PFBS in drinking water
A shorter-chain PFAS that replaced PFOS in many products. No limit of its own. It counts toward the Hazard Index.
Health: EPA's health-based water concentration is 2,000 ppt.
Across the US
From EPA's UCMR 5 testing, 2023–2025: every community system serving 3,300+ people and a sample of smaller ones.
Highest results
States with the most detections
- Texas: 281
- Florida: 143
- Pennsylvania: 116
- California: 108
- Alabama: 85
- North Carolina: 81
- Massachusetts: 71
- Georgia: 66
- South Carolina: 66
- New Jersey: 66
- Ohio: 55
- Tennessee: 54
Sources
The limits, health goals and health effects on this page come from these EPA sources. The results come from EPA's monitoring data for each water system.
- EPA: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) drinking water rule
- EPA: Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5)
- EPA: UCMR occurrence data (the test results)
This page summarizes public regulatory information. It is not medical advice. How we source and check this site.
Questions
What is the safe level of PFBS in drinking water?
There is no federal legal limit. EPA health-based level (HBWC): 2,000 ppt.
How do I remove PFBS from tap water?
See the filter guidance on this page: look for a product certified for PFBS specifically, and check the claim in NSF's certified product listings.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.