Does my city's water have PFAS? Updated state-by-state list (2026)

If you live in the United States, there's nearly a 50% chance your tap water contains PFAS — the so-called 'forever chemicals.' The number comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which in 2023 published the first national study with samples from 716 locations (269 private wells and 447 public supply systems) collected between 2016 and 2021. The study detected at least one PFAS in 45% of samples, and the authors clarified that this is a conservative estimate: they tested only 32 of the more than 12,000 known PFAS compounds.

In this post we summarize what's known today about PFAS in the 5 states where Eco Renew operates (New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee), teach you how to verify YOUR city in 5 minutes, and explain which technologies are NSF-certified to remove them. All from public, verifiable sources.

The federal rule that changed everything: EPA 2024

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced the first mandatory federal regulation for PFAS in drinking water (the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, or NPDWR). Here's what it established:

• Mandatory limit (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS individually. For context: 4 ppt is equivalent to 4 drops of chemical in an Olympic-size pool.
• Limit of 10 ppt for PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as GenX).
• Health goal (MCLG) of zero for PFOA and PFOS — because no safe level is known.
• Monitoring timeline: public water systems have until 2027 to complete initial monitoring and until 2029-2031 to implement treatment if they exceed the limits.

In May 2025 the EPA partially modified the rule: it rescinded the limits for 4 PFAS (PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and the PFAS mixture) but kept the 4 ppt limits for PFOA and PFOS, which are the two most dangerous and most studied compounds.

New Jersey: the most affected state on the Atlantic

New Jersey is the third most PFAS-contaminated state in the country, according to data compiled by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The numbers are stark:

• PFAS detected in 63% of the state's water systems.
• Those systems serve 84% of New Jersey's population.
• 92% of the Hispanic population, 94% of African-American, and 95% of Asian populations live in areas with PFAS detected in their water.
• In May 2025, 3M agreed to pay $285 million to the state for PFAS contamination.
• In August 2025, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to pay a combined $2 billion to New Jersey for PFAS-related damages.

Newark, Paterson, and Trenton have the additional concern of water pipes that predate World War II, many of them made of lead. Although Newark has replaced more than 23,000 lead pipes in recent years, the PFAS problem is separate and is not solved by changing pipes.

Texas: growing and documented contamination

Texas has a different pattern: contamination is more concentrated in industrial and military areas, but it's growing fast. Data published by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ):

• 113 water systems out of the 420 that reported to the EPA had detectable PFAS — including the San Antonio Water System in Castle Hills.
• Nearly 50 Texas systems have reported levels exceeding the new federal limits, primarily in Dallas and Fort Worth.
• Houston: a Natural Resources Defense Council study detected PFAS at 3.8 ppt (just below the federal limit).
• San Antonio: in 2008, firefighting foam (AFFF) containing PFAS escaped from the international airport into Salado Creek, which feeds the Edwards Aquifer — the main source of drinking water for the San Antonio region.
• February 2025: Johnson County (south of Dallas-Fort Worth) declared a state of disaster after detecting groundwater PFAS levels 'several hundred times' above EPA limits.

Georgia: testing in progress and results already concerning

Georgia is in the middle of its testing rollout. 262 water systems serving more than 9 million people were required to report PFAS results by the end of 2025. Here's what's been found so far:

• PFAS detected in the Chattahoochee River — the main source of drinking water for the city of Atlanta.
• Atlanta city water showed no reportable contaminants in the latest municipal system tests — good news for the capital.
• June 2025: an Emory University study found elevated PFAS levels in the blood of north Georgia residents. 25% of participants had concentrations high enough to warrant additional medical evaluation.
• The Georgia EPD is testing 29 PFAS substances in public systems with a December 2025 deadline.

Florida: Miami and Tampa with the highest levels in the state

Florida has a particular history with PFAS due to military bases (which historically used firefighting foam containing PFAS) and aging pipes in coastal areas:

• Miami International Airport: 47 ppt of PFOS detected in 2013 (more than 10× the current EPA limit).
• Miami Beach: 58 ppt of PFOS detected in 2014.
• Tampa Water Department: levels between 4 and 6.9 ppt of PFOS, and up to 4.6 ppt of PFOA — right at the federal limit.
• University of South Florida (Tampa): well with levels 6 times the recommended limit (October 2025 test).
• Tarpon Springs: well with levels 9× the limit.
• Holiday, FL: well with levels 19× the limit.
• November 2024 study: 63% of 90 samples from Florida springs had detectable PFAS.
• July 2025: Tampa Bay Water won a $21.7 million settlement for PFAS contamination.

