Water systems above EPA’s PFAS limits.
1,136 of the 10,129 utilities in EPA’s final UCMR 5 testing had a sampling location whose PFAS average was above a 2024 limit, by EPA’s own method. Here are the 1,099 community systems, which supply towns and homes, and the data to download for all 1,136.
The short answer
1,136 utilities had at least one sampling location averaging above a 2024 PFAS limit, the same count EPA’s own data summary gives. The 1,099 with a report here, the community systems that supply towns and homes, serve 54 million people, as they report it; the other 37, such as schools and an airport with water systems of their own, are in the download. PFOS was the limit most often above, at 875 utilities, then PFOA, at 779.
These are EPA’s survey results, not violations. The limits take effect April 26, 2029, and compliance will rest on each utility’s own quarterly monitoring. In May 2026 EPA proposed giving utilities that ask until 2031 for PFOA and PFOS, and dropping the other limits; as of Oct. 13, 2026, neither proposal is final.
Furthest above a limit
The 25 utilities whose highest location average was furthest above its limit, and the single highest sample of the same PFAS.
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Above | Highest location average | Highest single sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Nashville | Nashville, NC | 5,900 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 345 ppt86 times the limit | 490 ppt |
| Running Springs Water District | Running Springs, CA | 5,268 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 131 ppt33 times the limit | 237 ppt |
| Emmaus Borough Public Water | Emmaus, PA | 14,000 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, Hazard Index | PFOS 127 ppt32 times the limit | 153 ppt |
| Yeshiva Farm Settlement | New Castle (T), NY | 300 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 94 ppt24 times the limit | 106 ppt |
| Lubeck PSD | Washington, WV | 11,724 | PFOA | PFOA 90 ppt22 times the limit | 180 ppt |
| Orangewood Water System | Holiday, FL | 6,464 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 78 ppt20 times the limit | 81 ppt |
| Gwa Northern Water System | Talofofo, GU | 139,207 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 68 ppt17 times the limit | 135 ppt |
| Bayleaf Master | Raleigh, NC | 16,715 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 14.0314 times the limit | — |
| City of Tempe | Tempe, AZ | 165,000 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 55 ppt14 times the limit | 56 ppt |
| Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - Norwalk | Downey, CA | 72,472 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 55 ppt14 times the limit | 59 ppt |
| PA American Audubon | Norristown, PA | 8,200 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 54 ppt14 times the limit | 58 ppt |
| City of Oxford | Oxford, MS | 28,500 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 53 ppt13 times the limit | 72 ppt |
| Caernarvon Twp Auth | Morgantown, PA | 4,245 | PFOA | PFOA 52 ppt13 times the limit | 56 ppt |
| Raynham Center Water District | Raynham, MA | 10,964 | PFOA | PFOA 49 ppt12 times the limit | 92 ppt |
| Montebello Land & Water Co. | Montebello, CA | 26,554 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 47 ppt12 times the limit | 53 ppt |
| Fkaa J. Robert Dean W.T.P. | Florida City, FL | 86,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 46 ppt12 times the limit | 50 ppt |
| City of North Miami | North Miami, FL | 89,349 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 45 ppt11 times the limit | 45 ppt |
| Town of Thurmont | Thurmont, MD | 6,200 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 45 ppt11 times the limit | 48 ppt |
| Lake Panasoffkee Water Assn 2wps | Lake Panasoffkee, FL | 4,642 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 44 ppt11 times the limit | 53 ppt |
| Barrow Utilities & Elec. Coop., Inc. (Bu | Barrow, AK | 4,900 | PFOS, PFHxS | PFOS 44 ppt11 times the limit | 46 ppt |
| Augusta - Richmond Co WS | Augusta, GA | 204,000 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 44 ppt11 times the limit | 51 ppt |
| Verona Water Department | Verona Boro, NJ | 13,641 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 43 ppt11 times the limit | 45 ppt |
| Liberty Water Rio Rico | Rio Rico, AZ | 17,960 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 40 ppt10 times the limit | 41 ppt |
| Palmerton Municipal Authority | Palmerton, PA | 7,000 | PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, Hazard Index | PFOA 40 ppt9.9 times the limit | 43 ppt |
| Town of Payson | Payson, AZ | 17,682 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOA 40 ppt9.9 times the limit | 41 ppt |
The largest utilities above a limit
The 25 utilities above a limit that serve the most people, as they report it.
