136 million Americans have ‘forever chemicals’ in their tap water. Here’s how to check yours
PFAS contamination is showing up in American tap water faster than federal monitoring systems can keep up.
By mid-2025, the Natural Resources Defense Council found that 136 million Americans were being served by water systems with detectable forever chemicals.
In 2026, the Environmental Working Group estimated that number had climbed to 176 million people — and said it could eventually approach 200 million.
The concern is that many people still have no idea whether their own water has been tested, what the numbers on a water report mean or whether their home filter removes PFAS at all.
Here’s what forever chemicals are, how to check your local water quality and what experts say actually helps reduce exposure.
Why forever chemicals are becoming a bigger concern
PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a group of synthetic chemicals used in products like nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and food packaging. They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down in the environment or the human body.
Scientists worry because those chemicals can accumulate over time.
“Their environmental and biological persistence means they can accumulate over time, raising long-term concerns for ecosystems and public health,” said Vasilis Vasiliou, chair of environmental health sciences at the Yale School of Public Health.
According to the EPA, studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. Because PFAS are now found in water, air, soil and consumer products, most Americans already carry trace amounts in their blood and tissues without realizing it.
The contamination is spreading faster than the protections
A 2023 U.S. Geological Survey study found that at least 45% of U.S. tap water contained one or more PFAS contaminants after researchers tested 716 locations nationwide.
The challenge is that testing and regulations still lag behind the contamination itself.
The EPA’s enforceable limit for the two most-studied PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — is currently 4 parts per trillion. But the agency’s own health-based goal for those same chemicals is technically zero, meaning there is no known safe level of exposure.
That gap between what’s legal and what’s considered safest by current science is part of why researchers encourage people to check their own water reports instead of assuming their supply has already been cleared.
How to check if forever chemicals are in your water
The easiest place to start is your city’s Consumer Confidence Report, sometimes called a CCR or annual drinking water quality report.
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, public water systems are required to publish one every year. You can usually find it by searching your city or town name followed by “water quality report.”
These reports list contaminants detected in the local water supply and whether the system complies with EPA standards. If your report shows unwanted contaminants, they can be removed with the help of a whole-house water filter.
For PFAS specifically, experts recommend looking for these six names:
- PFOA
- PFOS
- PFHxS
- PFNA
- HFPO-DA (GenX)
- PFBS
You’ll also see “MCL,” which stands for Maximum Contaminant Level — the legal limit allowed under EPA regulations.
One important caveat: not all water systems have fully reported PFAS data yet. The EPA’s UCMR 5 monitoring rollout is still ongoing, so if PFAS are missing from your report, your water may simply not have been tested yet.
The ZIP code tool that gives a fuller picture
Another option is the Environmental Working Group’s free EWG tap water database, which lets users search water quality by ZIP code. The database shows contaminants, compliance violations and filter recommendations tied to local water systems.
The difference is that your city’s report compares water against enforceable EPA standards, while the EWG database compares it against stricter health-based recommendations.
That means a water system can still legally comply with federal standards while showing contamination levels independent researchers consider concerning.
What actually removes PFAS from tap water
If your report shows elevated PFAS levels — or your water hasn’t been tested and you want added protection — filtration is currently the most direct step experts recommend.
According to the EPA, the technologies that work best are reverse osmosis systems, granular activated carbon filters and ion exchange filters. Basic refrigerator or pitcher filters may not remove forever chemicals unless PFAS reduction is specifically listed.
When shopping, experts recommend looking for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certification for contaminant reduction or Standard 58 certification for reverse osmosis systems. Consumers should also verify that PFOA and PFOS are specifically named in the certification details.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
