springs, CO2 of 5246.0 ppt19,000
Sussex County Hlth-the HomestedNewton, NJ17 of 19191.8 ppt100
Delilah Terrace Mobile Home ParkPittsford, NJ16 of 22184.5 ppt210
Lca Emmaus Consecutive DivAllentown, PA24 of 25182.9 ppt1,046
Emmaus Borough Public Water*Emmaus, PA24 of 25182.9 ppt14,000
Sunrise Serenity TpSebattus, ME4 of 4163.9 ppt25
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL2 of 2160.0 ppt16,841
Eielson - Air Force BaseEielson Afb, AK22 of 32142.7 ppt2,370
Houlton Mobile Home ParkHoulton, ME2 of 2142.0 ppt140
OakdaleOakdale, MN85 of 205126.5 ppt28,303
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA5 of 11101.9 ppt39,578
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 495.0 ppt45,586
Lanesborough Fire and Water DistrictLanesborough, MA40 of 4082.7 ppt2,324
Hoosick FallsHoosick Falls, NY64 of 12181.1 ppt4,925
BemidjiBemidji, MN29 of 5179.5 ppt15,147
Yeshiva Kehileth YakovBrooklyn, NY46 of 5678.3 ppt150
Exeter Job Corps CenterExeter, RI15 of 1574.1 ppt300
Orangewood Water SystemHoliday, FL10 of 1064.3 ppt6,464
Stratmoor Hills Water & Sanitation DistrictColorado Springs, CO2 of 260.5 ppt6,500
Block 77 Water CompanyNorco, CA1 of 151.0 ppt59
Saegertown BoroughSaegertown, PA9 of 1250.9 ppt1,500
Ladd Center Water System*North Kingstown, RI13 of 1348.6 ppt129
FKAA J. Robert Dean Water Treatment PlantFlorida City, FL2 of 246.2 ppt86,000
Montebello Land & Water CompanyMontebello, CA136 of 13644.5 ppt26,554
Perry Phillips Mobile HomesCoatesville, PA5 of 543.2 ppt60
Yeshiva Farm SettlementMt. Kisco, NY69 of 6942.7 ppt300
Eagleswood Village Mobile Home ParkWest Creek, NJ20 of 2041.0 ppt80
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - NorwalkDowney, CA57 of 6739.7 ppt72,964
Passaic Valley Water Commission-postbrookClifton, NJ56 of 7239.3 ppt458
Castle Point Medical CenterWappingers Falls, NY17 of 1839.1 ppt1,500
Ocala Palms (consec.)Ocala, FL2 of 239.0 ppt2,015
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 239.0 ppt64,007
Village of Palm Springs*Palm Springs, FL1 of 137.0 ppt32,467
Lake Clarke ShoresLake Clarke Shores, FL1 of 137.0 ppt2,468
Lake Panasoffkee Water Association 2wpsLake Panasoffkee, FL4 of 436.8 ppt4,642
Cal-water Service Company-orovilleSan Jose, CA48 of 6634.6 ppt11,056
City of LauderhillLauderhill, FL2 of 234.5 ppt55,000
NellistonNelliston, NY16 of 2933.7 ppt726
Fort Plain*Fort Plain, NY16 of 2933.7 ppt2,976
The Water ServiceBarrow, AK36 of 7133.5 ppt606
Barrow Utilities & Elec. Co-op Inc. (bu*Barrow, AK36 of 7133.5 ppt4,500
Lantana Water Treatment PlantLantana, FL2 of 233.4 ppt11,558
Clear Creek Mobile Home ParkPort Orchard, WA6 of 632.7 ppt63
City of North Miami*North Miami, FL5 of 532.6 ppt88,349

* 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
Security Waster District*Colorado Springs, CO2 of 5246.0 ppt19,000
Emmaus Borough Public Water*Emmaus, PA24 of 25182.9 ppt14,000
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL2 of 2160.0 ppt16,841
OakdaleOakdale, MN85 of 205126.5 ppt28,303
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA5 of 11101.9 ppt39,578
Rome*Rome, GA4 of 495.0 ppt45,586
BemidjiBemidji, MN29 of 5179.5 ppt15,147
FKAA J. Robert Dean Water Treatment PlantFlorida City, FL2 of 246.2 ppt86,000
Montebello Land & Water CompanyMontebello, CA136 of 13644.5 ppt26,554
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - NorwalkDowney, CA57 of 6739.7 ppt72,964
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 239.0 ppt64,007
Village of Palm Springs*Palm Springs, FL1 of 137.0 ppt32,467
Cal-water Service Company-orovilleSan Jose, CA48 of 6634.6 ppt11,056
City of LauderhillLauderhill, FL2 of 234.5 ppt55,000
Lantana Water Treatment PlantLantana, FL2 of 233.4 ppt11,558
City of North Miami*North Miami, FL5 of 532.6 ppt88,349
Westfield Water Department*Westfield, MA91 of 22131.8 ppt42,000
City of Corona*Corona, CA371 of 73231.0 ppt168,751
Downey Water DepartmentDowney, CA168 of 17529.9 ppt109,946
City of North LauderdaleNorth Lauderdale, FL1 of 129.0 ppt35,709
City of Pembroke PinesPembroke Pines, FL2 of 229.0 ppt187,459
Delray Beach Water Department*Delray Beach, FL1 of 128.7 ppt69,754
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA72 of 8228.1 ppt79,871
City of Greensboro*Greensboro, NC22 of 2227.7 ppt318,057
City of Coconut CreekCoconut Creek, FL2 of 225.5 ppt54,000
Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictDublin, CA141 of 16925.2 ppt98,776
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA141 of 16925.2 ppt35,672
Fort CampbellFort Campbell, KY4 of 424.8 ppt22,000
Fort Campbell Water System*Ft. Campbell, TN4 of 424.8 ppt43,270
City of Martinsburg*Martinsburg, WV13 of 1724.5 ppt16,250
South Gate Water DepartmentSouth Gate, CA112 of 12424.3 ppt76,443
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA157 of 15723.6 ppt40,600
Tarpon Springs Water System*Tarpon Springs, FL4 of 623.4 ppt28,875
Park Water Company - Bell GardensDowney, CA14 of 1823.4 ppt11,292
Irondale Water SystemIrondale, AL18 of 2022.6 ppt10,098
Pico WDPico Rivera, CA65 of 6622.4 ppt22,051
City of AnaheimAnaheim, CA280 of 42722.4 ppt341,245
City of Margate*Margate, FL1 of 122.2 ppt62,254
Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board*Gadsden, AL42 of 4222.1 ppt44,637
Tract 180 Mutual Water CompanyCudahy, CA2 of 221.5 ppt14,000
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC22 of 2221.5 ppt214,137
Camp Pendleton (North)Camp Pendleton, CA142 of 16021.0 ppt15,000
Warminster Municipal AuthorityWarminster, PA70 of 39820.9 ppt40,000
South Montebello Irrigation DistrictMontebello, CA54 of 5420.2 ppt15,021
City of Hallandale BeachHallandale Beach, FL2 of 219.5 ppt40,000
Poughkeepsie Townwide Water District*Poughkeepsie, NY5 of 919.4 ppt52,277
Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (BCWWS) 3B/CMiramar, FL1 of 119.3 ppt32,650
Warrington Twp Water&sew Dept*North Wales, PA9 of 8819.2 ppt21,588
Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (BCWWS) - 1ALauderdale Lakes, FL1 of 118.9 ppt75,305
City of LathropLathrop, CA89 of 9918.7 ppt35,080

* 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.

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