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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluorononanoic acid, otherwise known as PFNA or C9, is a PFC similar in function and use to PFOA. These chemicals were used in the production of non-stick, stain repellent and chemically inert coatings. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.

2013-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

13

states detected

216

utilities detected

8.2 million

people served

12

states over health guideline

68

utilities over health guideline

1.6 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for perfluorononanoic acid

Cancer

Harm to the immune system

Hormone disruption

Harm to fetal growth and child development

Harm to the liver

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for perfluorononanoic acid was defined by EWG 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. This health guideline applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting perfluorononanoic acid in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California11373,373534,031,311
North Carolina11408,215561,593,077
New Jersey23183,159591,506,176
New York8249,52514459,525
Pennsylvania6165,65511187,514
Kentucky006122,709
Delaware1100,4951100,495
Massachusetts243,803685,318
Rhode Island119,354257,354
Washington132,603132,603
New Hampshire263528,024
Florida119,000119,000
Maryland13,50013,500
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce perfluorononanoic acid

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of perfluorononanoic acid, 2013-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Hicksville WDHicksville, NY13 of 90118.5 ppt48,000
Gloucester City W DepartmentGloucester City, NJ2 of 252.4 ppt12,460
Chandler TerracePlaistow, NH2 of 518.3 ppt30
East Greenwich Township Water DepartmentMickleton, NJ4 of 1218.3 ppt9,900
National Park Water DepartmentNational Park, NJ4 of 415.5 ppt3,144
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL1 of 213.5 ppt19,000
Suez Water Delaware*Wilmington, DE1 of 413.5 ppt100,495
Brooklawn Water DepartmeWestville, NJ4 of 411.9 ppt2,300
New Lisbon Development CenterNew Lisbon, NJ2 of 511.9 ppt2,014
26 Chandler Ave. CondosPlaistow, NH2 of 511.7 ppt33
Westville Water DepartmentWestville, NJ4 of 411.4 ppt6,000
Bellmawr Water DepartmentBellmawr, NJ3 of 710.9 ppt9,522
Williston Park*Williston Park, NY1 of 210.9 ppt10,072
East WillistonEast Williston, NY1 of 210.9 ppt2,503
Salem Water DepartmentSalem, NJ4 of 410.7 ppt6,199
Woodbury City Water DepartmentWoodbury, NJ2 of 1010.2 ppt11,485
Fallsburg Who-ls-sf*South Fallsburg, NY1 of 17.90 ppt8,650
Sullivan Correctional FacilityFallsburg, NY1 of 17.90 ppt800
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 97.28 ppt32,603
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI3 of 57.13 ppt19,354
Paulsboro Water DepartmentPaulsboro, NJ3 of 116.91 ppt6,097
Pittsboro, Town of*Pittsboro, NC1 of 15.40 ppt4,401
Chapel Ridge S/dCary, NC1 of 15.40 ppt798
United Water PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA1 of 95.18 ppt110,000
West Deptford Twp Water DepartmentThorofare, NJ18 of 555.08 ppt22,000
Yanceyville, Town ofYanceyville, NC1 of 14.70 ppt2,716
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 14.60 ppt367,681
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 14.60 ppt12,700
Monroe Twp MUAWilliamstown, NJ2 of 124.34 ppt26,179
United Water CamdenCamden, NJ39 of 774.24 ppt46,585
Quakertown BoroQuakertown, PA2 of 164.19 ppt12,800
Ho Ho Kus Water DepartmentHohokus Boro, NJ14 of 173.59 ppt4,060
Garden CityGarden City, NY8 of 243.13 ppt46,000
Commerce-city, Water DepartmentSan Jose, CA2 of 22.90 ppt3,828
Atascadero Mutual Water CompanyAtascadero, CA11 of 242.80 ppt30,332
Eagleswood Village Mobile Home ParkWest Creek, NJ4 of 42.80 ppt80
Lca Emmaus Consecutive DivAllentown, PA1 of 82.75 ppt1,046
Emmaus Borough Public Water*Emmaus, PA1 of 82.75 ppt14,000
Branchville W DepartmentBranchville, NJ5 of 52.74 ppt1,500
Waldwick Water DepartmentWaldwick, NJ14 of 202.72 ppt9,653
Loziers Trailer ParkBloomsbury, NJ3 of 42.63 ppt50
Cedar Glen Homes Inc.Toms River, NJ3 of 32.50 ppt800
Albertson WDRoslyn Heights, NY10 of 222.45 ppt13,500
La Habra Heights County Water District*La Habra Heights, CA12 of 152.35 ppt5,379
Orchard Dale Water DistrictWhittier, CA12 of 152.35 ppt22,492
San Juan Basin Authority*San Juan Capistrano, CA7 of 112.35 ppt0
Montebello-city, Water DepartmentEl Monte, CA3 of 42.23 ppt6,962
Locor Lakefront LodgingHopatcong, NJ4 of 42.18 ppt105
Newton Grove, Town ofNewton Grove, NC1 of 12.10 ppt913
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA25 of 2681.95 ppt39,400