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Above | Highest location average | Highest single sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDWASA - Main System | Miami, FL | 2,377,460 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 31 ppt7.9 times the limit | 33 ppt |
| Philadelphia Water Department | Philadelphia, PA | 1,600,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 7.3 ppt1.8 times the limit | 8.1 ppt |
| Fairfax County Water Authority | Herndon, VA | 1,121,613 | PFOA | PFOA 4.6 ppt1.2 times the limit | 7.4 ppt |
| Suffolk County Water Authority | Riverhead (T), NY | 1,100,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| Metropolitano | Bayamon, PR | 1,084,637 | PFOS | PFOS 6.3 ppt1.6 times the limit | 7.8 ppt |
| City of Fort Worth | Fort Worth, TX | 955,900 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 1.611.6 times the limit | — |
| Aqua PA Main System | Bryn Mawr, PA | 822,600 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 12 ppt3 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| Cincinnati Public Water System | Cincinnati, OH | 800,000 | PFOS | PFOS 5.2 ppt1.3 times the limit | 6.1 ppt |
| Veolia Water New Jersey Hackensack | Wallington Boro, NJ | 792,713 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 13 ppt3.3 times the limit | 14 ppt |
| El Paso Water Utilities | El Paso, TX | 747,168 | PFOS | PFOS 6.4 ppt1.6 times the limit | 8.5 ppt |
| City of Tampa Water Department | Tampa, FL | 733,886 | PFOS | PFOS 5.7 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.9 ppt |
| Palm Beach County Water Utilities | West Palm Beach, FL | 671,114 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 19 ppt4.8 times the limit | 20 ppt |
| NJ American Water - Raritan | Elizabeth City, NJ | 615,430 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 6.6 ppt1.6 times the limit | 7.5 ppt |
| City of Fresno | Fresno, CA | 545,970 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 22 ppt5.4 times the limit | 30 ppt |
| City of Sacramento Main | Sacramento, CA | 527,979 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 39 ppt9.7 times the limit | 41 ppt |
| Hcwrd/South - Central | Lithia, FL | 515,012 | PFOS | PFOS 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 5.4 ppt |
| Truckee Meadows Water Authority | Reno, NV | 442,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 13 ppt3.3 times the limit | 20 ppt |
| Regional Water Authority | Ansonia, CT | 418,900 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 9.4 ppt2.4 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| NJ American Water - Coastal North | Howell Twp., NJ | 377,613 | PFOA | PFOA 7.2 ppt1.8 times the limit | 7.5 ppt |
| City of Vancouver | Vancouver, WA | 373,047 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 18 ppt4.6 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| City of Columbia | Columbia, SC | 354,068 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 7.5 ppt1.9 times the limit | 8.6 ppt |
| City of Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 350,254 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 18 ppt4.5 times the limit | 29 ppt |
| City of Durham | Durham, NC | 333,490 | PFOS | PFOS 5.2 ppt1.3 times the limit | 5.8 ppt |
| City of Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | 319,588 | PFOS | PFOS 27 ppt6.8 times the limit | 36 ppt |
| City of Santa Ana | Santa Ana, CA | 316,184 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.4 times the limit | 14 ppt |
By state
Every utility above a limit in the state, largest first.
- Alabama56 utilities · 1.4 million people
- Arizona21 utilities · 845,012 people
- California129 utilities · 8.9 million people
- Colorado4 utilities · 101,207 people
- Connecticut29 utilities · 1.2 million people
- Delaware11 utilities · 637,113 people
- Florida124 utilities · 9.7 million people
- Georgia27 utilities · 1.3 million people
- Illinois13 utilities · 353,817 people
- Indiana6 utilities · 166,389 people
- Kansas3 utilities · 77,468 people
- Kentucky9 utilities · 199,762 people
- Maryland13 utilities · 162,211 people
- Massachusetts75 utilities · 1.3 million people
- Michigan5 utilities · 219,330 people
- Minnesota10 utilities · 270,387 people
- Mississippi5 utilities · 84,633 people
- Missouri6 utilities · 73,399 people
- Nebraska3 utilities · 83,158 people
- Nevada3 utilities · 488,064 people
- New Hampshire9 utilities · 222,708 people
- New Jersey110 utilities · 5.1 million people
- New York31 utilities · 1.9 million people
- North Carolina66 utilities · 2.5 million people
- Ohio35 utilities · 1.5 million people
- Oklahoma8 utilities · 250,611 people
- Oregon9 utilities · 226,133 people
- Pennsylvania85 utilities · 4.2 million people
- Puerto Rico15 utilities · 1.5 million people
- Rhode Island7 utilities · 207,864 people
- South Carolina53 utilities · 2 million people
- Tennessee17 utilities · 344,152 people
- Texas28 utilities · 2.8 million people
- Virginia12 utilities · 1.8 million people
- Washington20 utilities · 1.2 million people
- West Virginia10 utilities · 99,088 people
- Wisconsin18 utilities · 184,985 people
Other states
States with one or two utilities above a limit.
