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CONTAMINANT

Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS)

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

28

serves

9.4 million

utilities detected

299

states detected

17

serves

1.1 million

utilities detected

57

Overview

Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFPeS 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: 1 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for PFPeS was defined by EWG as 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.

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
Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon, 

Reverse Osmosis, 

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Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
California13557,939372,821,662
North Carolina00581,716,341
Florida266,02261,149,478
New York130042877,101
Minnesota481,72145775,978
Washington138,95030324,174
Wisconsin415,76415309,464
Georgia001204,000
Texas0013172,686
Arizona003172,686
Indiana002170,000
Michigan8169,6528169,652
Utah16,0007159,315
Iowa299,8344104,239
Rhode Island24298102,662
Kansas135,784250,364
New Hampshire13,612429,693
Colorado00122,414
New Jersey114,450114,450
Idaho00212,675
Wyoming00110,330
New Mexico0017,832
West Virginia0026,650
Pennsylvania0016,480
Missouri12,05126,267
Illinois15,90815,908
Oregon12891289
Maine11401140

Utilities with the highest amounts of PFPeS, 2018-2024

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Mabana Shores AssociationCoupeville, WA1 of 173.5 ppt68
Ladd Center Water System*North Kingstown, RI2 of 222.8 ppt129
Exeter Job Corps CenterExeter, RI14 of 1521.9 ppt300
Kopachuck Ridge Water DistrictGig Harbor, WA1 of 120.1 ppt185
Harborland Mobile ParkPort Orchard, WA3 of 316.7 ppt92
Saukville WaterworksSaukville, WI2 of 29.28 ppt4,465
DeerfieldDeerfield, MI1 of 48.25 ppt943
Issaquah Valley Water Association #1Issaquah, WA1 of 17.80 ppt80
Ann Arbor TownshipAnn Arbor, MI2 of 197.37 ppt1,338
Ann Arbor*Ann Arbor, MI2 of 197.37 ppt118,017
Scio TownshipAnn Arbor, MI2 of 197.37 ppt8,500
Mansfield Water SystemMansfield, WA2 of 26.60 ppt380
Camp Pendleton (North)Camp Pendleton, CA34 of 366.45 ppt15,000
Sioux City Water Supply*Sioux City, IA8 of 166.32 ppt85,791
City of South Sioux CitySouth Sioux City, NE8 of 166.32 ppt14,043
Ocala Palms (consec.)Ocala, FL2 of 26.25 ppt2,015
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 26.25 ppt64,007
QuistorffGig Harbor, WA3 of 66.00 ppt1,176
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN24 of 315.45 ppt39,712
BridgmanBridgman, MI1 of 55.40 ppt2,291
Brigantine Water DepartmentBrigantine, NJ3 of 34.83 ppt14,450
Hemlock Mutual Water CompanyEl Monte, CA2 of 84.38 ppt686
AdrianAdrian, MI1 of 34.33 ppt23,663
Fort RileyFort Riley, KS2 of 24.30 ppt35,784
Peoria HeightsPeoria Heights, IL1 of 24.25 ppt5,908
Grosse Pointe Farms*Grosse Pointe Farms, MI1 of 64.17 ppt9,479
Grosse Pointe, City ofGrosse Pointe, MI1 of 64.17 ppt5,421
Hildale - Colorado CityHildale, UT9 of 244.12 ppt6,000
Houlton Mobile Home ParkHoulton, ME1 of 13.93 ppt140
Jaffrey Water WorksJaffrey, NH1 of 133.56 ppt3,612
Inwood Beach ClubPort Orchard, WA2 of 43.45 ppt80
ArtondaleGig Harbor, WA6 of 223.30 ppt5,647
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA21 of 243.28 ppt79,871
Meridian Heights Water DistrictPort Orchard, WA3 of 33.23 ppt126
Pewaukee City Water and Sewer UtilityPewaukee, WI2 of 83.20 ppt8,671
Atascadero State HospitalAtascadero, CA1 of 23.05 ppt1,000
OakdaleOakdale, MN7 of 193.01 ppt28,303
Elsberry PWSElsberry, MO2 of 32.97 ppt2,051
Home Gardens County Water DistrictCorona, CA39 of 1642.92 ppt3,095
City of Corona*Corona, CA39 of 1642.92 ppt168,751
Whispering Pines Homeowners CoopCoupeville, WA1 of 12.78 ppt116
Rosedale Heights Trailer ParkGig Harbor, WA4 of 62.68 ppt435
Adams Waterworks*Adams, WI2 of 22.60 ppt1,847
Friendship WaterworksFriendship, WI2 of 22.60 ppt781
Yeshiva Farm SettlementMt. Kisco, NY4 of 102.57 ppt300
East Orange County Water District - RzOrange, CA5 of 52.48 ppt3,222
Burbank Irrigation District 4Pasco, WA3 of 52.44 ppt527
Lakewood HomeownersNewberg, OR1 of 22.43 ppt289
Golden State Water Company - Cowan HeightsAnaheim, CA2 of 22.35 ppt6,986
AlexandriaAlexandria, MN77 of 822.23 ppt13,554

