PFAS chemicals can get into our drinking water supplies when they are made, disposed of, spilled, or used in consumer products near our water sources. In our state, PFAS also got into water supplies from historical use of aqueous film forming foam, or “AFFF” firefighting foam. AFFF was used to put out fuel fires.
Because PFAS do not break down easily, they can stay in water for many years.
How Do I Know If My Water has PFAS Chemicals In It?
- Public Water Systems
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If you live in a city or town, receive a monthly water bill, have a water meter on the side of your house, or a water charge is added to your monthly rent, you likely get your water from a public water system.
Ways to find out if your public drinking water has been tested for PFAS include:
- Explore the DOH PFAS Testing Dashboard to see if your system has tested for PFAS. The dashboard also allows you to see the PFAS levels detected in the water tests.
- Call your water system and ask if they’ve tested for PFAS. Many public water systems include their contact information on your water bill. You can also look up your public water system and how to contact them on the internet.
- Ask your water system for the annual water quality report (also called the Consumer Confidence Report).
Over 2,400 public drinking water systems in our state are required by the State Board of Health to test for PFAS by December 2025. If your water system finds PFAS levels above Washington’s State Action Levels (SALs), they must notify you within 30 days. Starting in 2029, water systems will need to notify you when water exceeds the US Environmental Protection Agency’s PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). An MCL limits how much of a chemical can be in drinking water. They are enforceable, which means water systems must follow them. More information on the MCLs and SALs (PDF).
For more information on when and how these water systems tell their customers if they find PFAS levels, check out the rules and regulations page.
- Private Well
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Private well owners are responsible for monitoring and maintaining their well’s water quality. They are not required to test for PFAS chemicals. However, local health departments may have rules about drilling new wells in areas known to have PFAS in groundwater. Washington real estate law also requires sellers of residential properties to disclose known problems with their drinking water and groundwater contamination to buyers.
Steps to take if you are a private well owner and want to find out if PFAS is in your water:
- Explore the DOH PFAS Testing Dashboard to see if PFAS have been found in your area.
- Contact your local health department and ask if they’re doing PFAS sampling in your area.
- Get your water tested by a private lab (see Accredited Lab List below).
Testing Your Private Well
Testing your water involves collecting a water sample and sending it to a laboratory that can measure PFAS in drinking water.
If you choose to test your water, find a lab that has been accredited (verified) by the Washington State Department of Ecology as able to test for PFAS in drinking water. There are two test methods to choose from:
- EPA method 533 tests for 24 PFAS
- EPA method 531.7 tests for 18 PFAS
Learn more about EPA's PFAS Drinking Water Laboratory Methods.
See our list of Accredited Labs that Test Public Drinking Water Samples for PFAS 331-700 (PDF) for labs that can test for PFAS. Also available in:
When Should I Act If PFAS Chemicals Are In My Water?
Act to lower PFAS levels in your drinking water if you have PFAS above the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or Washington’s State Action Levels (SALs) (PDF). Use whichever number is lowest to make your decision. Most PFAS detections in water are not an emergency, and you have time to look for alternative water options.
However, if you are pregnant or have children 6 and younger, switch to alternative water –such as a Point of Use (POU) filter, Point of Entry Treatment (POET) system, or bottled water – sooner (within a few weeks) for drinking and cooking. See the “What Can I Do If PFAS Chemicals Are In My Water?” section below for more information on water filters and bottled water options.
What Can I do If PFAS Chemicals Are In My Water?
If you have PFAS in your water, you can protect your health by using a filter certified to lower PFAS levels in drinking water.
Not all water filters can remove PFAS from water. Make sure to only buy filters certified by an independent third party, like NSF or the Water Quality Association (WQA), to lower PFAS levels.
- Point of Use (POU) Filter
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- POU filters come in several different styles – like countertop units attached to your tap, water pitchers, or units installed under the sink – to fit your household needs and preferences. Learn more about different types of POU filters (PDF).