* 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 Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Hicksville WDHicksville, NY13 of 90118.5 ppt48,000
Gloucester City W DepartmentGloucester City, NJ2 of 252.4 ppt12,460
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL1 of 213.5 ppt19,000
Suez Water Delaware*Wilmington, DE1 of 413.5 ppt100,495
Williston Park*Williston Park, NY1 of 210.9 ppt10,072
Woodbury City Water DepartmentWoodbury, NJ2 of 1010.2 ppt11,485
Issaquah Water SystemIssaquah, WA3 of 97.28 ppt32,603
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI3 of 57.13 ppt19,354
United Water PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA1 of 95.18 ppt110,000
West Deptford Twp Water DepartmentThorofare, NJ18 of 555.08 ppt22,000
Piedmont Triad Regional*Randleman, NC1 of 14.60 ppt367,681
City of Archdale*Archdale, NC1 of 14.60 ppt12,700
Monroe Twp MUAWilliamstown, NJ2 of 124.34 ppt26,179
United Water CamdenCamden, NJ39 of 774.24 ppt46,585
Quakertown BoroQuakertown, PA2 of 164.19 ppt12,800
Garden CityGarden City, NY8 of 243.13 ppt46,000
Atascadero Mutual Water CompanyAtascadero, CA11 of 242.80 ppt30,332
Emmaus Borough Public Water*Emmaus, PA1 of 82.75 ppt14,000
Albertson WDRoslyn Heights, NY10 of 222.45 ppt13,500
Orchard Dale Water DistrictWhittier, CA12 of 152.35 ppt22,492
Camp Pendleton (South)Camp Pendleton, CA25 of 2681.95 ppt39,400
Water Authority of Western NassauNew Hyde Park, NY2 of 261.71 ppt120,000
Suburban Water Systems - WhittierCovina, CA12 of 161.63 ppt59,169
Hyannis Water SystemHyannis, MA10 of 711.56 ppt35,000
Ambler Boro Water DeptAmbler, PA1 of 221.32 ppt20,000
Downey Water DepartmentDowney, CA8 of 201.30 ppt111,930
Montebello Land & Water CompanyMontebello, CA12 of 341.27 ppt32,219
Town of Tarboro*Tarboro, NC1 of 21.25 ppt11,310
Yorba Linda Water DistrictYorba Linda, CA15 of 541.16 ppt77,513
HempsteadHempstead, NY1 of 110.982 ppt56,000
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA16 of 540.941 ppt39,000
Port Washington WDPort Washington, NY1 of 250.940 ppt34,000
City of PleasantonPleasanton, CA4 of 220.900 ppt73,067
South Granville Water and Sewer AuthorityButner, NC1 of 50.880 ppt19,216
MineolaMineola, NY10 of 380.860 ppt20,600
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities*Lillington, NC1 of 50.740 ppt101,389
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC1 of 50.740 ppt38,500
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - NorwalkDowney, CA6 of 220.714 ppt72,884
Saddle Brook Water DepartmentSaddle Brook Twp, NJ20 of 650.691 ppt13,155
United Water NJ*Haworth, NJ20 of 650.691 ppt792,713
Westerly Water DepartmentWesterly, RI9 of 430.651 ppt38,000
City of Burlington*Burlington, NC2 of 100.650 ppt54,000
ElonElon, NC2 of 100.650 ppt11,400
Pico WDPico Rivera, CA4 of 160.644 ppt24,100
Valencia Water Company*Valencia, CA16 of 850.620 ppt117,251
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District*Lake Elsinore, CA6 of 540.489 ppt142,264
Santa Clarita Water Division*Santa Clarita, CA9 of 560.488 ppt120,900
Mahwah Water DepartmentMahwah Twp, NJ4 of 240.421 ppt26,777
Hudson Water SupplyHudson, MA27 of 1720.411 ppt18,406
Dan River Water IncEden, NC1 of 50.400 ppt11,890

* 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 Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.