* 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 Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Ann Arbor*Ann Arbor, MI2 of 197.37 ppt118,017
Camp Pendleton (North)Camp Pendleton, CA34 of 366.45 ppt15,000
City of South Sioux CitySouth Sioux City, NE8 of 166.32 ppt14,043
Sioux City Water Supply*Sioux City, IA8 of 166.32 ppt85,791
City of Ocala*Ocala, FL2 of 26.25 ppt64,007
Cottage GroveCottage Grove, MN24 of 315.45 ppt39,712
Brigantine Water DepartmentBrigantine, NJ3 of 34.83 ppt14,450
AdrianAdrian, MI1 of 34.33 ppt23,663
Fort RileyFort Riley, KS2 of 24.30 ppt35,784
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA21 of 243.28 ppt79,871
OakdaleOakdale, MN7 of 193.01 ppt28,303
City of Corona*Corona, CA39 of 1642.92 ppt168,751
AlexandriaAlexandria, MN77 of 822.23 ppt13,554
City of MantecaManteca, CA11 of 212.21 ppt84,625
City of LivermoreLivermore, CA8 of 212.12 ppt35,672
Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictDublin, CA8 of 212.12 ppt98,776
California Water Service - LivermoreSan Jose, CA8 of 212.12 ppt60,215
City of Great BendGreat Bend, KS4 of 201.81 ppt14,580
Newhall CWD-Newhall*Santa Clarita, CA9 of 331.61 ppt17,154
Marshfield UtilitiesMarshfield, WI6 of 141.45 ppt18,708
Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer*Sammamish, WA8 of 281.34 ppt65,598
City of Goldsboro*Goldsboro, NC1 of 11.20 ppt34,959
Cal-am Water Company - DuarteRosemead, CA4 of 271.17 ppt24,703
Town of Smithfield*Selma, NC1 of 11.10 ppt12,900
Bell Arthur Water CorporationBell Arthur, NC1 of 11.000 ppt10,635
Deep Run Water CorporationDeep Run, NC1 of 11.000 ppt13,332
Eastern Pines Water CorpGreenville, NC1 of 11.000 ppt22,230
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC1 of 11.000 ppt15,215
City of KinstonKinston, NC1 of 11.000 ppt27,475
Weston Municipal UtilitiesWeston, WI2 of 20.988 ppt15,045
FridleyFridley, MN1 of 80.975 ppt27,476
Brooklyn CenterBrooklyn Center, MN32 of 400.859 ppt33,782
Big Bear City CSDBig Bear City, CA1 of 90.822 ppt12,738
City of Burlington*Burlington, NC1 of 20.800 ppt59,287
ElonElon, NC1 of 20.800 ppt11,350
Cal-water Service Company - MarysvilleSan Jose, CA7 of 280.796 ppt12,266
City of AtwaterAtwater, CA2 of 160.769 ppt29,479
City of Abilene*Abilene, TX2 of 120.733 ppt125,182
Purdue University Water WorksWest Lafayette, IN1 of 120.700 ppt55,000
WoodburyWoodbury, MN52 of 870.688 ppt82,643
Augusta-Richmond CompanyAugusta, GA2 of 140.686 ppt204,000
City of Concord*Concord, NC1 of 20.650 ppt112,212
Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA Major Grid)*Jacksonville, FL4 of 310.635 ppt826,664
Sjcu-northeast Utilities WsSt. Augustine, FL4 of 310.635 ppt14,790
City of High Point*High Point, NC1 of 20.600 ppt116,270
City of AnaheimAnaheim, CA44 of 2240.575 ppt341,245
Los Angeles County WW District 4 & 34-LancasterAlhambra, CA5 of 400.573 ppt204,393
South Saint PaulSouth St. Paul, MN7 of 160.562 ppt20,400
Monrovia Water DepartmentMonrovia, CA6 of 290.552 ppt37,787
Garden City Water and Sewer SystemGarden City, ID1 of 80.550 ppt12,500

* 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 Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

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