- POU filters are less expensive to buy but require more regular maintenance than a whole house water filter.
- You can buy POU filters online or at your local home improvement store. Factsheet on POU filters certified to lower PFAS levels in water (PDF).
- Do not trust product descriptions alone on general merchandise retail websites! Some sellers make false claims about their filters lowering PFOA/PFOS or PFAS chemicals in water.
- Only buy filters that say they are certified to lower PFOA/PFOS or PFAS levels on the box or description on a home improvement store website. Alternatively, you can look up whether the filter is truly certified to lower PFAS levels on the certifier’s website.
- Point of Entry Treatment (“Whole House”) Filter
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- POET filters clean all the water in your home.
- POET systems take up more space than a POU filter, and are typically installed in your basement, garage, or a wellhouse.
- POET systems are more expensive to buy but may require maintenance less often than a POU filter.
- If you are interested in installing a POET system, talk to a plumber or water filter supplier about options. Ask for systems certified to lower PFAS levels in drinking water. Water softeners do not work to remove PFAS.
- Water Filter Maintenance and Disposal
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All water filters require regular maintenance! Follow the filter’s instructions on when to replace filter membranes or cartridges. If you do not replace these parts, the filter won’t work as well to remove PFAS. Consider these ongoing costs when choosing a filter.
When it’s time to replace filter parts, contact your county’s household hazardous waste collection program or solid waste department for hours and materials accepted. If your county does not have a household hazardous waste collection program, call your local health department.
Other Considerations When Using Tap Water in Your Home
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Using Bottled Water Instead of a Water Filter
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Bottled water can be a good short-term solution until a water filter or other solution is in place. However, in general, bottled water is less regulated than tap water from a public water system. PFAS have been found in some bottled spring water. If you choose bottled water, only buy bottled water labeled as “purified with water filtration.”
Other considerations with bottled water:
- Bottled water usually ends up costing more than installing and maintaining a filter.
- Bottled water may have higher environmental impacts than tap water (for example, the impact of trucking the bottled water to stores, making the bottles, and disposing of the bottles).
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently has no enforceable standards for PFAS in bottled water.
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Breastfeeding and Infant Formula
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If you have PFAS in your drinking water, they can get into your breast milk. If PFAS are above EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) (PDF) in your drinking water, we recommend that you:
- Install a filter certified to lower PFAS in water, or switch to an alternative source of drinking water.
- Use only filtered tap water or bottled water for mixing formula. Do not use unfiltered tap water for mixing formula.
- Continue to breastfeed your baby. EPA’s MCLs and our State Action Levels (SALs) were set specifically to protect breastfed infants.
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that “…even though some environmental contaminants like PFAS pollutants pass to the infant through breast milk, the advantages of breastfeeding greatly outweigh the potential risks in nearly every circumstance.”
Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns about PFAS and breastfeeding.
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Laundry and Washing Dishes
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If you have PFAS in your water, you can still safely wash dishes and do laundry. PFAS in water don’t get through the skin well.
Use laundry detergent and dish soap that has a SaferChoice, Cradle to Cradle, or Environmental Working Group (EWG)-Verified label on it. These products are free of known toxic chemicals, including PFAS.
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Bathing Advice
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While drinking PFAS-contaminated water can be a health concern, PFAS in your water are usually in a form that makes it difficult for them to get through your skin. Showering and bathing are unlikely to increase your exposure. When bathing young children, limit the amount of water they swallow.
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Pets
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Veterinarians are still studying how PFAS affect pets. Because of this, we don’t currently have formal veterinary advice for pet owners on how to protect pets from PFAS. However, some of the same steps you take to protect your family will also reduce PFAS exposure in your pets:
- Switch pets to filtered or bottled water for drinking.
- If you have cats of other indoor animals that frequently clean their fur with their tongue, follow the advice under cleaning recommendations to reduce how much house dust they swallow from their fur.
Ask your veterinarian for advice on helping your pet stay healthy. For more information, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association’s latest news on PFAS exposure in dogs and cats.