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Above | Highest location average | Highest single sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moa Municipality of Anchorage | Anchorage, AK | 221,351 | PFOA | PFOA 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 9.1 ppt |
| Gwa Northern Water System | Talofofo, GU | 139,207 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 68 ppt17 times the limit | 135 ppt |
| Sioux City Water Supply | Sioux City, IA | 85,791 | PFHxS, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 3.033 times the limit | — |
| Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) | Saipan, MP | 48,524 | PFOS | PFOS 4.7 ppt1.2 times the limit | 32 ppt |
| Sanford Water District | Sanford, ME | 14,328 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 6.2 ppt1.6 times the limit | 6.8 ppt |
| Garden City Water and Sewer System | Garden City, ID | 12,500 | PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 26 ppt6.4 times the limit | 28 ppt |
| City of Riverton | Riverton, WY | 10,330 | PFHxS, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 1.851.9 times the limit | — |
| Capitol Water Corp | Boise, ID | 9,000 | PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 4.004 times the limit | — |
| Park City Water System | Park City, UT | 8,875 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 6.7 ppt |
| Yarmouth Water District | North Yarmouth, ME | 8,000 | PFOA | PFOA 8.2 ppttwice the limit | 9.2 ppt |
| Town of Vidalia Water System | Vidalia, LA | 6,354 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 19 ppt4.7 times the limit | 20 ppt |
| Hildale - Colorado City | Hildale, UT | 6,100 | PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 13 ppt3.3 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| Barrow Utilities & Elec. Coop., Inc. (Bu | Barrow, AK | 4,900 | PFOS, PFHxS | PFOS 44 ppt11 times the limit | 46 ppt |
| Elephant Butte Water System | Elephant Butte, NM | 2,286 | PFOS | PFOS 6.5 ppt1.6 times the limit | 6.7 ppt |
Use this data
The full table is free to use: every one of the 10,307 utilities with UCMR 5 PFAS results, above a limit or not, with each one’s highest location average and highest single sample for the six PFAS in EPA’s rule, its highest Hazard Index, and the limits it is above. Please credit “TapBuff analysis of EPA UCMR 5 data” with a link to this page.
- Location average
- A sampling location’s average over its full set of samples, two for ground water and four for surface water, with a result below the reporting level counted as zero. Blank where none was found at a full location.
- Single sample
- The highest one sample, at any location, and how many of the utility’s samples found that PFAS.
- Hazard Index
- For PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS together, where two of them were found at one location. It has no unit; its limit is 1.
- Above
- The limits a location average is above, compared as EPA compares them: 4.05 ppt or more for PFOA and PFOS, 15 ppt or more for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA, and 1.5 or more for the Hazard Index.
Results: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026, samples from Jan. 3, 2023 to June 17, 2026. Method: The Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) Data Summary: July 2026 (EPA 815-S-26-007), Table 4, whose counts this list matches. Limits and their status: each PFAS’s page, with EPA’s rule and the 2026 proposals, checked Oct. 13, 2026.
575 more utilities had a single sample above a limit but no location average above, so are not listed; each report shows the sample. People served is what each utility reports; where one sells water to another, the same people can be counted twice. How this list is made.
Where to go next
- Look up your own utilityEvery PFAS result for your water, with the dates and how each compares with EPA’s limits.Your water, by state
- When the limits take effectWhat 2029 means, and what EPA’s 2026 proposals would change.When EPA’s PFAS limits take effect
- Filters certified for PFASRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.Best water filters for PFAS