Are forever chemicals in your drinking water? Check new EPA data here

Recent tests have detected toxic “forever chemicals” in public drinking water systems serving at least 151 million people, roughly half of all Americans who rely on these utilities to deliver clean water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released new records Feb. 12 of water samples collected over the past three years. Many of these detections were for PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the EPA doesn’t currently limit, or the measurements didn’t exceed limits the agency approved in 2024 for two types of PFAS.

However, more than 1,050 water systems reported average PFAS levels above the EPA’s new limits. Collectively, these systems provide drinking water for at least 52 million people, or more than 1 of every 7 Americans.

Where water systems reported PFAS contamination

Click on a system in the map below to review its PFAS measurements. You may also enter an address in the search box to locate the nearest water systems. Don't see a map? Click here.

Since World War II, manufacturers have developed thousands of variants of PFAS to repel liquids and resist heat, which also makes the chemicals difficult to destroy. Whether people are exposed through products like stain-resistant fabrics or nonstick food wrappers or through contaminated air or water, researchers say the chemicals can accumulate in human bodies over time, increasing the risk of certain cancers.

“There is no level of exposure to these contaminants without risk of health impacts,” EPA officials said when the agency set a non-enforceable health-based goal of zero in drinking water for two of the most-studied of these chemicals – PFOS and PFOA.

The EPA’s regulatory standard, though, was capped at a yearly average of 4 parts per trillion. Municipalities now have until 2031 to meet these limits – either by finding new sources of clean drinking water or installing advanced filtration systems – or they could face financial penalties and other types of EPA enforcement.

What's new in these updated records?

To get a better sense of the scope of PFAS contamination, the EPA mandated most drinking water systems to check for about 30 types of forever chemicals in their drinking water from 2023 through 2025.

Over 9,000 utilities have submitted all their required sample data, but more than 1,000 systems have only submitted partial sets of results, including cities like Bradenton, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; and Buffalo, New York. When the EPA releases its final update of these records by fall 2026, the count of utilities in violation of the new PFAS limits will likely tick up even more.

Since the EPA last updated these records in November 2025, more than 100 additional water systems are now reporting yearly averages of PFOA or PFOS over the limit of 4 ppt. The largest among them are the municipal water systems for Columbia, South Carolina, and Huntington Beach, California, which reported average PFOS levels of 7.6 ppt and 5.5 ppt, respectively.

Although Columbia’s test results were just added to the EPA data set, the PFAS contamination is not a surprise to city officials. Columbia Water sued dozens of PFAS manufacturers in an ongoing federal lawsuit filed in mid-2024, alleging the companies are knowingly and improperly disposing of PFAS through wastewater treatment plants upstream of the city’s intake pipes.

“These ‘forever chemicals' will continue to pollute Columbia’s water supply for generations to come and will be present in Columbia’s drinking water in excess of the applicable federal standards until they are removed through very sophisticated filtration methods,” the city wrote in court documents. “Through no fault of its own, Columbia must upgrade its water and wastewater treatment facilities to adequately address defendants’ PFAS.”

Clint Shealy, assistant city manager for Columbia, declined to comment because of the ongoing lawsuit. Huntington Beach did not reply to a request for comment.

These two cities are in good company since USA TODAY’s analysis shows PFAS contamination is more widespread among large systems serving 100,000 customers or more. In fact, the EPA records show nearly a quarter of these very large utilities reported exceeding a PFAS limit.

Sources of contamination are generally more prevalent in urban areas, with many of the public utilities listing airports, military bases and factories as suspected sources of PFAS in their water. USA TODAY’s analysis shows the portion of drinking water systems exceeding the EPA limits falls as they get smaller and more rural.

Although fewer small systems are affected, USA TODAY’s analysis shows many of the highest concentrations of PFAS have nevertheless been reported in small communities. For example, the new records show the quaint college town of Oxford, Mississippi, reported an average PFOS level of 53 ppt, more than 13 times over the limit. The water system for Morgantown, Pennsylvania, a gateway to Amish country, reported its measurements of PFOA also averaged about 13 times over the limit.

In late-2025, Oxford purchased property to dig a new well and accepted a $3.5 million bid for construction of a water treatment plant, according to minutes from the city’s board of aldermen. City documents show they plan to pay for the project, at least partially, with federal stimulus funding sent out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morgantown’s utility sent notices to its customers in December 2025 stating that it shut down the contaminated well until corrections can be made, which it anticipates within the next year.

What can I do if my city found PFAS?

The EPA has put together a website here with resources for people concerned about PFAS contamination in their drinking water.

The agency recommends first contacting your local water provider to ask about test results and learn what they’re doing to meet the EPA standards.

Construction projects for advanced filtration systems and wells can take years to finish, so buying a filtration pitcher or installing a home filter can provide peace of mind in the meantime. The EPA recommends systems that use charcoal, reverse osmosis or ion exchange resins. Check the EPA website for full details on filtration products that are certified to remove PFAS.

For the 10% of Americans who rely on private wells for drinking water, the EPA suggests contacting your state environmental or health agency for a list of state-certified laboratories that can test for PFAS contamination.