Tennessee: depends a lot on where you live

Tennessee is the most heterogeneous of the 5 states. It has areas that are perfectly fine and areas with serious contamination:

• Nashville (Metro Water Services): meets the new EPA standards. Tests in 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023 showed no reportable PFAS levels. The latest test (November 2023) was 'non-detect.'
• Northeast Tennessee: recent tests found PFAS in 60% of samples.
• Chattanooga: the Sierra Club issued an alert in January 2025 about PFAS in water and food supplies.
• High PFAS levels in Tennessee concentrate near industrial sites, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants.
• Vanderbilt University is developing predictive models to identify vulnerable communities across the state.

How to verify YOUR city in 5 minutes

The most useful thing you can do now is verify your specific situation. There are three levels of depth:

Level 1: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database (2 min, free). Go to ewg.org/tapwater, enter your ZIP code, and get a detailed report with the contaminants detected in your municipal water system, compared to health limits. It's the database most used by journalists and researchers. If your city reports PFAS above the limit, you'll see it clearly.

Level 2: Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for your municipality (5 min, free). By federal law, every municipal water utility must publish an annual quality report. Search Google for 'CCR + [your city name]' or 'water quality report + [your city name].' If it mentions PFOA, PFOS, GenX, or any substance with 'perfluoro' — you have official confirmation. If it does NOT mention them, that doesn't mean they aren't there: many cities only report contaminants they're required to measure.

Level 3: Professional test in YOUR home (1 day, free with Eco Renew). This is the only way to know precisely what's in YOUR tap (not the city average). Water can vary a lot within the same municipality depending on the pipes that reach your house, the age of the building, and the season. There are home kits starting at $30, but most don't detect PFAS with enough sensitivity. At Eco Renew we do this test for free: we come to your home, take a sample, and deliver results in 24-48 hours. With no purchase commitment.

The only technologies that DO remove PFAS (NSF-certified)

This is where many people waste money buying the wrong thing. Only two technologies are officially NSF-certified (the organization that regulates water filters in the U.S.) to reduce PFAS:

NSF/ANSI Standard 53 — for activated carbon and anion exchange filters. Covers under-sink filters, shower filters, and some premium pitcher filters. In 2022 NSF expanded the standard to include 6 regulated PFAS and lowered the combined limit from 70 ppt to 20 ppt. If a filter does NOT explicitly say 'NSF/ANSI 53 for PFAS reduction,' assume it does NOT remove them, no matter what the packaging claims.

NSF/ANSI Standard 58 — for reverse osmosis (RO) systems under the sink. Reverse osmosis is the most effective technology: independent studies show that well-installed RO systems remove 90-99% of PFAS consistently. It also removes lead, chlorine, nitrates, and 60+ additional contaminants.

What does NOT work against PFAS:

• Boiling water (it concentrates PFAS because water evaporates but the chemicals don't).
• Standard pitcher filters (Brita, basic PUR) — not NSF 53 certified for PFAS.
• Standard refrigerator filters — same problem.
• Bottled water — studies found PFAS in 39% of tested brands, including premium ones.

What we recommend at Eco Renew

For complete home protection, we install the combination with the strongest scientific backing:

• Whole-house softener to treat hard water, scale, and chlorine throughout your ENTIRE house (showers, washing machine, kitchen).
• NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking water free of PFAS, lead, and 60+ contaminants.
• 5 years of chemical-free cleaning supplies included.
• Free installation (you don't pay labor or materials on the day of the visit).
• 25-year warranty on the system.

The standard plan starts at $49/month with $0 down and 90 days no payments available with approved credit.

Next step: 30 minutes can change what your family drinks

If after reading this post you don't know for sure whether your water has PFAS, all you need is 30 minutes: schedule your free test with us. We come to your home, take a sample, analyze what comes out of YOUR tap, and deliver clear results without technical jargon. If your water is already fine, we tell you honestly and don't offer you anything. Promise.

Active coverage in New Jersey, Texas (San Antonio, Houston, Dallas), Georgia (Atlanta), Florida and Tennessee. Request your free test by filling out the form on this page.